The Best Skincare Routine for Oily and Congested Skin

Your skin isn't the problem. Your routine might be. 

If your skin seems to produce oil no matter what you do, or your pores feel permanently clogged - you've probably tried everything. Blotting papers, mattifying primers, harsh toners that strip your skin bare. And somehow, the congestion keeps coming back. 

Here's the truth: oily, congested skin doesn't need to be punished. It needs to be understood. 

Excess oil production is often your skin's response to imbalance - sometimes triggered by the very products you're using to fight it. Stripping away too much oil signals your skin to produce more. Over-exfoliating disrupts the barrier. The cycle continues. Sound familiar? 

The good news? When you work with your skin instead of against it, things change. This is the routine that does exactly that. 

First, Let's Talk About What's Actually Happening 

Oily skin produces excess sebum - the natural oil your skin makes to stay healthy and protected. In the right amounts, sebum is essential. Too much, and it can mix with dead skin cells, settle into pores, and create the congestion, blackheads, and breakouts many oily skin types know too well. 

The goal isn't zero oil. It's balance. A routine that regulates sebum, keeps pores clear, and strengthens your skin barrier, so your skin stops overcompensating. 

Step 1: Cleanse Without Stripping 

The foundation of any oily skin routine is a cleanser that removes excess oil, makeup, and daily buildup without leaving your skin feeling tight or squeaky clean (that tight feeling isn't clean; it's stripped – and this leads to a disrupted skin barrier). 

ClariCleanse AHA & BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is built for this. Formulated with salicylic acid (BHA) - an oil-soluble acid that works inside the pore, not just on the surface it helps clear congestion at the source. Paired with lactic acid (AHA) to gently resurface and glycerin to maintain hydration, it's the kind of daily exfoliating cleanser that earns its place on your shelf. 

Use it morning and evening. Give it 30–60 seconds of contact time to let the actives do their job and then gently rinse off. 

Skin note: If your skin is sensitive or you're new to acids, start with once daily in the evening and build from there. 

Step 2: Tone and Refine 

Toning is often skipped, or worse, done with alcohol-heavy formulas that wreak havoc on the barrier. Done right, it prepares skin to absorb what comes next and for oily skin, this step is an opportunity to refine texture and target congestion further. 

Blemicalm BHA 2% Clarifying Toner is a liquid exfoliant enriched with 2% salicylic acid and a microbiome-balancing complex that works to help purify and refine pores. 

Apply with a cotton pad or press directly into skin with your hands. Either works - what matters is consistency. 

Step 3: Treat the Congestion 

This is where targeted actives earn their place. Oily, congested skin typically needs one of two things - or both: something to keep pores clear, and something to address the breakouts that come with them. 

PoreBright Niacinamide 10% Refining Serum  is a bestseller for good reason. Formulated with a powerhouse blend of multiactive niacinamide, skin clearing salicylic acid and skin soothing azelaic acid, this multi-benefit serum helps reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, keep pores clear and skin tone looking brighter and more even. This lightweight, non-sticky texture absorbs effortlessly into skin, making it easy to layer into your routine. 

Start with PoreBright Niacinamide 10% Refining Serum but if you are looking for something stronger or a step up in time, we also offer the PoreBright Niacinamide 20% Refining Serum. 

For those who also deal with active breakouts, we’d recommend the Blemicalm Azelaic Acid 10% Clarifying Serum instead. Formulated with 10% azelaic acid and soothing colloidal oatmeal, this multi-tasking, clarifying serum works to combat breakouts and reduce redness for clearer, calmer skin.  

A higher strength Blemicalm Azelaic Acid 15% Clarifying Serum is also available if you want to step up into something stronger. 

Step 4: Moisturise (Yes, Even Oily Skin) 

This one matters. Skipping moisturiser is one of the most common mistakes oily skin types make and one of the biggest contributors to ongoing excess oil production. 

When your skin is dehydrated (which is different from being oily), it compensates by producing more sebum. Moisturising isn't the enemy. The right moisturiser is the solution. 

Supergel Oil-Free Moisturiser is a lightweight texture with heavyweight results. Our oil-free, jelly texture is designed for oily, combination, and breakout-prone skin - hydrating deeply without clogging pores or leaving behind excess shine. 
 
Salicylic acid and niacinamide work together to clear and refine skin: unclogging pores, smoothing texture, and visibly reducing blemishes. Hyaluronic acid brings in water-based moisture that leaves your skin feeling comfortable and fresh, never greasy. 

Your Weekly Extra Step: Mask 

Once or twice a week, add a targeted mask to go deeper on congestion and control. 

ClariClay AHA Face Mask draws out impurities without the discomfort of tight, dry skin. Unlike traditional clay masks that dry hard and are a hassle to remove, our formula smooth, creamy clay mask deeply cleanses pores, absorbs excess oil without stripping moisture, and is formulated with lactic acid (an AHA) to gently exfoliate -leaving skin clearer, smoother, and more refined. Simply leave on for 10-15 minutes, rinse off and follow with your serum and moisturiser. 

Think of it as a reset - the step that keeps your routine working at its best between washes. 

The Full Routine at a Glance