Ok so first of all let me say oily skin is annoying af. Like you wash your face, feel fresh for maybe 30 mins, and boom the shine is back. I’ve tried so many products coz everyone online says “this is the best skincare routine for oily skin” but honestly half of it is just marketing. What I’m writing here is just what kinda worked for me after lot of trial n error, not some perfect dermatologist manual.
Step 1 – Cleanser
Don’t use those super harsh face washes that dry ur skin too much. I did that mistake in college and my face started making double the oil, like a frying pan. A simple gentle foaming cleanser is enough, use morning and night, not every 3 hours coz that just makes it worse.
Step 2 – Toner (maybe, maybe not)
Some ppl swear by toner, some don’t. For me a mild toner with niacinamide helped little bit, but once I overdid it and my skin got red patches lol. So if u use it, don’t pour half the bottle. Just a dab, that’s it.
Step 3 – Moisturizer
Yeah yeah I know sounds crazy coz oily skin already greasy, why add more cream? But truth is if u skip it, your skin thinks it’s desert and pumps even more oil. Use gel type or water base one. Not the thick buttery ones, those just make u shiny mess.
Step 4 – Sunscreen
Honestly I was lazy with sunscreen. Felt heavy, sticky, and I used to skip. Big mistake. Now I know even oily skin needs SPF or u just get dull, tanned and breakouts get worse. Pick oil-free or matte sunscreens, they exist, you just gotta try few until one feels ok.
Step 5 – Exfoliate but chill
Everyone says exfoliate but please don’t scrub your face like washing dishes. Oily skin gets clogged pores so yeah exfoliation helps, but 1–2 times a week max. I tried salicylic acid toner, that stuff works but again don’t drown in it everyday.
Step 6 – Mask once in a while
Clay masks are kinda fun tbh, feels cooling and takes away shine for few hours. But if u do them daily u end up looking like lizard skin. Once a week good enough.
Night routine
At night I just wash and use moisturizer. Sometimes niacinamide serum but not daily coz my skin gets irritated fast. Don’t go adding 10 serums coz some influencer said so, your skin will just hate you.
Extra stuff I noticed
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Blotting papers are life savers in college when u have long classes and can’t wash face.
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Water helps (ik it’s boring advice but true).
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Don’t keep touching ur face with dirty hands, I still do this sometimes and regret it when a pimple shows up next day.
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And pls don’t expect miracles in 2 days. Stick to routine atleast couple weeks.
Final thoughts
So yeah, if you’re looking for skincare routine for oily skin, keep it simple: gentle wash, light moisturizer, sunscreen, exfoliate sometimes. Rest is extra. Took me years to realize less is more. My bathroom shelf used to look like mini shop, now just 3–4 products I actually use.