Guide to Caring for Oily and Blemish-Prone Skin
Oily skin needs balance rather than drying out: gentle cleansing to remove excess oil, lightweight moisturising without clogging pores, and daily sun protection.
Why Do Blemishes Appear on Oily Skin?
Sebaceous glands produce natural oil. When excess oil mixes with dead skin cells, pores become blocked, causing blackheads, whiteheads and spots. Hormones, genetics, stress and some oily hair products can make this worse. Frequent washing alone is therefore insufficient; a gentle, regular routine is needed.
Common Ingredients and What They Do
- Salicylic Acid, BHA: dissolves in oil and helps clean inside pores.
- Niacinamide and Zinc: used in oily-skin products to help control the appearance of shine.
- Retinoids: renew the skin surface, require a gradual introduction, and should not be used during pregnancy without consulting a doctor.
- The Term Non-Comedogenic: a useful indicator when choosing moisturiser, sunscreen and cosmetics.
Step One: A Gentle Cleanser
Dermatologists recommend washing the face twice daily and after sweating with a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, using fingertips rather than a loofah or brush.
- Bioderma Sebium Cleansing Foaming Gel 500 ml— a foaming cleanser from the Sebium range for oily skin, in a 500 ml pack.
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel 200 ml— a purifying foaming cleanser from the Effaclar range.
- CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 236 ml— a cleanser containing salicylic acid, SA, according to the manufacturer.
- Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel 400 ml— a cleansing gel from the Cleanance range for oily skin.
- Dermedic Normacne Prone Foaming Gel 200 ml— a foaming gel from the Normacne range.
- ACM Sebionex Cleansing Gel 200 ml— a cleansing gel from the Sebionex range.
- SVR Sebiaclear Gel 400 ml— a cleansing gel from the Sebiaclear range, in a 400 ml pack.
- Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pore & Shine Daily Wash 200 ml— a daily cleanser addressing pores and shine.
- ACM Sebionex Soap 100 g— a soap bar from the Sebionex range for those preferring solid soap.
Step Two: Targeted Care
Add only one product at a time and give it several weeks before judging it, as frequent switching irritates skin.
- ACM Sebionex Trio Anti-Imperfection Cream 40 ml— an anti-blemish cream.
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Light Corrective Cream 40 ml— a lightweight corrective cream from the Effaclar range.
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar AI Targeted Breakout Corrector 15 ml— a corrective cream for skin imperfections, applied to targeted areas.
- Garnier Serum Purifying 30 ml— a purifying serum in a 30 ml pack.
- Stridex Sensitive Pads 55 Count— ready-to-use cotton pads from a sensitive-skin range.
Step Three: A Lightweight Moisturiser
Leaving oily skin without moisturising makes it more prone to irritation, especially with blemish products that may cause dryness.
- Bioderma Sebium Hydra Moisturising Cream 40 ml— a moisturising cream from the Sebium range.
- ACM Sebionex Hydra Cream 40 ml— a moisturising cream from the Sebionex range.
- Dermedic Normacne Mattifying Moisturising Cream 40 ml— a moisturising cream from the Normacne range.
Step Four: Sunscreen
Some blemish products increase skin sensitivity to sunlight, and sun makes dark marks left by spots more visible. Choose a lightweight broad-spectrum sunscreen with factor 30 or higher.
- Eucerin Clear Skin Oily Skin Facial Sunscreen SPF 50 75 ml— a sunscreen lotion for oily skin.
- ACM Sebonex Mattifying SPF 50 Gel 40 ml— a sunscreen gel with a matte finish.
Mistakes That Prolong Blemishes
- Picking or squeezing spots, which prolongs healing and increases the risk of marks and dark spots.
- Harsh rubbing, rough exfoliants and alcohol-containing toners.
- Using several strong products together on the same evening.
- Sleeping in makeup and allowing oily hair or oils to touch the forehead.
- Stopping too early, as most products take weeks to months to show results.
When Do You Need a Doctor?
Consult a dermatologist if spots are deep, painful or leave scars, do not improve after several months of a consistent routine, or appear suddenly with other symptoms. If pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a pharmacist or doctor before using any active product.