Battling oily skin and the problems related to it have been my utmost concern all my life! And this led me to try out numerous options from which I have handpicked the best products for oily skin after trying and testing them out for an extensive period. While many admire the fact that oily skin beauties do not have to deal with flaky and dry skin, I beg to differ that we deal with quite concerning problems that are far more visible — pesky problems like blackheads, whiteheads, enlarged pores, clogged pores, dark spots, pimples, weak skin barrier, acne to name a few! Other than that, a greasy appearance caused by excess sebum production can be one leading cause that can dampen your polished look and confidence.

My below-listed recommended skin care products comprise the basic CTMS — cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen, which are the building blocks of any healthy skincare regime irrespective of the skin type. The list further consists of serums and masks that can further address your concerns quickly and effectively! The products are enriched with ingredients that control excess oil production which is one of the main causes of all skin problems. So, without further ado, let's jump into the product recommendations.

• 1
  Best Soothing Toner

  Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Toner

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Packed with the goodness of witch hazel, aloe vera, and rose petals, this soothing toner by Thayers controls sebum production in the skin, while hydrating its surface at the same time. It has an alcohol-free formula that won’t adversely impact your skin while improving the skin texture magically! Furthermore, it balances the pH level of the skin while strengthening the moisture barrier at the same time. Lastly, the dermatologically-tested product also reduces the pores for a smoother appearance of your face.

Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, rose petals, and aloe vera

Size: 12 fl. oz

2

Best for Smooth Skin

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

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With the goodness of salicylic acid, this liquid exfoliant works like magic on your oily skin to combat early aging signs like fine lines, discoloration, enlarged pores, and blackheads as revealed in a study published on ResearchGate! In addition to the infused BHA, the overall formulation is quite mild, containing no harsh scrubbing particles. Quite gently, it buffs away the dead cells and flakiness for smooth and radiant skin. It further clears pores and controls the excess sebum production which is a regular struggle for oily skin people! Trust me when I say that you will notice natural youthful skin within a few days of using this product!

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid

Size: 4 fl. oz.

3

Best Lightweight Formula

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen

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La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios sunscreen has been my absolute favorite being an oily skin person! It comes with a broad-spectrum formula with SPF 60 that shields your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun without causing breakouts. Well, the credit goes to its clinically tested formula that doesn’t cause oil or greasiness even under high temperature or humidity! Enriched with Cell-Ox Shield technology, the formula doubles up on skin protection by safeguarding it from oxidative aggressors, too. Besides, it gets an extra brownie point owing to its fast-absorbing formula. 

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, octocrylene 7%, homosalate 15%, and octisalate 5%,

Size: 1.7 fl. oz.

4

Best to Hydrate Skin

Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer

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The DermaControl oil-absorbing moisturizing cream comes with SPF 30 which provides extra protection from the sun. It generously hydrates the skin while leaving no oily sheen on it — something that oily-skinned beauties experience a lot. Having tried it out, I loved how it left a subtle, matte finish on my skin, which was neither greasy nor dry. 

 

I also love how this lightweight moisturizer absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a residue or clogging the pores. Formulated for sensitive skin as well, it further ensures to not irritate the skin's surface to take care of everything at once.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, octocrylene 7%, and octisalate 5%

Size: 4 fl. oz.

5

Best Hypoallergenic Formula

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner

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This pore-refining toner by Neutrogena is another amazing product for people with oily skin because of its ability to bestow you with an even-toned appearance. It has an oil-free formula that deeply cleanses the pores while extracting the clogged impurities and dead cells. By leveraging the properties of AHAs, BHA, and witch hazel, the product smoothes out the skin texture, refines the complexion, and addresses other oily skin concerns. And, the fact that this formula is hypoallergenic deserves special mention, as it delivers visible results without irritating the skin!

Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid

Size: 8.4 fl. oz.

6

Best for Glowing Skin

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum

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If you are a lover of Korean skincare products, this Beauty of Joseon glow serum could be your answer to get the coveted glass-like skin! This hydrating facial serum not only moisturizes your face but also evens out your skin tone, thanks to the formula enriched with niacinamide and propolis. It also has BHA that takes the upper hand at mildly exfoliating the skin for a smoother surface. Furthermore, it nourishes your skin while controlling sebum production at the same time for an envy-worthy glow!

Key Ingredients: 60% propolis, 2% niacinamide elixir, and BHA

Size: 1 fl. oz.

7

Best Smoothing Toner

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner

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The PHA+BHA toner from Glow Recipe is packed with the goodness of hyaluronic acid which is a holy grail to hydrate the skin. It also contains exotic ingredients like cactus water that promotes supple skin while minimizing the pores at the same time. The product is also enriched with vitamins and amino acids that make the skin look tight and firm while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Furthermore, I love the moisture-locking ability of the salicylic acid toner that ensures youthful skin in the long run.

Key Ingredients: Willow bark, PHA, hyaluronic acid, and cactus water

Size: 5.07 fl. oz.

8

Best to Calm Down Skin

Mediheal Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Mask

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This sheet mask from Mediheal is packed with tea tree formula that soothes your skin while controlling the sebum at the same time, which I think is a blessing in disguise for oily-skinned people! It further contains herbal extracts that soothe irritated skin while clarifying the pores at the same time. Not to mention, the chamomile present in the product visibly reduces the redness for smooth and clear skin! And if you are worrying about the material, let me tell you that it is made of ultrafine cotton linter, which helps the serum get absorbed by the skin fully!

Key Ingredients: Tea tree, chamomile, rosemary, and Asiatic pennywort

Size: 0.81 fl. oz./sheet

9

Best Multi-tasking Product

The Body Shop Tea Tree 3-in-1 Wash Scrub & Mask

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I fell in love right away after I was introduced to this scrub and mask during my teen years because of its ability to deal with hormonal acne! The purifying formula of the product takes care of the blemished skin by deeply purifying the pores and extracting all the excess oil, dirt, and grime. The 3-in-1 formula cleanses, exfoliates, and soothes the skin at the same time for a refreshed look. Not only just that, but it also bestows the skin with a balanced, mattified texture that is not too oily or dry.

Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil

Size: 4.2 fl. oz.

10

Best to Renew Skin Cells

Plum Green Tea Gentle Revival Face Scrub

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I believe that this face scrub from Plum stands true to its name as it revives your skin with its gentle formula — packed with green tea, cellulose beads, and hibiscus extracts. Its gel cream-based consistency is easy to apply onto the skin, and exfoliates impurities and gunk from the skin quite effectively! The antioxidants present in this product safeguard your skin from free radicals, and the formulation controls pimples and other acne  by minimizing the production of sebum. Lastly, the licorice extracts present in the product promote brighter-looking skin for a youthful glow!

Key Ingredients: Green tea, licorice extracts, and walnut shell

Size: 2.65 fl. oz.

11

Caudalie Vinopure Pore Minimizing Serum

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With the invigorating scent of grapefruit, the pore minimizing serum will uplift your mood as it address the skin issues! Furthermore, Caudalie’s formulation visibly refines skin for a brighter complexion without damaging the skin barrier. It also improves skin texture with each use by reducing imperfections and tightening the pores. It is one good product for oily skin that camouflages blemishes and minimizes blackheads for a clear appearance! The salicylic acid and niacinamide present in the formula help greatly control the excess oil, which is the main cause of every problem, while being not harmful to the skin!

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, salicylic acid, grape seed polyphenols

Size: 1.76 fl. oz.

12

Youth To The People Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask

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This pro-grade power mask is packed with niacinamide, kombucha black tea, red willow bark, and BHA that improves skin clarity, and balances skin’s microbiome while unclogging the pores at the same time. It absorbs excess sebum — the trigger for most skin problems like papules, pustules, blackheads, whiteheads, etc. However, it also ensures not stripping away the essential oils from your skin so that your skin’s moisture barrier is not disrupted. Plus, it is super easy to use!

Key Ingredients: BHA, kombucha black tea, niacinamide, red willow bark

Size: 2 fl. oz.

13

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

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Specially formulated for people with oily skin, this daily fash wash by Kiehl’s helps clarify and decongest skin’s pores while minimizing oil production! It contains oat kernel meal, Amazonian white clay, and aloe vera — a multi-tasking blend suited to absorb excess oil from the skin and bestow you with smooth skin while extracting impurities. The anti-inflammatory properties in it help soothe, balance and comfort the skin. Brownie points — it is very mild and non-stripping. 

Key Ingredients: Amazonian white clay, oat kernel meal, and aloe vera

Size: 5.0 fl. oz.

Now that you have checked out the products, take a look at how you can pick the one for yourself.

Here are the steps to remember before picking the right product for oily skin—

a) Ingredients to Incorporate: Ingredients play a great role when picking a product for oily skin. Components like niacinamide, salicylic acid, aloe vera, tea tree, witch hazel, and green tea are excellent options to incorporate into your oily skin routine in the form of any product so that excess sebum production can be controlled.

b) Ingredients to Avoid: While some ingredients play a major role in making the best out of your skincare routine, some of them can cause hindrance to achieve the best results. Such as parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, synthetic dyes, paraffin, emollients, and artificial fragrances. Products that contain too much silicone may also not be a great idea for people with oily skin. It is best to avoid the products that consist of these ingredients to get the best result!

c) Consistency: No matter what you're picking for your oily skin, it should be lightweight! A lightweight formula will be quickly absorbed by the skin without leaving residue. It will also not stay on the surface for a long time which will avoid further greasy build-ups!

d) Formula: The formula you're picking should go with your skin concerns! If your skin is prone to allergies and sensitivity, a hypoallergenic formula can be your answer. If you want to remain safe about your choice, a dermatologically-tested product is what you should choose! Lastly, if you are a mindful beauty lover, always go for a vegan-friendly formula.