UPDATED JUNE 2023

At Beia, we know the struggle of having oily skin. Below, we’re spilling the tea on everything you need to know about oily skin — including how to know if you have oily skin, what to do (and what not to do!) If you have oily skin, the best skincare routine for oily skin, and the best skincare products for oily skin.  We are here to help you. Here, we spill the deets on how to know if you have oily skin, what to do (and not to do!) if you have oily skin, and what routine and products are best for you. 

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE OILY SKIN?

Skincare products are usually classified as being for normal-dry or oily skin. However, this language can certainly feel overwhelming — especially when online shopping! —if you aren’t sure of your skin type. 

There are a few tell-tale signs that you have oily skin and we broke it down for you, here:

• Large, visible pores (especially around your nose, forehead, and/or chin)
• Shine or a visibly greasy feeling on your face by the middle of the day
• Frequent breakouts or congestion 
• Rough or thick-appearing skin

If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, it’s possible you have oily skin. If so, keep reading for more information on how to combat your oily skin with an expert-approved skincare routine.

YOUR SKIN CAN BE OILY AND DEHYDRATED AT THE SAME TIME

We know— it’s confusing. So, let’s break it down further: Having oily skin means that your sebaceous glands are producing a surplus of sebum. In normal doses, sebum helps keep skin protected and healthy; however, in high doses, it can cause acne and excessive shine. 

Oily skin produces enough oil on its own, but it needs to be supplemented with water! In other words, without the use of hydrating, water-based products, it sends a signal to your skin to produce even more sebum. So, while your skin is left looking oily, it's feeling pretty parched. 

To combat this, you’ll want to add an oil-free moisturizer to your skincare routine. This will help hydrate your skin while also balancing sebum production.

BEST SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR OILY SKIN: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE 

So, you have oily skin: Now what? Next up: Implement a killer skincare routine to control your oil production and get the glow you’ve been dreaming of! Below, a step-by-step guide to acing your oily skin skincare routine — plus expert product recommendations.

1. AN OIL-BASED CLEANSER

“Wait, what?! You said oily skin doesn’t need more oil!”  True, but, here’s a caveat. Oil cleansers remove oil-based impurities from your skin. Think back to middle school chemistry class: Water and oil are heterogeneous. In other words, they do not mix. Water dissolves water, and oil dissolves oil. That’s how the famed “double cleansing” trend was born. Put simply, you need an oil cleanser to remove excess oil *and* a water cleanser to remove water-based impurities, such as dirt. Science always has our back.

2. A FOAMING CLEANSER 

Here is where the water-based cleanser comes in. Immediately after using your oil cleanser, follow up with a top-rated foam cleanser for a deeper clean. But, don’t over-do it! Stripping your skin will only increase your sebum production — so make sure you find a gentle cleanser that does not leave your skin feeling tight or appearing red. 

3. A CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT FOR YOUR FACE 

Adding a chemical exfoliant for face can supercharge your skincare routine by removing dead skin cells, improving skin texture, and dissolving excess sebum. Keep your eye out for BHAs because they are oil-soluble. They will also dig down deep into your pores and get to the root of  those stubborn blackheads. We also love an antioxidant-packed Vitamin C serum, which can help brighten acne scars.

4. A TOP-RATED FACE MOISTURIZER

When choosing your moisturizer, you’ll either want to  opt for an oil-free moisturizer or one with non-comedogenic oils. Lightweight oils — such as jojoba, rosehip, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and hemp seed, for example— are the best options for oily skin and won’t clog your pores.  Avoid moisturizers containing coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, palm oil, or mineral oil. 

*Pro-tip: Look for the words “water” and “gel” in the name of your moisturizer. These  words typically indicate that the formula is hydrating without weighing your skin down. 

5. A DAILY SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR FACE

SPF is the most important step of your skincare routine. That being said, those with oily skin don’t want thick, greasy sunscreen. This will only make us look even more shiny. Instead, look for light, serum-based SPF options — and keep reading for a few of our favorite picks. 

BEIA’S DO’S AND DON'TS FOR OILY SKIN

Dos:

• Use a retinol treatment to speed up skin-cell turnover
• Use blotting sheets throughout the day
• Use products that contain hyaluronic acid: Your skin will drink up the hydration! (PS: Check out Beia’s Daily Hydrating and Setting Mist: loaded with skin-loving ingredients suitable for all skin-types)

Don’ts:

• Use pore strips 
• Use heavy occlusives (this means no skincare slugging — no matter how tempting the top TikTok skincare trends may be)