For those of you staring into the mirror every morning, wondering how your face somehow became an oil slick overnight – you’re not alone.
I am talking to you as well. I recall how, along with you, I had to deal with those sweaty and sticky summers.
The type in which if you opened any door or window, it felt like you are in a sauna and the skin feels like it is slowly burning under a dome.
I know how much you have been trying too, like going to the dermatologist or cleaning more often and using a whole bunch of tool and even skipping on the moisturizer, all in hopes that it helps – but surprise, it doesn’t.
Trust me, I understand, the issue is not washing more or skipping products, but rather learning skin science and working with the body instead of waging a war against it.
Let’s chat like real people do, so take a sip of your drink and take a deep breath.
Why Summer Makes Oily Skin a Real Struggle
Just to set a reminder in your head, allow me to lay things out for you as simply as possible.
It is July, the sun is shining on all of us. You have planned outing and want to grab a coffee or have a chat with a friend. In just 10 minutes, not only does your T-zone become a puddle, but it literally feels like a frying pan.
The sunscreen you diligently applied is beginning to feel overly thick, your foundation is slipping off your face, and your forehead… well, let’s just say it has turned into a mirror.
What’s happening here isn’t random. It is clear that the combination of heat and humidity causes the skin’s oil glands to work overtime.
This is a way for the body to protect the skin from drying out. But for a person who has oily skin, that protection feels more like a harsh sentence.
When you mix all of these elements, like sweat, sunscreen, makeup, and even dirt particles, you get clogged pores, blackheads, and breakouts.
It’s exasperating, but the good news is once you comprehend the cycle, you have the ability to break it.
My Morning Skincare Routine (That You Can Copy)
Simplicity is key for me. When I wake up in the morning, my face is often oily from sleep, so the first step of my routine is cleansing.
I do this with a cleanser that respects my skin. Foaming and gel cleansers with salicylic acid work best for me. They do not feel harsh, yet remove oil without leaving my skin feeling tight.
After cleansing, I used to skip steps afterward, assuming less was more. That’s when I noticed my skin becoming oilier.
Turns out, even oily skin requires hydration. That’s why I always apply toner right after cleansing—a light, watery one. It helps to calm and prep my skin.
Then, the step that most people neglect—serum. I use a water-based vitamin C serum, which has no greasy feel and provides a healthy glow without clogging my pores. Trust me, my skin tone is evening out, my breakouts calmed down, and it’s all thanks to using vitamin C serums regularly.
Next up is the most villainized product in the skincare world: moisturizer. I know what you are thinking and I too thought the same.
The name “moisturizer” is something that extreme oily skin do not want to hear, especially in the summer months.
A turning point for me was stopping to skip this step in my skincare. When I started using a gel-based, oil-free moisturizer, my skin balanced itself. It reduced the excess oil production because I was no longer stripping it bare.
Last but not the least, sunscreen. I can’t stress this enough. My go-to sunscreen is a gel formula with SPF 50 which is not negotiable.
With this I can beat being shiny and protect the skin from damages that would worsen my acne scars. Light, hydrated and protected are the words I I’d used to described how I feel before stepping out of the house.
Evenings Are for Healing and Repair
My face has been through a lot – the sun, pollution, stress accompanied by my own oily fingers which adds up to a lot. If there is something your skin is craving after all this, it’s extra TLC. Evening skincare is my way of telling my skin, “Hey, I got you.”
To begin, it’s only fair to remove the day by washing the face again. This can also include wearing mascara and sunscreen.
In this case, I first go in with micellar water which is so gentile yet so effective. Followed by my morning cleanser, a foaming one.
I use a liquid exfoliant with BHA. This lets me skip the scrubs, which I have learned my lesson with. It cleans out my face’s pores without me having to scrub my face harshly.
I spot treat after, if I need to. A while back, I would get the occasional breakout around my jawline that I presume were hormonal.
Those spots calm down fast with a dab of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid cream.
Just like in the morning, I apply a light weight moisturizer. When it’s night I might reach for one with slightly more hydration, but will never put on heavy creams. I know I didn’t overload my skin with product, but I did give it every essential carefully tailored to its needs.
Weekly Rituals That Changed My Skin Game
Taking time for yourself is essential, no matter how busy life can be. For me, Saturdays are an opportunity to reset my skincare routine for the upcoming week. This is the day of the week where I clay mask—this small step on its own did wonders in keeping my pores clear.
Clay absorbs excess oil and gives my skin a soft matte finish, not dry. Sometimes, I’ll even turn on a podcast while I do the mask for ten minutes, and this has become a ritual I truly look forward to.
I also started doing ice facials. All I use is an ice cube wrapped in a soft cloth. After using a face scrub, I like to gently run the ice on my face. It soothes inflammation and tightens pores. This is a small addition, but certainly makes a striking difference.
When I am outside, I like to carry blotting paper in my bag. These aren’t makeup wipes or powder, just plain paper. They help remove shine without disrupting the skin barrier.
The Foods That Helped (and the Ones That Didn’t)
I am certainly a lot more cautious of what goes on my face these days. I noticed that things changed when I started eating healthy and drinking more water. Skincare isn’t only about what is put on the face after all.
Eliminating fried food and dairy also did wonders.
With every burger and pizza slice, a fresh spot magically materialized.
I changed a few things around the kitchen, like replacing those burgers with leafy greens, walnuts, and berries. Almost instantly, oily skin transformed into silky, glowing skin, which I didn’t think was possible.
The Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To
Controlling oil by washing my skin I thought was effective – and boy was I wrong.
The paradox of stripping oil leading to more oil was against everything I was taught. The result? A damning amount of oil pouring out of my skin and overbearing confusion.
Porous skin isn’t much better off either, and that’s exactly what an alcohol-infused toner does. Instead of having oil in excess, skin is flooded with angry oils ready to ignite an irrititated skin battleground.
Then there is the misconception that more products equate to faster results. Consistency with routines yields miracles.
What Worked Best Without Breaking My Wallet
Skincare is not something that I should be spending money I don’t have on, this is what I kept telling myself when trying to create a routine for my oily skin.
During summer, my face felt like a frying pan, and everything online was expensive. Fancy serums and designer moisturizers were way out of my budget.
At that point, I realized that there is a difference between what will work, and what I can afford.
Why I Stopped Chasing Expensive Products
The more expensive a product was, the greater its claimed benefits were. I used to fall for this as well until…
I bought a 70 dollar moisturizer, the smell was great, and it made my shelf look nicer. Probably the only positive thing I can say about it. It broke me out within a week, and that is what set me straight.
Oily skin does not give a damn about exquisite packaging. What it does care about is the ingredients, and the formulation itself.
I decided to pay attention to drugstore products. Not because they were cost-effective, but because so many of them already offered what my skin required: balance. There were no excessive fragrances, no fillers, simply the right formula at a price that was reasonable for me to repurchase.
The Cleanser That Just Made Sense
While strolling through Walgreens, I came across CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser. It also had the decency not to scream luxury, nor promise me glowing, celebrity skin.
What caught my attention was the fact that it provided a gentle cleansing product with ceramides and niacinamide—ingredients that cleanse, but don’t strip.
Starting with morning and evening use, slowly made my skin stop freaking out. The tight dry pull after washing, felt lighter and far more controllable rather than oil being unmanageable.
There’s no flashing lights, but it certianly gets the job done. A bottle costs more than what I used to spend on brunch, but lasts for months. And that’s just the cherry on top.
The Moisturizer That Finally Got It Right
During the summer, people with oily skin must avoid moisturizer and I totally understand why. Why add moisturizer when your skin looks already drenched in oil? However, let me tell you that skipping moisturizing actually panics your skin and forces it to produce more oil.
This is why I set out on a journey to find something that hydrates and doesn’t feel clogging.
When I discovered Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel, my worries came to an end. This product is lightweight, absorbs instantly, and doesn’t use fragrance. I felt as if my skin just used a cold drink on a hot day. No breakouts or shininess, only a balanced and hydrated face. The product is indeed a miracle.
Now I understand that the problem was not moisturizers, it’s the wrong products that I used.
The Serum That Became My Secret Weapon
The term ‘serum’ was alien to me before becoming aware of The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.
At first, it did seem like an additional step aimed at trying to sell me something. But once I gave it a try, the reaction my skin had was too good, it’s almost like my skin needed them for a long time.
This small, unremarkable bottle helped control the appearance of my pores.
It regulated oil production for my nose and chin regions, and quite remarkably, managed to control those random summer breakouts. All this in less than $10 makes it one of the smartest decisions I have made.
What These Products Had in Common
They lack flashy advertisements or influencerettes. If you purchase these products, consider getting science and credibility verified.
They came with CeraVe, Neutrogena, and The Ordinary. These are not ‘in’ brands, but they are reliable. Its not magic, its CeraVe.
What’s more astonishing is that you can buy them anywhere. They are in large retail shops, pharmacies and even online.
There is no need to buy them from sketchy international websites where you will end up paying outrageous international shipping fees.
Why I Stick With What Works
There’s nothing wrong with indulging every once in a while. But when it comes to day to day skincare especially for oily skin during the summer months I need consistency.
I need to repurchase products without feeling guilty. I need to be certain that the products won’t disappear from store shelves, or hose my bank account. That’s what makes a routine sustainable.
Because here’s the thing. Your skin does not clear up because of something you tried once. It gets better from what you do every day.
And that ‘every day’ has to be cost-effective. If it’s not, you’re going to quit. I almost did until I simplified and stuck with products that respected my skin and my wallet.
My Opinion
Listen, if you’re still dealing with oily skin during summer, I understand. It’s not just about how you look. It messes with your confidence.
But what helped me the most was having patience, not just the products. It was having a straightforward, uncomplicated, consistent plan. It was taking the time to listen to my skin instead of fighting it.
Allow me to explain; your skin isn’t the adversary. It’s just a bit perplexed. With consistent care, even the most defiant oiliness can start to calm down. Keep showing up for yourself and your skin will of course, catch up.