Skincare routine for oily skin: tips, products, and effective strategies

Updated December 15, 2025 by Elisa Branda

La skincare routine oily skin It is one of the best remedies for keeping both shine and skin impurities at bay.

La oily skin is a skin condition characterized by an excessive production of sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. This excess can make the skin appear shiny, promote the formation of blemishes and create the sensation of a greasy film on the face. However, although it may seem like an annoying problem, with the right skincare routine and targeted products it is possible to keep sebum production under control, reduce enlarged pores and impurities, and obtain a more balanced complexion.

Different Types of Oily Skin

Not everyone has the same oily skin. To define an effective skincare routine, it is useful to understand what type of oily skin you have. Here are some common types:

• Oily Oily Skin:
  This type has very fluid and abundant sebum, with shine not only in the T-zone but on the entire surface of the face. The pores, clearly visible, are dilated.
• Oily, Impure and Acne-Prone Skin:
  In addition to shine, imperfections such as pimples, blackheads and comedones appear. Excess sebum promotes the proliferation of bacteria and, if left untreated, can lead to real acne, with inflammation that leaves scars and blemishes.
• Oily Asphyxiated Skin:
  In this case, the sebum is thicker and waxier, clogging the pores and promoting the appearance of whiteheads and yellow pimples. The skin often feels thicker and rougher to the touch, with a feeling of an uneven surface.
• Oily Seborrheic Skin:
  When sebum production is extremely high, we speak of seborrheic skin. This condition gives the skin an “orange peel” appearance, with very dilated pores and a continuous accumulation of impurities.

Fundamental Active Ingredients for Oily Skin

The skincare routine for oily skin is based on the use of specific active ingredients. Some ingredients are particularly useful for regulating sebum production and treating imperfections:

• Salicylic Acid (BHA): Ideal for penetrating pores, dissolving sebum and impurities, preventing blackheads and reducing pimples.
• AHA Acids (Glycolic, Lactic, Mandelic Acid): They exfoliate the surface, lighten post-acne spots and even out skin texture.
• Tea Tree: Highly purifying for the skin, minimizes the appearance of blemishes and disinfects the skin.
• Vitamin C: Brightens the complexion, fights free radicals, reduces spots and imperfections.
• Niacinamide: Reduces enlarged pores, brightens, controls sebum production and soothes redness.
• Hyaluronic acid: It hydrates without weighing down, keeping the skin elastic and soft.

Complete Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

Your daily routine should balance cleansing, exfoliation, hydration and protection. Contrary to popular belief, oily skin also needs water and light nutrients. By avoiding occlusive products, you can achieve more harmonious skin, less shine and with fewer imperfections. Here are the basic steps:

• Daily Cleansing:
  Use a foaming or gel cleanser formulated for oily skin that removes excess sebum without drying out.
• Astringent Tonic:
  A toner with exfoliating or purifying ingredients helps remove residue and close pores, preparing the skin for the next steps.
• Light Serums and Exfoliants:
  In the morning, choose serums with hyaluronic acid or vitamin C. In the evening, opt for exfoliating formulas containing AHA or BHA, to promote cell renewal and keep clogged pores under control.
• Hydrating Eye Contour:
  Even oily skin needs care in delicate areas like the eye contour. Choose light, gel textures to keep the area fresh and rested.
• Mattifying Face Cream:
  Oil-free moisturizer, with balancing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. This step is crucial to ensure hydration without accumulating sebum.
• Daily Sun Protection:
  Don't forget about sun protection. Choose light formulas, preferably gel or fluid, with SPF 30 or higher. Protecting your skin from UV rays prevents spots and premature aging.
• Weekly Exfoliation and Masks:
  Use purifying masks with clay, charcoal or centella asiatica two or three times a week. Perform gentle peels to unclog pores and improve skin texture.

Cleansing: The Foundation of Every Skincare Routine

Cleansing is the first step, the foundation on which the entire skincare is based. Oily skin requires a foaming or gel cleanser, formulated to remove excess sebum and impurities without altering the natural hydrolipidic balance.

• Morning Cleansing: When you wake up, your face may feel shiny. A gentle cleanser, with ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid in low concentrations, removes the oil that has accumulated overnight and preps your skin for the products that follow.
• Evening Cleansing: If you use makeup or sunscreen, double cleansing is essential. First, a cleansing oil or balm to dissolve makeup and impurities, then a foaming cleanser to remove residue. This combination, inspired by Korean skincare, helps keep pores clear and prevent blackheads from forming.
• Extra Tip: Avoid overly aggressive cleansers. Excessive cleansing stimulates the skin to produce even more sebum.

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Double Cleansing in the Korean Routine

K-Beauty suggests a double cleansing in the evening:

• Oily Phase: An oil-based cleanser to dissolve makeup, built-up sebum and stubborn impurities.
• Aqueous Phase: A second gel or foam cleaner to complete the cleaning, removing any remaining residue.

This practice, if well calibrated, can help keep oily skin cleaner, preventing blockages and imperfections.

Tonic: Rebalance and Refine Cleansing

After cleansing, toner is the step that completes the cleansing, removes any residue and prepares the skin for the serum. An exfoliating toner with salicylic or glycolic acid helps to tighten pores, while a soothing toner with chamomile or centella asiatica can calm redness.

• Main Function: Restore the pH, remove the last traces of impurities, reduce the visibility of pores and facilitate the absorption of subsequent treatments.
• Choose the Right Toner: If your skin is very shiny, opt for a light astringent toner. If it is sensitive and oily, a soothing toner with niacinamide or aloe vera may be the ideal choice.

Specific Serums: Targeted Action on Pores, Spots and Imperfections

Serums are the “intensive treatments” of the skincare routine. For oily skin it is essential to choose light serums, preferably in gel or aqueous serum, formulated with sebum-regulating active ingredients, delicate exfoliants and lightening substances.

• Morning Serum (Vitamin C & Niacinamide): In the morning, a vitamin C serum brightens, evens skin tone, and protects against environmental damage. Niacinamide, combined with vitamin C, helps minimize pores and shine.
• Evening Serum (AHA/BHA): At night, you can introduce exfoliating serums with salicylic acid or glycolic acid to stimulate cell turnover, unclog pores, and reduce blackheads. Alternatively, serums with zinc and niacinamide help control blemishes.
• Texture and Absorption: Opt for fast-absorbing formulas that are free of heavy oils so as not to further weigh down your skin.

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Eye Contour: Targeted Hydration for the Most Delicate Area

The eye contour deserves special attention. Even if the skin on the face is oily, the area around the eyes is thinner and tends to dehydrate easily. A light eye contour cream, in gel or serum, helps keep the area fresh, smooth and luminous.

• Ideal Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine to reduce puffiness and dark circles, peptides to keep the area toned.
• Avoid Excess Body: No textures that are too rich or occlusive, to avoid the risk of creating milia (small white grains of keratin).

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Face Cream: Hydrate Without Weighing Down

Even oily skin needs hydration. Without adequate water in the tissues, the skin will react by producing even more sebum. The key is to choose light, oil-free moisturizers, perhaps with a mattifying finish.

• Creams-Gels: Gel or fluid textures, with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ceramides, help maintain the skin barrier intact without creating shine.
• Mattifying: Some products include sebum-absorbing powders or green tea extracts, which can keep shine at bay for several hours.
• Deep Hydration Without Grease: Avoid creams that are too rich in mineral oils or heavy butters. Lightness is the watchword.

Sun Protection: The Essential Step

Sunscreen is essential to prevent spots, premature aging and worsening of post-inflammation acne. Many ignore this step, believing that it weighs down the skin. Today, however, there are light, oil-free, gel or “water-like” formula sunscreens.

• SPF 30 or Higher: Choose sunscreens with SPF 30 or 50+, possibly with soothing and mattifying ingredients.
• Non-Comedogenic Formulations: Make sure the product doesn’t clog pores by checking labels that say “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free.”
• Extra Benefits: Some sunscreens include niacinamide or mild acids for a complementary action on skin texture.

Sample Daily Routine for Oily Skin (Morning & Evening)

Masks, Peeling and Deep Exfoliation

Masks made with white or green clay, activated charcoal, or centella asiatica help balance sebum production. A light chemical peel, based on salicylic or glycolic acid, once or twice a week, can prevent blackheads and minimize the appearance of pores. Check labels and start with low concentrations, increasing only if your skin tolerates the treatment well. In addition, a periodic facial cleansing, performed by a qualified esthetician, helps remove stubborn impurities.

Frequency of Use of Chemical Peels, Gentle Scrubs

Exfoliation is crucial for oily skin. Removing dead skin cells unclogs pores, promotes cell turnover, and reduces blemishes. But you have to find the right balance: too much exfoliation irritates and stimulates sebum production, too little leaves pores clogged.

• Chemical Exfoliants (AHA/BHA): Preferable to physical scrubs, since they are more delicate and uniform. Salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid are excellent allies.
• Frequency: Start with 1-2 times a week, gradually increase if your skin tolerates. Don't overdo it: the goal is a light exfoliation, not an erosion of the skin barrier.
• Exfoliating Masks: Products like The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution can deliver remarkable results, if used with caution and followed by good hydration.

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Face Masks: Purifying, Mattifying and Soothing

Weekly masks are a great way to give your skincare routine a boost. Clay-based masks (white, green, bentonite) or activated charcoal absorb excess sebum and purify pores.

• Ingredients for Purifying Masks: Clay, charcoal, salicylic acid, green tea, centella asiatica.
• Fabric Masks: Choose those specifically for oily skin, with plant extracts and mattifying formulas.
• Frequency: 1-2 times a week is enough. Excessive masking can dry out the skin, stimulating sebum again.

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Pay Attention to Nutrition and Lifestyle

Don't forget that your skin is also a reflection of your internal balance. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can support your skin's health. Foods with a high glycemic index or high in saturated fats may increase oil production. Supplementing your diet with antioxidants, drinking plenty of water, and reducing stress and sleep deprivation can all contribute to healthier skin.

A Personalized and Conscious Approach

Everyone's skin is different, so the ideal approach is to experiment carefully, listen to your skin's signals, and adjust your skincare routine accordingly. Consider seeing a dermatologist if your oily skin is particularly difficult to manage, has severe acne, or is showing obvious scarring. A professional can recommend the most appropriate treatments, such as professional chemical peels, laser treatments, or topical medications.

Comparison Table of Some Key Ingredients

Additional Tips

• Experiment with Caution: Introduce one new product at a time, so you can see how your skin reacts.
• Listen to Your Skin: If you notice irritation, redness, or worsening, reduce the frequency of exfoliation use.
• Don't Neglect Your Scalp: Oily hair and oily facial skin can be related. A gentle shampoo that controls sebum can help balance the overall condition.
• Not Just Cosmetics: Managing oily skin is not just about products. Hormonal balance, diet, environment and lifestyle all play a role.
• Professional Treatments: If your skin is very problematic, a dermatologist may recommend specific treatments such as professional chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or laser therapy.

Links to Useful Resources

• Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (SIDeMaST): For further medical information.
• American Academy of Dermatology: International resources on acne and oily skin.

Conclusions

Managing oily skin is not impossible: the important thing is to use suitable products, establish a consistent and personalized routine and maintain a holistic approach that includes cosmetic care, balanced nutrition and stress management. With consistency and attention, oily skin can transform from a source of frustration into a healthier, brighter and more harmonious skin base.