9 Best Skincare Ingredients for Oily Skin To Get Clear Skin

Are you looking for ingredients that will finally clear your oily skin? Here's a list of 9 best skincare ingredients for oily skin to get clear skin.

Let us take a closer look at the skincare ingredients you should include in your routine to get clear and balanced skin.

What is oily skin?

Oily skin is the result of the sebaceous glands producing excess sebum (too much oil) which gives off an overall greasy and dull look and causes breakouts.

9 Best Skincare Ingredients for Oily Skin

Here are 9 best skincare ingredients for oily skin to get clear skin:

1. Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a US Food and Drug Administration approved powerful acne-fighting ingredient for oily and acne-prone skin types which increases skin cell turnover and removes excess oil to unclog pores and kill bacteria to prevent breakouts.

It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to fight off infection and reduce the appearance of blemishes; it can be found in many over-the-counter acne treatments.

This ingredient shouldn't be used around the eyes, nose, mouth, mucous membranes, and open wounds as it can irritate skin.

Also, UV exposure should be limited and sunscreen should be applied to avoid developing phototoxicity and skin irritation.

NOTE: 

• It's important to note that Benzoyl Peroxide can destabilize Tretinoin so avoid using the 2 in conjunction, instead, use Benzoyl Peroxide in the morning and Tretinoin at night.

2. Clay

Clay masks, which come in different types, are an effective treatment for oily skin because they help control oily skin by removing oils, secretions, toxins, and contaminants to reveal clearer and brighter skin.

They work by adsorbing and absorbing moisture, excess oil, and impurities from your skin to cleanse, refresh, tighten large pores, prevent acne breakouts and heal blemishes from your skin.

Although there's anecdotal evidence on clay masks, they need to be studied further which is why clay masks are not subjected to pre-market approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Agency.

3. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a safe and effective beta-hydroxy acid that has anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties and it's perfect to treat oily skin because it removes dead cells, oils, and impurities from the pores all while decreasing excess sebum production and enhancing the penetration of other topical agents.

This powerhouse ingredient works by penetrating pores and dissolving the sebum and dead skin cells that cause clogged pores and acne.

Salicylic Acid is also a natural exfoliator that helps remove the top layer of your skin, known as stratum corneum, which stimulates collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and treats comedonal acne, acne vulgaris, melasma, photodamage, freckles, and lentigines to keep the skin looking even and smooth.

Salicylic acid is available in over-the-counter products and prescription-strength formulas including cleansers, creams, lotions, gels, topical solutions, ointments, pads, and plasters, and all skin types can safely use it.

4. Glycolic Acid

Glycolic Acid is a common alpha-hydroxy acid that has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and it's great on oily skin types for its ability to improve overall skin texture and reduce signs of aging.

This acid has the smallest molecular weight which penetrates easily into the skin breaking down the bonds between the outer layer of skin cells and the next skin cell layer.

As a result, collagen production is boosted, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and post-acne superficial scarring are improved and comedones and papulopustules are decreased.

Glycolic acid is available in over-the-counter products including cleansers, creams, lotions, gels, topical solutions, ointments, pads, and plasters.

5. Azelaic Acid

Azelaic Acid occurs naturally in wheat, rye, and barley and is produced by Malassezia furfur, a species of fungus, found on your skin, it has anti-microbial and anti-comedonal properties.

This US Food and Drug Administration approved acid is an effective treatment for comedonal acne, inflammatory acne and cutaneous hyperpigmentary disorders because it stops the growth of bacteria and decreases sebum production on your skin which makes it an amazing acid to clear oily skin.

It's available in over-the-counter products, prescription medications and skin care products.

NOTES ON ACIDS:

• Acids can be quite harsh on the skin, so it is best to start with a low concentration and increase if needed.
• After a peel, avoid exfoliation, picking at the peeling skin, taking steam inhalation and sun exposure, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen for sun protection during the day, and a moisturizer at night.

6. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the human body that is most abundant in your skin because it retains water to keep your tissues lubricated and moist.

It's a powerful ingredient because it works by attracting and binding to moisture which increases hydration and elasticity, tightens and firms your skin, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

There's a big misconception that oily skin doesn't need to be hydrated, oily skin needs hyaluronic acid to reduce the excess oil production that is triggered when the skin is stripped of hydration. Otherwise, your skin will end up with clogged pores, and acne breakouts.

Hyaluronic acid is available in over-the-counter products and skin care products.

7. Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a synthetic ingredient that forms a film that prevents water loss to moisturize oily skin, fills the gap between skin cells, and restores the skin barrier to keep oily skin hydrated, and prevents the penetration of harmful substances.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, dimethicone is a safe skincare ingredient at concentrations between 1 and 30%.

While the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), assures that dimethicone helps calm inflammation and irritation, minimizes redness, and protects the skin. 

Dimethicone is available in over-the-counter products and skin care products such as lip balms, serums, ointments, lotions, creams, and sunscreens.

8. Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has antioxidant properties which is essential for maintaining healthy skin cells.

Topical vitamin B3 improves barrier function, decreases redness, blotchiness, skin yellowness, and hyperpigmentation, and reduces skin's oil production, fine lines, and wrinkles.

9. Retinol

Retinol, not to be confused with Retin-A, is a derivative of vitamin A which penetrates into the dermis to get rid of dead skin cells and boost skin cell turnover, collagen synthesis and elasticity.

Cosmetic and clinical research demonstrates that this powerhouse ingredient reduces oil production, transepidermal water loss, erythema and scaling and improves texture, dyspigmentation, dryness and fine lines and wrinkles making it an effective treatment for managing oily skin.

Retinol is extremely unstable and gets easily degraded which is why the vehicle used for retinol delivery plays a crucial role in its efficacy.

When to contact a board-certified dermatologist?

If you have extremely sensitive skin, speak with a board-certified dermatologist before starting to use any skincare products that contain these ingredients, to ensure that it's meant to be effective for your skin type and skins needs and to avoid unnecessary skin irritation and allergic reactions.