Oily skin care in humid weather

Are you really oily?

In Bangladesh's heat and humidity almost everyone looks shiny by the afternoon, so many people decide they have oily skin and reach for the harshest products they can find. On our skin test, only 17% of people actually come out oily. Many more are combination, with an oily T-zone and normal or dry cheeks.

Oily skin is shiny across the whole face, including the cheeks, with visible pores, and it feels greasy rather than tight a few hours after washing. If your cheeks feel tight, read our combination skin routine instead.

Morning routine

1. Cleanse. A foaming cleanser that does not strip, such as CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, with lukewarm water.
2. Niacinamide. A few drops of Anua Peach 70 Niacin Serum help regulate oil and soften the look of pores over a few weeks.
3. Light hydration. Oily skin still needs water. A watery essence such as COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence or a thin layer of gel-cream is enough.
4. Light sunscreen. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum is a watery SPF 50 that does not leave a greasy film.

Night routine

1. Double cleanse if you wore sunscreen. A cleansing oil sounds wrong for oily skin, but oil dissolves sunscreen and sebum better than anything. Use KOSE Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil on dry skin, rinse, then your foaming cleanser.
2. Exfoliate, two or three nights a week. COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner helps keep pores clear. The BHA works inside the pore, where blackheads form.
3. Niacinamide again, then a light moisturiser such as COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream.

Once or twice a week: a clay mask such as Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask for 10 to 15 minutes absorbs excess oil.

Getting through a humid day

• Blot, don't wash. Blotting paper or a clean tissue pressed on the T-zone removes oil without stripping the skin.
• Keep layers thin. Two watery layers sit better in humidity than one thick cream.
• Reapply sunscreen in the afternoon if you go out again. A watery formula layers over the morning one without caking.
• After sweating heavily (a commute, the gym), rinse with water and reapply a light layer rather than doing a full wash.

Do

• Cleanse twice a day, morning and night. That is enough.
• Moisturise every time you cleanse.
• Change your pillowcase often and keep your phone screen clean.
• Give oil-control products three to four weeks before judging them.

Don't

• Don't wash your face four or five times a day.
• Don't skip moisturiser because your skin is oily: dehydrated oily skin makes more oil.
• Don't use alcohol toners, harsh scrubs or face washes that leave your skin squeaky.
• Don't squeeze blackheads or pimples: it causes marks that last for months. Our dark spots guide explains why.

When to see a dermatologist

If you have painful, deep or cystic acne, acne leaving scars, or breakouts that have not improved after three months of a good routine, see a dermatologist. Prescription treatments work far better for that than anything over the counter.