Skin Care Routine For Oily Skin To Get Rid Of Excess Oil, Sebum & Enlarged Pores

First things first, you have to confirm your skin type before jumping to the routine. The easiest way is to wash your face, get rid of any product you may have applied earlier, and keep your face bare for a good thirty minutes or so. If your face appears shiny or greasy, then welcome to the gang. If it's oily only in certain areas like your T-zone, then skip this guide and check out the routine for combination skin here instead.

It is important to note that if you feel you have tried everything and nothing seems to work for your oily skin, it's always better to consult a dermatologist.

The main culprit for oily skin is excess sebum. What is sebum you ask? Well, it's an oily substance excreted by the glands under the skin that protect and hydrate the skin's surface. So basically, it's juice for the skin, created by the skin for when it's feeling dehydrated and acting all snooty. 

On the ground level, oily skin is caused by dehydration. When your skin feels that you are not providing it enough moisturisation through external help (aka your skincare), it turns all self-reliant and starts over-producing sebum to make up for it. Just for reference, in dry skin's case- the sebaceous glands in are unable to produce enough (or any) sebum/oil to naturally moisturise the surface of the skin which gives it that parched feel.

The overproduction of this waxy, heavy-feeling liquid-like substance contributes to making the skin oily. While this oil is important for retaining the skin's elasticity, too much sebum can sometimes lead to clogged pores and acne when it mixes with dirt and bacteria.

This oiliness can be tackled by adopting a skincare routine that helps reduce this excess sebum situation but also keeps your skin moisturised enough. Also, maintaining a healthy diet, a proper sleeping-cycle and normal stress levels are essential here.

Salicylic Acid: With its anti-inflammatory properties, salicylic acid as a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) dissolves skin debris that clog pores, aiding in the healing of red, inflamed pimples and pustules. It is usually prescribed for oily skin with mild acne (blackheads and whiteheads) and to keep these pesky friends from recurring, by keeping the pores clean.

Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and the topical application of it is a blessing for people with oily skin and acne-prone skin types as it helps regulate sebum production, which means that it keeps excessive oiliness in check without drying out the skin. 

Glycolic Acid: Glycolic acid is the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid in the family of ingredients and penetrates deepest into the skin, helping with exfoliation, acne, and hyperpigmentation. It's amazing for folks for folks who are looking for an exfoliating serum that also helps brighten with regular use.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree has antiseptic properties, which have been shown to limit oiliness and increase hydration. It's used in a number of acne-preventing skincare products and is known to help with along with controlling acne, tea trees also helped reduce oiliness, boost hydration, and aid in desquamation (skin-shedding) and minimises pore sizes.

Additionally, try to look for products that are non-comodogenic (contains ingredients that won't clog or block the pores on your skin) since they are more suitable for sensitive, oily skin.

Keep things super simple with a cleanser, moisturiser, a serum and a sunscreen (for the day). You want to look for formulations that are oil-free and light. It's always nice to have some exfoliating action (with the ingredients mentioned above) in your products for oily skin but keep your serum reserved for that, you don't wan to over-exfoliate since that can lead to releasing even more oil. For the rest, opt for gel formulas over thick creams since the latter tend to not get absorbed by the skin and thus, lead to making your skin appear more oily.

Here are my recommendations for products you can buy for oily skin:

Opt for a cleanser with niacinamide or salicylic acid for gentle exfoliation. What this does is that it gently scrubs to get rid of the dead skin and sebum to reveal clean, fresh skin. Reserve these ones for the morning and opt for any gel-based one with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to prevent your skin from drying out.

LBB Tip: Need more recommendations for face wash for oily skin? Check out our list here.

Serums work extremely well for controlling excess oil. If you have acne-prone oily skin, opt for serums with salicylic acid, niacinamide, tea-tree oil, willow bark, lactic acid or glycolic acid if you need help with pigmentation and mild acne. I would suggest using serums only at night time when your skin is on healing mode, don't use such serums twice a day as they can make the skin dry if used excessively. 

Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser that hydrates the skin without clogging pores. A gel-cream formula can offer the perfect balance for oily skin. Avoid thick, rich and gopopy creams with higher oil content as they can cause even more oiliness. Also, try opting for moisturisers that don't have fragrance since fragrance is known to cause even more breakouts on acne-prone skin.

Always apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher in the morning to keep you protected from the sun's rays. Look for a sunscreen that offers a matte finish to minimize shine or simply opt for a gel formula that lays well on your oily skin.