My skin has been oily for about as long as I can remember. But to be honest, a little shine during the day doesn't tend to bother me as much compared to how congested my skin tends to feel on occasion. For the uninitiated, having congested skin just means that your skin can sometimes have a rough or bumpy texture due to excess oil, clogged pores, and dead skin that hasn't yet been exfoliated away. Congestion can happen anywhere, but I most often notice it around my nose and chin.
On days when I'm feeling fancy, I can solve my congestion problem by simply booking a facial and having the gunk and dirt in my pores extracted to reveal much softer, smoother skin. But that's not always the most economical or convenient route to take, so when I want to address clogged pores and texture at home, there's a special lineup of products I turn to to get the job done.
Ahead, you'll find my personalized skincare routine for addressing oiliness and skin congestion.
Deep Clean
Since I’m an oily girl, I gravitate towards heavy duty cleansers that work hard to remove dirt, excess oil, makeup, or any other product that can sit on my face and cause my pores to potentially clog. This means makeup removers that can break down foundation and complexion makeup in one go and cleansers with exfoliating acids that can prevent my pores from clogging in the first place.
I wear makeup almost everyday, so before bed, I always like to make sure I’m using a cleansing oil that can gently break down my makeup. This is one of my favorites; it has a really light texture that almost makes me forget that I’m even using an oil, and a small amount of it can typically go a long way.
Once my makeup is off, I like to wash a second time with a cleanser made specially for oily skin. This formula from La Roche-Posay does a great job of getting rid of excess oil on my face without making my skin feel overly dry or stripped of moisture.
I’ve used this cleanser almost daily for the last two months—it’s that good! It has exfoliating ingredients (like lactic acid) but it’s still gentle enough for me to use daily without any irritation or redness. It also has a light papaya scent that gives me a bit of an energy boost whenever I use it first thing in the morning.
I love the texture of this cleanser. It’s really soft, but once you actually start to work it into your skin, it transforms into a luscious foam that cleanses without being too rough. It also happens to be a Marie Claire award-winning product—just saying.
Tone It Down
It took me a while to understand how crucial it is to have a good toner (specifically an exfoliating one) in your routine if you want to give your skin a glassy look that you can actually maintain. Over the last few years, I've found the following products to be the most reliable.
In the many years that I’ve been using this toner, it hasn’t let me down once. I can always count on this to gently remove any traces of dirt or makeup that may have been left behind on my skin after cleansing, and any time I’ve noticed my skin feeling a little rough or bumpy, this has cleared it right up.
I love the convenience of a toning pad—they’re really easy to travel with and a great way to exfoliate if you don’t want to get your hands messy. These have a textured side that gently exfoliate along with the glycolic acid. They're not harsh on the skin and helped clear my congestion without any irritation or redness.
Mask On
I don’t mask very often, but when I do, I like to grab products that are specially designed to address excess oil and visible congestion. These are two that I’ve found to be pretty helpful in toning it down.
Sometimes clay masks can dry down and make you feel like there’s a block of cement stuck to your face, but what I love about this mask from Hero Cosmetics is that I can throw it on without necessarily feeling like I’m wearing a mask. It also transforms into a bubbly wash when you rinse it off.
This mask isn’t just for acne-prone skin. You can also use it if, like me, you frequently get small bumps or areas of texture around your nose and forehead. Colloidal sulfur absorbs excess oil on your skin, while azelaic acid can help reduce and prevent breakouts.
Moisture Boost
Since my skin is prone to oiliness, my favorite daytime moisturizers are pretty lightweight and don't feel heavy or greasy on my skin. This often means water-based formulas that absorb easily and have an airy feel.
Neutrogena's oil-free, non-comedogenic formula somehow manages to be both hydrating and soothing at the same time. I like to apply it in the mornings before applying SPF primer and makeup, since it keeps well under makeup without making me appear too oily by midday.
This moisturizer has a light, milky texture that hydrates while minimizing the appearance of excess oil thanks to niacinamide. It also doesn't hurt that it's under $20.
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