My Nighttime Skincare Routine for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin in My 30s

I am in my 30s with acne-prone oily combination skin. I get the most oil on my t-zone, specifically on my forehead and on and around my nose. Acne and blemishes can pop up anywhere! I have large pores on and around my nose. I also battle with dark spots from blemishes, and fine lines on my forehead, under the eyes, and smile lines. This nighttime skincare routine for oily skin targets all of these concerns in a simple, yet effective way.

Products

I will begin with all of the products that are in my routine. I will explain the why behind why they belong in this routine, and also provide a mini review. All of these products have been thoroughly tested by me, being in use for a year, and in some cases up to five years. I only recommend products that I see deliver visible results.

Moisturizer

There are three different moisturizers that are my absolute favorites for an oily face. Over the years it seems like I have tried hundreds, to only come out with three!

It is incredibly important to read the packaging to be sure that the moisturizer is for your skin type. I have learned that the best formula for combo and oily skin is a gel or jelly type. Cream-like moisturizers are a no-go because they ramp up oil production and make us look and feel greasy.

Gel/jelly moisturizers actually hydrate our skin in such a way that we will not produce excess oils! My favorite affordable pick is the elf Skin Holy Hydration Gel-Yeah Moisturizer. It is a clear, jiggly jelly and it says oily/combo skin right on the pot. This is elf’s replacement for Superhydrate, which was formally my go-to.

My top high-end pick is the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. It is a clear, more runny gel that performs the same as elf. I consider elf to be the dupe in terms of wear on the skin.

But, there is one cream-formula moisturizer that will work for combo skin! I know, I cannot believe it either! It is the Pixi Beauty Vitamin C Lotion. While it has that traditional creamy formula that we should avoid, somehow it stops oil production. The Vitamin C leaves behind a natural glow to the skin. Over time it will help to reduce dark spots that we face from acne and being 30+. If you are sensitive to Vitamin C, this one is gentle for daily use both day and night.

I use one of these moisturizers every night.

Toners

Let’s talk toners. My favorite toner that demolishes acne prone skin is elf Supertone. Unfortunately, it is discontinued. When I finally run out, I will be replacing it with the Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic because it has a 75% ingredient match to elf. I use it twice per week.

You will want to be careful with this type of toner. They are chemical exfoliants, which are more powerful than physical exfoliants. When you add one to your routine, go for once a week, then build up to two or three times maximum. You need to build a tolerance as they can irritate the skin. I apply the toners with thin cotton squares.

The other toner that I use is Pixi Beauty Vitamin-C Tonic. Again, as we age we need a good Vitamin C to brighten the skin and to fight dark spots that linger from breakouts and blemishes. This formula is also gentle, much like the moisturizer. I apply it to my fingers then directly to my skin. I use it twice per week.

Cleanser

I apologize that I do not have an image of my favorite cleanser, which is the elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clarifying Cleanser. I have a few cleansers that I need to use up before I repurchase the elf.

It is my top pick because it noticeably helps with acne and blemishes. The formula foams gently, and can be used daily without drying out the skin. Of course, it does effectively wash the day away. You can read more in my elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough collection review.

Serums

There are four serums that I use in my nighttime skincare routine for oily skin. First is the Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum. Being 30+ we need a retinol in our routine to help prevent, and treat signs of aging. This product also exfoliates the skin which brings me visible results with acne.

I also use the Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment. It also has the ability to exfoliate, and brings me visible results with acne. The formula also gives a glow to the skin, while helping to plump fine lines and wrinkles. Believe it or not, it also helps to treat acne dark spots and discoloration as well.

I have a lot more to say on these products, which you can read in my Sunday Riley All About Acne Kit review. I use each of them once per week.

The next serum is a K-Beauty wonder! It is a part of my daytime daily skincare routine, but I pop it into my nighttime routine once per week. It is the Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Serum. It is another gentle product that helps to provide a glow and to treat dark spots.

The final serum is the elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Triple Acid Resurfacing Serum. Besides the fact that it helps to fight acne and breakouts, it also evens your skin tone and smooths texture. This is an excellent product to get smoother skin despite being acne-prone. I use it twice per week.

Oils

There are two oils in my routine. Hands down, the best oil to manage adult acne is the Sunday Riley UFO Ultra Clarifying Treatment Face Oil. It is a lightweight oil that absorbs fast. It has the power to treat acne and even prevent breakouts or make them not as bad. I use it once per week, but also as a spot treatment as needed.

Do you ever get a spot on your face that is tingly or painful, signifying that a breakout is on the way? Apply a pat of this oil over top and the sensation will stop immediately! The breakout may not happen, or end up being less severe.

I also use cold-pressed 100% organic jojoba oil. While I keep it around for dermaplaning, so I oilplane, it is a good addition three times per week. The molecules are small enough that this oil sinks right into the skin to deeply hydrate. It helps by leaving you with less oil production during the week.

Lips

I always do my lips at night, right before bed. The product that changed my life is the wet n wild Lip Oil. Get ready to throw all of your balms and masks in the trash! I apply a thick layer before bed every day. I urge you to read more in my wet n wild Lip Oil review so that I do not spoil all the fun here.

The need to exfoliate my lips is incredibly rare thanks to the lip oil. When I do need an exfoliation, I turn to the elf Lip Exfoliators. They are gentle, yet effective, all with a yummy scent. I love the lipstick format for less mess. I have a full elf Lip Exfoliator review ready for you.

Eyelashes

Night time is also the best time to do your eyelash treatment! I have the full details in my Babe Original serums review. I use the Babe Original Essential Lash Serum. I am in the maintenance part, so I only need to use it three times per week.

Treatments

Now I will talk about the other treatments and techniques that I do in my routine, and why they are excellent for ance-prone combo skin.

Double Cleansing

On days that you wear sunscreen and/or makeup, double cleansing is a must! For me, that is daily. Double cleansing is when you use an oil-based product. This can be an actual oil, or a solid balm product. The key is that the product should emulsify when wet.

You can use a double-cleansing product to remove your makeup, and boom that step is complete! Or, if you would rather remove your makeup with a different product, use the double cleanser immediately after. I kill two birds with one stone with the elf Skin Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm. Also, I have an entire guide on how to remove makeup easily which covers this balm plus other remover options.

With both dry hands and face, apply your double cleanser to your skin using upwards circular motions. Then, wet your fingers and repeat the massage to emulsify the product. Wash everything away, and follow-up with your regular cleanser.

This process goes deep to remove oils, skincare/sunscreen, makeup, and well everything from your pores. Using a regular cleanser after ensures all of the oil from the double cleanser is gone. The result is skin that is actually fully clean and no clogged pores.

Dermaplaning

I currently dermaplane once every two weeks. As already mentioned, I oilplane with jojoba oil. On this day I do not follow my normal routine. Your skin needs 24-48 hours to recover, which means no makeup or harsh skincare. On dermaplane day, I skip the facial steamer. I only use cleansers, moisturizer, and jojoba oil at night.

Vitamin C can be irritating for freshly dermaplaned skin. The other products in this routine will absolutely burn and irritate.

Facial Steaming

Twice per week I use a facial steamer. Now, I already have a full review covering the Vanity Planet Facial Steamer that I use, along with detailing the benefits of facial steaming. The reason this is great for us is that steaming opens the pores up, making our skin more receptive to skin care. It helps products to sink in and perform better. When you pair steaming with acne skincare, the routine is much more effective.

Also, applying skincare over damp skin helps with absorption.

I use the steamer for 10 minutes with a timer on my phone. For acne-prone skin you only need about 5-10 minutes. I like to put on a video while I do the treatment. This short timeframe makes the job much easier to incorporate into your day.

Realistic Daily Routine

Below is a table for each day of the week that shows the products that I use, and the order of application. Each day is then detailed in the rest of this guide.

When applying skincare, always use upwards, circular massaging motions to evenly distribute the product over the skin. Finish with patting motions. Skin is porous, and it accepts products when they are patted in.

The correct order of skincare application is by going from the lightest to the heaviest product. Start by cleansing, and then go in with toner. Move to serums next, and apply them from lightest to heaviest if you are using more than one. Now you are ready for moisturizer. Oil is the last step.

It is incredibly important to note that we must protect the barrier of our skin. You have noticed that most of the products get used twice per week. Frequency is key. If we overuse products that exfoliate the skin, we can break down the skin barrier too much, which will lead to even more acne.

Monday

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic
• Sunday Riley Good Genes
• Moisturizer
• Babe Lash serum
• Lip care
  

Tuesday

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Pixi Beauty Vitamin C Toner
• Moisturizer
• Jojoba oil
• Lip care
  

Wednesday

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Facial steamer
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Triple Acid Resurfacing Serum
• Moisturizer
• Sunday Riley UFO
• Babe Lash serum
• Lip care
  

Thursday

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Pixi Beauty Vitamin C Toner
• Moisturizer
• Jojoba oil
• Lip care
  

Friday

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Sunday Riley A+
• Moisturizer
• Babe Lash serum
• Lip care
  

Saturday

This is my no-dermaplane Saturday:

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Facial steam
• Pixi Beauty Vitamin C Toner
• Goodal Vitamin C Serum
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Triple Acid Resurfacing Serum
• Jojoba oil
• Lip care
  

This is my dermaplane Saturday:

• Double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Moisturizer
• Jojoba oil
• Lip care
  

Sunday

• Remove makeup / double cleanse
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clairfying Cleanser
• Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic
• elf Skin Blemish Breakthrough Triple Acid Resurfacing Serum
• Moisturizer
• Lip care
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a moisturizer if I have oily skin?

Yes, you should use moisturizer if you have oily skin. Finding the right formula will prevent your skin from producing excess oil. Oily and combo skin types tend to favor gel/jelly moisturizers and not creams.

What is the best way to layer skincare products at night?

The best way to layer skincare products at night is from lightest to heaviest. The correct order is cleanser, toner, serums from lightest to heaviest, moisturizer, then oil.

Can I use facial oils if I have oily skin?

Yes, you can use facial oils if you have oily skin. Finding the right formula will deeply hydrate and nourish your skin, which will lead to decreased oil production. Stick with those that are lightweight and fast absorbing. They should have small molecules so that a carrier oil is not needed.

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My routine is easy to pick up even for a busy schedule! Every product is tested by me for real, attainable results. Please let me know if you would like a full guide on how I dermaplane. What are your nighttime must haves? Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

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