The best skincare for oily skin in Kenya, step by step

If your face shines by eleven in the morning, you are not alone. Warm Nairobi afternoons, the humidity at the coast and long hours in traffic all make oily skin feel worse. The answer is not to scrub your skin dry. It is a routine of light layers that keeps oil in balance and pores clear. Here is what we recommend, step by step.

Why oily skin still needs moisture

Harsh bar soaps and alcohol-heavy toners leave oily skin squeaky clean, then tight, then shiny again by lunch. Skin can be oily on the surface and still low on water. You see it as flaky patches around the nose with shine on the forehead. Light, water-based hydration keeps skin comfortable without adding grease.

What to look for

• Gel or foam cleansers that clean without that tight, squeaky feeling.
• A cleansing oil at night if you wear sunscreen or makeup. Oil dissolves oil, then rinses away.
• Watery toners with calming plants such as heartleaf, instead of stinging astringents.
• Gel or light lotion moisturisers that sink in fast.
• Serum or fluid sunscreens that do not sit on the skin.
• Niacinamide is a popular serum ingredient for oil and the look of pores. We compare the options in our guide to the best niacinamide serums in Kenya.

Our picks

Night cleanse: Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

It sounds strange to put oil on oily skin, but a cleansing oil melts sunscreen, makeup and the day’s oil, then rinses off with water. Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil is made for oily skin and large pores, with heartleaf to calm. Massage it onto dry skin for a minute, add a splash of water so it turns milky, then rinse.

Daily wash: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is a gel wash with ceramides and niacinamide. It clears oil without leaving skin stripped, and suits oily and combination skin. Use it morning and night, or after the cleansing oil at night.

Toner: Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner

Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner is watery and never sticky. It is made to calm redness and balance oil. On very hot days, when even a light cream feels like too much, some people use this with sunscreen alone in the morning.

Moisturiser: Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser is light, sinks in quickly and is easy on the budget. If you prefer a Korean gel-cream, Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is another light option that also calms breakouts.

Sunscreen: SKIN1004 Water-Fit Sun Serum

SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ is a watery serum with centella and hyaluronic acid. It is the easiest sunscreen for oily skin to wear in the heat. Beauty of Joseon Aqua-Fresh is a good second choice.

These range from roughly KSh 1,050 for the Simple moisturiser to about KSh 2,800 for the Anua toner.

A routine for oily skin

Morning

1. Wash with CeraVe Foaming Cleanser.
2. Pat in the heartleaf toner.
3. A thin layer of light moisturiser.
4. Sun serum, two finger lengths for face and neck.

Night

1. Cleansing oil, then CeraVe Foaming Cleanser.
2. Toner.
3. A serum if you use one, such as niacinamide.
4. Moisturiser.

Shine control habits for Kenyan weather

• Blot, do not wash, at midday. Press a clean tissue on shiny areas. Washing more than twice a day can leave skin irritated.
• Exfoliate gently, once or twice a week at most. Daily scrubbing leaves skin raw and often oilier.
• Keep your hands off your face on the matatu and at your desk.
• Change one product at a time so you can tell what helps.

Questions we get asked

What is the best skincare routine for oily skin?

Keep it light and simple: a gel or foam cleanser, a watery toner, a light moisturiser and a fluid sunscreen in the morning. At night, add a cleansing oil first if you wore sunscreen or makeup.

Which moisturiser is best for oily skin in Kenya?

Choose a light gel or lotion. Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser is an affordable pick, and Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is a light gel-cream that also suits breakout-prone skin.

Is CeraVe good for oily skin?

Yes, the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is made for normal to oily skin. It has ceramides and niacinamide and cleans without that tight, stripped feeling.

Can I use a cleansing oil on oily skin?

Yes. A cleansing oil dissolves sunscreen and the day’s oil, then rinses off with water. Follow it with a gel or foam wash so nothing is left behind.

What is the best sunscreen for oily skin in Kenya?

SKIN1004 Water-Fit Sun Serum is the lightest we stock. Beauty of Joseon Aqua-Fresh is another good option that does not feel heavy in the heat.

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See everything we recommend on our oily skin page. Compare washes in our best face cleansers in Kenya guide, sunscreens in the best sunscreen in Kenya guide, and creams in the best face moisturiser guide. Delivery across Kenya, free from KSh 3,000, with same-day delivery in Nairobi before 5pm.