Welcome back to the Velvet Runway and this post with my Top French Pharmacy Tips for Oily Skin.
Updated August 2026 — this post has been refreshed with updated tips and my current French pharmacy recommendations.
Summer has a way of testing oily skin more than any other season. The heat encourages the skin to produce more sebum than usual, and between the warmth, the sweat, and a heavier hand with makeup, breakouts tend to follow close behind.
French pharmacy skincare has always taken a particularly measured approach to this — treating oily skin not as something to strip and punish, but as something to gently rebalance.
Here is what actually helps.
Top French Pharmacy Tips for Oily Skin
1. Cleanse with lukewarm water, never hot
It’s tempting to reach for hot water when skin feels oily, in the hope it will cut through the shine. It won’t — and it tends to leave skin more reactive rather than less.
Lukewarm water does the better job, loosening debris and excess oil from the pores without provoking the skin into producing even more sebum in response.
2. Keep the cleanse, tone, moisturise rhythm — just lighter
The three-step routine still holds through summer; only the textures change. A gentle gel or herbal cleanser suits oily skin better than a cream — Avène Cleanance gel cleanser is formulated specifically for this — while a toner such as Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner helps regulate oil and keep things balanced through the day.
Finish with a genuinely lightweight moisturiser that won’t add to the shine.
3. Resist the urge to over-cleanse
Washing more often feels like the obvious response to oily skin, but it tends to backfire. Stripping the skin too frequently signals the sebaceous glands to produce even more oil to compensate, which only deepens the problem it was meant to solve. Twice a day is enough.
4. Exfoliate to keep pores genuinely clear
This is the step oily skin benefits from most, since clogged pores are what tend to lead to breakouts in the first place. Once or twice a week is enough — more than that risks tipping into the same over-stripping problem as over-cleansing. Caudalie’s Vinopure Gentle Exfoliating Gel is a good, non-abrasive option that clears without provoking the skin.
For anything more targeted, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo (+) is a well-known spot treatment worth keeping to hand for individual breakouts rather than using across the whole face.
5. A weekly mask still has its place
A clay or purifying mask once a week helps draw out excess oil and keep pores clear without disrupting the skin’s balance the way daily over-cleansing does.
Caudalie’s Instant Detox Mask is a natural extension of the toner and exfoliant above, drawing the routine together as one coherent line rather than a scattering of unrelated products. It’s a small, considered pause rather than a daily habit — which is really the difference between skincare and overcorrection.
6. Use a Sunscreen formulated for oily skin
Oily skin is no better protected from UV damage than any other kind, and going without sunscreen in summer is never the answer, however shine-averse you might feel.
The fix isn’t skipping SPF — it’s choosing one formulated to be oil-free and mattifying, so protection doesn’t come at the cost of comfort. La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Oil Correct or Bioderma’s Photoderm Mat are both built with exactly this in mind.
7. Let makeup breathe
A lighter hand with makeup does oily skin more favours than a heavy one ever will. Where possible, opt for non-comedogenic formulas that won’t clog pores further, and keep blotting papers close by for a quick refresh through the day rather than reaching for more product.
If you are interested in finding out more about Clean make up you might also enjoy our Clean & Conscious Beauty Guide, where we explore clean skincare, makeup, and ingredient tips for a more thoughtful beauty routine, and in particular our guide to the 10 Best Clean Makeup Brands.
FAQs about Top French Pharmacy Tips for Oily Skin
A lukewarm-water cleanse with a gentle gel formula, an oil-regulating toner, and a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser. Add a weekly clay mask and a mattifying SPF to keep shine and breakouts in check through summer.
No. Over-cleansing strips the skin’s natural oils and signals the sebaceous glands to produce even more sebum in response, which tends to make oiliness worse rather than better.
Yes. Oily skin is just as vulnerable to sun damage as any other skin type. Choosing an oil-free, mattifying formula avoids added shine without skipping protection.
Yes, used weekly rather than daily. A clay or purifying mask helps draw out excess oil and keep pores clear without over-stripping the skin the way frequent washing can.
Explore the Best French Pharmacy Products for Oily Skin
A quick round-up of everything mentioned above, in one place:
- Cleanser: A-Derma Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel
- Toner: Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
- Exfoliant: Caudalie Vinopure Gentle Exfoliating Gel
- Spot treatment: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo(+)
- Mask: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
- SPF: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Oil Correct or Bioderma Photoderm Mat
Final Thoughts on Top French Pharmacy Tips for Oily Skin
Oily skin isn’t a flaw to fight — it responds best to balance, not restriction. Choose lightweight, well-formulated products, resist the urge to over-cleanse, and let the skin regulate itself with a little patience.
I hope you enjoyed this feature about my Top French Pharmacy Tips for Oily Skin, and have a look here for more of our beauty features. If you are more concerned about dry skin, have a look at these Top French Pharmacy Tips for Dry Skin
If you are interested in discovering more about French Pharmacy products and beauty routines you might also enjoy our French Pharmacy Guide, and if unhurried rituals like this one appeal to you, you’ll enjoy exploring more of the Art of French Living.
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This post originally featured a 2016 contribution from Ella James. Connect with her on Facebook
Some great tips! I have oily skin and these tips really helpfull!
Thanks so much for sharing!
XO Erica
http://www.ericavoyage.com
Thank you Erica! xx
Nice post, I have the opposite very dry skin but I can imagine the tips are useful with those who suffer with oily. Gemma x
http://www.jacquardflower.uk
Thank you Gemma! I think there are a lot of people who suffer with oily skin in the summer, but my skin is more inclined to be dry too, so I will be doing a post on this soon xx
These are such great tips! I used to have oily skin growing up, but now it definitely leans a lot more towards dry skin.
xo
Siffat
http://icingandglitter.com
Thank you Siffat. My skin is definitely more dry than oily now, so I will be doing a post for dry skin soon xx
Great tips. Thank you
Thank you for reading! Glad you found them helpful xx
Thanks for sharing these great tips!!
Xoxo,
Glad you found them useful! xx
Great post and tips for oily skin in the summer! xx
Thank you so much Erica xx
These tips are great! The three-step routine is golden! Xx
http://www.thefashionfolks.com
Thank you! Yes, the three step routine is essential for all skin types xx
These are great! Can u do a similar one for dry skin!
http://www.thestyletune.com
Thank you Chichi! Yes, I’m planning one for dry skin soon 🙂
Such a great post !
/Cecilie
Thank you Cecilie 🙂
Some great tips! I have oily skin and these tips really are handy, especially over-washing your face. I have a tendency to want to wash my face throughout the day however you’re very right it does make skin more oily.
Also, applying more powder on the nose for example will make it more oily, it’s best to keep makeup to a minimum and opt for great products which help to keep shine at bay as much as possible.
Thanks for sharing!
Laura xo
http://www.shehearts.net
Thank you so much for reading and for your tips xx
adoro follemente le maschere *_*
Yes, masks are always a good idea xx
These are great tips for oily skin. Though I have the opposite problem. My skin is so dry all year long.
~Lili
Hi Lili, Yes, I have more of a tendency to dry skin too – I think I will be doing a post on tips for dry skin soon xx
Amazing post! Thanks for sharing! Love it! Happy Wednesday!
much love, Len
http://www.lenparent.com
Thank you so much Len! Hope you have a lovely weekend xx
These are fantastic tips! Summer is definitely a time when oily skin acts up. Love the idea of using a wet tissue.
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you Kathrine! Happy weekend xx