A good cleanser is an essential staple in even the most basic of skincare routines, but how do you know which one is right for your skin type and condition? When it comes to oily skin and large pores, there are a huge variety of cleansers that claim to help, but which is the best cleanser for oily skin and large pores?
Here is a quick overview of what causes oily skin and large pores, which ingredients to look for, as well as the best cleanser for oily skin and large pores according to your skin type.
Best Cleanser For Oily Skin and Large Pores According To Your Skin Type.
Our top picks for the best cleansers for oily skin and enlarged pores are as follows:
- Oily Skin – SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
- Oily and acne-prone skin – PCA SKIN BPO 5% Cleanser
- Dehydrated, oily, and acne-prone skin – CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
- Oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin – Avene Eau Thermale Cleanance Gel Cleanser
To see why these are considered the best cleansers for oily skin and enlarged pores, practical tips for people with oily skin and large pores, or for more cleanser recommendations – carry on reading…
What Causes Oily Skin and Large Pores?
Oily skin is one of the five basic skin types and is largely determined by your genetics. It tends to be prone to blemishes and breakouts with enlarged and very visible pores and an overall shiny appearance.
The good news for oily skin types is that skin tends to get drier as we age, but in the meantime, you will need an effective cleanser to help keep your facial oil under control, combat shine, and prevent blemishes.
While enlarged pores are one of the main characteristics of the oily skin type, there are other factors that contribute to their enlarged appearance. Some of which you have little control over, such as your age, genetics, gender, age, and hormones, while others, such as UV damage and comedogenic cosmetics, are largely preventable.
How Can You Treat Oily Skin and Large Pores?
In order to treat oily skin, we need to look for ingredients that can help reduce oil production. For example, niacinamide, salicylic acid, and green tea. Reducing the amount of oil the skin produces will also help make pores appear smaller.
In addition, we need to ensure that our oily skin does not become dehydrated. This is because when oily skin lacks water it tends to compensate by overproducing oil. Plus, when the skin is dehydrated it appears less plump which highlights every fine line and blemish and makes pores appear larger than they really are.
Large pores are also caused by a loss of collagen and elastin in the skin, which reduces the ‘plumpness’ of the skin and causes pores to ‘sag’ and appear larger. While some amount of collagen and elastin breakdown is to be expected with the natural aging process, the majority is due to premature aging from free radical damage (such as from UV exposure and environmental pollutants).
Antioxidants are molecules that protect the skin against free radical damage and can help prevent the premature breakdown of collagen and elastin. In some cases, they can also boost natural collagen and elastin production along with other anti-aging ingredients. This can help improve the appearance of large pores.
What Are The Best Cleansers For Oily Skin And Large Pores?
La Roche Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser
La Roche Posay’s Medicated Gel Cleanser is oil-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and has been dermatologist-tested on sensitive skin. It contains 2% salicylic acid to penetrate the pores for a deep-clean and exfoliation plus lipo hydroxy acid, a patented derivative of salicylic acid, to target surface oil and provide precise cell-by-cell exfoliation.
This cleanser for oily skin and large pores comes with a clarifying toner and acne treatment which provide additional skin benefits and can reduce up to 60% of acne in as little as ten days!
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser not only combines AHA and BHA chemical exfoliants but also includes a physical exfoliant in the form of gentle jojoba beads for super-soft and radiant skin!
AHA helps break the bonds between dead skin cells in order for them to be gently scrubbed away by the soft jojoba beads, while BHA penetrates deep into the pores to clean away dirt and debris and reduce oil production. Overall this is an excellent contender for the best cleanser for oily skin and large pores!
PCA SKIN Facial Wash Oily/Problem
The PCA Skin Facial Wash for oily/problem skin provides gentle exfoliation while effectively cleansing the skin. It contains lactic acid which is an AHA that both exfoliates and hydrates skin to help minimize breakouts and reduce the size of pores.
Additional beneficial ingredients include aloe vera leaf juice, which helps hydrate, soften, and soothe skin, and gluconolactone, which moisturises and calms skin while providing antioxidant benefits. Pair with the PCA Skin Intensive Clarity Treatment to enhance the cleansers pore-reducing effects!
Clinique Liquid Facial Soap For Combination-Oily To Oily Skin
Clinique’s liquid facial soap is a simple yet effective cleanser for oily skin and large pores. It’s gentle lather removes dirt oil and make-up without leaving skin feeling tight and dry – a must have for those with oily skin!
Avene Eau Thermale Cleanance Gel Cleanser
Another simple yet effective gel cleanser with a mild foaming action helps to remove dirt and oil from skin without being too harsh or drying. Perfect for those using prescription acne medications to compliment treatment without over-drying skin. It contains monolaurin, a patented ingredient that regulates oil production, as well as zinc for added anti-inflammatory benefits. This cleanser is soap-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and perfect for sensitive, oily skin and large pores.
PCA SKIN BPO 5% Cleanser
The PCA SKIN BPO 5% Cleanser contains a number of beneficial ingredients for oily skin and large pores, including aloe, cucumber, and chamomile which can help reduce inflammation, as well as calm and hydrate skin. Benzoyl peroxide helps to prevent breakouts by penetrating pores and fighting the bacteria that cause acne, while phytic acid helps to exfoliate and reveal brighter and more radiant skin.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Suitable for all skin types, Dermalogica’s daily microfoliant is a rice-based powder that transforms into an exfoliating paste when it comes into contact with water. It contains salicylic acid which penetrates deep into pores to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells and debris while the rice enzymes help polish the surface of the skin. Other awesome ingredients include colloidal oatmeal and allantoin to help calm skin and prevent irritation and white tea and licorice to balance an uneven skin tone.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser is gentle on skin while effectively removing excess dirt, oil, and make-up. It’s fragrance-free, non-drying, non-comedogenic, and non-irritating with hydrating ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid. In addition, it contains niacinamide which has a triple-whammy effect on oily skin and large pores as it reduces oil production, boosts collagen production, and hydrates skin! Plus it’s a potent antioxidant which means it can help prevent free-radical damage!
Altogether, this means that the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser can help treat large pores and remove excess oils without stripping your skin of its protective oils. It would be ideally suited to those with oily, acne-prone skin that is prone to dehydration.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
CeraVe’s Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains all the beneficial ingredients that their foaming facial cleanser does with the addition of benzoyl peroxide for active acne outbreaks. Benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial which means that it can help prevent the growth of the p.acnes bacteria which is particularly useful for those with inflammatory acne. Ideally suited to those with sensitive skin that are experiencing active acne.
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
COSRX’s low pH cleanser has a pH level of 5.3 which is similar to the skin’s natural surface pH and can help prevent irritation. This is particularly useful for acne-prone skin as acne is associated with a higher skin surface pH. The key ingredient in this cleanser is salicylic acid which is an oil-souble beta-hydroxy acid that can effectively penetrate pores to exfoliate dirt and debris as well as reduce oil production. It is a very desirable ingredient to look for in your search for the best cleanser for oily skin and large pores!
L’Oreal Pure Clay Facial Cleanser With Red Algae
L’Oreal’s Pure Clay Cleanser is made with not one, but three pure clays that draw dirt, oil, and impurities out of pores resulting in less visible imperfections after use. The addition of red algae helps further refine the appearance of skin due to its antioxidant effects as well as acting as an effective exfoliant. Perfect for those of us on a budget!
Practical Tips To Combat Oily Skin and Large Pores
Use A Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen Every day (365 Days A Year!)
The best thing you can do for your skin, no matter your skin type or condition, is to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, all year round. This is because sunscreen protects the skin against the UV radiation that is responsible for premature skin aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and some skin cancers.
Research also suggests that UV radiation can increase the activity of oil glands, increase oil production, and increase the size of pores!
Moisturize!
Contrary to popular belief, even those with oily skin and large pores need to moisturize every day. As mentioned earlier, when oily skin lacks water and becomes dehydrated it compensates by overproducing oil. This means that regularly moisturizing can help control oil.
In addition, hydrated skin can help make pores appear smaller by keeping skin nice and plump. For these reasons, it is essential to find yourself a holy grail moisturizer to go with your best cleanser for oily skin and large pores! Some sunscreens can double-up as moisturizers, or you can use a traditional moisturizer, or even just a hydrating serum – as long as you are keeping your skin adequately hydrated.
Always Remove Make-up & Opt For Non-Comedogenic, Oil-Free Products!
When pores become clogged, they automatically appear larger! Non-comedogenic products are those made with ingredients that do not clog pores. However, even non-comedogenic make-up can clog pores if left on overnight. For this reason, you should thoroughly cleanse your face and ensure all make-up is removed before you go to bed each evening.
Stick To Gentle Cleansers!
Some cleansers can be excessively drying for certain skin types which can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to dehydrated skin. As mentioned above, this can lead to an overproduction of oil and create a vicious cycle that leaves you with oiler skin than when you started – not ideal!
Avoid High Glycaemic Index Foods!
High GI foods are those that raise blood sugar levels quickly, for example, white bread, pasta, cakes, etc. This increases the levels of insulin within the blood and stimulates androgen hormones which, in turn, increases the production of oil in the skin.
Summary – Best Cleanser For Oily Skin and Large Pores
Cleansing skin is an essential part of any skincare routine, particularly at night after dirt, oil, and pollutants have built-up on the skin throughout the day. This is especially true for those with oily skin and large pores.
Our top picks for the best cleansers for oily skin and enlarged pores have been:
- Oily Skin – SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
- Oily and acne-prone skin – PCA SKIN BPO 5% Cleanser
- Dehydrated, oily, and acne-prone skin – CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
- Oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin – Avene Eau Thermale Cleanance Gel Cleanser.
However, there are thousands upon thousands of potential cleansers to choose from. We recommend looking for exfoliating ingredients, such as AHAs and BHAs, and oil-reducing ingredients, such as niacinamide and green tea. In addition, hydrating ingredients, such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants.
Remember that even the best cleanser for oily skin and large pores can’t undo the damage done by improper sun protection! Plus, even oily, acne-prone skin requires the use of a good moisturizer every day!
2 Comments
nike karadina
Very helpfull tips. Thanks a lot.
Georgia
I have oily skin and large pores. After reading I bought CeraVe foaming facial cleanser today in Walgreens. Starting tonight. Hoping it works well. Thanks for making recommendations.