April Basi has worked her way through more than 20 products aimed at oily or acne-prone skin, and the picture that comes through is a generous but discerning one. She approved the vast majority of what she tested. Only a handful got a mixed take or a skip.
What does April Basi recommend for oily skin?
April keeps coming back to a few things she really values. She loves lightweight, gel-style textures, the kind that feel hydrating without sitting heavy on oily skin. She praised CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel for exactly that, pointing to its niacinamide for oil control and ceramides to keep the skin barrier strong. Niacinamide comes up again and again in her approvals: she rated Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Combination to Oily, Sensitive Skin warmly in part because it has niacinamide alongside glycerin to keep skin hydrated without stripping it. For exfoliation, she is a fan of acids that actually do the work without wrecking your skin. She called Reale Actives Go Deep 8% Mandelic Acid Serum Concentrate the standout of its line for darker skin dealing with hyperpigmentation and acne, saying mandelic acid is one of the most underused ingredients for deeper skin tones. She also gave a strong nod to Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, which she said left her skin feeling moisturized where The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution left it sticky and dry. For body care, she called Dove Melon and Even Tone Body Wash a personal holy grail, praising its BHA for unclogging pores and its ceramides for the skin barrier.
In her words
"It gives me a hydrated glow finish and the texture applies so easily. Honestly, if I had to choose between both of these, for melanin rich skin specifically, I'd lean towards the Aquaresh because the panthenol edition is so good for our skin, it's such an upgrade with an excellent formula. My final ranking is that this is the best overall finish, it's beautiful."
"It's the star of the line for dark skin, acne prone skin dealing with hyperpigmentation, texture, and uneven tone. If you've tried glycolic or lactic acid and found them too irritating, mandelic acid is your answer. [...] It's one of the most underutilized ingredients for darker skin tones in my opinion, and the eight percent formulation here is doing real work."
"The next one is the Ultra-Light Gel Moisturizer. I love the gel texture for oily skin because it just feels better, especially for me as someone with more oily skin. I just love the feeling of a gel on my skin, it just feels so hydrating. This one is great because it has niacinamide again to help control oil, and there's also ceramides and hyaluronic acid to make sure the skin barrier is intact."
"This one by Dove is actually new, [...] their melon even tone body wash. It has 5% ceramide to really help reinforce your skin barrier, and it also has BHA to help unclog your pores and prevent any acne, so it's good if you suffer from a lot of body acne or have really oily skin. The lather is so great, it smells like mango and coconut and feels so amazing. This has been a holy grail of mine, [...] I use it with my exfoliating gloves and I literally use it every single day when I shower."
"I follow the cleansing balm up with an amazing cleanser, the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. It has a short ingredient list, just like I like it. This product is [...] hydrating as well as reducing oil, it has niacinamide in it for that, plus a fragrance that won't strip your skin, and it's also got glycerin to keep the skin hydrated. So I really really love this product."
"It's very hydrating, it just really feels amazing on the skin, while the ordinary wasn't doing anything for my skin and my skin felt sticky and dry, with this one my skin felt moisturized. [...] Without question I picked this one because it feels so much better on the skin. [...] This product is definitely a really really awesome product, I think Ren really did a wonderful formulation here."
How many products has April Basi reviewed for oily skin?
April Basi has reviewed 27 products for oily skin, for an approval rate of 81%. 22 approved, 3 mixed, and 2 skipped.
What has April Basi skipped for oily skin?
April skipped very few products, but the ones she passed on had clear reasons. She does not recommend The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, even though it is widely popular. She said it has triggered redness for a lot of people, which is the opposite of what niacinamide should do. She also skipped Caudalie Vinopure 2% Salicylic Acid Serum. She noted the formula appears to have been reformulated and has broken many people out, which lines up with what she saw in the ingredient list. She also wished the brand would be upfront about how much salicylic acid is actually in it, and she felt the price was hard to justify for what it is.
"The Ordinary's 10% niacinamide plus zinc is super popular, and I'm sure there are people who have seen results, but it's also caused a lot of people a lot of issues, like triggering their redness, pretty much the opposite of everything I love about niacinamide. I don't love that product. I do not recommend it."
"This formula seems to have been reformulated, and from my research the new formulation has broken a lot of people out, which is pretty consistent with the ingredient list since there seems to be a good amount of oils in it. I also wish there was information on the dosage of salicylic acid, because the amount approved by the FDA to treat acne is two percent, and I wish the brand was transparent about that. [...] The fifty dollar price tag is also steep for a salicylic acid serum."
What should you take from April Basi's picks?
April Basi is a reassuring guide for oily skin because she approves so much while being specific about why. Her consistent message is to look for lightweight textures, niacinamide, and acids matched to your skin tone and sensitivity level. She named Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice Plus B5 as her top picks in this space, calling the latter the best overall finish for melanin-rich skin. If you have oily or acne-prone skin and want a starting point, her record gives you a lot to work with.
Watch April Basi say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantNamed a winnerWatch at 1:45
- Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice Plus B5Named a winnerWatch at 6:44
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Skipped itWatch at 3:58
- Caudalie Vinopure 2% Salicylic Acid SerumSkipped itWatch at 3:04
- Reale Actives Go Deep 8% Mandelic Acid Serum ConcentrateRated itWatch at 4:44
- CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing GelRated itWatch at 3:36
- Dove Melon and Even Tone Body WashRated itWatch at 1:19
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Combination to Oily, Sensitive SkinRated itWatch at 2:54
- Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA TonicRated itWatch at 3:35
- CeraVe Oil Control Gel CremeRated itWatch at 3:15
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight TonerRated itWatch at 2:03
- Murad Salicylic Acid CleanserRated itWatch at 2:50
- EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46Rated itWatch at 2:06
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SunscreenRated itWatch at 2:31
- CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam CleanserRated itWatch at 3:19
- CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 5:32
- Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night SerumRated itWatch at 1:21
- COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 4%Rated itWatch at 5:45
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte MoisturizerRated itWatch at 1:37
- Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream 5%Rated itWatch at 1:44
- Glossier Super Pure Niacinamide + Zinc SerumRated itWatch at 4:45
- Paula's Choice 1% BHARated itWatch at 3:54
- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling SolutionRated itWatch at 4:33
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning SolutionRated itWatch at 1:27
About this expert
See everything April Basi has reviewed
Related guides
This guide reflects what April Basi said across her videos about 27 products for oily skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.