Men's Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

Managing oily skin can feel overwhelming, but with the right skincare routine, it can be easier to control excess oil and keep your skin looking its best. Men's skin is thicker and oilier than women's, which has both pros and cons. While oily skin can minimize signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, it can sometimes lead to issues like a shiny T-zone, clogged pores, and acne.

We break down the essentials of an oily skincare routine for men, showing how to reduce breakouts and maintain a balanced, healthy complexion.

What Causes Oily Skin in Men?

Oily skin results from an overproduction of sebum—your skin’s natural oil. While sebum helps protect, balance and hydrate your skin, too much of it leads to clogged pores, shiny T-Zone, and acne. Common triggers for oily skin include genetics, hormonal changes, diet, and even stress. Knowing the cause of your oily skin helps in choosing the right products for your routine.

Step-by-Step Oily Skincare Routine for Men

Cleanse Twice Daily

Using a gentle men’s face wash is crucial for controlling oil. Cleansing your face in the morning and at night removes excess oil, dirt, and bacteria that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Look for a gentle cleanser to clean and help control oil production without over stripping the skin of its natural oils.

Washing your face too often can backfire by stripping your skin of natural oils, which triggers even more oil production. Stick to twice-daily cleansing with a pH-balanced face wash to maintain a healthy skin barrier.

Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliating 2-3 times a week helps remove dead skin cells and prevents clogged pores. Choose a gentle physical exfoliant or a chemical exfoliant with beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid, which penetrates deep into pores to reduce oil buildup. Regular exfoliation also helps your moisturizer absorb deeper.

Use a Toner

Toners help balance your skin’s pH after cleansing and remove any remaining impurities. Opt for an alcohol-free toner with ingredients like witch hazel, niacinamide, and glycerin to reduce oil and tighten pores without drying your skin. If you’re prone to acne, a toner with 1-2% salicylic acid can be a game-changer.

Moisturize Daily

Even oily skin needs hydration. Use a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that won’t clog your pores. For daytime, choose a product with SPF protection. At night, opt for a nourishing moisturizer to repair your skin while you sleep.

Apply Sunscreen

Protecting your skin from the sun is crucial for all skin types, especially oily skin. Choose an oil-free, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Gel-based or matte-finish sunscreens are excellent for controlling shine.

Treat Acne

If you’re prone to acne, spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can help reduce inflammation and prevent breakouts. Look for targeted products that treat problem areas without drying out the skin.

Additional Tips for Managing Oily Skin

• Choose Non-Comedogenic Products: Ensure that all skincare and makeup products you use are oil-free and non-comedogenic to avoid clogging your pores.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps regulate oil production and keeps your skin hydrated from the inside out.
• Follow a Balanced Diet: Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats can help regulate oil production, while greasy or sugary foods can make oily skin worse.

Pore-Clogging Ingredients to Avoid for Oily Skin

For men with oily skin, it’s essential to avoid ingredients that can clog pores and exacerbate acne. Here are some common culprits:

• Petroleum Jelly: Thick and occlusive, this ingredient can trap oils and dead skin cells, leading to breakouts.
• Cocoa Butter: High in fatty acids like oleic acid, cocoa butter is highly comedogenic and can clog pores.
• Coconut Oil: Rated 4 on the comedogenic scale, coconut oil can block pores if used in large quantities, especially for acne-prone skin.
• Silicones: Although silicones are low on the comedogenic scale, they can trap oils under the surface and cause breakouts.
• Lanolin: A highly comedogenic ingredient often found in moisturizers, lanolin should be avoided by those with oily or acne-prone skin.
• Marula Oil: Rated 3-4 on the comedogenic scale, marula oil can clog pores for those prone to breakouts.

Using Pore Clogging Ingredient Checkers

Many online tools and apps help identify pore-clogging ingredients. While these can be useful, they should serve as a guideline. Always evaluate the entire formulation of a product, not just individual ingredients, when deciding what’s best for your skin.

Start with the Basics and Build Your Routine

A men’s skincare routine for oily skin doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with the essentials—cleanser, toner, and moisturizer—and let your skin adjust for a few weeks. Once you’re comfortable, you can add products like a green clay mask or hydrating sheet mask to step up your skincare game.

With consistent care, men with oily skin can maintain a clear, balanced complexion that looks great all day.

Why Choose Urth?

An oily skincare routine with the best men's face care products can help maintain a healthy clear complexion, control sebum production and appearance of large pores on the face. Urth has curated skincare kits for men to simplify men's skincare routine. We’ve taken out all the guesswork and created skincare kits for men to elevate your skincare ritual. These natural, clean and botanical-powered products are formulated with chamomile, green tea, ginseng, and pure essential oils to nourish, soothe, and calm facial redness. Perfect for all skin types—including sensitive, dry, combination, and oily skin—Urth's Skin Solutions provides an easy, effective way to achieve healthier, clearer complexion.