Oily, breakout-prone skin doesn’t need more products — it needs the right ones, used consistently.
The goal
Control oil and clear pores without stripping your skin. Over-drying triggers more oil and more breakouts, so gentleness still matters.
A simple oily/acne routine
AM: gentle cleanser → niacinamide (helps regulate oil) → light moisturiser → sunscreen
PM: cleanser → one treatment → light moisturiser
Pick the treatment based on your breakouts (see salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide):
- Clogged pores / blackheads → salicylic acid
- Red, inflamed pimples → benzoyl peroxide
- Texture, marks, long-term → a retinoid
Don’t overdo it
The classic mistake is piling on every anti-acne product at once and wrecking your skin barrier. Introduce one active at a time, and don’t mix benzoyl peroxide with a retinoid in the same session — our conflict checker flags it. For the full picture, see our acne hub and building a routine from scratch.