If you have oily skin like me then you know how hard it is to take care of. The oil, the texture, the pores - it's challenging af finding the right products that keep your skin and pores clear. It's taken me years, and lots of trial, error and experimentation to find out what products work best for my oily skin. Granted, I still get the occasional breakout and my skin isn't perfect, (who's is?) but this combo of products seems to work best for me.
My Favorite Cleansers for Oily Skin
First up is this Kiehl's Calendula Deep Clean Foaming Face Wash. I read somewhere a long time ago that gentle cleansers are better for your skin, especially if its oily. It's common to use a stronger cleanser to overcompensate for the oil your skin produces, but this just winds up stripping your skin, which causes it to produce even more oil, which just makes your skin worse. This face wash breaks down the makeup on my face, and gets it really clean without feeling tight or too dry afterwards. I've been using this since the end of 2019, and have tried a couple of other cleansers to see if I may like them better since then, but I always seem to break out when I try to change it up and wind up going right back to this.
Another one of my all time favorite cleansers is the Murad Clarifying Cleanser. Some years ago, I had a bout of cystic acne for a year or so only on my cheeks, and I remember using this cleanser religiously back then, as it was one of the only products that seemed to help.
Towards the end of last year I bought a few skincare sets from Sephora. They always have the best kits and gift sets around the holidays, but I love to get them for myself (haha) as its an affordable way to try out new products. One of the sets I purchased was the Caudalíe Vinopure line skin care set. I LOVE the Vinopure serum (more on that further down) and was interested in testing out the rest of the line. The cleanser did not disappoint. At all. I love it just as much as I do the serum, and have incorporated it into my ongoing beauty regime. This line is a godsend if you struggle with enlarged pores. I see a noticeable difference in the pores on my nose and cheeks when I'm using this regularly, compared to when I'm not.
The Best Serums + Treatments for Pores and Breakouts
Unless you're still in your teens or early twenties, you absolutely need some type of retinoid in your skin care routine. I'll never forget during a visit to the dermatologist in my late twenties (giving away my age here lol) the doctor recommended that I add a retinoid to my skin care routine, and for good reason - retinol helps boost collagen production and increases skin cell turnover, which basically means it's a godsend at fighting dull skin, fine lines and wrinkles. The only downside is that retinol can be very strong - which can cause skin irritation. The prescription Tretinoin cream I started out using was way too strong for my skin, which prompted me to switch to this retinoid serum by The Ordinary. I simply love this brand along with this serum. It's formulated with a different form of retinol than the traditional creams, so you get all the benefits or retinol use but without the irritation. Plus, did I mention it's under $10, and a bottle lasts foreverrrrr.
As someone with oily skin, I was hesitant to try out the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum due to its oil like consistency. Something about adding an oil like product to my face that already produces extra oil just didn't seem to mix well together. Despite my reservations, I decided to give this a try simply because of all of the glowing reviews (and because I'm somewhat of a product junkie) and wound up being very pleasantly surprised. The first night that I tried it, I was blown away at my skin the next morning. It was glowy, but not greasy, and super soft. I don't use this on a daily basis, just whenever my skin is feeling extra dry and dull. It always does the trick.
Hands down, the Caudalie Vinopure Pore Minimizing Serum is my holy grail skin care product. I literally cannot live without it. Large pores, especially on my nose, have always been an issue for me, but I swear that they noticeably shrunk after consistently using this serum on a nightly basis. It also helps to keep my occasional forehead and chin breakouts at bay. Try it - you will not be disappointed.
If you're a fan of beauty bloggers or just skin care in general, then I'm sure you've heard of this Mario Badescu drying lotion. I can't believe I hadn't tried it before last year. This was yet another product I bought in a skin care set around the holidays haha. It works like a charm and does exactly what it's advertised to do - clear up a pimple, and quick. Anytime that I've used it, the pimple I'm treating shrinks noticeably overnight. I will say, I'm not a fan of the smell but I can overlook it since it just works so well, and I don't have to use, or smell it, very often. Also, do not shake it up when using it. I think a lot of people just shake it up out of habit, and then don't get the results they're looking for when using this. Dip a q-tip into the sediment at the bottom of the bottle, and then dab it on the pimple. No shaking.
Purifying + Exfoliating Masks and Scrubs
I probably have been using this Bioré Charcoal Scrub since I was a teenager, and for good reason. It's just so good. I know a lot of people are against the harsher scrubs lately (maybe this is one of the ones that had walnuts in it?) so if that's not your thing then steer clear maybe, but honestly this has never felt harsh on the skin to me. Not only does it feel refreshing, but my skin feels noticeably smoother after using it, and it helps with breakouts - probably because of the salicylic acid in it. I just can't see myself not using this anytime soon.
My favorite mask of all time is this Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask. I typically use it once or twice a week. It does wonders for pores and breakouts plus the tub it comes in is huge. I'm sure my first tub lasted at least 6 months.
I'm also a fan of the Origins masks and happen to love this one as well. To be honest, I feel it does the same things as the Kiehl's mask, however it's a little bit more affordable. You do get less product though, so keep that in mind when deciding between the two.
Moisturizers
Moisturizers are always tricky for me. I don't want something so heavy that it's going to clog my pores, but despite having oily skin, it still does get dry, so I need something that will keep it sufficiently hydrated but won't cause a breakout. On most days, I reach for this Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream (lord, what a mouthful) moisturizer. I love that it's oil free - a must have for me with any moisturizer - and lightweight but hydrating. I can put it on in the mornings underneath my makeup and not have to worry about causing extra oil production on my skin.
Last but not least is this Ole Henrikson Oil Control Hydrator. It's one of the newer products that I've tried on this list, but so far so good. I love the consistency, and the fact that it has several key ingredients in it that both hydrate the skin and fight breakouts/minimize pores simultaneously.
