We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
- Best toner: Paula’s Choice Pore-Reducing Toner
- Best mask: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores
- Best setting powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Best sunscreen: Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45
- Best cleanser: Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
- Best exfoliant: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- Best serum: Topicals Faded Brightening and Clearing Serum
- Best sheet mask: Dr. Jart+ Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution
- Best moisturizer: Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Sunscreen with Niacinamide
- Best exfoliating toner: The Inkey List PHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner
- Best booster: Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
- Best night cream: Dr. Dennis Gross Intense Wrinkle Cream
Oily skin is one of the most common skin concerns. It’s also notoriously confusing to treat.
Some products aim to completely strip your skin of its natural oils, while others aim to alleviate your skin’s oil production with more oil. And somewhere in the middle are the other oily skin side effects, such as clogged pores and acne breakouts.
To help take the guesswork out of your oily skin care routine, we polled Healthline editors with oily skin to find out which products actually work — and stand out — in their routines.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $25
- $$ = $25–$40
- $$$ = over $40
Best toner
- Price: $
- Pros: contains antioxidants and hydrating ceramides
- Cons: might feel a little sticky, according to some reviewers
- Best for: enlarged pores
“Niacinamide is excellent for oily skin. It might take a little while to have an effect, but this is good stuff.” — Maggie Brown, Healthline content operations manager
Best mask
- Price: $
- Pros: deeply cleanses pores and helps skin feel refreshed
- Cons: might not be great for highly sensitive skin
- Best for: excessive blackheads
“I use it once per week to get rid of any oil or product build-up, and it’s perfect for balancing the moisture in my skin without feeling too dry afterward.” — Jasmine Seales, Healthline updates editor
Best setting powder
- Price: $$
- Pros: helps absorb oil and reduce shine
- Cons: may dry up makeup too much, according to some reviewers
- Best for: skin that gets oily throughout the day
“I’ve used [this powder] for years. It’s super thin and dusty (which can be a mess if you’re not careful), and I love how it settles on top of my tinted moisturizer without getting cakey or pilling.” — Jamey Powell, Healthline senior market editor
Best sunscreen
- Price: $$$
- Pros: lightweight and contains SPF
- Cons: might not be mattifying enough, according to some reviewers
- Best for: skin that gets oily throughout the day
“This sunscreen-moisturizer combo is the only daytime moisturizer I’ve used that is actually mattifying without drying out my skin. It looks amazing under makeup and helps control shine. It’s a little pricey, but it also lasts a really long time, so it’s worth it.” — Ruby Thompson, Greatist market editor
Best cleanser
- Price: $$
- Pros: fragrance-free
- Cons: pricey
- Best for: sensitive skin and redness
“Most cleansers marketed toward people with oily skin — especially ones that are too foamy — tend to leave the skin feeling stripped and overly dry. I like that this one produces very little foam, but it still removes excess oil and leaves my skin feeling fresh, clean, and soft.” — Mellanie Perez, Healthline market editor
Best exfoliant
- Price: $$
- Pros: visibly improves textured and dull skin
- Cons: may make your skin more sensitive to the sun (Apply a good amount of SPF daily.)
- Best for: acne-prone skin
“I’ve struggled with ‘maskne’ during [the COVID-19 pandemic] and tried everything to prevent breakouts. I tried multiple kinds of masks and materials, acne treatments, face washes, and exfoliants, but this one changed the game. Not only did it help clear up the breakouts I was having, but it also changed my entire complexion. I no longer have any clogged pores or shine. I am obsessed with it.” — Thompson
Best serum
- Price: $$
- Pros: no bleach
- Cons: not recommended to pair with other acids or retinol
- Best for: darker skin tones
“My skin is both oily and sensitive, which means sometimes I’m very acne-prone. This helps to control and prevent acne, as well as fade any acne scars without using bleach (which is important for me, since I have a darker skin tone!). It’s also safe enough to use daily without clogging my pores. The product does have a sulfur-like smell when you first apply it.” — Seales
Best sheet mask
- Price: $
- Pros: microfiber in the mask helps it stay put
- Cons: some reviewers say it doesn’t have a strong effect
- Best for: combination skin
“Most sheet masks are solely for people with dry skin, but this one is an exception. Ingredients, such as tea tree oil and salicylic acid, are great for oily skin, plus the antioxidant glutathione helps combat dark spots.” — Perez
Best moisturizer
- Price: $$
- Pros: lightweight, oil-free, targets dark spots
- Cons: doesn’t feel like it sinks in (according to some reviewers)
- Best for: combination skin
“The Fenty Skin moisturizer has become my go-to for using under makeup. It’s super light, absorbs really nicely, and serves as a nice base under my favorite skin tint. It also has SPF 30, which isn’t the easiest to find in a lightweight moisturizer.” — Thompson
Best exfoliating toner
- Price: $
- Pro: budget-friendly
- Con: not for sensitive skin
- Best for: dull and uneven texture
“I love that the ingredients are straightforward, and there is also lots of information provided on how they work. The Inkey List is like The Ordinary, but without the drama and nonsense. This particular formula never irritates my skin. I use The Inkey List PHA during the day and the Paula’s Choice BHA at night.” — Brown
Best booster
- Price: $$$
- Pro: helps shrink pores
- Con: intended to be mixed with other products
- Best for: wearing under makeup
“Niacinamide is known for its ability to help shrink the appearance of pore size, and even out skin tone. I use this one from Paula’s Choice every night and if I’m going to be wearing makeup all day. I think it helps keep me from getting overly oily throughout the day when I wear it under makeup.” — Thompson
Best night cream
- Price: $$$
- Pro: silky, matte finish
- Con: fragrance may not be pleasing to everyone
- Best for: mature skin
“I may not have ‘intense wrinkles’ as the product name suggests it’s for, but I do like to use a night cream with retinol. This one has both retinol and ferulic acid, so it’s great for preventing premature wrinkles and fighting off free radicals. My favorite part about this moisturizer is that it leaves a silky matte finish, but it’s very hydrating.” — Perez