You wash your face, follow your skincare routine religiously, and you still end up with shiny, greasy skin within a few hours— frustrating, right? You’re not alone.
Oily skin can feel frustrating, but the truth is: most of the time, it’s not your skin that’s the problem — it’s your habits. Certain skincare mistakes can actually trigger your skin to produce even more oil, no matter how many products you use.
Let’s break down 5 common oily skin mistakes and exactly how to fix them so you can finally enjoy a fresh, balanced, and shine-free glow.
5 Mistakes Keeping Your Oily Skin Shiny and How to Fix it
1. Overwashing Your Face
The Mistake: You might think the more you wash, the less oily you’ll be. Wrong. When you over-cleanse, you strip your skin of its natural oils and your skin responds by producing even more oil to compensate.
The Fix: Wash your face twice daily — once in the morning and once before bed — using a gentle cleanser.
Pro Tip: Look for cleansers with salicylic acid or niacinamide. They clean deep into pores without over-drying your skin.
My Favourite: Derma Co 2% Sali-Cinamide Anti-Acne Face Wash. It contains 2% salicylic acid and 2% niacinamide. The salicylic acid effectively removes dirt and excess oil, preventing the formation of pimples without drying the face. While the facewash claims that niacinamide helps fade acne scars, I didn’t see any difference.
I also use this face wash for my butt ance. It works well. Just let it sit for atleast 1-2 mins before washing it off.
2. Skipping Moisturizer
The Mistake: Believing that oily skin doesn’t need hydration. Wrong. When you skip moisturizer, your skin becomes dehydrated, which actually triggers excess oil production to make up for it. Also, avoid using heavy creams or oils as they tend to clog pores and makes your skin feel greasy.
The Fix: Use a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that hydrates without clogging pores. Gel or water-based formulas are prefect for oily skin types.
Bonus Tip: Apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp to lock in hydration.
My favourite: Dr. Sheth’s Ceramide & Vitamin C Oil – Free Moisturizer. It has a lightweight gel texture that gets absorbed easily. It leaves my skin feeling balanced and hydrated without making my skin overly shiny. It also works well under sunscreen and makeup.
3. Not Wearing Sunscreen
The Mistake: Finding a suncreen that doesn’t make your skin greasy is hard. From personal experience many sunscreens can feel heavy, but skipping SPF is one of the worst things you can do.
The Fix: Use a matte or gel-based sunscreen that’s labeled “non-comedogenic.” These formulas protect your skin without leaving a greasy finish.
Try: Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide, green tea, or niacinamide for oil control and calming benefits.
My Favourite: RE’ EQUIL Ultra Matte Dry Touch Sunscreen | SPF 50 PA++++. This sunscreen has a velvety texture that keeps my face matte for hours without giving me any shiny feeling. This sunscreen also doesn’t make me tan.
4. Over-Exfoliating
The Mistake: Over-exfoliating damages your skin barrier, leading to irritation, redness and even more oil.
The Fix: Exfoliate 1–2 times per week using a chemical exfoliant instead of a harsh scrub.
Products such as salicylic acid gently remove dead cells and help control oil long-term.
Quick Tip: If your skin feels tight or dry, you’re exfoliating too much.
My Favourite: Minimalist Anti-Acne 2% Salicylic Acid Face Serum. This serum helped me to control excess sebum (oil) while exfoliating the skin. The only thing is you have to be consistent and it takes quite a few weeks to see results.
5. Using Heavy or Pore-Clogging Products
The Mistake: Choosing rich creams, silicones, or thick makeup formulas.
Heavy products can trap sebum and dirt, causing clogged pores and extra shine.
The Fix: Switch to oil-free, non-comedogenic products. These formulas allow your skin to breathe.
Check Labels For: “Oil-free,” “gel-based,” or “won’t clog pores.”
My Favourite: As someone who’s battled oily skin, this combo works for me. The Swiss Beauty Studio Finish Makeup Primer blurs pores and controls oil, while the Maybelline Fit Me New York Liquid Foundation gives me a matte finish that lasts all day.
Conclusion
Oily skin isn’t your enemy — it’s just misunderstood. With the right balance of cleansing, hydrating, and protection, your skin can go from greasy to glowing in no time.
Avoid these five mistakes, and you’ll notice your skin feels cleaner, and less shiny — all day long.
💬 Which of these mistakes are you guilty of? Share your experience in the comments or save this post to help someone else struggling with oily skin!
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