Do you have oily skin? Perhaps you struggle with breakouts. Maybe you wash your face each morning, only to feel like it’s looking greasy again in 5 minutes flat. 

Lots of guys have oily skin, and many (if not most of them) manage to still look great. How? They adapt their skincare routines to fit the needs of their skin type.

If you want to do the same, start by learning why men have oily skin and a few reliable skincare tips for treating it. That way you'll know how to stop oily skin from becoming an issue for you.

 

What Causes Oily Skin in Men?

Underneath your skin are your sebaceous glands. They are responsible for protecting and lubricating your skin with natural oil called sebum. While this is all good and normal, men also have a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in their body. It’s one of the basic building blocks of what makes you a man. However, a higher level of DHT in the body causes over production of sebum, leaving your skin looking greasy and oily.

It’s not all bad though. Oily skin tends to age slower than dry skin. As your peers start to wrinkles and stress about fine lines, your skin will likely stay firm, smooth, and supple.

 

How to Reduce Face Oil

Even if it’s part of your genetics, you don’t have to throw in the towel when it comes to your oily skin. Instead, manage your skin’s excess oil production, understand how to stop oily skin, and stay looking your best by following these tips:

 

Cleanse

Cleanse your face with a face wash for oily skin that’s specifically designed for men - like our Clarifying Gel Face Wash. Use it twice a day; once in the morning and then before you go to bed. 

Be careful to not over-wash your face, as this can dry out you skin, putting you at risk for irritation, breakouts, and excess oil production. Your skin needs oil to maintain homeostasis and pH balance. If you excessively dry out your face, it goes into oil production overdrive to get the skin back to its natural state.

But what if you notice too much shine accumulating on your skin midday? Instead of washing your face again, reach for our Balancing Toner. A couple quick spritzes of its gentle formula is a great way to reduce face oil, minimize the appearance of pores, and refresh your skin.

 

Scrub

Exfoliate your skin 1–2 times a week using face scrub to remove dead skin cells and other build up that accumulate due to your overactive sebaceous glands. It's how to stop oily face concerns from getting out of hand.

Be careful when you exfoliate though – harsh ingredients, excessive scrubbing, and some exfoliating materials can actually cause over-drying. That’s definitely not what you want. 

Even if you have too much oil, you need to be gentle with your skin. Treat it well. That means applying your scrub in an easy motion, not trying to dig into your skin with sandpaper. And choose a product with natural, non-irritating ingredients - like our Renewing Face Scrub.

 

Moisturize

Even men with oily skin need to moisturize daily. Seem illogical? Take some time to understand why.

Your skin needs moisture and hydration to stay healthy and looking great. Without them, it will create extra oil as a layer of protection from bacteria and other environmental invaders. Don’t get it twisted - oil production and keeping your face moisturized are two different things.

But since you have oily skin, you should use an oil-free formula - like our Daily Essential Face Moisturizer. It can be used morning or evening, it’s lightweight, and it absorbs quickly. Using a face moisturizer (especially one with the best natural ingredients) will help supply your skin with necessary nutrients so it always stays energized and youthful. 

 

Bonus: Shave

If you shave your facial hair regularly and have oily skin, beware of shaving creams and aftershaves that have alcohol in them. Alcohol is a well known skin irritant and aggressively dries out the skin. 

Instead, go with our natural, soothing, alcohol-free formulas: our Smooth Brushless Shave Cream and Instant Relief Aftershave. Both are right for guys with oily skin. They’re designed to hydrate and soothe your skin for a close, enjoyable shave. And they won’t leave behind dryness, excess oil, or irritation.