Shine Bright (But Not TOO Bright)

If your skin often feels like it’s trying to out-glow the highlighter on your cheekbones, you’re not alone. Oily skin can be both a blessing and a bit of a beauty challenge. On the plus side? Oily skin tends to age more slowly and shows fewer wrinkles. The trade-off? You might be dealing with unwanted shine, clogged pores, or breakouts that make you question if your skin is rebelling against you.

But fear not, glow-getter. With the right routine and ingredients, oily skin can look fresh, healthy, and radiant—without the mid-day grease slick. Below are some game-changing beauty tips and ingredient recommendations to help you control the shine, minimize breakouts, and fall in love with your skin.

Cleanse Gently But Thoroughly 

Let’s start with the basics: cleansing. Washing your face is a must, but don’t go overboard trying to scrub away every drop of oil. Stripping your skin can backfire, causing it to produce even more oil to compensate. Instead, aim for twice-a-day cleansing using gentle, non-comedogenic cleansers.

Ingredients to look for:

• Salicylic Acid: This beta hydroxy acid (BHA) dives deep into pores, helping to remove excess oil and prevent acne.
• Tea Tree Oil: Naturally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, this ingredient can help calm breakouts without over-drying.
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Helps regulate oil production while improving skin tone and texture.

Pro Tip: Avoid foaming cleansers that leave your skin feeling “squeaky clean.” That feeling is often a sign of stripped skin, which can lead to rebound oiliness.

Use a Toner That Does More Than Just Tingle 

Toners have come a long way since the harsh, alcohol-based formulas of our teenage years. Modern toners for oily skin can help balance oil, tighten pores, and prep the skin for hydration.

Ingredients to look for:

• Witch Hazel: A natural astringent that helps reduce inflammation and tighten pores without overly drying the skin.
• Lactic Acid: Gently exfoliates while hydrating, perfect for smoothing skin without irritation.
• Green Tea Extract: Rich in antioxidants and great for reducing sebum production and calming redness.

Don’t Skip Moisturizer (Yes, Really) 

One of the biggest myths about oily skin is that you don’t need to moisturize. In reality, if you don’t hydrate your skin, it might compensate by producing more oil. The key is to choose lightweight, non-greasy formulations.

Look for:

• Oil-free gel moisturizers with ingredients like:
• Hyaluronic Acid: Holds water in the skin without adding oil.
• Aloe Vera: Hydrating and soothing, especially after exfoliation or sun exposure.
• Dimethicone: Creates a silky finish and blurs pores, often found in oil-control primers too.

Add Exfoliation to Your Weekly Routine 

Exfoliation is a must for oily skin, but gentle is the name of the game. You don’t want to irritate or damage your skin’s barrier.

Best options:

• Chemical Exfoliants (2-3x per week):
• Salicylic Acid: Already mentioned, but worth repeating—it’s a gold-standard for oily skin.
• Glycolic Acid: Helps remove dead skin and smooth out texture.
• Clay Masks (1x per week):
• Kaolin or Bentonite Clay: Draw out impurities and reduce shine without stripping the skin.

Avoid: Harsh physical scrubs with large particles—they can cause microtears and worsen inflammation.

Prime Like a Pro 

If your foundation slides off by lunchtime, it’s time to become besties with a good primer. Primers designed for oily skin can smooth your canvas and keep shine in check all day.

What to look for:

• Mattifying primers with ingredients like silica or rice starch.
• Blurring primers that also minimize the appearance of pores.
• Niacinamide-based primers to help reduce oil throughout the day.

Choose the Right Foundation 

Not all foundations are friends to oily skin. Skip heavy, creamy formulas that might clog pores and slide around. Instead, look for:

• Powder foundations: Great for natural, buildable coverage and excellent oil control.
• Matte liquid foundations: Long-wear and transfer-resistant options are ideal for oily skin.
• Non-comedogenic formulas: Always check this label—it means they’re designed not to clog pores.

Set It and Forget It (Almost) 

Setting powder and setting spray are your secret weapons to lock in your makeup and reduce that shine-through by noon.

Try:

• Translucent setting powder: A light dusting over your T-zone helps absorb excess oil.
• Mattifying setting spray: Bonus points if it contains ingredients like cucumber extract or niacinamide.

Blotting Papers: Your Purse MVP 

If you’re on the go and start to feel the glow turning into grease, blotting papers are a non-invasive way to mop up excess oil without ruining your makeup.

Pro Tip: Gently press—don’t rub—the blotting paper onto oily areas. Rubbing can move your makeup and irritate your skin.

Watch Out for Comedogenic Ingredients 

Oily skin is prone to clogged pores and breakouts, so avoid ingredients that are known to be pore-cloggers.

Common culprits to avoid:

• Coconut oil (too heavy for the face)
• Lanolin
• Isopropyl myristate
• Synthetic fragrances and dyes

Look for products labeled as non-comedogenic, oil-free, or dermatologist-tested for oily/acne-prone skin.

Be Consistent, But Patient

When it comes to oily skin, consistency is more important than perfection. A product that works well needs time—usually about 4-6 weeks—to show real results. Don’t switch up your routine too often or overload your skin with too many actives at once. Keep it simple, stick to what works, and adjust as needed.

Remember, A Little Shine is Fine

Oily skin doesn't need to be "fixed"—it just needs the right care. In fact, that natural oil helps protect your skin from environmental damage and keeps it looking youthful longer. With the right ingredients and a tailored routine, your skin can glow for all the right reasons.

Remember: balance is better than battling. And a little shine? That’s just your inner radiance showing off.