The Best Skincare Products for Oily Skin

Got oily skin? Experiencing it on your face can be a defeating experience—constantly and chronically managing excessive oiliness can feel like a full-time job. But utilizing the best skincare products for oily skin can take the guesswork out of a daily skincare routine, helping to curb oil production, balance the skin, and soothe facial woes. From the best cleansers to balancing moisturizers—and everything in between—here are all the best skincare products for oily skin.

Best Ritual Set for Oily Skin

Starter Ritual for Oily Skin

Take the guesswork out of planning a ritual with this perfected set of products ideal for combo to oily skin. This two-week introductory set helps visibly tighten and minimize pores for smooth, balanced skin. To start, the collection includes the perfect pairing for the Kyoto Double Cleanse—The Camellia Cleansing Oil and The Rice Polish: Deep—so you can gently remove makeup and debris while also polishing skin to a healthy glow. Then, follow up with our famed Essence, made entirely from our proprietary Hadasei-3 complex, which is proven to resurface, soften, and plump skin instantly. For moisturizing, slather on our award-winning Water Cream, a rich yet weightless gel cream that was created to hydrate combo to oily skin—allowing the perfect blend of balance to the skin. Finish off skin with The Silk Peony, an eye cream that locks in moisture around the delicate eye area for radiant, hydrated skin.

Best Cleanser for Oily Skin

The Matcha Cleanse

Those with oily and combination skin often believe they need to over-wash their faces to rid themselves of excessive oil and prevent breakouts — but this skin stripping step can actually do the opposite, causing skin to produce even more oil and potentially breakouts. This is where The Matcha Cleanse steps in to save the day. The daily clarifying gel cleanser purifies and decongests pores without stripping skin, while also rebalancing skin’s natural oil production. The refreshing foam texture smooths the skin while also addressing the skin’s texture for better makeup wear. The formula includes premium matcha (sourced directly from Uji Tahara in Kyoto), powerhouse coix seed (used in herbal medicines for centuries to detox pores), and Japanese Mugwort (to support barrier function).

Best Liquid Exfoliating Treatment for Oily Skin 

The Texture Tonic

This AHA-powered liquid exfoliating formula was designed to be used daily, helpful at reducing excess oil and sebum, while also improving skin’s moisture levels. The formula has niacinamide and Japanese mugwort to reduce the look of discoloration, while also calming visible redness and irritation. But the formula doesn’t just work wonders on the skin, it also has emotional benefits, too. The liquid exfoliant is scented with a functional fragrance blend of sweet fennel and rosemary–two botanicals known to increase focus and mental clarity.

Best Face Mask for Oily Skin 

Clarifying Clay Mask

The pore-targeting mask pairs Japanese konjac (for gentle exfoliation) with volcanic ash to minimize excess oil and sebum for smoother and clearer skin in mere minutes. In clinical studies, 100 percent of users noticed a reduction in sebum and noted that skin felt less oily after just a single week of usage.*

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study conducted on 40 panelists after 3 applications over 1 week.

Best Exfoliator for Oily Skin 

The Rice Polish: Deep

The Rice Polish exfoliator is a one-of-a-kind experience. The water-activated exfoliant has a handful of multitasking Japanese ingredients that transform into a creamy, cloud-like foam with just a few drops of water. Finely ground rice bran and papaya enzymes promote natural skin turnover, while the amino acid-base formula provides effective cleansing without stripping the skin of essential moisture or breaking the skin’s barrier function. Plus, the deep iteration has the potent powers of wild rose to help tighten the look of pores and clarify skin, making it a great fit for exfoliating and purifying oily skin.

Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin 

The Water Cream

Choosing the best moisturizer is one of the most difficult tasks for those with oily skin. Too occlusive and it drowns skin in hydration, too light and it might cause skin to produce excess sebum. But this lightweight, clarifying, water-based moisturizer was specifically designed for oily skin. The gel cream releases a burst of hydrating nutrients and pore-refining botanicals for healthy-looking, balanced skin. The unique formula delivers hydration, without leaving skin sticky or greasy. And the cream employs a few powerful botanicals, including wild rose (to minimize the look of pores) and leopard lily (to calm).

Best SPF for Oily Skin 

Silken Sunscreen SPF 35

This non-comedogenic and non-irritating sunscreen features skin-loving ingredients that not only protect the skin, but also help improve the appearance of pores, smooth skin texture, and calm irritation—making it one of the best sunscreens for oily and acne-prone skin. The Silken Pore Perfecting SPF also features our beloved silk extract for a silky feel, allowing the sunscreen to apply flawlessly.

Best Primer for Oily Skin 

The Silk Canvas

While a makeup primer can often be overlooked, the right kind of primer can be endlessly beneficial for oily skin. A formula designed with oily skin in mind can instantly diminish the look of pores, fine lines, and texture so makeup applies better and lasts longer, while also shielding skin from makeup and pollutants to unclog pores that can lead to breakouts.

Best Setting Powder for Oily Skin 

The Silk Powder

This talc-free, protective setting powder isn’t just helping makeup last longer. The multipurpose powder also blurs pores, cocoons skin against pollution, and provides a translucent, soft-radiant finish. Plus, the powder has been clinically shown to help makeup last eight hours**, while also helping to instantly improve the appearance of pores, fine lines, and texture***.

**Based on a clinical study of 26 women using a long-wear foundation and the Silk Powder for a duration of 8 hours.

***Based on a clinical study of 41 subjects, using The Silk Powder on bare skin.

Best Oily-Absorbing Tool

Aburatorigami Blotting Papers

Japan has been singing the praises of abaca leaf papers for centuries. In Kyoto centuries ago, gold artisans used the soft, strong, and absorbent paper to protect their gold leaf. Geishas discovered the papers were brilliant at wicking away traces of oil without stripping moisture from the skin or disturbing their intricate makeup. The wonderfully absorbent and strong paper is just as effective at absorbing excess oil today, without irritating skin or disturbing makeup.

Wanna learn more about oily skin? We have everything you need to know, from the best skincare routine for oily skin to the basics of learning to love your oily the best skincare routine for oily skin. Or, if you’d like help customizing your daily ritual for your specific skin type, consult our Ritual Finder.