Daily skincare routine for oily, acne-prone skin in the heat

A simple routine for oily, acne-prone skin has four steps: wash your face in the morning, moisturise lightly, wash again at night, and moisturise again. Use a gentle gel face wash, keep your hands off your face in between, and give any new product a few weeks before you judge it. In Pakistan's heat, less is more. Too many products make oily skin feel heavier.

This guide shows exactly what to do, morning and night, with amounts and timings. It is written for hot days, sticky nights and dusty roads.

Why oily skin feels worse in our weather

Heat makes you sweat. Sweat mixes with oil and dust, and by midday your face feels shiny and heavy. Humidity in Lahore, Karachi and Multan does the same. Load-shedding makes it harder, because a hot room means more sweat on the skin all night.

Many people react by scrubbing hard or washing six times a day. That usually leaves skin tight, red and still oily. A calm routine you can keep up every day works better than a harsh one you give up after a week.

Your face needs only two jobs done well: cleanse and moisturise. Everything else is extra.

Your morning routine

1. Splash your face with water. Use cool or lukewarm water, not hot.
2. Wash with a gel face wash. Wet your face, put a small amount in your palm (about the size of a chickpea), add a little water and work it into a lather.
3. Massage gently for 10 to 20 seconds. Keep away from the eye area. Do not scrub.
4. Rinse well and pat dry. Use a clean towel. Rub nothing hard.
5. Moisturise lightly. Oily skin still needs moisture. Pick a light, oil-free lotion and use a small amount.

For the wash, Acne Ease Facewash is made for oily and acne-prone skin and is made with tea tree oil. It is a gel, so it feels light on hot mornings. The box says to use it twice a day.

If your skin feels too dry or starts to peel, use it once a day or every other day. That advice is printed on the box too.

Your night routine

Night is the most important wash, because it removes the dust, sweat and oil of the whole day. If you wear makeup, wipe it off first.

1. Wash your face again with the same gel face wash. Take your time, 10 to 20 seconds is enough.
2. Rinse until no foam is left, especially near the hairline and jaw, where it hides.
3. Pat dry with a clean towel or a clean cotton cloth.
4. Moisturise lightly, the same as in the morning.

Change your pillowcase often. Hot nights and oily hair leave residue on it, and it touches your cheeks for hours.

A light moisturiser, even on oily skin

Skipping moisturiser is a common mistake. When skin is stripped dry by washing, it can feel tight and then look shinier. A light lotion helps skin feel soft and balanced.

Hydro Med Moisturizing Lotion with SPF40 is a light, oil-free lotion. The box lists niacinamide, vitamin E, shea butter, ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and says to use it on the face, neck and hands. Start with a thin layer. Two small dots on each cheek, forehead and chin are enough. You can read more about niacinamide on its ingredient page.

Body breakouts: back and chest

Oily skin is not only on the face. Sweat sits under shirts and under a dupatta, and many people get breakouts on the back and chest.

Acne Ease Soap is an oil control bar made with tea tree oil, for the face, back and chest. The box directions say to massage it in for about 1 minute, rinse well, and repeat for very oily skin. Change out of sweaty clothes soon after you get home, and shower rather than wiping with a wet cloth.

Do and do not

Do:

• Wash twice a day, not more.
• Keep your hair off your face when it is oily.
• Wash your hands before you touch your face.
• Clean your phone screen, because it touches your cheek.
• Change towels often.

Do not:

• Pick or squeeze spots. It can leave marks that last longer than the spot.
• Scrub with rough cloths or harsh scrubs.
• Start three new products on the same day. If your skin reacts, you will not know which one caused it.
• Use hot water. It can leave skin tight and dry.

Winter changes everything

Many people with oily skin in summer find their face turns dry in winter, especially with hard water and heaters. If your skin feels tight after washing, drop to one wash a day in the morning (a splash of water is enough) and keep the night wash. Use a little more moisturiser. You do not have to change everything. Just listen to your skin.

If your skin is dull as well as oily and you want a creamier wash on some days, Giga White Creamy Facewash is made for all skin types and is used morning and evening. It is a different feel from a gel, so try it only if the gel leaves you too dry. For more on picking between the two, read how to choose a face wash for oily skin.

How long to wait

Skin changes slowly. Give a new routine four to six weeks of steady use before you decide. In the first days you may see small changes in how your face feels: less shine by evening, a cleaner feeling after washing. Do not expect more than that. Patience matters more than adding products.

Take a photo in the same light every two weeks. It is easier to see small changes than to remember them.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if your breakouts are painful, deep, spreading or leaving scars, if they do not settle after a couple of months of steady care, or if your skin burns, swells or itches badly after a product. Stop using the product that caused it. Face care from a shop is for everyday cleansing and care. It is not a substitute for medical advice.

You can browse the full range on our face care page, see the acne-prone skin page for a routine at a glance, or ask us on WhatsApp or the contact page if you are not sure where to start.

In short

Keep it simple: wash morning and night, moisturise lightly, keep your hands away, and stay patient for a month or more. A routine you can repeat in the heat, after a long day outside, is the one that works for you.