These Anti-Aging Products Will Age Oily Skin in Reverse

Best Anti-Aging Products For Oily Skin

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Oily skin barely has any common ground with other skin types. Well, except for anti-aging. No skin type is exempt from signs of aging such as fine lines, crow’s feet, hyperpigmentation, and dull, saggy skin. Though oily skin is much more resistant to wrinkling and sagging, skin aging is inevitable. So where do you go from here? On the one hand, you have oily skin and concerns that come with it; acne, marks, enlarged pores, and congestion. And on the other hand, you have fine lines, wrinkles, and maybe sun damage that won’t reverse itself. I’ve got some great news for you. There are potent anti-aging products you can use for oily skin. And that’s not even the best part. Most of these products help with oiliness too!

But first up, allow me to throw some fast facts your way to cheer you up. First of all, while dry skin types tend to show more wrinkling, wrinkles are usually not that prominent on oily skin.

It’s not because oily skin doesn’t age. It’s because of the fact that oily skin is usually thicker (1). Therefore, wrinkles do not seem so prominent. It means that you have a lot of time before trying injectables.

Second of all, people with dry skin may need to deal with acne with certain products and deal with aging with a whole other set of products. In that sense, people with oily skin are luckier.

Because some of the most effective anti-acne ingredients are also great for tackling signs of aging. So you can hit 2, 3, or even 4 birds with 1 stone! It’s not so bad, is it?

Now, from anti-aging serums to anti-wrinkle creams, find below the best anti-aging products for people with oily skin.

The Best Anti-Aging Skincare Products For Oily Skin

Best Cleanser: L’Oreal Revitalift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleansing Gel

L'Oreal Revitalift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleansing Gel - Best Anti-Aging Products For Oily Skin

This is a glycolic acid face wash to cleanse the skin and remove dead skin cells at the same time. This keeps your pores clean, minimizes breakouts and prevents future ones, and also increases skin turnover. Faster skin turnover translates to smoother skin.

You can try using this face wash both as an acne and oily skin treatment and an anti-aging treatment too. 3.5% glycolic acid resurfaces the top layer of the skin. And with the help of salicylic acid, the cleanser can penetrate the oily layers of the skin too.

The fragrance-free formula is non-comedogenic and can fit right into any anti-acne and anti-aging routine. If you’ll be using other treatments with active ingredients, you can use this one on your “off days” when you won’t be using any other treatments.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, aloe
Size: 6.7 oz/ 200 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic

Best Toner: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

The most important thing you should know about anti-acne ingredients is that anything that stimulates skin turnover will also help with wrinkles. For example, both sulfur and benzoyl peroxide help acne. But they don’t do anything for wrinkles.

But chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid do (2)! And this 2% salicylic acid is the best exfoliant for people with oily and acne-prone skin. The toner unclogs pores and removes blackheads. It also fades discolorations from acne and sun damage and brightens the skin tone.

Plus, it has green tea, which is a potent antioxidant that targets free radical damage on the skin. And because it’s anti-inflammatory, it reduces redness and acne too. The daily toner improves skin texture and tone, making it an amazing, multi-tasking anti-aging product for oily skin.

Related: The Best Toners For Oily Skin and Large Pores

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea
Size: 4 oz/ 118 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, fragrance-free

Best Serum: First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate

First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate - Best Anti-Aging Products For Oily Skin

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative and the most effective skincare ingredient to tackle acne and aging (3). It accelerates skin turnover and stimulates collagen production. So anything old or dead is simply pushed up and out, revealing healthier and smoother skin.

But it also regulates sebum production to prevent congestion and breakouts. And for that, this is the best anti-aging serum for oily skin. It has a beginner-friendly concentration of 0.25%. Retinol irons out wrinkles, smooths out texture irregularities, and reduces dark spots, and acne marks.

The combination of skin soothers, oatmeal, allantoin, and aloe, calms irritation, and redness. The fragrance-free retinol serum also has neuropeptides for instant wrinkle-smoothing benefits. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this is an amazing retinol serum to fight acne and aging at the same time.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, ceramides, vitamin C, allantoin
Size: 1 oz/ 30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free

Related: How to Use Retinol For Best Results

Best Wrinkle Cream: La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Cream

La Roche Posay Redermic R Retinol Cream

And speaking of retinol, you can try it in cream form too. This oil-free retinol cream also contains a derivative of salicylic acid. So while targeting signs of aging, you also get a little bit of exfoliation for added benefits.

Even though this is in cream form, it won’t provide much moisture. So you can consider this a spot treatment. Yes, people with oily skin should go for oil-free formulations.

But as retinol can be drying, and when that dryness gets out of hand, you need to maintain a certain balance to avoid dehydrated, flaky skin. Use this at night and follow with a moisturizer.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, salicylic acid, glycerin
Size: 1 oz/ 30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, non-comedogenic, contains fragrance

Best Moisturizer: Ole Henriksen C-Rush Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer

Ole Henriksen C-Rush Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer - Best Anti-Aging Products For Oily Skin

This is a vitamin C gel moisturizer that replenishes the skin and protects it against the damaging effects of free radicals. After all, vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants that can prevent and repair sun damage, boost collagen production, and fade discolorations too (4).

The moisturizer contains pure vitamin C and two types of vitamin C for full benefits and better stability. It has hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing vitamin B5. And it has the most beautiful scent of citrus fruits that just wakes up your senses.

This is like a glow moisturizer with a luminous, radiant finish. And it looks gorgeous -not greasy. It plumps up your skin, which reduces the look of fine lines immediately. It’s an overall gentle anti-aging cream for oily skin types.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, panthenol, camellia extract
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

Best For Acne Scars: Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Corrector

Kiehls Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Corrector

Acne scars, not that they have anything to do with aging skin, can give you an overall uneven skin tone. The problem with that is when you go harsh on the skin using heavy active ingredients in an attempt to fade those, you can end up making things much worse.

That’s why it’s best to use gentle anti-aging products for oily skin that’s easily irritated and prone to inflammation. And to that end, this multi-tasking vitamin C serum is perfect. It’s made with one of the most stable and gentle forms of vitamin C to avoid irritation.

The lightweight formula also contains salicylic acid to gently help clear up pores and blemishes too. So you can manage both signs of aging and oily skin. The brightening serum boosts radiance and eliminates dullness on oily congested skin.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, salicylic acid
Size: 1 oz/ 30 ml

Best Night Cream: Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Oil-Free Resurfacing Cream With Fruit-Derived AHAs

Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Oil-Free Resurfacing Cream With Fruit-Derived AHAs

For your evening routine, you can try something more potent. This is an exfoliating night cream that works on congestion, blemishes, acne, and dullness while moisturizing.

The oil-free formula contains lactic acid and salicylic acid to target all layers of the skin. The gentle resurfacing action won’t irritate your skin. Plus, it has vitamin E and a stable form of vitamin C for added antioxidant benefits.

And it packs hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin, sodium PCA, and several amino acids for non-pore-clogging hydration. You can tackle blemishes and signs of aging with this one.

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin C, squalane
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, oil-free

So these are some of the best anti-aging products for people with oily and acne-prone skin. Just remember one thing, the best way to prevent wrinkles is by using sunscreen. So don’t forget to add an SPF into your routine.

Additionally, if you feel like this is too much and the active ingredients are overwhelming, focus on managing excess oil first. Aging and acne are two of the most difficult concerns to deal with. So go easy on yourself.

If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, below are things to keep in mind when choosing an anti-aging product to use on oily skin.

How To Choose Anti-Aging Products For Oily Skin

Use The Right Type of Products

There are anti-aging day creams, night creams, antioxidant serums, night serums, and even toners. But you should prioritize depending on your skincare routine. For example, if you don’t like the hassle of active ingredients, try antioxidant moisturizers to use daily.

If you want to actively minimize the appearance of wrinkles, try more potent products such as retinol night serums or exfoliating peels. After all, you should be able to use the product. So choose a product you can easily fit into your skincare routine.

Look For Multi-Tasking Active Ingredients

Active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and glycolic acid are amazing anti-aging ingredients found in serums and creams. But they have multiple benefits that allow you to manage signs of aging and skin concerns that come with oily skin.

For example, vitamin C reduces sun damage and helps with acne scars. Glycolic acid minimizes wrinkles and brightens skin. Likewise, retinol stimulates collagen production and reduces acne. So look for these active ingredients in your anti-aging products.

Go For Non-Comedogenic Products

As a general rule of thumb, oily skin types should use non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic products to avoid clogging pores. The same rule applies to anti-aging products. So go for non-comedogenic or oil-free anti-wrinkle creams and serums.

FAQs

References:

  1. Tamatsu, Y., Tsukahara, K., Sugawara, Y. and Shimada, K. (2015), New finding that might explain why the skin wrinkles more on various parts of the face. Clin. Anat., 28: 745-752. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.22571
  2. Moghimipour E. (2012). Hydroxy Acids, the Most Widely Used Anti-aging AgentsJundishapur journal of natural pharmaceutical products7(1), 9–10.
  3. Mukherjee, S., Date, A., Patravale, V., Korting, H. C., Roeder, A., & Weindl, G. (2006). Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical interventions in aging1(4), 327–348. https://doi.org/10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327
  4. Ganceviciene, R., Liakou, A. I., Theodoridis, A., Makrantonaki, E., & Zouboulis, C. C. (2012). Skin anti-aging strategies. Dermato-endocrinology4(3), 308–319. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.22804

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