Skip to content

Genuine Korean skincare. Cash on delivery — open the parcel, then pay.

Routine for Oily Skin

Oily skin needs comfort too: a gentle gel cleanser, a light moisturizer and a thin sunscreen. Overwashing and harsh products do not reduce oil.

Written by the Oliareen editorial teamDermatologist review: pendingLast updated: 6 November 2026How we write

Comfort matters more than stripping oil

Oil comes mostly from hormones, age and hot humid weather. Harsh cleansers, alcohol toners and constant washing do not switch it off; they just make skin tight and irritable. The goal is to manage shine while keeping skin comfortable.

Midday shine

  • Press with blotting paper or a clean tissue; do not rub.
  • After heavy sweating, rinse with water and reapply sunscreen.
  • No need for a third cleanser wash.

Oily does not automatically mean salicylic acid

Plenty of oily skin does well on the base routine alone. Salicylic acid helps with blackheads and clogged pores, but too much brings dryness and stinging. If breakouts are regular, see the acne-prone routine.

Simple routine

Morning

  1. 1
    Gentle gel or mild foam cleanser

    Clears overnight oil without leaving skin tight.

  2. 2
    Light gel moisturizer

    Oil and water differ; skin short on water feels worse, not better.

  3. 3
    Gel or fluid sunscreen

    Thin textures shine less; reapply when outdoors.

Evening

  1. 1
    Cleanser

    Removes sunscreen, sweat and dust.

  2. 2
    Optional: one active, such as niacinamide or salicylic acid a few nights a week

    Only after a few weeks on the base routine, and only if blackheads or clogged pores bother you.

  3. 3
    Light moisturizer

    Reduces irritation if you use an active.

General education, not a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Questions people ask

Can oily skin skip moisturizer?

Better not to. A light gel moisturizer does not add shine, and it balances the dryness from cleansers and actives.

What about combination skin?

The same routine works; add a little more moisturizer on dry cheeks and keep actives to the oily T-zone.

Read next

Check it against your own skin

A few questions and a photo of your face tell you your skin type and which ingredients will work. Free.

Start the skin test

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology — Face washing 101
  2. Hot-humid climate, sebum and water loss — PMC8712251
  3. Oliareen research base — skin types and concerns (oily skin advice set)