With oily skin being as common as it is, you’d think it would be easier to find skincare products tailored to this skin type. Sometimes, it feels like the exact opposite is true! Just think about it: how many products have you abandoned because your skin broke out after the first few uses? How many hyped products have you tried to use, but gave up because they left you shining like a disco ball? Under these circumstances, it can be disheartening to keep looking for the right skincare products–but, as always, we’re here to help. Based on our personal experience (and the experience of thousands of members of our Care to Beauty community), we’ve put together a list of the best serums for oily skin, for different concerns.
Whether you’re looking for an anti-acne serum to help you put an end to breakouts, or a retinol serum to correct some signs of aging, we’ve got you covered.
How to choose a serum for oily skin
Before we get to the product recommendations, let’s take a moment to go through some features you should consider when shopping for a serum for oily skin.
Identify your skin concerns and skincare goals
There is no such thing as THE best serum for oily skin–different people have different skin concerns, different skincare goals, and different skincare philosophies. If you’re, say, 22 and struggling with acne, the best serum for you will not necessarily be the best serum for someone who’s 45 and struggling with visible signs of aging.
Some common skincare goals for those with oily skin may be: to control sebum production, hydrate the skin (oily skin needs moisture too!), minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, prevent and reduce acne breakouts, reduce inflammation and redness associated with acne, brighten dark spots and acne marks, or correct signs of aging without overloading the skin with very rich anti-aging products.
Pick effective yet gentle ingredients
Gone are the days of using extremely aggressive and abrasive ingredients on oily skin. They could be effective at mattifying the skin in the moment, sure, but in the long term they only managed to unbalance the skin even further–and, turns out, skincare for oily skin is all a matter of balance.
These days, skincare tends to be gentler. Instead of using aggressive physical exfoliants, for example, you can use chemical exfoliants–you can try alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) like glycolic, mandelic, or lactic acid; a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) like salicylic acid; or poly-hydroxy acids (aka PHA) like gluconolactone or lactobionic acid.
Niacinamide is also a popular choice for acne-prone oily skin, for its soothing and brightening properties. Azelaic acid works wonders to brighten dark acne marks. Retinol, a star ingredient most often associated with anti-aging skincare, is also extremely effective at controlling sebum production and preventing and reducing acne breakouts.
Last, but not least, don’t run away from classic skincare ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or vitamin C–their hydrating and antioxidant benefits, respectively, can definitely help you towards your skincare goals.
Don’t forget to hydrate and soothe your skin
Again, you’re not trying to remove every last drop of sebum from your skin–you’re trying to strike a happy balance, and that means working with the condition of your skin. Oily skin can be dull and dehydrated too, so make sure to make room for some quenching products in your routine. A hyaluronic acid serum can be a good choice! If you struggle with acne, it’s likely that your skin will be sensitive and irritated too–so make calming and soothing products a priority.
Choose lightweight formulas
Depending on the kind of serum you’re looking for, you may struggle to find formulas that feel light enough for your skin. Vitamin C and retinol serums, for example, are often oilier than other types of serums. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t use those types of serums–there are options out there, and some will be perfect for you.
The goal here is to find formulas that strike a good balance between absorption and comfort–you don’t want formulas that absorb so quickly that they leave your skin feeling parched and tight, nor formulas that sit on the surface of the skin to form a greasy film.
You’re looking for a lightweight product that delivers benefits deep into your skin–not such a big ask!
Our favorite serums for oily skin
Now that you know what to look for in a serum for oily skin, it’s time to show you our favorites:
Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum
Best hydrating hyaluronic acid serum for oily skin
Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum
It may not always feel like it, but oily skin still needs hydration, as excess oil is usually accompanied by a lack of water in the skin. And when it comes to keeping the skin hydrated, a good hyaluronic acid serum might just be the solution!
We love the Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serums due to its fluid, water-like consistency that is immediately absorbed, even by oily skin.
Sesderma C-Vit Serum Liposomal
Best vitamin C serum for oily skin
Sesderma C-Vit Serum Liposomal
A cult product in its own right, the Sesderma C-Vit Serum Liposomal serum contains liposome-encapsulated ascorbic acid. In addition to promoting the absorption of vitamin C by the skin, this “encapsulation” also allows the formula to be more water-based than oil-based, unlike many other vitamin C serums on the market.
The result is a super lightweight formula that’s further infused with hyaluronic acid, for skin that feels hydrated, but never greasy.
SVR Ampoule [A] Lift Smoothing Concentrate
Best retinol serum for oily skin
![SVR Ampoule [A] Lift Smoothing Concentrate 30ml](https://static.beautytocare.com/media/catalog/product//s/v/svr-ampoule-a-lift-smoothing-concentrate-30ml_1.jpg)
SVR Ampoule [A] Lift Smoothing Concentrate
We know it’s hard to find the perfect retinol serum for oily skin, as many of them are formulated with an oil base. Not the SVR Ampoule [A] Lift Smoothing Concentrate, though!
With an incredibly lightweight texture that works well on oily skin, this powerful serum might just be the answer you’re looking for–and, what’s more, you can use it year round, even in the summer.
Ducray Keracnyl Serum
Best acne serum for oily skin (for teens)
Ducray Keracnyl Serum
For teens who are tired of dealing with acne, but not so tired that they’re willing to start a full-blown skincare routine, the Ducray Keracnyl Serum is a great option.
The formula combines acne-fighting Myrtacine with soothing and brightening azelaic acid, all in order to reduce blemishes, dark spots and acne marks, and redness with a single product.
SVR Sebiaclear Serum Anti-Marks Anti-Blemish Global Corrector
Best acne serum for oily skin (for adults)
SVR Sebiaclear Serum Anti-Marks Anti-Blemish Global Corrector
If there’s one product we never tire of recommending for adults who struggle with oily skin and acne, it’s the SVR Sebiaclear Serum.
Formulated with gluconolactone, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, this serum offers both anti-acne and anti-aging benefits, which makes it perfect for those who don’t want to have to choose between these two common skin concerns.
Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
Best brightening serum for oily skin
Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
Formulated with Thiamidol, the Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum is one of our favorite anti-pigmentation serums to recommend–whether you’re struggling with melasma, age spots, or dark acne marks where your pimples used to be (that’s post-inflammatory pigmentation, or PIH), we trust this serum to get the brightening job done.
The formula is so lightweight that you’ll barely notice you’re wearing it–but give it a few weeks, and you’ll definitely notice a difference in your complexion.
Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis + Niacinamide
Best niacinamide serum for oily skin
Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis + Niacinamide
Niacinamide is the kind of superhero skincare ingredient that benefits everyone, but the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis + Niacinamide uses it specifically to benefit oily skin.
Through the combined action of niacinamide and propolis, this Korean formula soothes sensitive or irritated skin, minimizes the appearance of large pores, and rebalances the oil and water balance of oily skin. In short: it refines your complexion to make you look radiant, not greasy.
Filorga NCEF-Shot Supreme Polyrevitalising Concentrate
Best anti-aging serum for oily skin
Filorga NCEF-Shot Supreme Polyrevitalising Concentrate
Looking for a lightweight anti-aging serum that doesn’t contain retinol? Try the Filorga NCEF-Shot Supreme Polyrevitalising Concentrate, a mesotherapy-inspired serum that works like a shock treatment against visible signs of aging.
The secret ingredient in the formula is NCEF, a Filorga-exclusive complex that harnesses the power of 50 active ingredients to target common signs of aging, such as wrinkles, loss of firmness, and dullness. All in a fluid formula that feels light as water!
As you can see, finding the right serum for oily skin can be complex, but it’s far from impossible! Once you know what to look for, the process becomes much simpler. Make sure to browse our full selection of skincare for oily skin in the shop–there you’ll find not only these serums, but plenty of other tried-and-tested skincare essentials.
