As a beauty and skincare enthusiast, I’m always trying new products. I’m constantly on the hunt for what products are going to be best to my oily skin at that point in time. You may be wondering, what do you mean at that point in time? Shouldn’t everyone have a set skincare routine that they stick to once they find what works…?

Not quite! Your skin goes through cycles, just like the rest of your body including your hormones, hair growth stages, etc. A skin cycle is the process where a new skin cell is formed at the deepest layer of the epidermis and works its way up to the surface of the skin. Once the skin cell has reached the surface, this is its most mature state. From here, it will flake off on its own or you can slough the dead skin cells off with different manual or chemical exfoliation methods to reveal brighter, healthier looking skin.

A skin cycle can vary depending on the individual and is affected by factors such as age, hormones, skin condition/health and stress. On average a skin cycle is 5-6 weeks. As we grow older, this skin cycle slows to about 60-90 days in our 50’s and 60’s from 14-21 days in our teens and early 20’s. Because your skin goes through cycles, it’s important to find a range of skincare products that work for you so when a new cycle comes around, you’ll be prepared for any minor changes that may pop up.

My skin type is acne-prone, combination (mostly oily though, it gets a little crazy sometimes I must admit!), with large pores in my T-zone and I’m easily prone to hyperpigmentation. With this in mind, I’m always using products to help combat these issues.

A few months ago, I shared my current skincare routine on my IGTV (follow me on Instagram to stay up to date on all that I do!). I still use that routine (plus or minus one or two products), but as I mentioned I have a range of products I like to use, so in addition to those I wanted to highlight my top favorite oily skin products for January 2020!

Best Products for Oily Skin

Cleanser

Urban Skin Rx Pro Strength Lactic Glow Micro Polish Gentle Cleansing Gel

This is a cleanser I now use every morning (and sometimes at night if I don’t use one of my other staple products – check my IGTV to see my full routine!). Instead of just having a night time routine, I am now developing a morning skincare routine too (more than just rinsing with water and adding a moisturizer/SPF) and my skin has been thanking me for it! My skin used to get so congested (go figure!) so I don’t know why I wasn’t doing this before! Lactic acid is great because it helps to keep your skin moisturized. When you use lactic acid regularly, it can also improve signs of aging by stimulating collagen renewal and firming your skin. Hyperpigmentation fades and fine lines and wrinkles soften. When I use this product my skin feels clean (but not stripped) and perfectly prepped for the rest of my routine.

Toner

TULA Pro-Glycolic 10% Resurfacing Toner

This is my favorite acid based toner! I’ve tried others but I’ve noticed they can be a little too harsh on my skin for daily use. This alcohol-free gel uses a unique probiotic plus glycolic acid complex to gently exfoliate the skin without stripping or irritating it. It hydrates and creates a smooth, even glow. Glycolic acid is great for my hyperpigmentation too! This is definitely my go-to toner along with my trusty witch hazel and tea tree oil.

Serum

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum

Dr. Dennis Gross is a heavy weight champ in the skincare game. Their new serum has changed my T-Zone for the better! I have always had large pores in my T-Zone, but ever since I’ve added more acids into my skincare routine – in particular an AHA/BHA blend – my pores have visibly reduced in size. And even when I skip a few days in between uses, my pores do not revert! I am ecstatic at my results!

Essence

CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

This essence is a GAME CHANGER. Snail mucin you say? Isn’t that like, real snail goo…? Yes it is and it’s AMAZING! I realized that my skin loves snail mucin when I tried a sheet mask with it as its main ingredient for the first time a few years ago. After using it once I noticed a visible difference in my skin but never really followed up on using it again. Until recently, I was looking for an essence to add to my skincare lineup and I found this one on Soko Glam. It had great reviews and I remembered my affinity for snail mucin once upon a time, so I figured I would give it a try. I’m so glad I did! This product makes my skin feel much healthier and it balances my oil production like no other product I’ve used before. This one is going to be my go-to essence for a while!

Moisturizer

TULA 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day and Night cream

Tula made the list again! I love this moisturizer because it’s very lightweight, yet hydrating. It’s perfect for me as a daytime moisturizer because it doesn’t make my skin oily or leave me feeling dry. At night I usually add a little facial oil to it because it gives my skin an extra moisture boost while I sleep and my skin recovers, but it’s not necessary. I keep trying other moisturizers but this one has my favorite texture and moisturizing properties in one.

In Conclusion

These 5 products are my favorites going into 2020. If you don’t know where to start in building your own personalized skincare routine, these products are great suggestions to get you going!

With oily skin, sometimes we tend to stay away from moisturizing products because we feel like our skin is already overproducing. That’s why it’s oily right? That’s not always the case. Adding moisturizing products to your regimen may help balance the moisture levels in your skin, thus causing your skin to produce less oil. Facial oils, moisturizing creams, and nourishing essences are your friend! Then adding a combination of acid based products helps decongest those pores and allows the moisture from your other products to really soak in. Your skin will thank you!

I hope this list was helpful! Please share and let me know if any of these products worked for you too!

xoxo, Arielle