William Shakespeare famously said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Swap in “good skin” for “greatness” and you’ve got a saying that applies directly to my life. I fall squarely into the second category, having “achieved” good skin through meticulous and painstaking product research, testing, and analyzing. When people compliment me on my complexion, I beam like a kindergartner, who was complimented by her teacher for remembering to hold scissors the right way (and walking, not running). This might sound vain and superficial, or maybe even the slightest bit psychotic, but I’m not ashamed. In fact, I’m proud. I wasn’t born with good skin, and sadly, did not have good skin thrust upon me. I worked for the skin I have now, and though it is far from perfect, it’s far less oily and acne-prone than the skin I had growing up.
But I haven’t forgotten my pimply, oily days of yore. They linger on in the periphery of my brain, and the familiar flood of stress and anxiety floods over me still on occasion whenever I see the hint of a breakout forming. Thus, I wanted to share some key things I’ve done and learned that have helped my skin go from supremely greasy to pleasantly dewy in the hopes that it might help anyone who has ever struggled with an oil slick of a T-zone. Yes, I have to give nature some credit—most of my acne-filled days were during my hormonally-crazy teenage years—but in general, my skincare routine is the key reason I no longer have to blot my face 10 times a day (true story). Also, keep in mind that these are tips that have worked for me. If you have a skincare routine you love that goes against every single point I bring up ahead, by all means, stick to it. But if you’ve been struggling with oily skin for a long time and are on the verge of shaking your fists at the sky, screaming, “Why me?!” you might find some helpful information ahead.
Let’s get started, shall we? Keep scrolling to find out how I trained my skin to be less greasy, with tips from the experts.
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I Treated My Skin Like the Queen It Was All Along
Here’s the truth: If you aren’t born with naturally perfect skin, then you’ll probably have to put in some work. In the past, I saw skincare as a chore, left to the last five minutes before bed, and executed as hastily as possible. But then I started seeing real results from the products I was using, and gradually, skincare became more of a ritual and an indulgence rather than an annoying necessity.
I started to look forward to my weekly mask (Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask, $55, is utterly luxurious and never dries out; Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack, $22, is a great affordable alternative), and I would take time to treat myself, usually settling in the bath or cuddling up in bed with a good book as I waited for the mask to work its magic.
I also treat my skin with serums that are chock-full of brightening, texture-smoothing, and oil-balancing ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea (also called Camellia Sinensis leaf extract), and grape extract (also called Vitis vinifera seed extract). SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic ($166) is a beauty editor favorite; Instanatural Age Defying and Skin Clearing Serum ($22) is more affordable and Review2Coupon editorial project director Lindsey’s go-to.
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I Already Said This, But: Treat Your Skin With Love (and Moisture)
“I think people get confused,” Tol says. “When you have oily skin you want the oil gone. But the oil is there to provide a natural layer of protection on your skin, so you need to have it there.” She brings up how oil breaks down oil, so you shouldn’t shy away from an oil cleanser. I’ve recently gotten over my aversion to face oils, and now reach for Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum ($185) and May Lindstrom Skin Blue Cocoon ($180) any time my skin feels dull or tired; Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil ($36) is another great option and can be used on your hair and body, too.
“It is good for someone with oily skin to use the right oils because the right oils balance the skin and regulate sebum production. Dehydrated skin actually tends to overproduce sebum in order to compensate for the lack of moisture. Examples of healthy oils are Jojoba oil which prevents moisture loss and chaulmoogra oil which has fatty acids,” says Karam.
Instead of over-exfoliating, I exfoliate just once or twice a week with a more intense treatment (i.e., Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, $88), or I use a gentle chemical exfoliator like Ever Biomimetic Peel Pads ($70) every day to increase cell turnover and help my hydrating products penetrate better.
Nowadays, I welcome moisturizing masks, essences, and other lightly hydrating skincare products with open arms—and since then, my skin has never looked better. I can go a full day without reaching for my blotting papers, which gives me time to focus on more important things, like whether or not I should start Vanderpump Rules (all signs point to yes). It seems to go against logic, but this paradigm shift has changed my life (and skin) for the better, and I’ll never go back to harsh cleansers, exfoliators, and drying treatments again—just try and take my hyaluronic acid serum from me, I dare you.
FAQ
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What causes oily skin?
Oily skin can be caused by a number of factors, including (but not limited to): hormonal fluctuations, genetics, weather, and certain skincare products containing alcohol.
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Does using an oil make your skin more oily?
Despite sounding pretty counterintuitive, using an oil on your skin can actually help balance out oil production.
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What oils are best for oily skin?
Oily skin really benefits from lightweight oils like jojoba, argan, and squalane oil. If you have acne-prone skin, rosehip seed oil is a great option, as it can also reduce acne scarring.
