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Expert Advice

10 Absolute Skincare Essentials For Men With Oily Skin

Though everyone’s skin is unique, men are prone to oiliness and shine. Discover Kiehl’s best men’s face wash for oily skin and more skincare essentials, ahead.

You don’t need us to tell you that men have different grooming habits than women: That much is obvious. Less obvious is how men’s skin and women’s skin—and therefore, skincare needs—differ. Statistically speaking, men have oilier, thicker skin than women. Men are also more prone to related skin concerns, such as enlarged pores and shiny-looking skin. A proper oily skin routine is vital for managing these concerns effectively.

Of course, finding products that will help keep your skin healthy-looking without adding any additional oiliness or shine can be challenging. That’s where we come in. Ahead, we’ve compiled a list of must-have Kiehl’s products for men with oily skin. You’ll find recommendations on our best cleanser, moisturizer, and toners for men with oily skin, plus tips and tricks to help you manage your skin’s unique needs. Read on to discover the best that Kiehl’s has to offer for your oily skin.

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Our Best Cleanser For Oily Skin: Oil Eliminator Deep Cleansing Exfoliating Face Wash

Research indicates that, on average, men can produce up to four times as much sebum as women. This sebum can accumulate on the skin, resulting in a shiny-looking appearance, clogged pores, and breakouts. Finding a cleanser that removes excess oil without irritating or stripping the skin is therefore critical for a healthy-looking appearance.

To get a thorough clean, we recommend reaching for a mild exfoliating cleanser, such as Oil Eliminator Deep Cleansing Exfoliating Face Wash. This men’s face wash for oily skin helps remove dirt, sweat, and excess oil without leaving skin feeling dry. It also helps slough away accumulated dead skin cells and reduces shine for visibly smaller-looking pores. The gentle formula is non-comedogenic and won’t cause breakouts, so it’s ideal for those with oily and acne-prone skin. Use it daily as the first step in your oily skin routine for a smooth, shine-free look.

Our Best Cleanser For Large Pores: Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

Alternatively, if large pores are a concern, try Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, which contains mineral-rich Amazonian white clay. This effective cleanser helps remove dirt, excess oil, and other impurities without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It also gently exfoliates the skin’s surface and reduces the appearance of enlarged pores. Use a small amount to cleanse your skin morning and night for a fresh, healthy-looking appearance.

Our Best Toner For Shiny Skin: Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner

Shiny or greasy-looking skin is a common concern for those with oily skin types. To help promote a more balanced appearance, reach for an oil-reducing toner, such as Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner. This pH-balanced, alcohol-free toner for normal and oily skin helps refresh skin while visibly reducing excess oil for a fresh, healthy appearance. To use it, moisten a clean cotton round with the gentle toning liquid and swipe the pad over your face, focusing on problem areas like the T-zone. Allow the toner a few minutes to absorb before continuing to the next step of your skincare routine.

Our Best Toner For Large Pores: Oil Eliminator Refreshing Shine-Control Toner For Men

Men tend to have larger pores than their female counterparts, and this characteristic is often more pronounced the oilier your skin is. Help address this concern with our mattifying toner, Oil Eliminator Refreshing Shine-Control Toner For Men. This unique, sprayable toner dispenses in an ultra-fine mist that instantly refreshes the skin. The cooling formula helps neutralize excess oil on contact and minimizes the appearance of large pores. Spray the toner directly onto clean, dry skin and let it absorb for a clean, matte finish.

Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Discover more tips and tricks for reducing T-zone shine in our article How To Prevent an Oily Forehead.

Our Best Men’s Serum For Oily Skin: Age Defender Power Serum

In addition to genetics and skin type, your age plays a role in how large your pores appear. As you get older, your body gradually produces less collagen, an essential protein responsible for maintaining the skin’s structure. This collagen depletion eventually leads to a loss of skin elasticity, which can stretch the pores and make them appear more prominent. Incorporating an anti-aging serum into your daily skincare routine can help improve the appearance of these age-related changes.

Lightweight anti-aging serums, like Age Defender Power Serum, are best for those prone to oiliness. This top-rated formula with skin-strengthening cypress extract and adenosine helps reduce the visible signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. The fast-absorbing formula is suitable for all skin types and can be used daily to promote a firmer, smoother appearance.

Our Best Men’s Daily Eye Cream: Powerful-Strength Dark Circle-Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum

While eye cream isn’t likely to help with oil production or shiny-looking skin, it’s still a critical tool in your men’s skincare routine, particularly as you get older. For guys with oily skin, we recommend Powerful-Strength Dark Circle-Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum, which contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. This best-selling eye serum instantly smoothes and hydrates the eye area to refresh the appearance of tired-looking eyes. When used regularly, it also helps diminish the look of eye-area concerns, such as dark circles, puffiness, and crow’s feet for brighter-looking eyes.

Our Best Men’s Moisturizer For Oily Skin: Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

Though it may seem counterintuitive, moisturizer is undoubtedly one of the most effective weapons in your men’s oily skin routine. When you skip moisturizer regularly, your skin can become dehydrated. This dehydration signals your body to produce extra sebum as a way to make up for the lack of natural moisture in your skin. Ultimately, this can result in shiny-looking skin and congested pores. Adding a lightweight moisturizer to your daily skincare routine can help keep your skin adequately hydrated, therefore preventing the domino effect that can occur if your skin becomes dry and dehydrated.

Give oily skin daily hydration with Ultra-Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream. This lightweight, alcohol-free moisturizer with glacial glycoprotein and micronized amino acid absorbs instantly to refresh the skin with lasting hydration. With continual use, the non-greasy formula helps control the appearance of large pores and shininess, even in hot and humid climates. Use this non-comedogenic gel moisturizer daily to keep your skin hydrated for a balanced, healthy appearance.

Our Best Men’s Moisturizer For Large Pores and Shine: Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer For Men

For lasting shine control, we recommend Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer For Men. This lightweight moisturizer with advanced aerolite technology absorbs quickly to deeply hydrate the skin without a heavy or greasy feel. The unique formula immediately neutralizes sweat and excess oil on the skin’s surface and helps keep shine at bay for up to 24 hours. When used regularly, this face cream—our best moisturizer for men with oily skin—also helps visibly reduce the appearance of large pores. Daily, apply a dime-sized amount of this effective moisturizer to your face to get smooth, shine-free skin.

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Our Best Face Mask For Oily Skin: Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask

Adding an absorbent clay mask to your weekly skincare routine can help keep excess shine at bay. We recommend Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask, which contains mineral-rich Amazonian white clay and aloe vera. Our award-winning formula helps draw out dirt, oil, and other impurities to purify oily, congested skin. It’s clinically-demonstrated to reduce skin’s surface oil production by 46.7% in just one use and helps visibly minimize the appearance of large pores.* We recommend using this effective mask at least once a week to detoxify and refine your skin.

Kiehl’s Expert Tip: If you have a beard, check out our article Our Best Face Masks For Guys With Beards for tips on how to apply your face mask properly.

Our Best Non-Greasy Sunscreen: Super Fluid Daily Mineral Defense

Daily sun protection is crucial for maintaining skin’s health and overall appearance, but often, sunscreen can feel greasy—especially if you’re already prone to oiliness. Instead of a standard chemical sunscreen, we recommend men with oily skin reach for a mineral formula, like Super Fluid Daily Mineral Defense. This lightweight broad-spectrum sunscreen offers lasting protection from UVA and UVB rays with a clean, matte finish. It’s dermatologist-tested and can be used daily as the last step in your skincare routine. Apply it liberally 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply after swimming or sweating, or every two hours as needed while you’re outside.

Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Be sure to take other sun protection precautions, like avoiding direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., whenever possible.

*Based on results two hours after use vs. untreated skin.
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