"Beat Oily Skin With This Morning To Evening Routine" Nailing a skincare routine for oily skin can be like trying to get through an episode of Stranger Things without Googling what the hell is going on. Because, plot twist: face oils can ease oily complexions. But there is a bounty of mattifying, cleansing and purifying labels all promising to clear up your complexion, so where do you begin? And why is it that you’re cursed with a greasy forehead and a nose plagued by clogged pores, blackheads and pimples, but your co-workers stay shine-free from 9-5? “Unfortunately your skin type tends to be genetic and some skins have a tendency to naturally be more oily whilst others are prone to dryness,” says Dr Paul Ellis, Research and Development Director for Walgreens Boots Alliance. “Sebum produced on the face can cause an oily shiny look to the skin and reactions with UV, pollution and certain cosmetics may lead to blocked pores and further exacerbate oily looking skin. Harsh cleansing, poor sleep and certain aspects of the diet have been linked to excessive oiliness.” So if it’s in your genes adopting a skincare routine for oily skin is not something you could do but something to start now. Rather than reach straight for products – that comes next – start by assessing your AM to PM. STRESS “The first step to better skin is to ensure you’re finding time to relax, exercise and even meditate to support your skin,” explains Dr Langdon of Berkshire Aesthetics. “Stress causes hormones to become unbalanced which can affect skin health.” Read: How to meditate so you can manage stress better DIET 2L water + plant-based food + quitting sugar = good skin. Not exactly revolutionary – we get that. But do take a moment to understand why. “Eating a diet high in antioxidants and low in animal products has been shown to reduce inflammation and sebum production,” says Aesthetic Doctor Dr David Jack. “By reducing your intake of simple sugars and eating higher levels of plant-based products you could reduce oiliness of the skin. Plus, a more alkaline diet with plenty of greens can also help balance hormone levels, as well as delivering essential nutrients to the skin.” MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR OILY SKIN Moisturiser is arguably one of the most important products for good skin but it’s only part of the picture. A clear complexion starts with a cleansing. Try this simple routine shared by Dr Preema Vig, advanced Aesthetic Doctor and GP: Step 1: Cleanse your face using warm water to open the pores and wipe with a clean face cloth. Step 2: Before reaching for products splash your skin with cold water to help close your pores. Step 3: Gently smooth on a light moisturiser – this nourishes your skin and helps protect it from producing excess oil. Keep reading for the best skincare products for oily skin. BEST MOISTURISER FOR OILY SKIN Origins Matte Moisturiser With Willow Herb Don’t fall into the trap of not moisturising because you think you don’t need any more hydration. “Hydration and reducing transepidermal (water loss through the skin) moisture loss is key to rebalancing and ‘normalising’ skin,” says Dr Vig. Using this lightweight moisturiser to minimise the appearance of pores and leave you with a matte finish. Plus - hello millennial pink packaging. ORIGINS Origins Matte Moisturiser With Willowherb, £27, origins.co.uk BEST SERUM FOR OILY SKIN La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum Again, hydration is key in a skincare routine for oily skin. Hyaluronic acid seeps into the skin to hydrate it from underneath and encourage the production of new skin cells, rather than excess oils. And for city dwellers, this serum will create a barrier over your skin to protect it from the toxins that come from pollution. ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW LA ROCHE-POSAY La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £37, laroche-posay.co.uk BEST SUNSCREEN FOR OILY ACNE PRONE SKIN Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF 30 Daily SPF might seem like a chore but cut this from your bathroom routine and you run the risk of bed level sun damage. Apply a water-gel based product and it’ll absorb into the skin in a flash. GLOSSIER Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF 30, £20, glossier.com BEST PRIMER FOR OILY SKIN Benefit The Porefessional Pearl Primer Don’t be fooled by the shimmer of this primer. It blends the original product’s pore-minimising features with a killer glow that will blend into your skin and boost radiance. And if you’re wary of using highlighter with your shiny skin for fear of it leaving you looking like a KKW beauty ad, this will do a two-in-one job so you won’t need any. No golden noses here. BENEFIT Benefit The Porefessional Pearl Primer, £27.50, feelunique.com BEST FOUNDATION FOR OILY SKIN YSL All Hours Liquid Foundation Move over Fenty. YSL has created a 24 hour liquid foundation that comes in nearly as many shades. It’s full of fine pigments so will leave you with a full-coverage matte finish without being caked on. It even contains SPF for a double hit of protection. YSL YSL All Hours Liquid Foundation, £35, boots.com EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR OILY SKIN “Night time skin preparation is important, as it is the time when the cells renew themselves,” says Dr Langdon. “We can help this by using products with key ingredients like Retinol and anti-inflammatory agents such as botanicals. "Cleansing before bed is also essential for keeping your skin healthy, as during the day the oils on your skin react with dirt and debris such as pollutants.” BEST FACE WIPES FOR OILY SKIN Burt’s Bees Micellar Cleansing Towelettes Face wipes are time-pressed woman’s saviour. Yes you know there are better options but when you’re so tired that you’re falling asleep at the sink, cut yourself a break. The micellar water in these wipes will break down even heavy makeup - and they’re made from repurposed cotton so you’re doing your bit for the zero-waste too. ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW BURT'S BEES Burt’s Bees Micellar Cleansing Towelettes, £6.49, amazon.co.uk BEST CLEANSER FOR OILY SKIN AND LARGE PORES Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser Skin as greasy as your George Foreman after cooking Sunday brunch? Now’s the time to use a pore-minimising cleanser to target build up. Use this wash on the daily to clear out oil and dirt that accumulates through the day. “After washing, it is best to pat skin dry and leave skin slightly damp to dry naturally,” says Dr Langdon. “Beware of over washing or harsh scrubbing as this can encourage the skin’s natural oil production.” Top tip for using this cleanser? Apply it on dry skin, as it turns from gel to oil for some at-home pampering. Don’t need a Champneys. TATA HARPER Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser, £62, cultbeauty.co.uk BEST EXFOLIATOR FOR OILY SKIN REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic With the microbead ban, scrubs are out and tonics are in. Lactic acid reduces sebum production to stop excess oil on your skin. “It also has an exfoliating effect on the skin,” says Dr Jack, “together with potent antioxidant, reparative effects.” REN REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, £25, feelunique.com BEST MASK FOR OILY SKIN Murad Pore Extractor Pomegranate Mask First it was bananas, then it was avocado, now it’s pomegranate. Polylactic acid beads (they’re biodegradable, so scrub away) exfoliate the skin to get rid of the grime that’s built up in your KOBOX workout, while the pomegranate reduces the appearance of pores and protects skin against the environmental factors that can cause oiliness. MURAD Murad Pore Extractor Pomegranate Mask, £30, feelunique.com BEST NIGHT CREAM FOR OILY SKIN NIP + FAB Viper Venom Fix Night Cream Using retinol in a night cream or night oil can help limit sebum production, exfoliate dead skin cells and minimise the appearance of pores, so slather this on at bedtime. “Topical retinoids do definitely reduce facial pore size,” says Dr Natalia Spierings, Consultant Dermatologist at Dermatica. “This is actually important because there is a direct relationship between large pores and lots of oil production. So it is definitely worth using a topical retinoid for at least three months to see if it can help reduce your oily skin.”