Best Treatments for Oily Skin

Ranked by 63 mentions across Reddit · Updated October 2026

Top picks· 16

Reddit’s top pick

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice16 mentions

from $37

The why

Nose sebaceous filaments look smaller after users add it, making T-zone congestion its standout use.

“It even minimized the appearance of the sebaceous filaments on my nose.”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction

One minus

Overuse wrecks the barrier with dryness, redness, and peeling

Good forOily Skin, Combination Skin

Compare the top 5

	1 Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant	2 Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%	3 The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%	4 The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution	5 COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
	Top pick			Budget pick Compare with #1 →	Compare with #1 →
Reddit mentions	16	12	6	6	4
Price	from $37	—	from $12	from $6	from $18
Better for	Texture/Pores	Acne	Redness/Irritation	—	—
Key ingredients	Salicylic Acid	Adapalene, Parabens	Azelaic Acid	Salicylic Acid	Betaine Salicylate, Niacinamide

Community take

For oily skin, Redditors most often recommend leave-on BHA treatments, especially Paula’s Choice 2% BHA. They report clearer congested pores, fewer breakouts, and some improvement in oiliness, though one user found it ineffective for closed comedones.

What works

Users report clearer clogged pores and less congestion.
Some say it helped whiteheads, inflamed acne, and oiliness.

The full ranking

Sulfur Ointment
De La Cruz4 mentions
Summer nose-packing uses sulfur when the nose gets especially oily.
“Sometimes, my nose does get very oily during summers especially, so I go in with the De La Cruz sulfur ointment as a nose-pack.”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
Daily Care Acne Pads With Salicylic Acid, Maximum Strength
Stridex4 mentions
Once-weekly pad use suits someone managing a particularly oily nose and chin-or-forehead acne.
“my nose is particularly oily and I am somewhat acne prone on my chin and forehead (which I manage with some spot treatment cream as needed and a Stridex salicylic acid pad once a week).”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction
from $8
Cicaplast Gel B5 Skin Protectant
La Roche-Posay2 mentions
Greasy, reactive users say this gel is the only one they can handle.
“I have an extremely greasy and reactive skin and I can’t manage anything else without breaking down.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
from $17
BHA Green Tea & Bamboo Face Scrub
St. Ives2 mentions
Summer shower scrubbing suits oilier days; one user says it beats every chemical exfoliant they've tried.
“I use the St Ives green tea scrub almost every night in the shower.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
from $4
Azelaic Advanced
Regimen Lab1 mention
Absorbs easily without leaving a tacky film that gets in the way of the rest of your skincare.
“it is literally the only that actuslly absorbs easily and doesn't leave a tacky filmy preventing the rest of my skincare.”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
Daily Microfoliant
Dermalogica1 mention
T-zone and chin flare-ups are where salicylic acid helps control oil.
“the salicylic acid helps control my oily t zone and chin acne flare ups.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
from $69
Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel
Dr. Dennis Gross1 mention
Blended acids spare you the guesswork; one fan uses the extra-strength peel about twice weekly.
“I like that they are a blend of acids so you don't have to play chemist and guess when to apply what acid and what ingredients it's going to interact with.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
from $79
Cheer Up
Geek & Gorgeous1 mention
As-needed texture use makes it one commenter’s holy grail.
“which is my holy grail for texture and use it as and when I need”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
from $30
Effaclar Duo+M
La Roche-Posay1 mention
Layered on top for oil control, it remains in one user's routine for years.
“some LRP Duo+ over the top for oil control”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction
from $18
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The Ordinary1 mention
Breakout-prone faces reach for a weekly reset when they lean oily.
“I have skin that leans oily and breaks out easily so its a great reset.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
from $9