Dr. Daniel Sugai is a dermatologist who has reviewed at least 30 products for oily skin, and he approved almost all of them. His picks tend to be sunscreens that control shine without clogging pores, gentle cleansers, and moisturizers that keep oil in check. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser and Supergoop Mattescreen both got an outright win from him.
What does Dr. Daniel Sugai recommend for oily skin?
Dr. Sugai keeps coming back to ingredients that actually do something for oily skin. He praised Supergoop Mattescreen for its pore-blurring matte finish and the fact that it comes in multiple shades, noting that one shade does not fit all skin tones. He highlighted EltaMD UV Clear Blemish Prone and Oil Balancing SPF 50 for its 5% niacinamide, calling it a hybrid sunscreen that impressed him. He is also a fan of niacinamide in moisturizers like La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer, explaining it can repair the skin barrier and reduce sebum production. He is clear, though, that it is not a replacement for vitamin C or a prescription retinoid for dark spots. For anyone dealing with yeast on the skin, he pointed to zinc pyrithione in Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo as a simple way to tackle it.
In his words
"Supergoop, their Mattescreen, they came out with different shades, so that's great because not one shade fits all skin tones, and so I use the sunrise, but they also have golden hour and sunset. If you want to blur out the pores, you want a matte finish and you have oilier skin, go for the Mattescreen. So good job to Supergoop for that."
"Their new UV Clear Oil Blemish acne fighting sunscreen with 5% niacinamide is also a hybrid and one that has impressed me this year."
"I've been really enjoying it. It also has panthenol and colloidal oatmeal in this product, so it's really hydrating and also soothing for those with irritated skin in the winter time when your skin feels quite impaired. Panthenol is a very special ingredient in products where it's hydrating and moisturizing at the same time. I've been really impressed by Beauty of Joseon."
"I just started using this sunscreen this year. One of my favorite hydrating sunscreens. [...] I like the texture of this one. For those who have dry, dehydrated skin, this is a little thicker texture, but still very lightweight, but not watery. [...] It goes on like a thicker cream, but it just blends in so well. If you have dry, dehydrated skin, it's going to trap in all that moisture."
"I like niacinamide in my products like the La Roche-Posay Toleriane matte moisturizer. It's great for skin brightening to some degree, but it's not your main player. It's not going to replace vitamin C. It's not going to replace a prescription retinoid for decreasing dark spots. It can be effective in repairing your skin barrier and reducing sebum production in small amounts when it's mixed into your product."
"Another way to go at the yeast would be zinc pyrithione and you classically have seen that in Head & Shoulders."
How many products has Dr. Daniel Sugai reviewed for oily skin?
Dr. Daniel Sugai has reviewed 30 products for oily skin, for an approval rate of 90%. 27 approved, 0 mixed, and 3 skipped.
What has Dr. Daniel Sugai skipped for oily skin?
Dr. Sugai passed on very few products, but the ones he skipped share a common thread: leave-on exfoliants used without care. He has seen patients overuse The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. He describes it as so powerful that once a week is enough, and he warns that extra sun protection is essential in summer. He also passed on Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for similar reasons, especially for anyone already using a retinoid. His biggest concern with The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the high concentration in a dedicated serum. He has seen it trigger contact dermatitis, a kind of skin irritation or rash, and noted it was particularly common among his teenage patients in 2020 and 2021.
"I don't really care for The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, that leave on that vampire purplish red solution. The chemical peel like effect that patients are getting is nice in terms of that deep pore cleaning action. It's really exfoliating the skin, but I've seen patients overuse it and I'd say you would use that like once a week. It's so powerful. Summer time, you got to be very careful with the sun. So, I would say be careful with the strong leave on exfoliants."
"You don't need these high concentrations of niacinamide in a serum, and that will lead to nasty contact dermatitis. I've seen this many times, especially in my teenage patients coming in with a reddened face, and they were using The Ordinary niacinamide serum. That was so common during 2020 and 2021. [...] So I definitely have to say cut the dedicated niacinamide serums."
"I've even seen patients get irritation from Paula's Choice BHA solution. So, leave on exfoliants, be very, very careful, especially if you're using a retinoid."
What should you take from Dr. Daniel Sugai's picks?
Dr. Sugai's record on oily skin shows someone who is genuinely encouraging about the category, with an approval rate of 90% across at least 30 products reviewed. His consistent message is that the right sunscreen, a gentle cleanser, and a niacinamide moisturizer will do more good than high-strength leave-on exfoliants used too often. For anyone tempted by powerful peeling solutions, he would say go carefully and ease into them rather than reaching for them every day.
Watch Dr. Daniel Sugai say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming CleanserNamed a winnerWatch at 2:51
- Supergoop MattescreenNamed a winnerWatch at 9:46
- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling SolutionSkipped itWatch at 5:24
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Skipped itWatch at 4:58
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantSkipped itWatch at 5:53
- EltaMD UV Clear Blemish Prone and Oil Balancing SPF 50Rated itWatch at 5:49
- Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice Plus B5Rated itWatch at 5:00
- Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick SPF 50Rated itWatch at 1:19
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte MoisturizerRated itWatch at 9:27
- Head & Shoulders Classic Clean ShampooRated itWatch at 9:31
- Selsun Blue Selenium Sulfide Anti-Dandruff ShampooRated itWatch at 9:04
- Bubble Level Up Balancing Gel MoisturizerRated itWatch at 13:30
- SkinFix Acne Plus 2% BHA CleanserRated itWatch at 13:16
- CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating TreatmentRated itWatch at 0:27
- La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 SerumRated itWatch at 12:55
- Vichy Capital Soleil Tinted Dry Touch Protective Face Fluid SPF 50Rated itWatch at 11:04
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water CreamRated itWatch at 4:07
- CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30Rated itWatch at 1:20
- CeraVe Renewing SA CleanserRated itWatch at 10:37
- CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 1:44
- Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid CleanserRated itWatch at 7:28
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel CreamRated itWatch at 3:48
- CeraVe Oil Control Gel CremeRated itWatch at 9:52
- CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic AcidRated itWatch at 3:58
About this expert
See everything Dr. Daniel Sugai has reviewed
Related guides
This guide reflects what Dr. Daniel Sugai said across his videos about 30 products for oily skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products he approved. It is general information, not medical advice.