Do you have a tendency for your face to get shiny regardless of what you do during the day? There’s nothing wrong with your technique. There’s simply a problem of doing things the wrong way or missing something that your skin absolutely requires.
Here is the solution: wash carefully, use the correct skincare products, and don’t forget moisturizing even though it seems counterintuitive for oily skin. Below is the whole skincare regimen done step-by-step.
Your Routine at a Glance
AM Routine
🧼 Gentle cleanse
🎯 Treat: salicylic + dioic acid
💧 Moisturize (oil-free)
☀️ Sunscreen
PM Routine
🧼 Gentle cleanse
✨ Treat: 10% niacinamide
💧 Moisturize (oil-free)
Morning Routine (3 steps)
Step 1 — Wash with a gentle cleanser. Use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water strips your skin, and stripped skin makes more oil to protect itself. That’s the opposite of what you want. Wash for about 30 seconds, then rinse fully.
Step 2 — Apply a treatment serum.
Best for: unclogging pores and fading old acne marks.We recommend Murad Biome-Balancing Acne Treatment (~$45). It uses salicylic acid, a common acne-fighting ingredient that dissolves the oil clogging your pores, plus mandelic acid, a gentler exfoliating acid that smooths texture without over-stripping skin. Let it fully soak in, about 2 minutes, before your next step.
Step 3 — Moisturize, even though your skin is oily.
Best for: training your skin to stop overproducing oil. This is the step most people skip, and it’s the mistake that keeps skin oily. Skip moisturizer, and your skin thinks it’s dry and makes extra oil to compensate. We recommend Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer (~$118). It’s oil-free, so it won’t feel heavy, and it contains willow bark extract (a natural ingredient that calms oil production) working quietly in the background.
Struggling to find best moisturizer for extra dry skin? Check out our blog.
Sunscreen goes on last if you’re heading outside. Any oil-free, non-greasy SPF works.
Night Routine (3 steps)
Step 1 — Wash your face again. Even without makeup, your skin collects dirt, sweat, and pollution during the day. Washing at night clears all of that before bed.
Step 2 — Apply a niacinamide serum.
Best for: calming oil production over time. We recommend Paula’s Choice CLINICAL 20% Niacinamide Vitamin B3 Face Serum(~$59). The “20%” means it’s a strong, clinical-level dose, not a weak version. It also contains resveratrol, a calming ingredient that reduces redness while the niacinamide works. Apply after cleansing, before moisturizer.
Step 3 — Moisturize again. Same product as your morning step. Using it twice a day, every day, is what actually trains your skin to calm down. One-time use won’t do much. Consistency is what works here.
Why This Order Matters
Always apply products thinnest to thickest: cleanser, then serum, then moisturizer. Moisturizer applied before your serum blocks the serum from reaching your skin. Wait a minute or two between steps so each product actually absorbs.
How Long Until You See Results
Give it 4 to 6 weeks. Niacinamide and salicylic acid both work gradually, not overnight. Most people notice less shine and fewer breakouts after a month of consistent use, morning and night. Stopping and starting won’t give it a fair chance to work.
A Note on Our Approach
This routine is based on verified ingredient research from official brand sources, not personal testing. We explain what each product is actually doing in your routine, in plain language, so you know why each step matters — not just what to buy.
“SKINCARE IS ESSENTIAL. MAKEUP IS A CHOICE.”
— UNKNOWN
Last updated: August 2026
