Skincare Routine for Oily Skin: Simple AM & PM Steps for Acne

Shiny by lunchtime, pores that clog easily, breakouts that seem to pop up overnight: if that sounds familiar, you don’t need a 12-step routine. A good skincare routine for oily skin is short, gentle and consistent. And oily skin has its perks. Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) point out that it tends to be thicker, and that people who have it tend to get fewer wrinkles. The goal isn’t to strip every drop of oil away. It’s to find a balance.

Here’s a simple morning and evening routine for oily and acne-prone skin, built on dermatologists’ advice.

Key takeaways

• Cleanse gently, up to twice a day and after sweating. Harsh washes and scrubbing can make things worse.
• Choose products labeled “oil-free”, “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores”, including moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup.
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every morning.
• Add one acne treatment at a time and give it 6 to 8 weeks to work.
• Don’t pick, pop or scrub. Irritation can mean more breakouts and dark marks.

Three ground rules for oily, acne-prone skin

Gentle beats harsh. It’s tempting to reach for the strongest wash you can find, but the AAD explains that a face wash that’s too harsh can irritate your skin and trigger more oil production.

Read the label. Look for “oil-free”, “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores” on cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens and makeup. Products with these labels are designed not to clog pores, and they don’t cause breakouts in most people.

Change one thing at a time. Switching treatments every week or so can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. Start one new product, then give it time.

Your morning skincare routine for oily skin (AM)

1. Cleanse

Use a mild, gentle foaming face wash. Apply it with your fingertips rather than a washcloth or sponge, rinse with warm water, and pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Skip oil-based and alcohol-based cleansers, which can irritate.

2. Moisturize

Yes, even oily skin needs moisturizer. Choose an oil-free, non-comedogenic formula. To save a step, the AAD suggests a moisturizer that also contains broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

3. Protect with sunscreen

Sunscreen is the step that never gets skipped. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. For acne-prone skin, dermatologists suggest sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and avoiding ones with fragrance or oils.

4. Makeup (optional) and a midday touch-up

If you wear makeup, choose oil-free, water-based formulas. Products labeled “matte” can help cut shine. During the day, blotting papers are your friend: press one gently against your skin for a few seconds instead of rubbing, which just spreads oil around.

Your evening routine for acne-prone skin (PM)

1. Remove makeup

Never sleep in your makeup, even non-comedogenic makeup. On nights when you’re exhausted, a non-comedogenic makeup remover towelette is better than nothing.

2. Cleanse gently

Same gentle wash, same fingertips, no scrubbing.

3. Treat

The evening is a good time for your acne treatment. Ingredients dermatologists recommend for mild acne include the ones below. In the US, you can buy all four without a prescription. Rules differ elsewhere: in the UK, for example, topical retinoids such as adapalene are prescription medicines.

• Adapalene gel 0.1%, a retinoid that can help unclog pores and prevent new breakouts
• Retinol, a type of retinoid that can help unclog pores and fade dark spots
• Benzoyl peroxide, which can reduce acne-causing bacteria. The AAD suggests starting with a 2.5% product. It can bleach towels and pillowcases, so choose white ones.
• Salicylic acid, which can help unclog pores

Spread a thin layer over the whole area where you tend to break out, not just on the spots you can see. That’s how you help prevent new ones. Retinoids are usually applied once a day before bed, and the NHS advises avoiding too much sun and UV while you use them, which is another reason morning sunscreen matters. Topical retinoids aren’t suitable during pregnancy, so if you’re pregnant or trying to be, check with your doctor first.

Using a retinoid and an acid? Don’t pile them on the same night. Our guide on how to schedule retinol and AHA/BHA safely shows how to take turns.

4. Moisturize

Finish with your oil-free moisturizer. Acne treatments can be drying, and the AAD warns that dry skin is irritated skin, and irritated skin is more likely to break out.

Do you need an exfoliator?

Often, no. If you already use a retinoid, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, the AAD cautions that adding a separate exfoliant may worsen dryness or even cause breakouts. People with acne-prone skin may prefer a mild chemical exfoliant over scrubs, brushes or other mechanical exfoliation, which can be too irritating. And if you have a darker skin tone, or notice dark spots after breakouts, avoid strong exfoliation, which can lead to more dark spots.

Habits that can make oily skin and breakouts worse

• Washing too often. Twice a day plus after sweating is plenty.
• Scrubbing, or using astringents and rubbing alcohol. These dry and irritate the skin.
• Picking, popping or squeezing. This can push debris deeper, increase inflammation and raise the risk of scars.
• Rubbing away sweat. During workouts, pat your skin with a clean towel instead.
• Oily hair products near your face. Hair oil can cause breakouts on the forehead and temples. Keep it away from your hairline and wash caps and hats often.
• Sharing makeup or brushes. Other people’s bacteria, oil and dead skin cells can end up on your skin.
• Touching your face. Only touch it with clean hands, when you’re cleansing or applying products.

Caring for acne-prone skin in every skin tone

Acne can affect anyone, but it doesn’t always look the same. The AAD notes that in skin of color, acne is often followed by dark spots (hyperpigmentation) that can last longer than the breakouts themselves. Treating acne early and gently can help prevent them, and it helps to treat the acne and the dark spots at the same time.

A few extra tips: choose non-comedogenic or mineral makeup rather than heavy, oily formulas to cover marks, and avoid rich butters like cocoa butter or shea butter on breakout-prone areas, since they can clog pores. See a dermatologist before trying chemical peels, microdermabrasion or laser treatments, because even at-home versions can cause dark or light marks on darker skin.

When to see a dermatologist

Many people can manage mild acne with a gentle routine and over-the-counter treatments. Book an appointment with a dermatologist or doctor if you have deep or painful spots, if you’re getting scars, if nothing has helped after a few months, or if your skin is affecting how you feel. Prescription treatments can make a real difference.

Build your oily-skin routine in Skinchii

Consistency is the secret ingredient, and that’s where Skinchii comes in. Build separate morning and evening routines with each step in order, add wait times between layers, and let the guided routine player walk you through them. Schedule your routines for specific days or every few days, get gentle reminders, and watch your streak grow as the weeks go by. That’s exactly the patience an acne routine needs.

Skinchii Premium also includes routine templates for oily and combination skin, breakouts and pores. Every morning template includes SPF, and no template puts a retinoid and an acid on the same night.

Skinchii is coming soon to iOS and Android. Join the waitlist to be first in line.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology: How to control oily skin
• American Academy of Dermatology: 10 skin care habits that can worsen acne
• American Academy of Dermatology: 10 tips for clearing acne in darker skin tones
• American Academy of Dermatology: How to safely exfoliate at home
• NHS: Acne: treatment

This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. For persistent skin concerns, see a board-certified dermatologist.