Last updated: November 2026. A new guide built around my own winter routine for oily, acne-prone skin.
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How this guide was made: the routine and products are what I actually use on my own skin. Everything else is checked against the American Academy of Dermatology and the other sources listed at the end.
Please note: this is general education, not medical advice. Tretinoin is a prescription; follow your doctor's directions.
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My skin is oily all year. You’d think oily skin in winter would get a break from the shine. It doesn’t. Once the heat comes on, my face gets dry and flaky in some spots while it’s still oily in others. It’s a very weird feeling.
My mom has the opposite problem. Her skin is dry everywhere, and her routine is in my dry skin in winter guide. This one is mine.
Below, you’ll see why oily skin acts up in the cold and what I changed from my summer routine. You’ll also get my exact morning and night products, and when to see a dermatologist. For routines for every skin type, see my winter skincare routine guide.
- Keep your moisturizer. Oily skin still needs one, and winter is not the time to skip it.
- Cleanse a little less, and only with a gentle foaming wash. For many people, once a day at night is enough. Harsh cleansers can leave skin tight and irritated.
- Add a light hydrating layer, like a hyaluronic acid serum, under your cream.
- Put a thin balm only on the flaky spots, not your whole face.
- Go easy on actives. If you use a retinoid, give your skin extra moisture and real rest nights in between.
- Keep sunscreen every morning, even on gray days.
- Get medical advice soon for painful, swollen breakouts, crusting or pus, or a rash that’s quickly getting worse. See a dermatologist for red, scaly patches that keep coming back.
Why Is My Skin Oily In Winter?
Your oil glands don’t switch off for the season. What changes is the air around them. Cold air outside and indoor heating inside are both dry, so your skin loses water faster.
That’s how you end up with an oily face in winter that also feels tight. The oil is still there. The water isn’t.
A few habits make it worse:
- Hot showers and very hot water on your face.
- Strong or scrubby cleansers, and washing more than you need.
- Too many exfoliating acids or retinoids at once.
- Skipping moisturizer because your skin “already has enough oil.”
- Scarves, hats, and heavy creams that trap oil and sweat against the skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that harsh washes can irritate skin and may increase oil production. So scrubbing harder isn’t the fix.
Oily, Dehydrated, or Both?
Oily skin is about oil. Dehydrated skin is about water. You can have both at once, and that’s very common with oily skin in the winter season.
Signs you’re both: shine on your forehead and nose by midday, but tightness after washing, flakes around your nose or chin, or foundation that clings to dry patches. That last one happens to me on the days I wear foundation.
The fix isn’t less moisture. It’s the right kind. For the full difference, see my guide to hydrating vs. moisturizing.
Not every winter flake means the same thing, though:
| What You Notice | What It Could Mean | What To Try |
|---|---|---|
| Shiny forehead and nose, tight cheeks | Oily skin that's low on water | Gentle cleansing, a hydrating layer and your usual moisturizer. |
| Flakes after strong products or new actives | Irritation | Cut back on acids, retinoids and scrubs for a while. |
| Greasy, scaly flakes near the brows, nose or hairline that keep coming back | Possibly seborrheic dermatitis | See a dermatologist. |
| Redness that flushes easily, sometimes with stinging | Possibly rosacea | See a dermatologist. |
My Winter Routine For Oily Skin
My routine doesn’t get longer in winter. It gets shorter and softer: less cleansing, fewer actives, and a balm only where I need it.
Morning
No face wash in the morning in winter. A calming Mediheal Teatree Trouble Pad is enough to refresh my skin. A vitamin C serum is optional. Then my everyday moisturizer, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer. Then sunscreen: my Abib Airy Sunstick most days, or Vacation Super Stick SPF 45, which I also like.
In summer I wash twice a day and double cleanse with an oil cleanser. In winter, once a day is enough, at night. After more than 5 years of oily-skin winters, my biggest lesson is simple: less is more. So this winter, my routine is short.
Night
At night, I wash with Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser. Then a toner or The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, and my moisturizer. Toner plus moisturizer is the combo that helps my tight spots most.
Tretinoin goes on every other night, before my moisturizer. I use my numbuzin No.9 eye cream only when my eyes are fine with it. Rest nights are real rest nights: no retinoids at all, and Cicaplast Balm B5+ on any flaky spots.
Once a week, on a rest day, I use my clay mask with water.
My Routine At A Glance
| When | Step | What I Use | Winter Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Refresh | Mediheal Teatree Trouble Pad | A calming pad replaces a morning wash. |
| Morning | Vitamin C | A vitamin C serum | Optional. |
| Morning | Moisturize | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair | Same cream all year. |
| Morning | Sunscreen | Abib Airy Sunstick or Vacation Super Stick SPF 45 | Every morning, even on gray days. |
| Night | Cleanse | Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser | My one wash of the day. |
| Night | Toner or hydrating layer | A toner, or The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 | Toner plus moisturizer helps my tightness most. |
| Tretinoin nights | Retinoid | Tretinoin (prescription) | Every other night, before moisturizer. |
| Night | Moisturize | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair | Every night. |
| Tretinoin nights | Eye cream | numbuzin No.9 eye cream | Only if my eyes are fine with it. |
| Rest nights | Balm | La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+ | No retinoids at all. Balm on any flaky spots. |
| Once a week | Mask | Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay with water | On a rest day. |
What Makes My Skin Worse
Honestly, all of the usual suspects. Dry heat, hot showers, scarves and hats rubbing my face, too much exfoliating, and creams that are too heavy for my skin. My skin also acts up whenever I overdo it, with too many products or too much of one. This winter I’m using fewer products, and it’s working.
At home I keep the heater off when I can and open the windows for fresh air. A humidifier helps. I also use fragrance-free detergent all year.
Anna's Note: My skin is acne-prone, so I don't fix winter flakes with a heavy face oil or a thick cream everywhere. I keep my everyday cream and add a balm only where I need it. It sounds small, but for me it's the difference between soft skin and new breakouts.
Skincare For Oily Skin In Winter, Step By Step
1. Wash Gently, And A Little Less
The AAD suggests washing oily skin up to twice a day and after sweating, with a gentle foaming cleanser and no scrubbing. In winter, I wash once a day, at night, and use a calming pad in the morning. Skip oil- or alcohol-based cleansers; they can irritate.
2. Keep Your Moisturizer
Oily skin still needs moisture after you wash. Look for oil-free or noncomedogenic on the label. A gel-cream is another light option. If your skin is acne-prone, my moisturizer guide for acne-prone skin can help you pick.
3. Add A Light Hydrating Layer
A hyaluronic acid or glycerin serum under your cream adds water without adding oil. An alcohol-free hydrating toner works too. In very dry air, always put a moisturizer on top so it doesn’t feel tight.
4. Spot-Treat Flakes
Put a thin layer of balm only where your skin is flaking. You don’t need it on your oily T-zone. Keep it away from your eyes.
5. Go Easy On Actives
Retinoids and exfoliating acids can make winter dryness worse. If your skin peels or stings, cut back on how often you use them and moisturize well. If you exfoliate, start low and adjust to how your skin feels. In winter, I skip acid pads and scrubs and use a calming pad instead. Tretinoin is my main active, and I give it rest nights. If your retinoid is a prescription, ask your doctor before changing how you use it.
6. Use Clay Masks Less Often
I still use my Aztec clay mask in winter, about once a week, on a rest day rather than a tretinoin day. I mix it with water, not vinegar, because my skin is still acne-prone.
7. Keep Wearing Sunscreen
UV gets through clouds, and snow reflects it. Put a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on your face every morning. A stick is easy to carry. The AAD suggests four passes back and forth over each area, then rubbing it in.
Reapply every two hours when you’re outdoors, or right after sweating. Find more options in my Sunscreen Match Guide.
8. Mind Scarves, Hats And Makeup
Wool and fleece rub and trap sweat. Wash scarves and hat bands often. Use oil-free makeup and take it off before bed. To soak up shine without stripping your skin, press a blotting paper on for a few seconds instead of rubbing.
9. Don't Forget Your Lips
Oily skin doesn’t mean oily lips. Wind gets to my lips more than anything else in winter. I use EOS lip balm during the day and plain petroleum jelly at night. On sunny or snowy days, a lip balm with SPF 30 helps too.
Winter Swaps For Oily Skin
| Instead Of This | Try This |
|---|---|
| Skipping moisturizer | A light, noncomedogenic cream after every wash. |
| Scrubbing or washing more | A gentle foaming cleanser, up to twice a day. |
| Hot water on your face | Lukewarm water, then pat dry. |
| A heavy face oil everywhere | A hydrating serum under your cream, balm only on flakes. |
| Retinoid and acids every night | Fewer nights, with real rest nights in between. |
| Clay mask with vinegar | Clay with water, once a week, on a rest day. |
| No sunscreen on gray days | SPF 30 or higher every morning. |
| The same scarf all week | Wash scarves and hat bands often. |
Winter Breakouts On Oily Skin
Some people break out more in winter. A few common reasons:
- Switching to a rich, oily cream on your whole face.
- Flakes and dead skin that may add to clogged pores.
- Skipping your night cleanse when you’re tired.
- Thick or waxy hair and makeup products near your hairline.
- Hats and scarves that trap oil and sweat.
- Irritated skin and picking at flakes.
Stick to noncomedogenic products, and don’t add a new heavy cream to your whole face at once. Try a new product for a couple of weeks before you judge it. My full skincare routine for acne has AM and PM steps.
When To See A Doctor About Oily Skin In Winter
Most winter shine and flakes calm down with gentle care. See a doctor or dermatologist if:
- Right away if a breakout or patch is painful, swollen, warm, crusting, or oozing pus, or a rash is getting worse quickly. These can be signs of infection.
- Red, scaly or greasy-looking flakes keep coming back around your nose, eyebrows, hairline or scalp. That can be seborrheic dermatitis, which the AAD says often flares when the weather turns cold and dry.
- Your face stays red, burns or flushes easily, especially with cold, wind or heat. That can be rosacea.
- Acne leaves dark marks or scars, or doesn’t improve after a couple of months of a steady routine.
- Your retinoid makes your skin peel, sting, or crack, and cutting back doesn’t help.
The Products In My Winter Routine
My own cleanser
My cleanser
Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser
Best fit: Oily skin that wants a light daily foam.
Size: 4.23 fl oz
Why compare: A daily foaming cleanser made for pores and excess oil.
My experience: My night cleanser. In winter I wash once a day, at night, and use a calming pad in the morning.
Watch: Even a gentle foam can feel like too much on flaky days. Use lukewarm water and moisturize right after.
Check price on Amazon
My own jar
My calming pad
Mediheal Teatree Trouble Pad
Best fit: Oily, breakout-prone skin that wants a quick refresh without a full wash.
Size: 100 pads
Why compare: Calming toner pads with tea tree and lactobacillus, sold for sensitive, acne-prone skin.
My experience: My winter morning pad. It calms my skin and replaces my morning wash, so I don't overdo the cleansing.
Watch: Tea tree can bother some sensitive skin. Patch test first, and skip it on raw or peeling spots.
Check price on Amazon
My bottle, photo enhanced with AI
My hydrating layer
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (With Ceramides)
Best fit: An affordable hydration step for oily or combination skin.
Size: 1 fl oz
Why compare: Hyaluronic acid and panthenol (vitamin B5) for water, without adding oil.
My experience: I've used it for about 2 years, when my skin needs extra moisture. It gives me moisture without extra oil.
Watch: In dry air, always put a moisturizer on top.
Check price on Amazon
My own tube
My everyday moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Best fit: Oily, combination or sensitive skin that wants a light, fragrance-free daily cream.
Size: 3.38 fl oz tube
Why compare: Ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin, and it's oil-free.
My experience: My main moisturizer, every day, all year. In winter I keep it and add a balm when my skin needs more.
Watch: On very dry winter skin, it may not be rich enough alone.
Check price on Amazon My own tube
My balm for flaky spots
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+
Best fit: A last step on dry, flaky spots, especially on rest nights.
Why compare: A thick, fragrance-free balm with panthenol (vitamin B5).
My experience: My favorite for cold months. My skin feels great with it and doesn't break out.
Watch: It's thick. On oily skin, use a thin layer only where you need it, and keep it away from the eyes.
Check price on Amazon
Product image
My daily sunscreen
Abib Airy Sunstick SPF 50+
Best fit: Daily SPF for oily skin, easy to carry.
My experience: My daily sunscreen on oily skin. It's a stick but not oily. It adds a little shine, but not much.
Watch: A stick needs careful application. The AAD suggests four passes back and forth over each area, then rubbing it in.
Check price on Amazon
Product image
My other sunscreen
Vacation Super Stick SPF 45
Best fit: A clear, portable stick for reapplying over the day.
Size: 0.7 oz
My experience: I've bought this clear stick about five times. It leaves a slightly oily finish on my skin, so I cleanse well at night.
Watch: On very oily skin, the finish may feel shiny. Blot gently instead of rubbing.
Check price on Amazon
Product image
My weekly mask
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
Best fit: Oily, shine-prone skin that isn't irritated.
Size: 16 oz tub
My experience: My favorite store-bought mask. In winter I use it about once a week, on a rest day, mixed with water instead of vinegar.
Watch: It's strong. It can feel tight and pulling, and leave brief redness. Rinse it off if it burns or stings. Skip it on irritated, broken or sunburned skin, and on peeling retinoid days.
Check price on AmazonWant more options for every skin type? See my best winter skincare products.
For lips, hands and hair, see my winter beauty problems and fixes. Thinking about a splurge? My winter luxury guide covers the Medicube device and the other products I’ve tested.
Oily Skin In Winter: FAQs
Final Thoughts
Oily skin in winter is confusing. You can be shiny and flaky on the same face, on the same day.
What helps is not fighting the oil harder. Wash gently, keep your moisturizer, add water with a light serum, and put balm only where you need it. Go easier on actives, and keep your sunscreen.
My winter routine is shorter, not longer. For my skin, less really is more.
Stay balanced and go easy on the cleanser,
Anna
P.S. from Sushi: Meow. That's not a yawn, that's my review. Mommy wrote a whole article about being shiny and flaky at once. I'm shiny on purpose, and I leave my flakes on the couch for free. Also, this tablet is warm, so it's mine now. Write the next post by hand.
Safety Notes
Safety Notes
- This article is for general education. It isn't a diagnosis or treatment plan.
- Tretinoin is a prescription. Use it only as your doctor directs, and talk to your doctor first if you're pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Patch test new products. Stop anything that burns, stings for long, or causes hives or a spreading rash.
- Don't stack several exfoliating acids and retinoids on the same night.
- Keep clay masks off irritated, peeling, broken or sunburned skin.
- Keep Cicaplast Balm B5+ away from the eye area, as the label says.
- See a doctor for breakouts or patches that are painful, swollen, warm, crusting or oozing.
