How to treat oily skin

If your oily skin is giving you less glow goals and more looks-like-I’ve-just-done-a-HIIT-workout vibes, then it’s time to get your shine under control. But, before you start slapping on every charcoal product you can get your paws on and dabbing yourself incessantly with blotting paper, you might want to take a minute and get to grips with all the oily skin treatments. You can thank us later.

Best oil-busting beauty products

We’re not going to sugar coat it for you, there are a lot of multi-tasking, fabulous oil-reducing products out there. So, before you invest in a complete kit, get yourself familiar with the must-haves:

Oil-free makeup

If you don’t want to add more fuel to the fire, then switching to oil-free makeup products may give you added peace of mind that your T-zone won’t make a shiny appearance throughout the day. Try swapping out your usual primer and foundation for formulas that have an oil-free, non-comedogenic ingredients list.

Sorry, this product is currently out of stock.

e.l.f. Cosmetics e.l.f. Flawless Foundation Alabaster £0.10

Mattifying, setting powder

While a setting powder won’t unclog the pores and target the cause of oily skin, it could help keep shine at bay – especially on a big night out. Dust the powder over your face using a soft-bristle brush to preserve your makeup look for longer.

Blotting paper

When your nose is running like a tap, you wouldn’t leave the house without a pack of tissues right? Well, blotting paper is the tissue to your shiny spots. Gently dab one over your face in areas for concern (like your T-zone) for a short term anti-shine remedy. This savvy tool is perfect for de-shining while you’re on the go.

DHC Blotting Paper 100 Sheets £5.99

Charcoal masks, exfoliators and cleansers

Yes, we bang on about activated charcoal a lot – but that’s because it’s one of those ingredients that’s the stuff of skincare dreams. The reason why oily skin types should know all about it, is because it helps pull dirt out of pores which not only makes them less visible but also removes excess oil in the process. It’s a win-win.

Young woman applying a charcoal mask to half of her face

Biore DNRAD Bioré Charcoal Anti-Blemish Cleanser 200ml £0.60

Garnier Pure Active Pure Active Intensive Anti-Blackhead Charcoal Gel Wash 200ml £5.99

Targeted serums

It’s not unusual to raise an eyebrow at our mention of a serum because most of the time we’re bombarded with messages that serums are great for hydrating and plumping. But, if you incorporate targeted, oil-controlling serums into your regime you can help eliminate excess sebum production. Do your research and make sure you’ve chosen a serum that’s lightweight, not greasy.

Exfoliators

It’s a tricky balance to strike between exfoliating too much and not enough, no matter the skin type. But, when it comes to oily skin it’s important to rid the pores of impurities and if you can add a touch of salicylic acid into the mix, even better. We recommend exfoliating once a week – you shouldn’t need more than this but if you feel you do build it up slowly and space it out further if you begin feeling any tightness.

3 must-know tips for oily skin

Introduce new products one-by-one

So, you’ve done your research. Got an army of oil-fighting skin saviours at the ready. What now? Do not - as much as you might be tempted to! – slap them all on your face at the same time. If you introduce too many new things in one go, you will never truly know which product is working wonders and which ones aren’t helping much. Instead add new products one-by-one, trial for a couple of weeks and monitor the results. And continue this process until you know which ones work for you.

Set your own trends

There’s always a new trend in the skincare game and it’s easy to get carried away with the next, big thing. But, always take every trend with a pinch of salt. Double cleansing might work for your bff, but it could throw your oil production into disarray.

Don’t skip the moisturiser

A common misconception is that oily skin and hydrating moisturisers don’t mix. But, once you’ve done your full-on oil-busting routine, you will absolutely need to moisturise to keep a better balance of oil and water within in the skin.