Oily Skin explained: What causes it and how to keep it balanced
If your face starts to shine only a few hours after cleansing or your makeup doesn't seem to stay in place, you may have oily skin. While excess oil is often associated with clogged pores and breakouts, oily skin also has its benefits. The key is learning how to control excess sebum without stripping the skin of the moisture it needs.
What is oily skin?
Oily skin is a skin type that naturally produces more sebum than other skin types. Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands that helps protect the skin and prevent moisture loss. However, when too much sebum is produced, the skin may appear shiny and become more prone to clogged pores, blackheads, and breakouts.
Oily skin is determined by genetics and is considered a permanent skin type. Although you cannot change your skin type, you can manage excess oil production with the right skincare products and daily habits.
How can you recognize oily skin?
People with oily skin often experience:
- Excess shine, especially on the forehead, nose, and chin.
- Enlarged or visible pores.
- Frequent blackheads or clogged pores.
- Regular breakouts or blemishes.
- Makeup that fades or slides off throughout the day.
- Skin that feels greasy only a few hours after cleansing.
Many people with oily skin also believe they should avoid moisturizers, but skipping hydration can actually encourage the skin to produce even more oil.
What causes oily skin?
Several factors influence how much oil your skin produces.
Common causes include:
- Genetics.
- Hormonal changes.
- Warm or humid weather.
- Stress.
- Using harsh or drying skincare products.
- Over-cleansing or over-exfoliating.
- Skipping moisturizer.
- Using products that clog the pores.
When the skin barrier becomes compromised, the skin may try to compensate by producing even more sebum, making oiliness worse over time.
Ingredients that work well for oily skin
The best skincare ingredients for oily skin help regulate excess oil while maintaining hydration and supporting the skin barrier.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is one of the most popular ingredients for oily skin because it helps regulate excess sebum production while improving overall skin clarity. It also helps minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, strengthens the skin barrier, and brightens uneven skin tone. In addition, Niacinamide supports the production of ceramides, helping the skin retain moisture more effectively and protecting it from external stressors. Because it is gentle and suitable for most skin types, Niacinamide is an excellent addition to both morning and evening routines.
Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Salicylic Acid is an oil-soluble exfoliating acid that penetrates deep into the pores to dissolve excess sebum, dead skin cells, and impurities. This helps reduce clogged pores, blackheads, and breakouts while refining overall skin texture. Unlike physical scrubs, Salicylic Acid exfoliates gently without causing friction on the skin. With regular use, it can help keep pores clearer, improve the appearance of enlarged pores, and leave the skin looking smoother and more even. Because it works inside the pores, Salicylic Acid is particularly beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin.
Heartleaf (Houttuynia Cordata)
Heartleaf is widely used in Korean skincare for its soothing and balancing properties. It helps calm redness and irritation while providing lightweight hydration, making it especially suitable for oily and acne-prone skin. Rich in antioxidants and skin-soothing compounds, Heartleaf supports the skin barrier and helps maintain a healthy, balanced complexion without adding heaviness. It is particularly appreciated by those with sensitive or blemish-prone skin, as it helps reduce visible signs of irritation while keeping the skin feeling comfortable and refreshed.
Green Tea
Green Tea is rich in antioxidants that help protect the skin from environmental damage while soothing irritation. It also helps reduce excess oil and leaves the skin feeling fresh and refreshed. Its calming properties make it an excellent ingredient for oily skin that is also sensitive or prone to blemishes. In addition, Green Tea helps combat oxidative stress caused by pollution and UV exposure, supporting healthier-looking skin over time. Its lightweight, refreshing nature makes it a common ingredient in toners, serums, and moisturizers designed for oily skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
Although oily skin already produces excess sebum, it still needs water. Hyaluronic Acid delivers lightweight hydration without clogging the pores or leaving the skin feeling greasy. As a powerful humectant, it attracts and retains moisture within the skin, helping to keep the complexion hydrated, plump, and comfortable throughout the day. Keeping the skin properly hydrated can help maintain a healthier skin barrier and prevent the skin from producing excess oil as a response to dehydration. This makes Hyaluronic Acid an essential ingredient for achieving balanced, healthy-looking oily skin.
Why Korean skincare is ideal for oily skin
Many traditional skincare products for oily skin focus on removing as much oil as possible. While this may provide temporary results, it can also disrupt the skin barrier and trigger even more oil production.
Korean skincare takes a gentler approach by combining lightweight hydration with ingredients that help regulate sebum and soothe the skin. Instead of drying the skin out, the goal is to create balance so the skin feels hydrated, comfortable, and less prone to congestion.
This philosophy makes Korean skincare particularly suitable for people who struggle with oily yet sensitive skin.
Our favorite picks for oily skin
Medicube’s Zero Pore Blackhead Deep Cleansing Oil is a silky, rinse-clean oil cleanser designed to melt away makeup, sunscreen and daily buildup while helping to loosen excess sebum and stubborn blackheads. Formulated with 90.6% plant-derived oils, including grape seed, olive, argan and rice bran oils, this nourishing blend dissolves impurities without leaving skin feeling dry or tight, making it a great first cleanse even for those who want pore care without harsh scrubbing.
Anua's Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam is a purifying facial cleanser designed to deeply cleanse pores while remaining gentle on the skin. Especially suitable for acne-prone and oily skin, this cleansing foam helps remove dead skin cells, excess sebum, and impurities that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Formulated with Houttuynia Cordata (Heartleaf) powder, the cleanser provides mild exfoliation to clear buildup and refine the skin’s texture without causing irritation. The slightly grainy texture works to purify pores effectively, while glycerin helps maintain the skin’s moisture balance, preventing dryness or tightness after cleansing. Salicylic acidsupports pore care and offers anti-acne benefits by helping to keep pores clear and skin balanced.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser is a refreshing, foaming face wash designed especially for oily and acne-prone skin. Formulated with salicylic acid (BHA), it helps to deeply cleanse the pores by dissolving excess sebum and removing dead skin cells that can lead to congestion and breakouts. The cleanser also contains purifying botanical ingredients, which help calm and clarify the skin while maintaining a balanced moisture level. Despite its pore-clearing power, the formula is gentle enough for daily use, leaving the skin feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed, never stripped or overly dry
Medicube's Zero Pore Pad is a best-selling exfoliating toner pad designed to refine skin texture, clear congestion, and visibly minimize the appearance of pores for a smoother, clearer complexion. These dual-sided pads provide gentle yet effective exfoliation, helping remove dead skin cells, excess sebum, and impurities that can clog pores and contribute to breakouts. Formulated with natural AHA and BHA, the pads work to exfoliate the skin’s surface while purifying pores from within. This helps control oil production, reduce buildup, and improve overall skin clarity without over-drying.
EQQUALBERRY's Swimming Pool Daily Facial Toner is a refreshing, hypoallergenic daily toner that delivers deep hydration while gently smoothing the skin, perfect for anyone who wants mild exfoliation without the sting of acids. Designed to feel like a “moisture dip” for the face, this renewed version of the Swimming Pool Toner uses protease enzymes, a plant-derived exfoliating ingredient that naturally dissolves dead skin cells and helps unclog pores with minimal irritation. This makes it an excellent option for sensitive skin types who want smoother texture and clearer pores while still being able to use it comfortably every day.
Beauty of Joseon’s Calming Serum: Green Tea + Panthenol is a gentle, skin-soothing serum designed to comfort irritation, strengthen the skin barrier, and restore balance to sensitive or stressed skin. This renewed formula features an impressive blend of EWG Green Grade ingredients, including 50% green tea leaf water, rich in antioxidants to calm inflammation and protect the skin from environmental stress. It also contains 30% mugwort extract, a beloved Korean herbal ingredient known for its purifying and anti-inflammatory benefits, helping reduce redness and sensitivity. To complete the calming trio, 5% panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) provides deep hydration while reinforcing the moisture barrier, keeping the skin soft, resilient, and protected from moisture loss.
Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Niacinamide Serum is a brightening treatment designed to even out skin tone, refine texture, and enhance overall radiance. The formula helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven patches while soothing the skin for a clearer and healthier looking complexion. Formulated with Kojic Acid, Turmeric, Niacinamide, and Vitamin E, it works to brighten dull skin, calm irritation, and improve skin texture while supporting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Turmeric also provides antioxidant care to help protect the skin from environmental stress.
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is a calming, restorative gel-cream specially designed to soothe irritated, acne-prone, or sensitized skin. This gentle yet effective formula is built around the “3-4-5 system”: three clarifying ingredients, four nourishing ingredients, and five soothing ingredients, all working together to bring balance and comfort back to troubled skin. At the heart of the cream is niacinamide, resveratrol, and a blend of botanical extracts, including cactus fruit, heartleaf, and evening primrose, that help reduce redness, fade post-acne marks, and strengthen the skin barrier over time. Lightweight and non-comedogenic, the gel-cream absorbs quickly without clogging pores, making it ideal for blemish-prone or easily congested skin.
Purito’s Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream is a rich yet skin-comforting moisturizer designed to repair and strengthen a damaged or weakened skin barrier while delivering long-lasting hydration. Ideal for skin that feels dry, tight, irritated, or easily sensitized, this cream helps restore balance and resilience with every application. Despite its nourishing texture, it absorbs smoothly into the skin without feeling heavy, making it suitable for both day and night use.
Dr.G’s R.E.D. Blemish Clear Soothing Cream is a lightweight, gel-textured recovery cream designed to calm irritation, hydrate sensitized skin, and promote a clearer, more even complexion. Formulated with a powerful 5-Cica Complex, including madecassoside, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, asiatic acid, and centella asiatica extract, this cream delivers intensive soothing benefits that help reduce redness, strengthen the skin barrier, and relieve discomfort caused by acne, dryness, or environmental stress. The quick-absorbing gel melts effortlessly into the skin, providing refreshing moisture without heaviness or stickiness, making it ideal for oily, combination, or sensitive skin types.
SKIN1004’s Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum is a lightweight, serum-like sunscreen that delivers powerful SPF50+ PA++++ protection while soothing and hydrating the skin. This organic, reef-safe formula is crafted with a “Hyalu-Cica” blend, a golden ratio of hyaluronic acid for deep moisture and Centella asiatica extractfor calming irritated or sensitive skin. The result is a sun protection product that feels more like skincare than sunscreen, absorbing quickly without leaving a white cast or sticky residue.
SCINIC’s Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence is a lightweight, refreshing sunscreen designed to provide powerful SPF50+ PA++++ protection while delivering deep hydration and soothing care to sun-exposed skin. This updated formula uses chemical (organic) UV filters, allowing for a smooth, non-greasy application with no white cast. The essence is enriched with panthenol, glacial water, and seven plant-derived extracts that work together to cool, calm, and moisturize skin instantly, making it ideal for sensitive or heat-irritated skin.
