You may not believe us now, but there are some serious perks when it comes to having oily skin. Sure, you might be frustrated by dealing with an oil slick now, but those with oily complexions tend to have skin that looks younger once they get older. Oily skin is less likely to see fine lines and wrinkles early on. Even if it’ll help you out eventually, you still want to minimize the signs of aging as much as possible now. However, for many people who suffer from acne-prone or oily skin, finding the right anti-aging products to keep their skin looking young and supple is a challenge. Many such products are formulated with normal skin in mind and only exacerbate acne issues when applied to oily skin. That’s why we rounded up the best anti-aging products for oily skin.
These 16 skin products are tried and tested as tools to get you looking like your younger self again, even if you suffer from acne-prone or oily skin. As great moisturizers and anti-aging products, these creams, masks and serums can improve and maintain your skin’s vibrancy while helping to clean up oily or acne-prone areas.
1. Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion
BEST MOISTURIZER
There’s a long-standing myth that oily skin doesn’t need a moisturizer, but that simply isn’t true. Oily skin can still be dehydrated and dry skin tends to exacerbate fine lines and wrinkles. This all-natural moisturizer is specifically designed for oily, acne-prone complexions, making it one of the best anti-aging products for oily skin. The lightweight formula contains derived salicylic acid to prevent breakouts and reduce redness, while lemongrass, witch hazel and goldenseal extract team up to soothe and calm irritated skin.
Related Stories
2. Clean & Clear Oil-Free Deep Action Exfoliating Facial Scrub
BEST SCRUB
This exfoliating cleanser goes deep to prevent breakouts and unclog pores by clearing out dirt and oil. The tingly, cooling sensation lets you know it’s working. Safe and gentle enough for daily use, it leaves skin smooth, soft and refreshed. Exfoliated skin is younger-looking skin, making this one of the best anti-aging products for oily skin.
3. Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment with 2% Salicylic Acid
BEST SPOT TREATMENT
As soon as you feel a zit coming on, applying a spot treatment to that sucker is key to keeping it from getting even bigger. Murad’s gets down to business right away to shrink it and bring down redness within four hours. Salicylic acid is the hero ingredient that reduces that bad boy in size, smooths skin and exfoliates to keep pores clear.
4. Mighty Patch Original
BEST PIMPLE PATCH
Zit stickers are one of the best ways to fight breakouts, and Mighty Patch knows how to get the job done. Ideal for overnight use, the hydrocolloid sticker will flatten a pimple by morning. It takes six hours to work properly, drawing puss out of whiteheads and speeding up the healing process. Once you remove the pimple patch, no one will know since it doesn’t leave any signs behind, including redness or irritation.
5. Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment
BEST DEVICE
Light therapy has made waves for being great for both acne and turning back the clock, making this twofer one of the best anti-aging products for oily skin. Neutrogena’s Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment is great for zapping zits because it won’t cause any irritation like itching or flaking skin, unlike some harsh topical products that can dry out skin. It uses blue light to kill the bacteria that triggers acne and red light to reduce inflammation. The clinically proven method is even safe for sensitive skin, plus the device is portable and easy to use.
6. Solimo Clarifying Pink Grapefruit Body Wash
BEST FOR BACKNE
Body acne is no joke, which is why it calls for a serious body wash that will help treat and prevent it. Banish backne with 2% salicylic acid as well as gelatin beads that gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells that might otherwise end up clogging your pores. Solimo, an Amazon brand, gave their clarifying body wash a refreshing pink grapefruit scent to satisfy all the senses.
7. Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Facial Cleansing Pads
BEST PADS
Uneven skin texture is one of the worst agers out there. Luckily, the Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads help even skin tone and texture while busting breakouts, making it one of the best anti-aging products for oily skin. Salicylic acid treats current breakouts and prevents future ones, while soy extract hydrates and does that aforementioned evening out of tone and texture. The dual-sided pads are smooth on one side to wipe away dirt and oil, while the textured side helps gently exfoliate.
8. Youth To The People Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner
BEST TONER
Toners are often an overlooked item in the skincare world, but the right one can fight both aging and acne, making it one of the best anti-aging products for oily skin. This top toner is loaded with active ingredients. There’s 8% lactic acid and 3% glycolic acid to gently exfoliate, even out texture and shrink the appearance of pores. The two fermented ingredients, kombucha black tea and tree bark, are prebiotics that boost the skin’s natural microbiome. Finally, citrus bioflavonoids and lemon water extract fight off pollutants.
9. PCA Skin Intensive Clarity Treatment
BEST RETINOL
A retinol is the holy grail when it comes to turning back the clock, tackling everything from discoloration to skin tone and color. This one contains 0.5% pure retinol and is designed to work overnight while you sleep — talk about beauty rest! What makes this one a gem for acne-prone skin is it contains salicylic acid to treat and prevent breakouts. There’s also witch hazel to zap excess oil, tighten pores and remove impurities.
10. Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum
BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Dark spots can be a dead giveaway that your school days are long gone. Sometimes pesky acne scars won’t go away, and that’s where this spot eraser comes in. It has the big guns — we’re talking 2% hydroquinone — to lightens dark spots and blotches and fade hyperpigmentation. The gel-like formula has antioxidant sea buckthorn berry to soothe skin and citric acid to renew the skin’s surface.
11. SkinKick Glow Renewal Serum
BEST SERUM
Acne sufferers know that skin texture can be a challenge. This serum is here to help! Black willow bark improves tone, texture and the overall appearance of skin sans irritation. It also contains cat’s claw extract to reduce redness and inflammation, as well as dragon’s blood extract to calm and repair skin and reduce breakouts. Impressively, the formula is natural, too.
12. Lab Series Skincare for Men Oil Control Clay Cleanser + Mask
BEST MASK
Talk about a twofer! This dual-use formula can be used as a mask or a cleanser. Its hero ingredient is Amazonian white clay, which deeply cleans and detoxes by absorbing and removing excess oil. It also contains acetyl glucosamine to boost natural cell turnover to get rid of dead skin cells that dull skin, as well as salicylic acid to cut down on breakouts and unclog pores.
13. Bliss Glow & Hydrate Day Serum
BEST BRIGHTENER
Dull skin can make you look older than your years, so brighten up with this serum. It also shrinks pores and knocks out breakouts. Packed with antioxidants — including niacinamide, aka vitamin B3 — it prevents water loss and dry skin while helping the moisture barrier, courtesy of hyaluronic acid.
14. Paula’s Choice RESIST
BEST CLEANSER
This advanced foaming cleanser helps to remove excess oil and makeup, minimizing pores for younger-looking skin. By maintaining an optimal pH, the foam can keep your skin’s oil in line without allowing your face to become overly dry. The is also full of ceramides and hyaluronic acid to further add to the anti-aging benefits by giving your skin a plumper appearance.
15. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen
BEST SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is essential to preventing the harmful effects of the sun’s rays, and everyone should apply a sunscreen-filled moisturizer each morning. This is built specifically for oily skin and includes a broad spectrum SPF 60. While it’s fighting the sun, it also absorbs bad oils from your skin. The cream itself is 100% oil-free and won’t cause breakouts.
16. Clinique Acne Solutions
BEST MULTITASKER
Clinique Acne Solutions combines two of Clinique’s best products. The first part of the equation is the anti-acne cream. Developed specifically for adults, this serum treats breakouts without adding dryness or causing irritation. The second part of the formula offers Clinique’s best anti-aging technology. It works to lift the skin and to improve lines and wrinkles, leaving you with a clear and youthful appearance.