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6 Quick Tips for Men With Oily Face & How to Treat It

PROVEN Team
| October 28, 2022
Fact-checked by:
Marisa Garshick MD
, Board Certified Dermatologist
6 Quick Tips for Men With Oily Face & How to Treat It

You wake up, wash your face, and a few minutes later, it’s covered in the same amount of grease that you thought you’d already gotten rid. If this has ever happened to you, you probably have the oily skin type. And while oily skin isn’t a bad thing, it can become problematic when it starts to cause skin concerns and put a dent in your confidence. Below, we’ll walk you through the best skincare tips for men with oily skin, plus share a simple skincare routine you can start today.

What Are The Common Causes Of Oily Skin In Men?

Why do most men have oiler faces than others, anyway? Before we dive into how you can keep oil under control, let’s discuss the common causes of oily skin in men:

Men Produce More Oil Than Women

Both men and women have sebaceous glands that produce sebum, a substance that coats and protects the skin. However, men’s sebaceous glands are generally more active and larger than women’s, which explains why they’re more prone to excessive oil production. This is because men’s bodies have testosterone, a hormone that can overstimulate the sebaceous glands.

Genetics May Be To Blame

Oily skin among men can be genetic. If your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents struggled with oily skin, you’ll likely struggle with it, too.

Your Skin Is Too Dry

One of the common causes of oily skin in men is (as counterintuitive as it sounds) dry skin. This can occur when you wash your face too often, use cleansers that can strip the skin of its natural oils, or expose unprotected skin to the sun.

Oily skin can be a bother, but remember that your skin still needs some moisture to stay healthy. You may be tempted to wash your face multiple times a day, but if your skin feels too dry, it will compensate by producing even more oil.

You’re Stressed

Stressful week at work? Don’t be surprised if your face is shinier by the time Friday rolls around. Stress triggers your body to produce cortisol, which can increase oil production and cause skin issues such as acne.

Men’s skincare routine for oily skin

Managing greasy skin can be a challenge, but it’s not all bad. You’re less likely to get wrinkles at an early age, meaning your skin will look young for a long time. But just because it can be “advantageous” doesn’t mean you should just let it be. Not controlling oil production could lead to acne and other skin problems. This is because oil can get clogged under the pores. (And let’s be honest, having a face that shines with flash photography can be a bit embarrassing).

Your face shouldn’t be too shiny that it causes skin concerns, but not too dry that it leads to even more shine, either. To find that middle ground, you’re going to need to start a skincare routine specifically for men with oily skin:

Wash Your Face With A Gentle Cleanser

The number one rule when it comes to caring for oily skin in men is to not use products intended for the body. Most soaps and shower gels contain chemicals that can strip your face of its natural oils. Instead, reach for a facial cleanser formulated for men with oily faces and be on the lookout for the best ingredients for oily skin such as salicylic acid and glycerin. Wash your face twice a day to get rid of any dirt, but don’t go overboard as over-washing can cause dryness.

Exfoliate To Get Rid Of Oil Buildup

One of the perks that men with oily skin have is that they can exfoliate more than men with other skin types. If you have oily skin, you can exfoliate 2 to 3 times a week to expel dirt from your pores and keep oil in check.

Use A Toner To Tighten Your Pores

Don’t forget to add a toner to your routine. Not only can it reduce oil, but it can also balance pH levels and close pores so they don’t get clogged. Because alcohol-based toners can cause dryness, it’s best to go for natural toners such as green tea and witch hazel.

Hydrate Your Skin Daily

Even men with oily skin have to keep their skin hydrated. Go for a moisturizer with a lightweight formula so that it doesn’t feel too greasy on the skin. Our face moisturizers for men are custom-formulated to meet your skin's needs. Also, make sure it’s non-comedogenic so it doesn’t clog your pores.

Wear Sunscreen To Protect Your Skin

We know you don’t want your face to feel stickier, but sunscreen is still a must. Not only can UV rays contribute to dryness, but they can cause sunburns and increase your risk of skin cancer. With that said, always put on sunscreen (even when you’re indoors), and don’t forget to reapply often. If you’re worried about the shine, use a water-based sunscreen or a day moisturizer infused with SPF.

How To Manage Oily Face For Men

Aside from starting a skincare routine for oily skin, here are six simple tips to get rid of excess oil on your face:

  1. Mind your diet
  2. Oily skin? No oily food for you, unfortunately. Certain foods such as red meat, cheese, chips, and refined carbohydrates can contribute to oily skin, so be careful what you eat! To control oil production, consume more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids instead.
  3. Stay hydrated
  4. Hydrating products may help boost your body’s moisture levels, but they can only do so much. You need to lend it a helping hand by drinking plenty of water. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that men consume at least 3.7 liters of water a day.
  5. Protect your skin from the sun
  6. Your skin is more likely to dry out if you don’t practice proper sun protection. Aside from using sunscreen, don’t forget to practice other sun safety tips such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
  7. Apply moisturizer on damp skin
  8. Here’s a tip you can incorporate into your routine: the best time to apply your moisturizer would be while your skin is a bit damp. This will allow your skin to absorb the product better.
  9. Don’t wash your face with hot water
  10. One of the worst mistakes that men with oily skin make is washing their face with hot water. Doing this strips the skin of its natural oils, causing it to dry out.
  11. Bring blotting sheets
  12. Pat those oil spots away with blotting sheets. These are extra-absorbent sheets of paper that can soak up excess oil in seconds.

Tame Your T-Zone With A Personalized Routine

Taming the t-zone can be an everyday struggle for men with oily faces but it doesn’t have to be. If you have oily skin, you need to start a skincare routine that supports your skin type.

Fortunately, you don’t have to figure that out on your own. At PROVEN Skincare, we use AI algorithms to help you find that happy medium and formulate a simplified skincare system that’s tailored to you. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in skincare, we consider every factor that can affect your skin, including your location, lifestyle, and even your stress levels.

The best part? Your skincare routine will be as simple as possible, because who says skin care has to be complicated? Even designing your skincare routine is straightforward — all you have to do is take our Skin Quiz and we’ll handle the rest!

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