The Best Makeup & Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

We know the drill. You’re taking a selfie with friends, super psyched to be out at dinner having a blast, and when you look at your photo, you see it. The reflective glare on your forehead. Your chin. Maybe even your nose. Your pores look larger than you’d like, and that gorgeous bronzing technique you tried seems to have just melted right off. 

You’ve got oily skin, and man, can it be frustrating. Moisturizers can oftentimes feel too heavy, even if they’re lightweight. Different types of acne feel like they can pop up out of nowhere. Your t-zone can feel perpetually shiny, and no matter what, it seems like your makeup has just slipped right off by the end of the day. 

While oily skin can definitely have its benefits (it’s thought that those with oilier skin have less visible signs of aging, because there’s less opportunity for dry skin),  having oily skin can be difficult to deal with, and can affect everything from how your skincare works to how your makeup lays. And because of that, you need products that work specifically for your skin type; no one else's.

So we’re here to help you discover those perfect products made for you. Keep on reading to learn what skincare products work best for oily skin, what makeup works best for oily skin, and how to find them.

What Is Oily Skin?

Oily skin is characterized by excess sebum production from the sebaceous glands (the glands in your skin that produce oil). If you’ve got oily skin, you’ll often have a shiny complexion, enlarged pores, and a propensity for acne and blackheads (yay!). While genetics can play a significant role in determining skin type, external factors we can control, such as diet, sleep, stress, the types of products used, and climate can also influence oil production.

The challenge with oily skin is achieving balance. It's crucial to remove excess oil and prevent clogged pores without stripping the skin of its natural moisture, which can actually trigger even more oil production. And sometimes, oily skin can even be dry, meaning it’s missing hydration (rather than moisture).

For all skin types, but especially oily skin, it’s super important to pick the right skincare and makeup products that will help balance oil production and not clog pores (aka are non comedogenic). 

Let’s Talk Skin Barrier

Finding skincare and makeup that’s non-comedogenic is essential, and clean beauty like RMS can really, truly help. Our products are made with skin-loving ingredients that don’t exacerbate oil production, and naturally help to calm, soothe, balance the skin, and keep pores clear—without compromising skin health.

All of RMS’s Skincare Collection is Kind-to-Biome Certified. That means our products were independently, third-party tested and confirmed to not disrupt skin’s very sensitive microbiome. Protecting the skin’s natural microbiome encourages healthier skin and a stronger skin barrier, and that can help a whole host of issues, including lack of elasticity, loss of firmness, and regulating oil production.

What’s the Difference Between Hydration and Moisture?

We’ve found it helpful to know the difference between hydration or hydrating products and moisture or moisturizing products.

Hydration refers to water, and that can include water-based moisturizers. Hydration is key to helping alleviate dry skin, but it needs moisture to help lock it in. Moisture or moisturizing generally refers to bringing back and keeping moisture in the skin. That’s primarily done with oils. Oils are not hydrating, and water isn’t moisturizing. 

It’s also important to note that oils aren’t bad—and using an oil doesn’t mean it’s going to clog your pores. In fact, many oils can help with balancing the skin (that’s why we made many of our products with our RMS Adaptogenic Herbal Blend, which includes 9 adaptogenic herbs and organic oils to balance and nourish the skin).

Finding a Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

Cleansing: If you’ve got oily skin, it's essential to use a gentle, sulfate-free foaming cleanser that salicylic acid or balancing ingredients like Tea Tree Oil, which is known for its antimicrobial properties, and can help more acne-prone skin or areas without over-drying. 

Moisturizing: Moisturizers, like we mentioned above, can either be water-based or oil-based. For oily skin, we suggest picking one that contains Hyaluronic Acid, a powerhouse hydrator that attracts and holds moisture and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), which helps regulate oil production and reduces redness. We also suggest picking one with Zinc, which calms irritation and regulates oil production.

A few of our top picks are our:  

• SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30, a tinted, skin nourishing, mineral-based daily sunscreen serum and soft focus radiant complexion corrector with natural-looking illumination. This first-of-its-kind clean sunscreen is formulated with Non-Nano Zinc Oxide, a mineral protector, and is powered by GlowPlex™ (a complex of Niacinamide and natural peptides including Quinoa Seed Extract and Pea Extract).

• ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer, which, while it’s a makeup product, can be used as skincare during the day or even at night to lock in your routine. Our ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer contains skin-firming Tightenyl™, moisture-rich vegetable squalane, hyaluronic acid and eggplant fruit extract to firm, smooth, and lock in moisture and hydration all day or night long.

• Kakadu Luxe Cream, which is a new product included in our just-dropped skincare collection. It’s powered by skin-firming GlowPlex™ (a complex of Niacinamide and natural peptides including Quinoa Seed Extract and Pea Extract) and superfruit Kakadu Plum, for a luxurious, ultra-hydrating, fragrance-free face cream that smooths the look of fine lines and boosts skin’s radiance instantly and over time.

• Kakadu Beauty Oil, which is an updated version of our original, fan-favorite Beauty Oil. Kakadu Beauty OIl contains a super moisturizing Adaptogenic Herbal Blend to calm and soothe the skin, the ultimate brightening and nourishing superfruit, Kakadu Plum, and Mineral-Infused Sea Water for hydration. Because, remember! Hydration + Moisture = The Perfect Pair

Toner: Instead of traditional exfoliation for oily skin, we suggest using an astringent, antimicrobial natural toner, like one made with Witch Hazel or Green Tea, to refine pores and restore balance. We don’t recommend using a physical exfoliant like walnut shells or coffee grounds, because they can be very abrasive on already unbalanced skin, and can create issues like micro cuts and tears. 

Hydration: While the hydration from drinking water is generally different from the external hydration your skin needs, drinking plenty of water can absolutely be super beneficial to helping to balance oily skin. Also what can help is using hydrating and balancing serums or mists. 

Our new SuperSerum Hydrating Mist is an absolute powerhouse at this, hydrating skin from the outside in with clean, ultra-nourishing ingredients like GlowPlex™ (a complex of Niacinamide and natural peptides including Quinoa Seed Extract and Pea Extract), Black Currant Seed Oil which can help repair the skin barrier, and our RMS Adaptogenic Blend which can help bring balance to the skin.

To use, just spray post-cleansing and prior to applying your favorite serum, or spray anytime during the day when you need a refresh.

Nighttime Routine: If you’ve got oily skin, take a look at your nighttime routine and see what you could potentially improve. We usually identify two areas: 1. Your environment, and 2. Your products. 

If you live in a dry climate or somewhere that gets very cold, so you need to use indoor heat, your skin could actually be producing more oil than necessary in an effort to moisturize itself. To remedy that, we recommend getting a humidifier stat. Easy-to-clean ones are available all over, and we’ve found that using a humidifier greatly improves not only the quality of our skin when we wake up, but also the quality of our sleep during the night. Also, look at your pillow cases. Silk pillow cases are naturally antimicrobial, and can help prevent breakouts.

As for products, overnight, balancing treatments such as lightweight moisturizers or balancing oils can help repair and balance the skin barrier while you sleep. As the ideal nighttime routine, we suggest spritzing our SuperSerum Hydrating Mist after cleansing as a base, then following up with our Kakadu Luxe Cream as a nighttime moisturizer, and then locking it all in with our Kakadu Beauty Oil. 

Makeup for Oily Skin

Like we mentioned in the intro, finding the right makeup products for your oily skin, as opposed to someone else's, can make a significant difference in enhancing your complexion, preventing acne, and improving the appearance of your oily skin, making it look radiant and smooth and less shiny.

Primer: A smoothing and balancing primer is absolutely key for oily skin. Our favorite primer for oily skin is our SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30, a tinted, skin nourishing, mineral-based daily sunscreen serum and soft focus radiant complexion corrector with natural-looking illumination. The Zinc helps to balance skin, and the skin-loving formula smooths for a perfect base.

Foundation: When dealing with oily skin, the choice of foundation is crucial. We suggest opting for a thicker liquid foundation and topping it off with a setting powder (see more below). 

Our ReEvolve Natural Finish Liquid Foundation is a skincare-infused, natural finish, medium coverage foundation formulated with Tightenyl™ A natural retinol alternative that firms, tones, and smoothes, Organic Aloe, which is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, helping to soothe, moisturize, and smooth the appearance of the skin, and Vegetable Squalane, a moisture-rich, plant-based emollient that hydrates skin without creating more oil, for a dewy, smooth base. 

Concealer: Concealers for oily skin should have enough staying power so they don't melt off, and should be made with non-comedogenic ingredients so they don’t clog pores. 

Our favorite concealer is our UnCoverup Concealer, which is ultra-creamy and super buildable. It’s made with non-comedogenic Coconut Oil and soothing and healing Castor Oil, for the most skin-loving coverage ever. And hey, if you want a little extra hydration, apply it with a damp Skin2Skin Beauty Sponge for a seamless application. 

Setting Powder: Powder is incredible for oily skin, especially if it’s a finely milled, translucent powder. Use it on the t-zone or areas that tend to get oilier throughout the day to balance out the skin. Our UnPowder is smoothing, translucent, and absorbs oil without seriously drying out the skin. 

Blush and Eyeshadows: Usually, powder blushes and powder eyeshadows work better for oily skin, because they don’t mix with the natural oils on the skin. 

Our ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush and ReDimension Hydra Dew Luminizer are incredible for all skin types, but especially oily skin. It’s a multidimensional, nourishing powder blush that glides on effortlessly thanks to sugar-derived wet-to-dry powder technology, and skin-loving ingredients like Wildcrafted Buriti and Organic Jojoba Oils, which nourish without creating more oil.

Our Eyelights Cream Eyeshadow goes on wet and dries fast, making it incredible for oilier skin types. It’s crease-proof and longwearing, and comes in 6 metallic shades, all formulated with organic green tea and moisturizing natural peptide quinoa extracts.

Cream blushes and eyeshadows can definitely still be used, it’s just important to use a setting powder on top. Our Lip2Cheek and Buriti Bronzer are great options. Both are skin-loving multitaskers, made with non comedogenic Coconut Oil and healing, nourishing Castor Oil, and are super buildable and blendable.  

Lip Products: Generally, oily skin doesn’t affect the lips (like how having chronically dry skin does), but we still suggest opting for  hydrating lipsticks or tinted balms that provide moisture and color—because your lips do not have oil sebaceous glands like your skin does.

Our top picks?

• Liplights Cream Lip Gloss: A skin-nourishing, dewy-textured, 3-in-1 layer of glow formulated with plumping peptides and soothing botanical butters.

• Legendary Serum Lipstick: A first-of-its-kind lipstick and lip stain serum that creates fully saturated, long-lasting coverage with just one swipe. This lipstick is super lightweight yet deeply pigmented, and ultra, ultra hydrating, thanks to replacing the majority of water inside our formula with Organic Bitter Cherry Fruit Water. The RMS Adaptogenic Herbal Blend balances and Kakadu Plum Extract protects, while the Trio-Wax Complex provides a velvety, serum-like finish.

• Tinted Daily Lip Balm: This nourishing, clean lip balm is infused with a hint of hydrating, just-bitten color in every swipe, and the beeswax-and-organic-oil formula deeply moisturizes dry lips and keeps hydration in for up to 12hrs.

• Go Nude Lip Pencils: Most lip pencils can be drying, so our founder, Rose-Marie, formulated something different. This is a richly pigmented, longwearing, skin-caring creamy lip pencil, expertly formulated with Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Mango Seed Oil, and Shea Butter to moisturize and complement an inclusive range of nude shades.

Ready to Get Out and Glow?

We know that finding the perfect skincare and makeup routine for oily skin can be a trial and error situation, so it’s important to remember that what works for someone else may not work for you. But as long as you understand what your skin needs, and choose the right products based on that, you’ll be golden. And, as always, if you ever need a helping hand, our Artist Experts are here to help.