Mixed Makeup has worked through at least 20 products aimed at oily skin, from cleansers and exfoliants to setting powders and sunscreen. She approved the vast majority of them. Only a few got a mixed take, and she did not skip any of them outright.
What does Mixed Makeup recommend for oily skin?
She keeps coming back to ingredients that actively manage oil without causing dryness. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is one she describes as revolutionary for the skincare industry, praising it for balancing, toning, and the way it feels like a layer of protection on the skin. For cleansing, she points to CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser as a reliable option that gets the job done with ingredients tolerable for all skin types, sensitive skin included. On exfoliation, she is a fan of salicylic acid in a rinse-off form, rating The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser as a gentle way to clear clogged pores and balance oil production, and she notes that because it rinses off, it does not keep exfoliating after you wash. She also loves the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, a powder that turns into a paste with water and gives a gentle physical scrub.
Mixed Makeup's oily skin picks, in her words
"I'm gonna take the pillow talk lipstick from Charlotte Tilbury because it's so pretty. One of the best lipstick colors ever made."
"I love their niacinamide and zinc serum. I think it's just good for all over balancing, toning, and a lot of really good properties, and I also just love the way it feels on my skin. It feels like a layer of protection. [...] The niacinamide serum from the ordinary is a classic. [...] I feel like it was revolutionary for the skincare industry."
"The Foaming Facial Cleanser, this is one that dermatologists recommend because it's just going to clean your skin and get the job done with ingredients that are pretty tolerable for all skin types, especially for people that have sensitive skin."
"A 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser is a really great way to get exfoliation if you have any clogged pores. Salicylic acid is a wonderful ingredient for that because it actually breaks down pores and it even helps to balance out your oil production. In a cleanser form like this it's really gentle on your skin because you are rinsing it off. It's doing its job and then it's being rinsed off, so it's not going to have this long-term effect of continuously exfoliating [...] your skin."
"I love the microfoliant. They have a travel size [...] if you go into Ulta. I actually just bought a new iteration of it that's like their oat, it's supposed to be more soothing. You add a little bit of water, it gets a little bit more pasty, it gives you a little bit of like a physical exfoliation. This has, I want to say, salicylic acid in it and stuff. It's been a long time since I've looked at the ingredient list, but it's a great cleanser."
"This Milani Make It Last is actually a little too matte for me. I look a little crusty here in the dry climate, but I'm going to use it because it's all I brought with me. If you want a matte setting spray, this one's really really good."
How many products has Mixed Makeup reviewed for oily skin?
Mixed Makeup has reviewed 21 products for oily skin, for an approval rate of 86%. 18 approved, 3 mixed, and none skipped.
What has Mixed Makeup skipped for oily skin?
She did not skip anything here. Her reservations come through as honest caveats inside her approvals. She found the Milani Make It Last Matte Setting Spray a little too matte for her own skin in a dry climate, and said it made her look a little crusty. Even so, she calls it really good if a matte finish is what you want.
What should you take from Mixed Makeup's picks?
Mixed Makeup's record on oily skin is a confident one. She approves most of what she tries, and her picks tend to share a common thread: ingredients that control oil and clear pores without stripping the skin. She skipped nothing outright, and her caveats, like the Milani setting spray being too matte for dry days, are practical ones worth keeping in mind.
Watch Mixed Makeup say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow TalkNamed a winnerWatch at 23:55
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Rated itWatch at 11:12
- CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 12:37
- The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid CleanserRated itWatch at 7:32
- Dermalogica Daily MicrofoliantRated itWatch at 2:45
- Milani Make It Last Matte Setting SprayRated itWatch at 31:17
- Dermalogica PreCleanseRated itWatch at 10:46
- Prequel 1% Salicylic Acid CleanserRated itWatch at 4:03
- Garnier Anti-Dark Spots and Anti-Pollution Super UV SPF50 FluidRated itWatch at 22:06
- Ntorium Niacinamide Cleansing Gel 3%Rated itWatch at 3:18
- Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer StickRated itWatch at 18:20
- SkinFix Resurface+ AHA BHA Enzyme Exfoliating PadsRated itWatch at 10:05
- Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen SPF 50Rated itWatch at 8:57
- CeraVe Renewing SA CleanserRated itWatch at 13:22
- Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk TonerRated itWatch at 33:42
- Makeup by Mario Surreal Skin Soft Blur Setting PowderRated itWatch at 15:23
- Tatcha Silk PowderRated itWatch at 9:19
- ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40Rated itWatch at 13:44
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Mixed Makeup said across her videos about 21 products for oily skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.