Oily skin is characterized by a higher production of sebum, which can cause the skin to quickly become shiny or greasy during the day. A good skincare routine for oily skin is therefore about balance: cleansing away excess sebum without making the skin unnecessarily dry, while also giving the skin enough hydration.
You do not need to avoid face cream or moisturizing products just because your skin is oily. Instead, you can choose lighter textures and products suited to oilier skin.
How do you know if you have oily skin?
Oily skin produces more sebum than other skin types. Sebum is a natural part of the skin, but higher production can make the skin appear shinier.
Common characteristics of oily skin are that it:
- quickly becomes shiny or greasy during the day
- becomes especially shiny on the forehead, nose, and chin
- may have more visible pores
- may feel oily a relatively short time after cleansing
- often prefers lighter skincare products
Oily skin and greasy skin are usually used to describe the same skin type.
However, it is good to distinguish oily skin from combination skin. If you have combination skin, some parts of the face are oilier while others may be normal or dry. Oily skin generally means higher sebum production across larger parts of the face.
Oily skin can also be dehydrated
Just because the skin is oily does not automatically mean it has enough moisture.
Oily skin primarily describes how much sebum the skin produces, while dehydration is about the amount of water in the skin. It is therefore possible for the skin to feel oily and at the same time need more hydration.
That is one reason why a routine for oily skin should not consist only of cleansing and exfoliating products. Hydrating toner, serums, and light face creams can still serve an important function.
What does oily skin need in a skincare routine?
A good foundation for oily skin is to focus on:
- Cleansing that removes excess sebum, sunscreen, and dirt without making the skin feel unnecessarily tight.
- Hydration in a texture that feels good on the skin.
- Face cream that helps the skin retain moisture without feeling too heavy.
- Sunscreen in the morning that works well with the rest of the routine.
In addition to the basics, for example toner, essence, serum, and exfoliation can be used based on what you want to focus on.
Skincare routine for oily skin morning and evening
A routine for oily or greasy skin can look like this:
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleansing | Cleansing, double cleansing if needed |
| 2 | Toner/essence if needed | Toner/essence if needed |
| 3 | Serum | Serum |
| 4 | Light face cream | Light face cream |
| 5 | Sunscreen | – |
This is a foundation that can be made both simpler and more advanced. For example, you do not need to use toner, essence, and serum if your skin already feels good with a shorter routine.
Cleanse oily skin without overdoing it
Face wash is an important part of a skincare routine for oily skin because it helps remove excess sebum, sweat, and dirt.
It can be tempting to choose a very strong cleanser to get rid of all oiliness. However, the goal does not need to be for the skin to feel completely stripped or tight after cleansing.
Instead, choose a face wash that cleanses effectively but still feels comfortable afterward.
In the morning, cleansing can help remove sebum that has built up on the skin overnight.
In the evening, you also need to remove sunscreen, makeup, and anything that has accumulated on the skin during the day. If you use makeup or a more long-wearing sunscreen, double cleansing may be a good option.
In that case, an oil-based cleanser is used first, followed by a water-based cleanser.
Can oily skin use an oil cleanser?
Yes. Just because a cleanser contains oil does not mean it is only intended for dry skin.
An oil-based cleanser is used primarily to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and oil-based impurities and is then rinsed off. It can therefore be used as the first part of a double cleanse even if the skin is oily.
The important thing is to choose a product that works well for your skin and follow up with water-based cleanser if the product is intended to be used as the first step in a double cleanse.
Toner and essence for oily skin
Toner and essence can be used to add hydration in light layers, which can be a good fit if you have oily skin and do not like very rich products.
A light hydrating toner can, for example, be used directly after cleansing and followed by serum and face cream.
Toners, however, can have very different functions. Some are mainly hydrating, while others contain exfoliating ingredients such as AHA or BHA.
An exfoliating toner therefore does not need to be used in the same way or as often as a hydrating toner.
Essence can be used after toner for additional hydration and care. However, you do not need to use both. Choose products based on what your skin needs rather than how many steps you want in your routine.
Choose serum based on your skin’s needs
Serum makes it possible to tailor the routine to what you want to focus on beyond your actual skin type.
Oily skin may, for example, benefit from lightweight serums focused on:
- hydration
- the skin barrier
- radiance
- more even skin tone
- skin texture
Niacinamide is a common ingredient in skincare for oily skin and appears in many serums and other lightweight products. Hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid can also be a good fit when you want to give the skin moisture without a very rich texture.
You do not need to use several serums to have a good routine. One serum that suits the need you want to focus on is often a better starting point.
Oily skin also needs face cream
A common misconception is that oily skin does not need face cream because the skin already produces a lot of sebum.
However, sebum and hydration are not the same thing.
Face cream helps to hydrate, soften, and retain moisture in the skin. The difference is that oily skin often does better with a lighter texture than dry skin.
You can, for example, look for:
- gel cream
- light lotion
- light face cream
Which texture suits best is individual. If your skin feels heavy or very oily after your face cream, a lighter product may be a better option.
In the same way, you do not automatically need to choose the very lightest product just because your skin is oily. What matters is how the skin feels and functions with the product.
Finish your morning routine with sunscreen
Sunscreen is used as the last step in the morning routine.
For oily skin, the product’s finish and texture can be especially important. If your skin already gets shiny during the day, a very rich sunscreen together with several layers of skincare can feel unnecessarily heavy.
A lighter sunscreen may therefore be a good fit. There are, for example, gel, fluid, and lotion-like sunscreens designed to feel lightweight on the skin.
You can also adjust earlier steps based on your sunscreen. If your sunscreen already feels hydrating, you may need less face cream in the morning.
Good ingredients for oily skin
There is no single ingredient that everyone with oily skin needs to use. However, some ingredients are common in products for oilier skin and can serve different functions in a routine.
| Ingredient | Why is it used? |
|---|---|
| Niacinamide | Used in products focusing on, among other things, the skin barrier, skin tone, and sebum |
| BHA | Exfoliates the skin’s surface and is oil-soluble |
| Glycerin | Helps the skin attract and retain moisture |
| Hyaluronic acid | Binds water and provides hydration |
| Centella asiatica | A common caring ingredient in Korean skincare |
| Green tea | A common ingredient in lightweight and caring skincare products |
You do not need to combine all of these ingredients. Instead, start from what your skin needs and which products are already in your routine.
BHA and exfoliation for oily skin
Exfoliation is common in skincare routines for oily skin, and BHA is a particularly common ingredient.
BHA acid is oil-soluble and is used in products that exfoliate the skin. The ingredient is found, among other things, in toners, serums, and other exfoliating products.
However, that does not mean that oily skin needs to be exfoliated every day.
How often an exfoliating product should be used depends on the formulation and the product’s instructions. Start carefully if you are not used to it, and do not increase usage just because your skin still gets oily during the day.
That the skin produces sebum is a natural function, and the goal of exfoliation is not to try to remove all oiliness.
Niacinamide in a routine for oily skin
Niacinamide is one of the most common ingredients in skincare aimed at oily and greasy skin.
The ingredient can be found in, among other things, toner, essence, serum, and face cream. Therefore, you do not necessarily need to buy a separate niacinamide serum if the ingredient is already present in other products you use.
It is also good to look at the concentration and the overall formulation. A higher concentration does not automatically mean that the product is better suited to your skin.
If you are introducing niacinamide for the first time, you can start with one product and see how your skin reacts before combining several products with the same ingredient.
Common mistakes with oily skin
Trying to dry out the skin
The fact that your skin is oily does not mean that the goal should be to make it as dry as possible.
A routine consisting almost entirely of strong cleansing and exfoliation can make the skin feel tight and uncomfortable. Oily skin still needs hydration and care.
Skipping face cream
If your face cream feels too heavy, the solution is not necessarily to remove face cream completely.
Instead, try a lighter gel cream, lotion, or another texture that suits your skin better.
Cleansing the skin very often
If the skin becomes shiny during the day, it can be tempting to wash your face several times.
More cleansing is not automatically better, however. A good morning and evening routine is a better foundation than trying to wash away the sebum every time the skin starts to shine.
Using too much exfoliation
BHA and other exfoliating ingredients can be a good fit for oily skin, but that does not mean that several exfoliating products need to be combined.
Check what your toner, serum, and other products contain so that you do not unknowingly build a routine where several steps exfoliate the skin.
Choosing everything labeled for oily skin
Your skin type is only one part of what your skin needs.
For example, you may have oily but sensitive skin, or oily and dehydrated skin. Your routine therefore needs to take more into account than how much sebum your skin produces.
A simple skincare routine for oily skin
A good routine for oily skin does not need to contain many products.
In the morning:
Cleansing → light face cream → sunscreen
In the evening:
Cleansing → serum → light face cream
If you use makeup or sunscreen that requires more cleansing, you can double cleanse in the evening.
After that, you can add, for example, toner, essence, or exfoliation if your skin needs it. That way, you build the routine from a functional foundation instead of starting with many products at once.
Frequently asked questions about a skincare routine for oily skin
Which skincare is best for oily skin?
A good skincare routine for oily skin includes cleansing, hydration, face cream, and sunscreen during the day. Feel free to choose lighter textures if your skin quickly feels oily or weighed down by richer products.
Should you hydrate oily skin?
Yes. Oily skin produces more sebum, but sebum and water are not the same thing. Therefore, even oily skin may need hydrating products. Light toners, serums, and gel creams can be a good fit if you do not like rich textures.
Does oily skin need face cream?
Yes, face cream can be part of the routine even for oily skin. If a regular cream feels too heavy, you can choose a lighter lotion or gel cream.
How often should oily skin be cleansed?
For many people, cleansing morning and evening works well. In the evening, it is especially important to remove sunscreen, makeup, and dirt. Avoid cleansing the skin repeatedly just because it becomes shiny during the day.
Is oil cleansing good for oily skin?
Oil cleansing can also be used on oily skin, especially as a first step to dissolve makeup and sunscreen. It is usually followed by a water-based cleanser in double cleansing.
Is niacinamide good for oily skin?
Niacinamide is a common ingredient in skincare for oily skin and is used, among other things, in products focused on the skin barrier, skin tone, and sebum. How well a product suits you also depends on the concentration and the rest of the formulation.
Is BHA good for oily skin?
BHA is oil-soluble and a common exfoliating ingredient in skincare for oily and greasy skin. How often BHA should be used depends on the product, so follow the instructions and adjust usage based on how the skin reacts.
Can oily skin be dehydrated?
Yes. Oily skin is about higher sebum production, while dehydration is about a lack of water in the skin. It is therefore possible to have oily and dehydrated skin at the same time.
What is the difference between oily skin and combination skin?
Oily skin generally has higher sebum production over larger parts of the face. With combination skin, certain areas, often the T-zone, are oilier while other parts of the face may be normal or drier.
