Disclaimer
Co-written by Meilyn Woods
Due to this summer heat, you might be experiencing more shininess than usual and even (GASP) more breakouts! So sit back and relax because this post is the oily girl’s guide to clear and radiant skin all summer long.
As two oily skin girls, on the opposite sides of our 20s we’ve spent years learning how to take care of our skin. Meilyn is a college senior who is used to early mornings and the occasional all nighter. I, on the other hand, am one year from leaving my twenties behind. As a plant mom and wife who juggles blogging and my 9-5 I would never recover from an all nighter! But what Meilyn and I both have in common is our oily, acne-prone skin. We have both spent hours on Youtube and lots of trial and error in order to find the secret sauce to clear and radiant skin.
So before we get into the nitty-gritty of this post, I’ll let Meilyn break down some oily skin basics.
Do’s and Don’ts for Oily Skin
Don’t
Over strip your skin. As a teen, I spent so much time stripping and overdrying my skin. I would wash my face 2-3 times to combat the shine, and I would still get greasy. When you wash your face too much, you are stripping the skin of its natural oils. This is only causing your skin to overproduce sebum to compensate.
Pick your pimples. I know it’s hard, but stop popping your pimples. It causes irritation and allows more bacteria into the skin. It can also cause acne scars. Am I guilty of popping a few zits, yes. But trust me, if you let it be, it will heal on its own.
Skip moisturizer. I know you think that skipping moisturizer is helping your skin, but you’re only causing it to produce more oil. Also, your moisturizer acts as the final seal on your skincare routine, locking in all your products.
Do
Use hydrating ingredients. I know you’re afraid, but using hydrating products will benefit your skin in the long run. Trust me, no one wants dry skin.
Embrace your oiliness. Did you know that oily skin ages slower than dry skin? That is because the oil from our skin locks in moisture and fights the signs of aging. Nevertheless, it is good to love and take care of the skin you’re in despite your skin type.
What skincare routine is best for oily, acne-prone skin?
When it comes to a basic skincare routine, everyone needs a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF. That’s it. That’s as basic as you can get. However, when you have acne, things can get complicated. Skincare is trial and error, so do not expect crazy results overnight. The best way to see a change in your skin is to find a routine and stick to it for at least a month. Now let’s get into Meilyn’s skincare routine.
Meilyn’s Acne Fighting Skin Care Routine
Through puberty and my teen years, I struggled a lot with acne. So if you have my skin type or deal with acne, here’s my current skincare routine.
Cleanser
My go-to cleanser for acne-prone skin is the PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash Benzoyl Peroxide 10%. Benzoyl Peroxide is an ingredient that treats acne by killing the bacteria on the skin and removing dead skin cells. I find that it works better than Salicylic acid and keeps my skin clear.
For a more gentle cleanse, I love the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. You can’t go wrong with a classic. I typically use this at night, and it gives me a gentle cleanse before bed.
Essence
I introduced essences into my skincare routine about 6 months ago and I will never go back. The purpose of an essence is to provide additional hydration to the skin after cleansing. Also, essences allow for your other products to absorb better into the skin.
My favorite essence is the COSRX Snail Mucin Essence. Yeah you heard me, snail mucin. But before you freak out, snail mucin is a hydrator that helps improve skin tone and texture, which is so great if you have acne scars.
Retinol
Retinol was a game-changer for me. On top of fighting aging, retinol is great for acne because it increases cell turnover. I use Differin Gel, aka Adapalene, which is a retinoid used to treat acne. I use a pea-sized amount all over my face every night. However, I strongly encourage you to work your way up because retinol is very drying.
Moisturizer
Remember, don’t skip your moisturizer! I know it’s tempting, but you’re throwing your skincare routine away if you don’t lock it in with a good cream or lotion.
My favorite moisturizer for oily skin is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream. My skin drinks this stuff up. I’ve gone through 3 of these because it’s that good.
If you like a thicker moisturizer, I recommend the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. It’s an unscented and simple option for those with acne. Also, it pairs great with retinol, which can cause some temporary dryness.
Sunscreen
As an oily girl, I used to stray away from sunscreen because it added another layer of shininess. However, I know now that sunscreen is essential in preventing skin cancer and premature aging. So, if you love your skin, you’ll protect it by wearing sunscreen every single day. My favorite SPF is the Neutrogena Hydro Gel SPF 50. It’s moisturizing, has a great texture, and doesn’t leave a white cast!
Dani’s Skin Care Routine
I hope you’ve enjoyed Meilyn’s skincare routine. Her five step routine is affordable, beginner friendly, and most importantly, it works!
Since I am not a college youth, my skincare routine is slightly more in depth but just as simple. My skincare collection has grown over the years, but less is still more. You do not need a 10 step skincare routine to manage your oily skin. I’m sharing the products I gravitate towards AM/PM and why.
I have an oily T-zone, acne-prone skin, and hyperpigmentation. Here’s my simple skincare routine.
Cleanser
I have learned that if you have oily skin, you want to avoid stripping your face. We need the right balance of oils to avoid overproduction of sebum.
In the morning, I use the Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser. It’s gentle enough to never leave me feeling dried out but effective at breaking down oil. It’s jelly formula is full of nourishing and soothing ingredients like matcha, hemp seed oil and Vitamin B5.
I double cleanse at night which means I use an oil cleansing balm followed by a foam cleaner.
It might sound strange to use products with more oil on oily skin, but oil cleansing works for my acne-prone, oily skin by loosening congestion in my pores. It melts my makeup and SPF right off. The trick is to cleanse your face for at least 60 seconds to ensure you are really cleaning your skin. Take your time, say a few affirmations, and gently massage your face to relieve facial tension and circulate blood flow.
To learn more about double cleansing check out LaBeautyologist’s Youtube video.
There are a lot of great cleansing balms out there, like cult favorite, Farmacy Green Clean.
Toner
Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner is a gentle hydrating toner that works to brighten acne scars. Niacinamide is a powerhouse ingredient. Great for balancing the skin’s oil production, hyperpigmentation, and even skin tone.
If I am in a rush in the morning, I will grab First Aid Beauty’s Radiance Pads as my toner and vitamin C serum in one. These little pads exfoliate, tone, and brighten.
At night I reach for Paula’s Choice skin perfecting 2% BHA liquid Exfoliant and follow it up with a hydrating serum. BHA is a salicylic acid good for fighting acne, brightening skin, and reducing pore size by exfoliating pore-clogging dead skin.
Serums
A mistake I’ve made for my oily acne-prone skin is not being consistent with hydrating products. Dehydrated skin will overproduce oil and result in breakouts.
Now I focus on hydrating serums with hyaluronic acid because it works to retain water in the skin. If I’m dealing with a breakout it speeds up my recovery process and plumps up my skin by filling in fine lines.
Pro tip: If you are layering serums, hyaluronic acid should always be used first on damp skin. Great hydrating serums are Origins Renewal Serum with Willow herb, First Aid Beauty Hydrating Serum
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 , Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Hyaluronic acid can be used daily day or night, but I only use Retinol at night. Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum or every other night Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum.
I also am not ashamed to admit that serums can be overwhelming, so I tend to stick to gentle formulas. If I am experiencing breakouts, I avoid serums that contain reactive ingredients.
Eye cream
Eye cream is the perfect wakeup call and a must before sitting in front of my computer all day. If I’m in need of intense eye care, I’ll grab Kiehls Avocado Eye cream. It hydrates, defends from digital fatigue, depuffs, brightens, and can double as an under eye makeup primer.
Moisturizer
For the morning, I like a lightweight moisturizer to go under my SPF and makeup. I’ve been loving Skin-fix lipid-peptide lotion for its lightweight but deeply hydrating formula that works to reinforce the skin barrier.
At night, I like my night cream thick, hydrating, and brightening. Mad Hippie Triple C Cream is just that, plus it comes with an adorable application spoon! This deeply hydrating cream has three forms of vitamin C. Also ingredients like turmeric work to brighten skin and reduce discoloration. But if I’m in need of a simple moisturizer that layers well over any and all serums then it’s First Aid Beauty’s repair cream.
Oils
True Botanicals Clear Pure Radiance Oil has been a game-changer for my acne-prone skin. It’s not cheap, but it is worth the price. When used consistently, it prevents breakouts while also giving my skin all the anti-aging goodness it needs. This clarifying moisturizing oil minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on my forehead, and can be used in place of a moisturizer. Do note, facial oils should be used last in your routine unless you are using sunscreen.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the last step and dare I say the most important step in my routine. Without it, all the other steps are useless at brightening, evening skin tone, and fighting against the signs of aging. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen is my go-to SPF. It doesn’t leave a white cast, it’s not heavy or oily on the skin, and it doubles as a makeup primer.
Masks, Spot Treatments, and Exfoliants
These products are used once or twice a week or as needed. They are essential in helping me keep my skin from looking dull and clogged. Origins Active Charcoal Mask to clear pores. Black-Owned Golde Clean Greens Superfood Face Mask is a new addition to the collection but I think it’s here to stay.
Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder is a gentle physical and chemical exfoliation that contains fruit enzymes, vitamin C, and rice powder to help reveal brighter skin. I use this a couple nights a week before applying serums. Indie Lee Banish Solution is a natural, talc-free alternative intensive acne spot treatment that works to dry out blemishes, absorb excess oil, disinfect pores and reduce inflammation.
Tips and Trick for Acne-prone Skin
The number one tip for oily or acne-prone skin is that there aren’t any tricks to better skin. The biggest recommendation is to consult a professional, start slow, and do your research.
After struggling with our own skin issues, Meilyn and I both know that you must love the skin you’re in. Remember this the next time you look in the mirror: you are a person not a filter. Healthy skin has pores, textures, and you will break out randomly.
As two busy women, the expectation to be perfect, flawless, with blemish-free skin is not something we waste our energy on. Sorry, not sorry, toxic beauty standards!
Like all things, consistency is key, especially when it comes to skincare. It doesn’t matter if your skincare routine is three or ten steps, if you aren’t consistent you won’t get the results you want.
We hope you enjoyed the oily girl’s guide to clear and radiant skin from two twenty-something oily girls. No matter your age, budget, or skin care expertise, we hope our guide can give you insight into building a routine for your skincare needs.
With love,
Dani & Meilyn
If you’re looking for more skincare advice or want some motivational content, check out Meilyn’s website, Life By Lyn! Meilyn helps goal-oriented women manage their school and side hustles while navigating college and post-grad life.
Read Meilyn’s guest post: 5 tips for Body Confidence This Hot Girl Summer
