7 Things You Shouldn't Do if You Have Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you’re probably well aware of how difficult it can be to put together a skin care routine that suits your complexion’s needs. The thing is, when it comes to oily skin, it’s important to follow the right regimen—but it turns out that certain skin care activities can actually do more harm than good. Below, we’re sharing seven skin care no-nos for oily skin to help make caring for your complexion a little less challenging. Follow along!

Oily Skin Don’t #1: Skipping Your A.M. and P.M. Cleanse

Sure, you may find yourself running out the door in the morning or getting home late after happy hour, but it’s still essential to find a few minutes to cleanse your complexion twice a day. In the morning, use a facial cleanser that can help mattify the look of your skin, like the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Cleanser, which is formulated with eucalyptus. Once a day, squeeze the cleanser into your hands and add water to transform it from clay to mousse. Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using circular motions, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry. At night, keep things low maintenance by using a no-rinse cleansing option, like the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin, which purifies and mattifies. Saturate a cotton pad with the micellar water and wipe the pad across your face.

Oily Skin Don’t #2: Scrubbing Your Skin Aggressively

You might think that scrubbing your skin aggressively can rid your complexion of excess oil, but it’s better to be gentle. Try the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refine Cleanser, which exfoliates to leave skin feeling smoother and purifies skin of dirt, oil, and pollution. As far as how often you should exfoliate, it depends. Some people can handle daily exfoliation, while other may only be able to handle doing so once or twice a week. Pay attention to how your skin responds to determine what works best for you.

Oily Skin Don’t #3: Waiting to Wash Your Face After Working Out

Whether your house is 5 or 30 minutes from your gym, don’t leave without giving your face a quick wipe-down post-workout. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you should wash your face twice a day as well as after sweating. You don’t have to jostle for space at the sink, though. Simply toss a pack of the L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean™ All Skin Types Makeup Removing Towelettes into your gym bag so that you can quickly rid the surface of your skin of sweat post-cardio sesh.

Oily Skin Don’t #4: Using a Drying Toner

Sometimes when you have oily skin, using a toner after cleansing your complexion can help you get rid of any remaining impurities that are still lingering on the surface of your skin. That being said, you’ll want to pick a toner that won’t dry you out, as excessive cleansing can lead your skin to produce even more oil. The L’Oréal Paris HydraFresh Toner has a gentle, non-drying formula. Apply it with a cotton ball to your skin morning and night after cleansing.

Oily Skin Don’t #5: Applying the Wrong Moisturizer

We hate to break it to you, but having oily skin doesn’t give you a free pass to skip out on moisturizer. It’s all about finding one that’s formulated for your skin type, like the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin, which provides long-lasting hydration and has a matte (non-shiny) finish. Smooth it over your face and neck after cleansing and toning.

Oily Skin Don’t #6: Over-Washing Your Face

Remember how we told you that you should wash your face morning, night, and after working out? Well, you might think that it’s a good idea to cleanse even more often than that when you have oily skin, but that wouldn’t really be the case. As we mentioned earlier, cleansing too much can cause your skin to produce even more oil. So, stick to twice a day cleansing and add an extra cleanse in only after sweating. That’s all you need!

Oily Skin Don’t #7: Wearing Face Makeup with a Radiant Finish

Foundation that has a dewy, radiant finish is a great choice for those with dry complexions—but not so much for oily skin, as it can make you look even shinier. Instead, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation as well as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Powder.

For more oily skin product recommendations, check out our article, 5 Products That Can Help Mattify Oily Skin.