OK, so you may have shiny, acne-prone skin.
But oily skin is not necessarily a bad thing! For one, men's oily skin tends to be thicker and holds up better against aging. While dry and sensitive skin deals with deep wrinkles and discolored age spots, you’ll still show off your youthful mug.
You just need to find the right skincare routine to deal with the excess sebum, fight acne, and look your best.
Why Is My Forehead So Oily?
Typically, men tend to have enlarged pores and thicker skin.
Hyperactive sebaceous glands are often caused by the male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Excessive DHT levels produce excessive sebum, giving you an oily, greasy appearance, and a shiny forehead.
Insufficient skin moisture can also cause men’s skin to be more dehydrated. When that happens, your body may produce excess oil to compensate. More oil means more clogged pores.
Keeping Excess Oil in Check
Looking your best is about balance. When managing oily skin, it’s best not to go overboard either - your skin does need moisture and natural oils to stay healthy.
To strike that balance, here's a step-by-step routine and tips for how to keep your oily skin in check from morning to night.
The Best Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin in the Morning
1 - Start With a Gentle Cleanser
Cleanse your face with an oil-controlling facial wash in the morning. If you notice oil pooling on your face mid-day, you can do a quick mid-day cleanse with just lukewarm water over your face.
Be careful not to over-wash your face, as this can over-dry your skin and cause excess oil production.
Your skin requires a certain level of oil to maintain its pH balance and homeostasis. When this balance is broken, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive, creating excess oil to bring everything back into balance.
When choosing skincare products, be lighthanded when using a soap bar or an exfoliating cleanser containing salicylic acid. This ingredient tends to be harsher, stripping your skin’s natural oil as well as excess sebum.
Clarifying Gel Face Wash for Men
The ideal facial wash for men with oily skin should be designed differently—like our Clarifying Gel Face Wash.
The ingredients are less aggressive when cleansing oily skin. It’s packed with super hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, geranium, and coconut-based cleansers. Use it twice a day (morning and evening)—for the best results.
2 - Wash Your Face With Warm Water
Regardless of your skin type, you should avoid cleaning your greasy forehead or any other part of your skin with hot water. Instead, use warm water. This helps clean away excess sebum and dirt without drying it out too much.
3 - Use a Toner
Skin toners are one option for you to use for your facial routine for oily skin. However, skin toners come in various formulas to meet different skin types, and finding the best product is challenging.
Balancing Toner for Men
Our Balancing Toner is made with witch hazel and cucumber. It removes dirt and oil from pores that may have been left behind after washing your face. It also leaves you with a matte finish to prevent a greasy shine.
4 - Don't Forget About the Eyes
The eye area is often the first to show signs of aging and fatigue. Even if you have oily skin, the eye area can be dry and needs special attention. Using an eye serum can help prevent wrinkles, reduce puffiness, and minimize dark circles.
Restoring Eye Serum Treatment for Men
Our Restoring Eye Serum Treatment is suitable for all skin types and is particularly effective when used in the morning. Incorporating an eye serum into your daily routine is a simple yet effective way to maintain a refreshed and youthful appearance.
5 - Moisturize
Even with oily skin, you’ll want to use a face moisturizer to hydrate your skin and keep your sebaceous glands from going into overdrive. The more constantly hydrated you can keep your face, the less likely an overproduction of oil will occur.
Use an oil-free moisturizer after you wash your face in the morning and before you go to bed.
The best face lotion for oily skin will also be very lightweight, absorbing into the skin, not sitting on top of it.
Daily Essential Face Moisturizer
Use a non-comedogenic formula—like our Daily Essential Face Moisturizer, in the morning or evening to hydrate your skin without clogging pores.
6 - Finish With Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen on your skin is the best way to protect and keep a healthy appearance at any age. When used routinely, sunscreen can help prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging.
Element Defense Moisturizer With SPF 45 for Men
Element Defense Moisturizer with SPF is the perfect addition to your face care routine. Our moisturizer keeps oily skin hydrated while preventing skin damage.
Best Skin Care Regimen For Oily Skin at Night
1 - Cleansing
If you’re prone to acne breakouts, a salicylic acid-based exfoliating cleanser can do wonders for your skin. You can apply our Acne Controlling Face Wash For Men to unclog pores and give it a refreshed look.
2 - Toning
Skin toning will help balance your skincare routine for oily skin and give you a more attractive look.
Our Balancing Toner for men can help remove dirt and oil from pores that may have been left behind after washing your face. This product is effective as an aftershave to penetrate the skin and work its magic efficiently.
3 - Exfoliate (Don't Do It Every Day)
Using a facial scrub can remove excess buildup and dead skin that can accumulate on your face.
Add this step to your oily skin care routine at night once to three times a week. Over-scrubbing can dry out the face and cause irritation—both of which can send your sebaceous glands into overdrive.
Renewing Face Scrub
If you have oily skin and want to get the maximum benefit from your exfoliation routine, use our Renewing Face Scrub every other day. If you notice any skin irritation on the drier parts of your face, avoid exfoliating them. Focus primarily on exfoliating your T-zone—your forehead and your nose—and any other oily spots.
4 - Deep Cleanse With a Mask
Deep cleansing with face masks can significantly help in managing your skin’s oil production.
These often contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), which provide deep pore cleansing to keep your skin nourished.
Purifying Charcoal Face Mask
Our Purifying Charcoal Face Mask uses an advanced yet natural formula to achieve the best results. Its ingredients include activated charcoal, kaolin clay, MSM, vitamin E, DMAE, and hyaluronic acid.
Together, these ingredients gently and effectively pull bacteria, grime, excess oil, and other debris out of your pores. Our mask is also packed with hydrating ingredients, so you don’t have to worry about over-drying your skin.
5 - Shave
Shaving is your first approach to a skincare routine for oily skin. It is always better to shave in the evening before applying serums to your skin.
Along with removing hair, shaving also cleanses the dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin.
Smooth Brushless Shave Cream for Men
Introducing the unique Smooth Brushless Shave Cream for men, suitable for all skin types. Its natural ingredients help soften and nourish the skin, making it easier to shave without causing ingrown hairs.
6 - Apply After Shave
Apply an after-shave product to help soothe your skin and give you the moisturizing feel you need to get on with your day.
Your skin needs to remain moist so that you may go to the regime of extra oil production. Avoid after-shaving products with menthol in them.
Instant Relief Men's Aftershave
Our Instant Relief Men’s Aftershave lotion is enriched with natural ingredients - like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and shea butter—to give your skin the tender care it deserves. It helps soothe and hydrate your skin by reducing irritation from razor burns.
7 - Take Care of Your Eyes Area
Taking care of your eye area should be a top priority for you. Keep your eye area firm and prevent sagging and wrinkles with natural ingredients—like vitamins A and C. Your approach to skin care for oily skin should also include your eye area to avoid eye bags.
Restoring Eye Cream for Men
Reduce eye bags, wrinkles, puffiness, and dark spots under the eye with the Restoring Eye Cream for Men. This diminishes the fine lines and crow’s feet around the eye. It rejuvenates and brightens the skin to its natural color.
8 - Moisturize
Including moisturizing steps in your oily skin care routine is vital to keep your skin balanced and healthy. Finding the right non-comedogenic moisturizer—like our Daily Essential Face Moisturizer for oily skin at night—will hydrate your skin without clogging pores thanks to its oil-regulating formula.
9 - Give Your Skin Extra Nighttime Care
Using an anti-aging serum at night can be a good idea to allow the serum to work while you sleep.
Anti-aging serums often contain potent antioxidants, peptides, and retinol that can help improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and promote collagen production.
Repairing Vitamin C Serum for Men
An eye serum prevents wrinkles, bags, and dark circles under your eyes. Repairing Vitamin C Serum for Men is soothing and reduces puffiness under the eyes.
5 Tips For Oily Skin in Men
1 - Use Men’s Facial Wash Designed for Oily Skin
Not all facial cleansers are suitable for oily skin. Remember, the key is to cleanse your skin, not strip it. Choose a facial wash that leaves your skin feeling clean but not tight or dry.
Avoid harsh soaps and opt for gentle cleansers. By removing all oils, including beneficial ones, they can leave your skin dry and tight.
A balanced cleanser, like our Clarifying Gel Face Wash, effectively removes excess oil while maintaining your skin's natural balance.
2 - Exfoliate Often (But Not Everyday)
Facial washes remove oil, dirt, and debris on the outermost layer of your skin. But that’s not quite enough.
Exfoliators like our Renewing Face Scrub get deeper. It digs bacteria, oily buildup, and other junk out of your pores. It also removes the outer layer of dead skin cells that contribute to a dull complexion and potential blemishes.
Men with oily skin tend to be prone to acne breakouts. Using a face scrub is good for both concerns and oily face treatment. It reduces oil so your skin stays lubricated without allowing it to get too thick and shiny.
3 - Reduce Oil and Shine With Toner
Toner is an essential step in every oily skin routine. Toner helps remove excess oil that may remain after cleansing, tightens pores, and reduces any redness or irritation.
Ingredients to Watch Out For
Be careful when choosing your toner. Many contain alcohol and other harsh ingredients that leave the skin dry and irritated.
Instead, choose a natural toner for men—like our Balancing Toner—with witch hazel, cucumber, and peppermint. The toner is most effective when used in the morning. Apply after cleansing and before moisturizing for best results.
4 - Deep Clean Your Pores With a Mask
Another smart and effective way to prevent clogged pores and oil buildup is with a face mask. Use it twice a week to deep clean your pores, and remove gunk and bacteria that can cause acne.
There are many different masks out there, all promoted for this or that reason. Here's our Purifying Charcoal Face Mask for men with oily skin.
5 - Don’t Skip the Moisturizer
Should you avoid face moisturizer because you have oily skin? Absolutely not. Your face still needs proper moisture and hydration if you’re going to look your best.
That said, you will need a lightweight face moisturizer that’s oil-free and absorbs quickly. That way, your skin gets the hydrating benefits without the oil buildup.
Our Daily Essential Face Moisturizer fits the bill. It’s made with all-natural ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and green tea, dries quickly, and won’t leave your skin shiny or oily.
Bonus: Easy Does It
Too many guys overcompensate for their oily skin. They think that the more they wash their face, the better. Or that if they exfoliate twice daily instead of every other day, they’ll get better results.
Guys, chill out. Your oily skin won’t react better to a hyper-intense oily skin routine. A gentle touch is what you want.
- Don’t wash your face more than twice each day. That’s all you need to control oil.
- If you constantly wash your face, your skin may respond by producing even more oil. That throws everything out of whack and leaves you with the exact opposite of the results you wanted.
- Sometimes, oily skin and uneven skin tones occur together. Learn how to fix uneven skin tone.
The Bottom Line
As a general rule, no matter what type of skin you have, be gentle with it. Oily skin can be healthy skin when you give it the treatment it deserves.
You can control excess oil and shine by following the tips provided above. You’ll be able to stave off skin blemishes and look your best every day.
