Struggling with oily skin? So was the skincare tester I've recruited to do a bit of testing for me. When a skin concern comes up against you in full force, generally it can be blooming hard to know what to do. That's where my SOS series comes in. I'm delving in deep to skincare concerns to let you know what are the best products out there to combat your concern. First up: oily skin.
The best cleansers for oily skin
I'm a self-confessed skincare junkie, so I often like to have a few cleanser options to give me choice when it comes to cleansing in the morning or evening. My tester and I have narrowed down 5 of the best.
Yes, it's expensive but everything about it makes it worthwhile. If you like a cream cleanser but want something with a bit more "oomph", then this is definitely going to be your cup of tea. Launched in February, this cleanser detoxifies, purifies and has anti-microbial properties. It's filled with one of Omorivicza's most effective (and unique) ingredients - their Hungarian Moor mud which is best known for its skin-perfecting properties as it's used within several products in the range. So if you're already a big Omorovicza fan like I am, then chances are you'll love this for that reason only.
The mud works to cleanse and exfoliate the skin, and the essential oils also included in the cleanser hydrate and soothe. Just because you have oily skin doesn't mean you need to steer completely clear of oil and hydration! This cleanser helps to reduce the oil alongside your pore size - if that's something you're struggling with too while also leaving your skin feeling revitalised and refreshed. If the price is a problem, pick it up as a treat and keep it as your cleanser for when you really need a skin boost or for special occasions.
If you love a foaming action - or the rest of the La Roche-Posay Effaclar range then you're going to love this. It's a gentle, gel-based cleanser that deeply cleans the skin and is the perfect start to your skincare regime - both in the morning and in the evening. It leaves skin feeling oil-free but without stripping the skin at all.
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser, £18 for 150ml
Another cleanser for the foam lovers out there. This gel cleanser from Aveda is formulated for normal to oily skin and works in a very similar way to the LRP one I mentioned before. If you don't always struggle with oily skin then this could be a good option to go for. It's gentle, and removes makeup and cleanses the skin so well. Ingredients include Vitamin E, coconut, chamomile, lavender and rosemary that works to protect the skin from damaging free radicals and soothe the skin at the same time.
Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel, £10.50 for 200ml
Another foaming gel option - and this one is especially great if you also suffer from acne/blemishes alongside oil. This cleanser is soap-free and non-comedogenic and is designed to be used on the problematic areas of your skin and body. It's patented with Fluidactiv® sebum-correcting complex and this makes sure that the sebum is a better quality on the skin which reduces breakouts.
Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser, £21
First things first, I adore the bright and bold packaging of this cleanser from Ole Henriksen. Much like all of the other Ole Henriksen product packaging actually. It's beautiful! This cleanser is designed for acne prone and oily skin and for use at both morning and night. It's filled with aloe vera to heal the skin, chamomile to soothe and the other ingredients each have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing properties. This is a 360-degree cleanser and you'll really notice the difference.
The best toners for oily skin
Following on from the Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser, this toner is the perfect second step in your skincare routine. Again with the same, bright and bold packaging, this facial water is quickly spritzed onto the skin and it reduces shine and refreshes skin giving it a natural glow - without the excess oil. If you need a boost throughout the day, give this a spritz over your makeup for a skin boost.
The best moisturisers for oily skin
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel, £18
This Moisturiser from Clinique is an oil-free take on the infamous (and personal favourite of mine) Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser. It's a gel based hydrator that is light on the skin but hydrates while removing excess oil and leaving skin smooth and comfortable. It works perfectly for day and night.
Bioderma Sebuim Moisturising Mattifying Fluid, £11.50
If you're after something that's more directly mattifying and a cream-gel texture over the gel specific hydrator then this is a good bet especially if you struggle with acne or blemishes- or are a fan of the Bioderma cleanser I mentioned earlier in this feature. This is a small tube, but a little goes a long way so don't worry about that. It's perfect if your skin is really on the worst end of the spectrum.
Voya Even Pure Light Calming Moisturiser, £53
This 95% certified organic moisturiser, albeit expensive, is really lovely. It's light and calming as the name says but it's the fact that it still hydrates my skin that is the reason this moisturiser has got me hook, line and sinker. Not only that, but it replenishes the skin with the essential vitamins, minerals and hydration leaving the skin perfectly balanced, reducing sebum along the way. This is a perfect hydrator, if you don't want to overload your skin with a heavy cream.
Institut Esthederm Intensive Propolis Cream, £33
If you struggle with oily, acne-prone skin - you need to give this moisturiser ago. It's highly concentrated and while hydrating and working as a moisturiser, it also works as an antiseptic to heal and decongest the skin. It soothes and actively eliminates the bacteria flora on the surface on the skin.
My boyfriend's favourite facial SPF, the Effeclar Duo [+] SPF 30 really does live up to the hype. This hydrator has all of the benefits of the cult favourite, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo but with added SPF. It's perfect for this time of year and doesn't overload the skin but protects from sun damage and pollution - a must for busy London life!
The best face masks for oily skin
Roger & Gallet Extra-Fine Cleansing Mask, £17
I absolutely adore the packaging of the Roger & Gallet skincare - it's so beautiful. Packaging aside, the product inside most definitely doesn't disappoint either. This cleansing mask can be used on all skin tones but with its 95% natural ingredients, it works perfectly on oily skin too. It removes makeup, detoxifies the skin while adding radiance. It's perfect for a deep cleanse at the end of a busy day!
Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask, £24
The name pretty much says it all. If you're struggling with blemishes and oil at the same time, this is the perfect pampering product for healing blemishes, preventing breakouts and keeping the skin shine-free. It's a clay based mask and is perfect for a deep pore cleanse.
La Roche Posay Unclogging Purifying Sebo-Controlling Anti-Shine Mask, £13
La Roche Posay absolutely nails it with every skincare launch. This face mask is specifically targeted at oily, spot and blackhead-prone skin. It deeply cleanses the skin and unclogs pores while controlling the shine. If I can get my boyfriend to use a face mask, it's this one as the clay mask is so effective on his oil-prone skin. LRP has done it again!
The best budget skincare range for oily skin
The Body Shop is a brand I constantly rave about on here. Virtually everything I've ever tried from them I have loved and it's a brand that has very much taken me through the years. I have mentioned a few times that I worked in store when I was a lot younger and that was most definitely one of the reasons my love of beauty expanded and my knowledge of products extended. The Body Shop's seaweed range has always been one of their best ranges. I've only ever heard good things - including when I worked in store. Everyone loved it and that hasn't changed. There are quite a lot of products in the range, so it could be worth popping in-store to have a play, but here are the products we recommend.
This cleanser is oil-free and soap-free making it perfect to combat your problematic oily skin. The gel-based cleanser is mineral rich and cleanses deeply leaving your skin shine-free but also super refreshed. It's incredibly affordable, I love the new packaging and it really does everything it needs to.
After cleansing, this oil balancing toner works additionally to cleanse impurities and refresh the skin. It's alcohol-free so not stripping but works to rebalance the skin and keep the oil at bay.
A lot of people I know that have oily skin say that the night is the worst. If they don't use something overnight to combat the oil, then they're starting the day with a problem that only gets worse throughout the day. This overnight treatment from The Body Shop is applied after toning and is left on overnight, much like you would a night cream or moisturiser. It feels light on the skin - not like some overnight masks. It's not drying but clears up the oil and is little goes a long way so the product will last well.
What products are your oily skin saviours?
Lorna x
This post features products gifted to me and affiliate links, but as always all views are my own
