Best Skincare Routine for Oily Skin
Control shine and minimize pores with a targeted skincare routine designed specifically for oily skin types.
Our pick: Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — A cult-favorite leave-on exfoliant with 2% salicylic acid that unclogs pores and smooths skin texture.
Oily skin gets a bad reputation, but it's not a flaw. Skin that produces more sebum tends to age more slowly, shows fewer fine lines over time, and maintains a natural glow that dry-skinned people spend real money trying to replicate. Managing the excess — the midday shine, enlarged pores, makeup that slides off by lunch — requires strategy, not aggression.
Critical insight: many readers with oily skin fall into a cycle of over-cleansing and under-moisturizing. They'll use harsh, foaming cleansers and skip moisturizer entirely, believing their skin already has enough hydration. What happens next? A compromised moisture barrier that signals the sebaceous glands to ramp up production. Skin gets oilier, so they cleanse more aggressively, and the cycle continues.
A gentle foaming cleanser with ceramides and niacinamide that removes oil without stripping the skin barrier.
- Effectively removes excess oil and makeup
- Ceramides and niacinamide protect the skin barrier while cleansing
- Fragrance-free and non-irritating
- Affordable and widely available
- May be too drying for those with very dry or dehydrated skin
- Pump can be inconsistent on some bottle sizes
Prices checked Mar 2026
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