Oily Skin: A Simple Routine for Men Who Shine by Midday
If your face is shiny by lunchtime, the fix is not to scrub harder. Oily skin responds best to a short, consistent routine: a gentle gel cleanser morning and evening, a light, oil-free moisturiser, and a daily sunscreen labelled non-comedogenic. Harsh soaps and alcohol toners strip the surface and leave skin feeling tight, which many men then try to fix with more stripping. Add one targeted step only if you need it, give any change four to six weeks, and keep blotting papers for the afternoon. Below is why skin gets oily, the routine itself, and how shaving and training fit around it.
Why some men’s skin is oilier
Skin oil, called sebum, comes from sebaceous glands that are most concentrated on the forehead, nose and chin: the T-zone. Sebum is not a fault. It keeps skin supple and helps protect it. How much you make is largely down to genetics and hormones, and androgens such as testosterone drive sebum production, which is one reason oily skin is common in men and often starts in the teenage years.
Other things change how oily you look on a given day rather than how much oil you make: heat and humidity, a long day in a warm office, sweat from a commute or a training session, and products that sit heavily on the skin. If your skin is oily in the T-zone but tight or flaky on the cheeks, you have combination skin, and the routine below still works with a little extra moisturiser where it is dry.
The routine
Morning (about two minutes)
- Cleanse with a gentle gel or foaming face wash and lukewarm water. Hot water feels satisfying but leaves skin drier and redder. Thirty seconds of massaging is enough.
- Moisturise with a light gel or lotion described as oil-free or non-comedogenic. Yes, even oily skin. Skin that is dehydrated on the surface can still be oily underneath, and a light moisturiser helps it feel comfortable without adding shine. Our guide to choosing a moisturiser goes through textures.
- Sunscreen. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, in a fluid or gel texture marked matte or non-comedogenic. Some moisturisers include SPF, which saves a step. The NHS sun safety advice sets out what to look for on the label.
Evening (about two minutes)
- Cleanse again to remove the day’s oil, sweat, sunscreen and city grime.
- Optional treatment step two or three evenings a week to begin with (see below).
- Moisturise lightly.
During the day
Blotting papers lift surface oil without disturbing anything else and fit in a wallet. Washing your face again at lunch usually makes the afternoon worse, not better.
Optional extras, and what they are for
| Ingredient | What it does | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Salicylic acid (a BHA) | Oil-soluble exfoliant that works inside pores; helpful if you also get blackheads | Leave-on product two or three evenings a week, increase if skin tolerates it |
| Niacinamide | Widely used for oily and combination skin; generally well tolerated | A serum or moisturiser containing it, once a day |
| Clay mask | Absorbs surface oil; a short-term mattifier | Once a week on the T-zone, not the whole face |
Introduce one at a time so you know what is helping and what is irritating. If skin stings, peels or turns red, cut back. More is rarely better with actives. If blackheads are your main concern, our piece on blackheads on the nose goes into more detail.
Things that make oily skin worse
- Bar soap and harsh scrubs. They leave skin tight and irritated, and the shine often returns quickly. We explain the difference in face wash versus bar soap.
- Alcohol-heavy toners and aftershave splashes. The cooling feeling is evaporation, and it can leave skin dry and irritated.
- Skipping moisturiser. A light one is part of the routine, not optional.
- Heavy creams and greasy hair products that migrate onto the forehead. Pomades and oils at the hairline are a common hidden cause of forehead shine and spots.
- Touching your face and resting your chin on your hand through long meetings.
- Changing everything at once. Skin turns over slowly; give any change four to six weeks before judging it.
Shaving with oily skin
Oily skin often copes with shaving reasonably well, but clogged pores and shaving irritation can combine into spots along the jaw and neck. A few habits help:
- Shave after cleansing, ideally after a shower, so hair is soft and the surface is clean.
- Use a fresh, sharp blade and rinse it often.
- Choose a lightweight, oil-free post-shave balm rather than a rich cream or an alcohol splash.
- If you get bumps, shave with the grain and consider whether a closer shave is worth it.
A professional hot towel shave, which takes 20 to 30 minutes at Highgate Cuts, is also a good opportunity to have a barber look at how your skin and beard growth interact and suggest a home approach. See the shaves and beard services on our barber page.
Training and oily skin
Sweat itself is mostly water and salt, but sitting in it, with sunscreen and city grime on top, is what tends to cause trouble. Rinse or cleanse soon after training rather than going straight to the next meeting. Use a clean towel to pat, not rub, during a session, and wash headbands and caps regularly.
When to see a GP or pharmacist
Oily skin is normal. Persistent spots, painful lumps under the skin, scarring, or redness and flushing across the cheeks are different, and a pharmacist or GP is the right first call. The NHS page on acne explains when treatment is worth seeking. Check with your GP first if you are on medication that affects your skin, or before using strong actives alongside prescribed treatments.
Questions we get asked
Should men with oily skin use moisturiser?
Yes, a light, oil-free one. It keeps skin comfortable and stops the tight, irritated feeling that over-cleansing causes.
Why is my face oily but flaky at the same time?
Usually combination skin or irritation from harsh products. Flaking around the nose and eyebrows can also be seborrhoeic dermatitis, which is worth asking a pharmacist about.
Does diet cause oily skin?
The evidence is mixed and personal. Genetics and hormones are the main drivers. If you notice a clear pattern with a particular food, it is reasonable to test it, but do not expect diet alone to change your skin type.
Can the barber help?
A barber is not a dermatologist, but a hot towel shave and a frank conversation about your shaving routine are useful. Start with the Highgate Cuts service list or have a look around The Highgate House.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
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The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
