If you’re an oily skin type you're skin will likely be:
• Shiny
• Greasy to touch
• And in some cases, skin texture will be course
Oily skin often leaves you vulnerable to other skin conditions such as blackheads, congestion and breakouts.
Fear not, all of these issues can be managed with healthy skincare habits that will control excess sebum and mattify your oily skin, leaving you with all the benefits of oily skin such as fewer wrinkles, better sun protection and healthy, smoother-looking skin.
In this guide, find your ideal skincare routine for oily skin and all the products to manage it.
The 6 core steps of any skincare routine are:
• Cleanse
• Tone
• Serum/Retinol
• Eye Cream
• Night Cream
• Vitamin C Elixir
In the morning, oily skin types require products that tackle oil production and work to reduce excess oil production and unclog pores – reducing the likelihood of breakouts and excess shine on the skin throughout the day.
If you’re looking for the perfect cleanser for oily skin, our Purifying Cleansing Gel doesn’t just remove makeup, it also works to reduce excess oil production and unclog pores – reducing the likelihood of breakouts and excess shine. And if your skin is red and inflamed, the formula works to calm and reduce inflammation, making it an essential first step in your acne skincare routine.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: This Cleansing Gel stars grape seed oil – a special kind of oil that absorbs and sweeps away excess makeup and debris, leaving zero greasy residue behind. It also features anti-bacterial witch hazel to eradicate the bacteria that causes spots. Another key ingredient is green tea – which is rich in antioxidants to protect and repair the skin from pollution and sunlight exposure, while chamomile works to reduce redness and soothe any angry spots.
Watch the Purifying Cleansing Gel in action here
Starring hero ingredient zinc pca, our Purifying Toner works to soothe and refresh oily and acne-prone skin, while reducing breakouts, redness and excess oil – making it the perfect toner for acne and other related concerns.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: This skin-reviving tonic has been formulated to leave skin clear and matte, thanks to its secret weapon zinc pca (short for zinc pyrrolidone carboxylic acid), which regulates oil production and keeps shine to a minimum.
Watch the Purifying Toner in action here
This targeted anti-redness serum is formulated with an extract of walnut and a special botanical calming complex to repair and protect the skin barrier. An ideal serum for oily skin as it helps to reduce skin sensitivity, redness and calm irritated skin, particularly if you suffer from breakouts.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: B vitamins, in general, are helpful to stay in good skin health. However, pro-vitamin B5 is particularly effective for oily skin. This B vitamin works alongside CoEnzyme A to remove excess sebum and unclog your pores. Pro-vitamin B5 is also beneficial to control hormonal breakouts and manage acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, its healing properties help to calm inflammation and redness, balance oil and protect the skin's barrier.
Watch the Calming Serum in action here
Our Peptide Eye Complex is perfect for oily skin types, as it has a lightweight texture that hydrates the area without producing more oil.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: If you’re looking for a peptide eye cream supercharged with skin-plumping ingredients, our Peptide Eye Complex is one of our most advanced skincare solutions yet. Working to firm and brighten the eye area it’s an ideal eye cream for oily skin as it is a lightweight cream that hydrates the eye area without leaving the area oily.
Watch the Peptide Eye Complex in action here
Vitamin C is a powerful serum ingredient for oily skin because it helps it retain moisture effectively. When your skin is sufficiently hydrated, it prevents the sebaceous glands from overproducing sebum. Vitamin C is also proven to manage acne-causing bacteria.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: A non-greasy facial serum with Vitamin C can transform your oily skin into a healthy glow while diminishing breakouts.
Watch the Vitamin C Elixir in action here
A lightweight daily moisturiser that has been specifically created for oily and blemish-prone skin. With ingredients such as Zinc PCA and a specially designed mattifying complex to help reduce and prevent breakouts, these hardworking ingredients help to regulate sebum and reduce shine on the skin.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: Our Purifying Daily Moisturiser contains SPF 30 to save you having to apply another layer of moisture to your skin. There is a myth that SPF makes skin break out further, so this lightweight daily moisturiser not only hydrates, but also protects!
Watch the Purifying Day Moisturiser in action here
The oily skincare bundle has everything you need to recreate this morning routine.
You can buy the bundle and save 15% or buy the individual ingredients to fill a gap in your current routine:
• Purifying Cleansing Gel
• Purifying Toner
• Purifying Daily Moisturiser
For the ultimate skincare routine for oily skin you might also like:
The 6 core steps of any skincare routine are:
• Cleanse
• Tone
• Serum/Retinol
• Eye Cream
• Night Time Moisturiser
• Vitamin C Elixir
At night, oily skin types require products that hydrate the skin to keep it healthy and hydrated.
PRE-CLEANSE - CLEANSING BALM
Ideal as the first step in your double cleanse routine to melt away makeup and impurities without stripping your skin. At night, oily skin types require products that hydrate the skin to keep it healthy and hydrated.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: We have formulated our Cleansing Balm for multiple skin concerns including those with oily skin. An oily skin type will benefit from the addition of jojoba oil in our Cleansing Balm as this helps to effectively loosen and melt sebum.
Your second cleanse should then be with our Purifying Cleansing Gel listed above.
Starring hero ingredient zinc pca, our Purifying Toner works to soothe and refresh oily and acne-prone skin, while reducing breakouts, redness and excess oil – making it the perfect toner for acne and other related concerns.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: This skin-reviving tonic has been formulated to leave skin clear and matte, thanks to its secret weapon zinc pca (short for zinc pyrrolidone carboxylic acid), which regulates oil production and keeps shine to a minimum.
Pro-tip: For clients suffering with persistent breakouts Purifying Toner can be spritzed onto skin throughout the day or applied directly to the affected area to prevent as well as treat.
For resurfacing and replenishing the skin, retinol is a ‘powerhouse’ ingredient. Not only does it have a proven track record in plumping and firming the skin to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, retinol also brightens the complexion and treats acne prone skin while reducing acne scars and pigmentation in the process.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: A retinol serum for oily skin can balance and renew your skin while you sleep, so you wake up with a healthy, and most importantly, not greasy glow.
Learn more about it here
This eye cream is a slightly heavier formula than the Peptide Eye Complex, but this formula helps skin to repair and renew overnight to reduce the appearance of eye bags and puffiness whilst hydrating, plumping and soothing sensitivity.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: Not merely a hydrating eye cream, this formula is infused with active ingredients such as our special EyeRevite™ peptide complex to reduce puffiness and speed up collagen production, while a Hydra Advance™ complex locks in moisture to leave skin replenished and plumped. It also contains nourishing shea butter, to moisturise and protect the skin barrier, while cooling cucumber refreshes and soothes, working to combat tired eyes.
Learn more about it here
A lightweight daily moisturiser that has been specifically created for oily and blemish-prone skin. With ingredients such as Zinc PCA and a specially designed mattifying complex to help reduce and prevent breakouts, these hardworking ingredients help to regulate sebum and reduce shine on the skin.
Why it’s perfect for oily skin: Our Purifying Daily Moisturiser hydrates oily skin whilst also mattifying excess oil and sebum.
Learn more about it here
We believe in keeping skincare affordable.
Our products use the best ingredients and are formulated so that even the smallest amount of product gives your skin the nourishment it needs.
Based on a double cleanse, we expect our 200ml cleansing gel to last 50 days.
If you want to test our products, take a look at our free* oily skincare bundle. You can test products listed in this guide.
*Try Me Packs cost £5. After purchase we will send you a £5 off voucher code via email
Name: Katka
Age: 30's
Skin concern: Oily Skin
Katka was struggling to find the right balance within her skincare routine to control her oily skin. Wearing make-up and leading a busy lifestyle meant she had to have a skincare routine that featured multi-functional products that had long-lasting results.
Her main concern was the excess oil and shine on her skin. Finding the right balance between skin hydration and excess oil has always been a struggle. Skincare expert Lindsay carried out a skin analysis to get to the cause of her oiliness and came up with a treatment plan for Katka. cheeks.
After just 4 weeks here are Katka's results.
“My skin feels very hydrated and refreshed. Not irritated! A deep clean feeling!” - Katka
What are the steps for oily skin care?
The key steps for oily skincare are: cleanse , tone, serum/retinol, eye cream, night cream and Vitamin C Elixir. And at night: cleanse, tone, serum/retinol, eye cream, night time moisturiser, Vitamin C Elixir.
Do and don'ts of oily skin?
If you have oily skin, it’s best to avoid the following ingredients so you don’t worsen this skin concern:
PETROLATUM (PETROLEUM JELLY)
Petroleum jelly is a by-product of a form of crude oil. It's classed as an occlusive emollient, meaning it forms a protective hydrophobic barrier that sits heavily on the skin.
A greasy, waxy substance like this can worsen oily skin, clog your pores, and cause breakouts and skin irritation.
Top tip: Other occlusive emollients to avoid include beeswax, mineral oils and paraffin.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a drying ingredient, and while it might seem like a good idea to dry out oily skin, it can worsen matters.
When you have oily skin, aim to use ingredients that keep it hydrated. Doing so will stop the sebaceous glands from trying to overcompensate for lost moisture with excess oil.
NATURALLY DERIVED OILS HIGH IN OLEIC ACID
Natural face oils high in oleic acid are more likely to sit on the skin, making them potentially comedogenic. Comedogenic products (including face oils with a higher concentration of oleic acid) are likely to clog pores and encourage breakouts.
The following natural oils are high in oleic acid. Try to avoid them if you have oilier skin:
• Coconut oil
• Hazelnut oil
• Camellia oil
• Sunflower oil
ARTIFICIAL DYES
Artificial dyes tend to be used in makeup like blushers, eyeshadows and lipsticks. The dyes are typically derived from coal tar or petroleum. We've already identified petroleum as an ingredient that worsens oily skin by clogging the pores, and coal tar can do the same, making artificial dyes one to avoid. Synthetic dyes have also been linked to acne breakouts and scarring in the cheeks.
Top tip: Look out for monoazo anilines, indigoids, and fluorans, as these are some of the worst artificial dyes for oily skin.
What is the best night routine for oily skin?
Mastering your double cleansing routine is half the battle. You need to choose cleansers that are pH balanced to the skin and will effectively cleanse the skin removing oil, dirt and impurities without stripping and drying the skin. Using a double cleanse at night is particularly important to make sure that you are thoroughly removing make-up, SPF and impurities from the skin. We recommend using a balm or milk cleanser for a first cleanse as these types of cleansers are particularly efficient at removing make-up and build up from the skin and follow with a targeted cleanser for oily skin, one that will really assist in removing excess oil from the skin.
Follow up with your toner, serum or retinol, eye cream and night time moisturiser to complete your evening routine and wake up with glowing rather than greasy skin.
Which serum is good for oily skin?
The Vitamin C Elixir is a powerful serum for oily skin because it helps it retain moisture effectively. When your skin is sufficiently hydrated, it prevents the sebaceous glands from overproducing sebum. Vitamin C is also proven to manage acne-causing bacteria.
What to apply on an oily face before sleeping?
Before going to sleep, oily skin types should apply: cleanser, toner, serum/retinol, eye cream, night time moisturiser and Vitamin C Elixir.
Definitely don’t skip the retinol.
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative frequently used in skin care. Retinol has been shown to speed up cell turnover (the skin's ability to shed and replace dead cells with younger ones). Cell turnover is a natural form of exfoliation that reduces excess skin oil and unclogs pores.
A retinol serum for oily skin can balance and renew your skin while you sleep, so you wake up with a healthy, and most importantly, not greasy glow.
Should I moisturise at night if I have oily skin?
You should definitely moisturise at night if you have oily skin.
The biggest myth we want to debunk is that oily skin types shouldn’t use a moisturiser as it will just add more oil to the skin. Even with the excess oil production, it is still very important to apply a moisturiser, as they help to maintain healthy hydration levels in the skin and often include antioxidant ingredients that protect the skin from free radical damage. It’s the choice of moisturising product that is key here. Oily Skin Types should avoid heavy moisturisers that will be too rich and cause congestion and instead focus on moisturisers such as gels, oil-free solutions or lightweight moisturisers.
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