For those with oily skin, the following scenario might be all too familiar. By midday, it seems that everybody can see their reflection in your forehead. The shine is real! Then there’s the fact that oily skin is prone to acne. And an excess of sebum can cause clogged pores, blackheads, and breakouts. That is why the best skincare products for oily skin control shine while keeping the skin clean and healthy. It’s common for people with oily skin to feel they don’t need to use moisturizer. However, oily skin may be both oily and dry at the same time.
Furthermore, a dehydrated complexion can increase oil production. That is why it is important to find the best skincare products for oily skin. These are the best skincare products for oily skin, including mattifiers, moisturizers, and cleansers.
Stay with us to learn about the 10 best skincare products for oily skin.
1. Best Cleanser for Oily Skin: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Buy It: $10
If you don’t like cleansers that manually scrub your face with beads or rice bran, we suggest “The Inkey List’s latest salicylic acid cleanser” (everything is under $15). It chemically exfoliates to deep clean pores without being harsh or drying. It contains allantoin, a common skin soother, to keep skin from getting red and irritated after cleansing.
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: This product contains salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that our dermatologists suggest you search for in products for oily and acne-prone skin.
2. Best Serum for Oily Skin: Sailor by Captain Blankenship X Marks the Spot Serum
Buy It: $15
Many ingredients used in a good toner, such as witch hazel and white willow bark extract, are used in this Captain Blankenship serum. Both of them are excellent for reducing inflammation and reducing blemishes. It also provides a number of essential oils to keep the skin hydrated. Probably this is the best skincare products for oily skin.
Bonus Points: Willow bark extract, a safe source of salicylic acid, is used in this serum, according to the experts. Salicylic acid is a BHA that dermatologist experts suggest using in serum if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
3. Best Toner for Oily Skin: This Works Morning Expert Multi-Acid Pads
Buy It: $50
Daily toner can use up many cotton rounds in a single week, which is where these works’ all-in-one exfoliating pads (soaked with pore-friendly additives like niacinamide and azelaic acid, witch hazel, and aloe) come in. They were a hit with our testers because of how travel-friendly and convenient they are, plus how well they perk up the skin without drying it out.
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: This toner contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which our dermatologists recommended. They also advised searching for ingredients that brighten the skin. And there is some evidence that niacinamide can be useful in this regard.
4. Best Mask for Oily Skin: Yes To Tomatoes White Charcoal Spot Mud Mask
Buy It: $13
As charcoal and mud masks can get messy if they’re in a jar, our testers liked the sponge-tip on this Yes to Tomatoes charcoal mud mask for spot treatments. It contains acne-fighting salicylic acid and soothing witch hazel, which our testers said reduced the number of their pimples and made red spots seem less angry.
The charcoal and kaolin clay base also help in absorbing extra oil and removing dirt from your pores.
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: Dermatologists advised searching for a product that contains acne-fighting salicylic acid, and this mask delivers.
5. Best Night Cream for Oily Skin: Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Resurfacing Cream
Buy It: $46
The original Night-a-Mins night cream was so successful that the company recently re-released it with alpha-hydroxy acids in the mix. It uses exfoliants to prevent wrinkles and acne when you sleep, just like any good nighttime product. Still, it also includes a range of other beneficial ingredients such as squalane, vitamins, and hyaluronic acid to ensure you wake up with plump, dewy skin.
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: This product is oil-free, as suggested by our dermatologists.
6. Best Spot Treatment for Acne: Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Buy It: $36
As previously mentioned, azelaic acid is a magic ingredient for acne, rosacea, and pigmentation problems. This Paula’s Choice “booster” formula contains a 10% concentration of it and additional salicylic acid for skin clearing. But it works like a lightweight, creamy serum. After using this serum, testers reported cleaner, softer skin with no residual burns, which is a win-win in our book.
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: This product contains salicylic acid, which our dermatologists recommended you look for. According to one study, salicylic acid is an acne treatment that is both effective and safe.
7. Best Wipes for Oily Skin: Recess Bacteria Fighting Wipes
Buy It: $28
Wipes of all kinds are useful for cleaning and refreshing on the go. But they frequently come in bulk packages sealed with a sticker. Recess’ antibacterial wipes are individually packaged, making them ideal for taking to the gym or on holidays without the worry of your pack drying out if the sticker comes unsealed. They’re also biodegradable, which our testers liked, and hydrating (thanks to the glycerin in them).
8. Best At-Home Device for Oily Skin: Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Spotlite Acne Treatment Device Stick Anti-Acne LED
Buy It: $52
At-home LED light treatments are becoming more popular. They usually use either red or blue light to target acne and relieve inflammation (they are weaker versions of those available at a dermatologist’s office). Dr. Dennis Gross’s latest red-light device is the size of a palm and can be focused directly on blemishes to reduce their size over time. Our testers were skeptical initially. But the Spotlite actually worked on shrinking angry red zits: hooray!
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: LED-lit products were the only kind of at-home/DIY skincare device that our dermatologist experts felt good with you using.
9. Best Body Wash for Oily Skin: Esker Clarifying Body Wash
Buy It: $28
If you suffer from acne daily, you already know that an acne-specific body wash can go a long way toward minimizing breakouts.
This clarifying body washes from botanical brand Esker does exactly that, with calming aloe to soothe inflammation and a combination of gentle, clarifying oils to hydrate and cleanse without irritating skin.
10. Best Body Scrub for Oily Skin: Level Naturals Vanilla + Charcoal Body Polish
Buy It: $13
Another product that dermatologists recommended for cleansing acne-prone skin of dirt and oil is charcoal, which is used in this sugar scrub that gently sloughs off dead skin and dirt. Our testers loved the vanilla fragrance. But they recommended using just a small amount at a time for better results.
Bonus Points, Per the Experts: This product contains charcoal and sugar, which our dermatologists recommend you searching for in a body scrub if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
Just So You Know: This product contains coconut oil, which our dermatologists recommend you might want to avoid.
