A 2024 Guide to the Best Serums for Oily Skin

If you have oily skin and don't already use a serum, then your skin is missing out on great benefits. Many actives in serums are perfect for curtailing the symptoms of oily skin.

An oily skin type is a blessing in disguise. Oily skin is resilient, well protected from signs of ageing, and rarely suffers from sensitivity.

Despite all the benefits of an oily skin type, the excess of natural sebum can make you want to fight against it. This is a tactic to avoid.

Instead, you should find a middle ground, and serums can help you do just that.

The Best Serums for an Oily Skin Type.

Serums are a great source of concentrated actives. You'll find that many serums contain a higher portion of actives than moisturisers do.

This is a conscious formulation based on the fact that serums can deliver ingredients to the deep layers of skin, where actives engage biologically.

We recommend two water-based actives above all others for an oily skin type:

• Vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide

• Vitamin C

For more oily skin skincare tips, check out this oily skin routine with Hannah Furst...

Vitamin B3 Serums for Oily Skin Types.

Many B vitamins are found in skincare, but B3 currently retains the benefits crown. This well-studied, water-soluble antioxidant, when applied in concentrations of 2% to 5%, has been proven to:

• Reduce sebum production

• Reduce the incidence of acne

• Brighten skin tone, i.e. treat areas of hyperpigmentation left by spots

These are great benefits for an oily, acne-prone skin type. Benefits you'll experience in as little as a month of regular use.

Find active concentrations of niacinamide in these Adore-Beauty-approved serums:

To discover more about the wonders of niacinamide and it's uses keep on check out this video...

Vitamin C Serums for Oily Skin Types

The skin benefits of vitamin C were first discovered in a none-too-glamorous setting: on board ships that were at sea for several months.

The lack of fresh fruits and vegetables led to a deficiency of vitamin C that saw sailors' gums and skin physically breaking down.

Since then, much research has been conducted on vitamin C, and we know it to:

• Be vital in skin's healing and repair functions

• Reduce existing hyperpigmentation and prevent its future development

• Reduce the inflammation cause by acne

• Increases skin's natural exfoliation rate

We recommend a vitamin C serum for oily skin that's prone to breakouts. Add one of our favourite vitamin C serums for oily skin to your skincare routine:

Why Oily Skin Types Benefit From Serums.

The qualities that differentiate serums from moisturisers make serums perfect for oily and combination skin.

• Serums are lightweight and easily absorbed.

• Serums can penetrate more deeply than many moisturisers can.

• A serum's formula is, by its nature, focused on hydration.

These benefits are an exact match to the needs of oily skin. In fact, for your summer skincare routine, we recommend using only a serum in the morning and shifting your moisturiser to night-time.

These and more can all be found in our serums and treatments store, which includes a carefully selected array of the best serums on the market.