The Oily Skin Routine I’m Using in My 30s for Breakouts, Texture & Pigment

If you've seen my three-year skin journey Beauty IQ article, you'll know my skin and I have come a long way.

My skin goal was always to feel confident on a date without makeup, and through all the ups and downs, breakouts, retinol-face and even a melasma moustache, we made it.

They say it's important to stop and reflect on how far you've come...

For me, it all started with a single tub of Jurlique moisturiser and a skin age of 36 - several years older than my actual age at the time thanks to decades of sun worshipping.

Here's what sun damage looks like on a skin scan, in case you were curious.

Now I've got my cosmeceutical skincare routine for oily skin down, I feel like I'm in a pretty good place with my skin.

Don't get me wrong. There's been plenty of product trial and error. Active ingredient mishaps. Impairing my skin barrier on multiple occasions.

But I have more of an understanding of what ingredients can help manage and address my specific skin concerns.

If you're in your 30s and live in Australia, there's a good chance we'd have some in common.

Keep scrolling to find out what skincare products and ingredients are working for me.

Skincare Routine For Oily Skin.

Firstly, let's go through my skin type and concerns.

Because unless yours are similar, what works for me probably won't work for you.

My skin type is oily skin, particularly around the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), so I'm prone to breakouts and congestion.

As for skin concerns, I want to target skin texture and signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles, but the biggest thing I'm focussing on right now is hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation can look like a number of different things for different people (uneven skin tone, dark spots, sun damage) but for me, it's hormonal pigmentation called melasma.

After spending a few months in hot, humid Queensland at the end of 2020, I found the heat really brought my melasma to the surface.

Especially around the mouth. That's my melasma moustache.

My current skincare routine is definitely geared towards someone who A) has combo/oily skin and B) struggles with texture and hyperpigmentation.

AM Skincare Routine for Oily Skin, Texture & Pigmentation.

Step 1. Cleanser.

I'm not that fussy with cleansers. I don't like to be tied down, so I mix it up depending on what I've got going.

Aspect Purastat 5 Cleanser is one of my favourites though because it's a gentle foam, but still contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to help reduce the appearance of blemishes, pigmentation, and uneven skin tone.

Step 2. Vitamin C serum.

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF is the first serum I always use in the morning.

You may be familiar with the CE Ferulic serum, which is kind of like the hero cult vitamin C serum, but the SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF is better suited to my oily skin type.

I've tried so many vitamin C serums, I know it's pricey, but there's nothing else I can recommend that's as good as this vitamin C for oily skin.

Sorry. But not really.

Step 3. A serum for pigmentation.

Aspect Pigment Punch+ 30ml is next on my list and it's amazing.

I've been through multiple bottles of this pigment inhibiting serum, I absolutely love it for targeting hyperpigmentation.

I've been using it on and off for years, but started using Pigment Punch again consistently after I got home from Queensland. It's really good for fading the look of dark spots, and brightening and evening out skin tone.

Step 4. Vitamin B serum.

Next on my list for the morning is a vitamin B serum.

I've used and liked a few different cosmeceutical vitamin B serums, Aesthetics Rx B Serum is one I'm really liking currently.

It contains a bit of everything that's good for your skin barrier:

Panthenol (vitamin B5), niacinamide (vitamin B3) and hyaluronic acid. Plus, the jelly texture feels really hydrating on the skin.

Step 5. Anti-ageing eye cream.

You don't have to, but I actually use eye cream both morning and night.

Obviously by this stage in the routine, I've already done 356 serums and I just want something really quick and easy to apply.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex makes the under-eye area look brighter and more hydrated (and hence, smoother) straight away, but consistent use over time is what will deliver the longer-term results around visible signs of ageing.

It's not a super heavy cream for anyone prone to milia (little white keratin bumps under the eye), and the tub will last you months.

Step 6. Sunscreen.

There are more steps (I swear it's not that many) if I'm doing my makeup, you can read my dewy foundation for oily skin tutorial article here.

But the most important skincare product for hyperpigmentation and melasma is sunscreen.

Recently, I decided to switch to a physical (or mineral) sunscreen but I also love chemical sunscreens, too.

Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50 Sunscreen is a mineral-only broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen with a mattifying texture suitable for oily skin friends!

Anytime I'm in the sun, outside or am feeling hot or overheated, that's when the hyperpigmentation comes out. Melasma really loves sun and heat, so you've got to be super careful of how much sun you're getting and always protecting yourself.

I'm talking sunscreen, a hat, sunnies, protective clothing, trying to stay in the shade. And applying and reapplying enough sunscreen, too.

You can watch my full morning and evening skincare routine for oily skin on YouTube below.

PM Skincare Routine for Oily Skin, Texture & Pigmentation.

Now, my evening skincare routine gets a little bit more complicated.

Because I'm using stronger active ingredient products (think peels, vitamin A and resurfacing treatments), I use a few products on alternating nights.

You don't want to use them every day... unless you want to break your skin barrier. Not joking.

Here are the main products for texture and hyperpigmentation I rotate through my night time skincare routine:

1. A retinol serum.

Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum 30ml is the retinol serum I keep coming back to because it's effective, but really non-irritating considering the strength.

I've tried to use stronger vitamin A products and my skin gets really red and sensitive. I love retinol, but my skin just doesn't play ball sometimes. This Murad one is probably my favourite retinol serum to use.

2. An overnight peel.

I love this product so much, our editor Amy and I did a whole video on why we love the Alpha-H glycolic acid products.

Alpha-H Beauty Sleep Power Peel contains a small percentage of retinol AND glycolic acid, and literally, you wake up like wow, I'm glowing.

Even though the peel is creamy and not stripping, it's not a beginner product.

I would recommend starting once a week, and then if your skin's tolerating it, you could probably increase to applying twice a week - but don't use any other glycolic acid or retinol products on the same night.

Here's that Alpha-H YouTube video comparing their different resurfacing treatments if you want to know more.

3. Peptide serum.

asap DNA Renewal Treatment 30ml is what I apply after my resurfacing treatment.

Peptides are a type of anti-ageing ingredient that works really well with your other treatments - often it's formulated together with vitamin A.

This serum has a creamy texture and just does all the things: smooths, hydrates, stimulates collagen and elastin production. It's kind of like insurance, for your face.

4. Blemish serum.

As I've mentioned, I'm prone to breakouts, especially around my period.

When I feel breakouts coming, I use SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Serum because it contains salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid or BHA) to exfoliate within the pores while targeting signs of ageing at the same time.

5. Anti-ageing night cream.

Last part, promise!

After I apply the same SkinCeuticals eye cream, I finish with a night cream.

Even though I have oily skin and don't generally moisturise in the morning, I love something heavy and really hydrating at night. Who cares if your face looks greased up before bed?!

INIKA Phytofuse Renew Resveratrol Night Cream is one I'm currently loving. The whipped cream texture isn't too heavy, but you can feel it working its magic.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant ingredient that also helps in protecting and repairing any environmental skin damage. Plus, it just smells really beautiful.

If you've made it to the end of this skincare routine, congratulations! That's all I've got for you!

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