There is no shortage of advice about oily skin, and a fair bit of it contradicts itself. Here is the routine I would actually talk you through, kept simple.
I’m Tash. I run House of Glam HQ in Southsea on my own and I see oily and congested skin most weeks, so this is written from what works in the room rather than what sells product.
If you’re in Southsea or nearby, you’re welcome to book in and I’ll look at your skin properly rather than guess from a description.
Understanding Oily Skin and Its Challenges
Oily skin comes down to how much sebum your skin produces, which is largely genetic and shifts with hormones, stress and the time of year. When that oil mixes with dead skin cells it can block a pore, and that is where congestion and breakouts start.
The aim is to keep that in check without drying the skin out, because skin that has been stripped often produces more oil rather than less. That balance is what I am working towards when I put a routine together for someone.
The first thing worth working out is whether your skin is genuinely oily or dehydrated and overproducing to compensate. They look similar and they need handling differently, which is why stripping products so often make things worse.
The Importance of a Tailored Skincare Routine
A personalised routine built around your skin, rather than someone else’s, is what makes the difference. The aim is to balance oil, not strip it.
Look for products labelled non-comedogenic, and go carefully with heavy balms and thick occlusive creams if you are already congested. Past that, which range you buy matters far less than whether you actually use it.
Consistency matters more than the products do. Give a routine eight to twelve weeks before you judge it, and expect to adjust it as the seasons change.
Step 1: Gentle Cleansing
Start with a gentle cleanser twice a day. It should lift the day off your skin without leaving it tight or squeaky, because that tight feeling is a sign you have gone too far.
A light gel or foaming wash usually suits oily skin better than a rich cream cleanser. If you wear makeup or SPF, cleanse twice in the evening and once in the morning.
Step 2: Balancing with Toners
A toner is optional rather than essential, whatever the marketing says. Where it earns its place on oily skin is as a way of getting a low-strength active onto the face, so if you use one, look for salicylic acid rather than an alcohol-heavy astringent.
Use it after cleansing and before your moisturiser. If your skin stings or goes red afterwards, that is not it working, and I would drop it.
Step 3: Lightweight Moisturising
Moisturising matters even when your skin is oily, and skipping it is the most common mistake I see. A lightweight, oil-free moisturiser keeps skin hydrated without clogging pores. Hyaluronic acid is a sensible ingredient to look for.
Use it morning and night, every day. Keeping the barrier in decent order is what breaks the cycle of stripping and rebound oil that brings most people to me in the first place.
Step 4: Regular Exfoliation
Exfoliating once or twice a week clears the dead skin that would otherwise sit in the pore. More often than that is where people go wrong, and I see the results of daily scrubbing fairly regularly.
A salicylic acid or enzyme exfoliant is usually kinder than a gritty scrub. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it gets into the pore rather than only working across the surface.
Step 5: Sun Protection for Oily Skin
Wear a broad-spectrum SPF every day, oily skin included. If you are using acids at home or having peels with me, it matters more, because treated skin burns more easily.
Look for sunscreens labelled “oil-free” or “non-comedogenic”. Those are far less likely to sit heavily or bring on breakouts.
Professional Skincare at House of Glam HQ
At House of Glam HQ I do facials and skin treatments myself, and I adapt them to oily and congested skin rather than running a standard protocol.
For congestion, the Steam and Extraction Facial is £50 and I clear blocked pores by hand. A chemical peel on the face is £70 with a Jessner peel or £80 with a TCA peel, and I also treat the neck and chest. Microneedling is £80 for the face, with a course of three at £215 or six at £410. None of these stop your skin producing oil, and I would be wary of anyone who told you otherwise, but they do keep pores clearer between visits.
Book a £15 Skin Consultation in Southsea, Portsmouth
If you want advice on your own skin rather than skin in general, book a consultation with me. A standalone consultation is £15 on Fresha, and that £15 comes off the cost of your treatment if you decide to go ahead.
If you would rather ask a question first, message me on WhatsApp or ring 07831 846273. Every facial price is listed on my facials and skin treatments page, from the £45 Dermaplaning Express at 30 minutes to the 90-minute Halo Ritual at £115.
Book a treatment directly and the consultation happens at the start of that appointment, with no separate fee. Klarna is available on treatments over three monthly payments, and a House of Glam HQ gift card can go towards the cost if someone else wants to help. Either way you will leave with a routine you can realistically keep up.
