Dr. Aanchal MD has looked at more than 10 products aimed at oily skin, and her approval rate sits at 88%. That means she skipped only a small handful. Most of what she reviewed she was happy to recommend.
What does Dr. Aanchal MD recommend for oily skin?
She keeps coming back to niacinamide. She rated The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for reducing oil and calming acne redness, and she said the Minimalist Niacinamide 5% Serum helps with oiliness, breakouts, and the dark spots acne leaves behind. For cleansers, she liked that the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser uses a gentle surfactant and does not dry the skin out. She praised the CeraVe Oil Control Gel Creme for people who find most moisturisers make them break out, saying it soothes, protects the skin barrier, and sits light on the face.
In her words
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a good recommendation for niacinamide. Niacinamide helps in repairing the skin barrier and also reduces oil synthesis from the skin and helps in reducing redness due to acne. [...] You can use this twice in a day."
"The CeraVe Foaming Cleanser contains glycerine ceramides which are calming on the skin. It also has sodium laurel lactylate which is a gentle surfactant. It has a mild foam which does not dry the skin out. This is preferred for those with normal to oily skin. This one will be more suitable for people with slightly oily skin or who get oily towards the end of the day."
"So all these ingredients make this product a perfect one for those with oily sensitive skin. If you are someone who feels that whatever moisturizer you use you break out and makes your acne worse, then this product is the one for you. This will help in soothing the skin, maintain skin barrier, moisturize the skin without feeling heavy or sticky, and it's not going to exacerbate your acne."
"These serums help in reducing the melanin production on the skin. It helps in improving your overall skin tone, brightens the skin ... [...] the serums work really well."
"If you have oily acne prone skin, using niacinamide serum can help in reducing oiliness, acne eruptions, and also dark spots left behind by acne."
"The Bioderma Sebium Gel Moussant has sodium laurel sulfate which is a surfactant. It has zinc sulfate, copper sulfate which have antibacterial properties, mannitol and xylitol which are humectants and lactic acid which causes gentle exfoliation and moisturizes the skin. It forms a slight foam to cleanse effectively."
How many products has Dr. Aanchal MD reviewed for oily skin?
Dr. Aanchal MD has reviewed 16 products for oily skin, for an approval rate of 88%. 14 approved, 0 mixed, and 2 skipped.
What has Dr. Aanchal MD skipped for oily skin?
She skipped the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser, saying simply she is not a fan of that brand's face washes. She also skipped the Bioderma Photoderm Aqua Fluid sunscreen. It is made for oily skin, but she felt most people with oily skin find it looks slightly dewy and oily on them. Both skips came down to feel or fit, not safety.
"I'm not a fan of the COSRX face washes."
"There is another Bioderma sunscreen, the Aqua Fluid, which is meant for oily skin, but I still feel that people with oily skin don't like it so much because they feel it makes the skin look a slightly more dewy kind of oily."
What should you take from Dr. Aanchal MD's picks?
Dr. Aanchal MD is broadly positive about oily-skin products. She points most people toward niacinamide serums and gentle, non-drying cleansers. Her two skips are worth knowing about, especially for anyone who already has the Bioderma Photoderm Aqua Fluid in their routine.
Watch Dr. Aanchal MD say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle CleanserSkipped itWatch at 17:23
- Bioderma Photoderm Aqua FluidSkipped itWatch at 2:00
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Rated itWatch at 3:15
- CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 3:45
- CeraVe Oil Control Gel CremeRated itWatch at 3:15
- Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face SerumRated itWatch at 16:46
- Minimalist Niacinamide 5% SerumRated itWatch at 3:57
- Bioderma Sebium Gel MoussantRated itWatch at 4:51
- Dermaco Niacinamide Radiant Serum 5%Rated itWatch at 3:53
- Plum Niacinamide 3% Rice Water SerumRated itWatch at 16:43
- Minimalist Granactive Retinoid 2%Rated itWatch at 4:56
- CeraVe Renewing SA CleanserRated itWatch at 3:50
- AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow SerumRated itWatch at 18:21
- CetaPhil Oily Skin CleanserRated itWatch at 4:23
- Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 4:17
- Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 5:53
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Dr. Aanchal MD said across her videos about 16 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.