The Best Skincare Products for Oily Skin Types at High Altitude
Having oily skin and living at a high altitude is its own, special kind of hell. When I lived in the southeast, I could buy an “acne-fighting” skincare system and be on my merry way. In the mountains? Not so much. At 5,280 feet, on top of my oily skin, I have to contend with dry air, hard water, and harsh sun (even in the winter). Too much moisture and I break out. Too little and my skin is dry, red, and… broken out. After much trial-and-error (and a one-sided shouting match with a 22-year-old TikTok skincare influencer), I’ve gathered enough experience to know some of the the best skincare products for oily skin at high altitudes.
Please note: I do not have terrible hormonal, fungal, or cystic acne (anymore!). I am not a dermatologist nor health professional of any kind, just a gal who’s battled acne since the tender age of 8 (yes, really). My skin veers towards sensitive/oily, and I’ve found these products give a clean feeling without making my skin feel stripped. Also, as a woman in that really fun phase where you have acne AND wrinkles, these products help with both.
FYI - this post contains affiliate links. I only rec products I genuinely use, but for more information, you can view my terms and conditions.
Products I Avoid on My Oily Skin at High Altitude
While I’ve gotten savvier at choosing specific products within type, I’ve realized there are entire categories of skincare products I simply must avoid. These include:
Toner/Astringent - Simply too harsh on my winterbaby skin. They strip my skin’s natural barrier, and no amount of serums or mosturizers seem to bring it back to normal, leaving it feeling gritty.
“Rich” Moisturizers - If a product is labelled “rich” or some such - run. Much like too much hair oil can make it even more brittle, very heavy moisturizers can actually make my skin drier and break out at the same time.
Harsh Exfoliants - I used to swear by Lush’s Rub Rub Rub body scrub when I lived in Atlanta. It got all the stuff that accumulated on my skin over the day and left me feeling nice and clean. Plus, it gave the skin on my body a nice smooth texture. In the mountains, though, it’s a little too harsh.
Azelaic Acid & Tea Tree Oil - Much like toners, certain acne products are waaaaaay too harsh for all-over use up here. I still use benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid as spot treatments, but that’s all.
Face Washes for Oily Skin at High Altitude
Aveeno Calm + Restore Face Cleanser for Sensitive Skin - $10.98
I grabbed this out of desperation in the grocery store one day when I ran out of my curology face wash (see below) and I have been pleasantly surprised by this wash! It makes my skin feel clean without feeling stripped, and has some mild calming properties.
Curology Acne Cleanser - $15.99
I had mixed success with Curology when I tried the whole system. As with many things, it worked amazingly well on a trip to Nashville but was a little too harsh back at mile high. However, I will stand by their standard cleanser. It’s gentle, yet powerful, fragrance-free, and has given me good long-term results. If you’re removing make-up, follow this up with their micellar water.
Curology Micellar Water - $11.99
I’m not sure about you, but I have never had great success with makeup removing products. They typically leave a residue on my skin that requires additional cleansing. Micellar water is a whole new game - it cleanses makeup without causing further breakouts. The Curology micellar water has been the best I’ve used. The thicker gel-like formula removes more makeup with less product, and sometimes I use it at night on its own sans cleanser with no negative ramifications.
Dove White Beauty Bar - $1.99
This product is absolutely talked to death by beauty editors, dermatologists, grandmas, and now me. While I have it in the face wash category, it’s also great as a body wash or shave cream that will cleanse your skin without stripping it. The exfoliating variety is best kept off your face at high altitudes, but every other kind is king of the classic face washes. My favorite is pink!
Vanicream Unscented Gentle Facial Cleanser - $8.89
I may ruffle some feathers, but I am not as enamored with CeraVe as others are (with one main exception - see below). To me, the Vanicream cleanser does what CeraVe promises for less money (and with fewer shortages). It’s one of the best values for your money on this list - a large bottle can last me up to 6 months, and it’s less than $10.
Serums & Treatments for Oily Skin at High Altitude
bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting & Brightening Serum - $24.99
While you want to avoid over-exfoliating at high altitudes, those of us with oily skin still need a little something to promote cell turnover. Enter: Vitamin C serums. This one from bliss is the best vitamin C serum I’ve used at a lower price point, though it does have a mild citrus fragrance if that’s not your jam. Vitamin C also has properties that lighten dark spots and help heal acne scars.
bliss That’s Incredi-Peel Glycolic Acid Pads - $25
Another tool in your acne-fighting tool kit is glycolic acid pads. Glycolic acid removes the top layer of skin cells and a daily pad is great for a regular sloughing to keep those dead cells from clogging your pores. These pads from bliss are gentle enough to use often but strong enough to cause results pretty quickly. I still use these pads pretty sparingly - maybe 2x per week.
Exuvience Gentle Daily Exfoliating Face Pads - $45
If you want to use your glycolic acid pads every day, the Exuvience pads are my favorite. I notice a big difference in my skin’s texture when I use them, but my skin doesn’t feel flaky or wrung out. They have a bit of a chemical scent, but it is an acid. Note: glycolic acid pads are GREAT for underarms, too, as bacteria can get trapped in old skin under there and cause more odor.
Lush Rosy Cheeks Calming Clay Mask - $15
Clay masks are an important part of any oily skin routine. Clay absorbs oil and whisks it off your skin, while the rose hips in this mask provide calming relief for redness and dryness. You keep it in the fridge, and I find that adds to the soothing quality of this mask (plus, cool temps tighten pores).
Murad Vitamin C Glycolic Brightening Serum - $88
While the bliss vitamin C serum is the best for the price, the Murad vitamin C serum is the best I’ve found, period. Your skin feels cleaner, smoother, and more balanced with regular use. As part of a set with a vitamin C cleanser and moisturizer, I’ve gotten great results. But if you’re balling on a budget (as most of us are), invest in the serum and save on a more cost-effective cleanser (like the Vanicream).
The Ordinary Hylauronic Acid - $8.90
As I stated in my post about 10 Holy Grail products under $10, this product is perhaps the best skincare product under $10 I have ever used. Even acne-prone skin needs as much hydration as possible at high altitudes, and most rich products will only cause more breakouts. The hydrating and smoothing effect of this serum on the skin is immediate and incredible. I’ve even noticed that my makeup goes on more smoothly with it on! I will be buying this serum until my bones crumble into dust.
RoC Retinol Anti-Aging Retinol Face Serum - $21.99
While this is technically an anti-aging serum, retinol is a powerful acne-fighter as well! It decreases oil production, kills bacteria, and is anti-inflammatory. RoC is the brand most of us (including me) swear by, and sticking to the classic will serve you well. Retinol can make your skin more sensitive, so make sure to ALWAYS pair it with regular sunscreen, and don’t use retinol with vitamin C or glycolic acid on the same day (unless burning your skin off is your thing).
Moisturizers & Sunscreens for Oily Skin at High Altitude
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream Face Moisturizer - $17.49
After a long, arduous journey, I believe I may have found the one night cream in the world that works for acne-prone skin. While this cream is heavy to the touch (and feels heavy on application). It has somehow, miraculously, never made me break out. It’s also fragrance-free.
LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream - $24.99
If this cream were more cost-effective, I would probably slather it all over my entire body every day. It’s rich and creamy without being heavy, and I’ve combined it with various eye serums to only positive results. The pump dispenses WAY more cream than is needed for your eyes, but I usually spread the remainder on my hands, and thus the backs of my hands have never been so smooth.
Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel Moisturizer - $19.99
I searched far and wide for a daily moisturizer with some real hydrating juice that wouldn’t make me break out, and this is the winner. I love the refreshing feeling of the gel on my skin, and it absorbs really quickly. As with other gel moisturizers, if my skin is reeeeeeally dry it can burn a bit on application, but I have no increased redness or sensitivity otherwise.
(For those with a King Soopers/Kroger/City Market/Fred Meyer in their area, the Kroger Hydrating Water Gel $16.99 is a solid dupe).
Supergoop Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 - $38
Supergoop is the ultimate in a daily facial sunscreen, and as an acne-prone girlie I prefer the mattifying version, of course. Nearly every daily sunscreen makes me break out, but not Supergoop! It also goes on so smoothly that I can use it as a primer, and it doesn’t have any white particles in it so it doesn’t alter colors if you put makeup on top of it.
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 - $8.99
While Supergoop is the top, Trader Joe’s has an exceptional dupe (for a much better price point). It also has a much glossier finish than the goop, so if you’re looking for a dewier skin finish the TJ’s might be the way to go. The only downside is that you can’t buy this online from TJ’s, and stores are often sold out. If you like it - stock up!
up & up Unscented Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15 - $9.39
This is a rec that is absolutely out of left field, but for a long time, the only daily moisturizer that felt like it moisturized my skin enough and had SPF and didn’t make me break out was this. The Target version of the classic Neutrogena daily moisturizer, it’s especially great if you’re on a budget and looking to combine products.
Hair & Body Products for Oily Skin at High Altitude
Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion - $10.99
Much like the renewing cleanser above, the Aveeno daily body lotion has oatmeal in it to calm sensitive skin and provide moisture without irritating richness. I like the sheer hydration the best as it both prevents breakouts and dries faster. Face it, we all hate standing awkwardly in the bathroom waiting to get dressed while our lotion dries.
Beloved Whipped Body Scrub - $9.99
Though I had to leave Rub Rub Rub in the deep south, I still need the assistance of an exfoliating body scrub. This one is strong enough to get me feeling cleaner but contains moisturizing ingredients to repair my skin barrier. I’ve noticed no difference in efficacy in the different scents I’ve tried. The only downside to this scrub is that it can take a little while to fully rinse off.
It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner - $19.99
As a wavy-haired girl, “no-poo” methods often leave me quaking with fear. I want smooth, silky hair, but I have zero interest in resembling Severus Snape. Deep conditioning products tend to weigh down my hair - except this one. It’s great for both air-drying and blow-drying, and as a bonus, my husband really likes how it smells.
Kevin Murphy Maxi Wash - $35
I became hooked on this stuff when I worked at a hair salon, and it is one of the few expensive products I have found that has no suitable replacements (except perhaps plain white vinegar). This pre-shampoo wash leaves my hair feeling super clean, but doesn’t dry it (or my scalp) out. While most recommendations say to use it once per week, I use it slightly more frequently than that if I’ve been using a lot of hair product.
Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter - $7.39
This is the ULTIMATE lazy hack for all skin types in dry climates. In the winter you need lotion pretty much every day, and it takes a million years to apply and let dry (especially fresh out of the shower). Enter: in-shower body lotion. I like both the cocoa butter and almond oil varieties equally. While it won’t give you baby-seal skin like traditional lotions will, it will keep you suitably hydrated for daily use. Only options for “dry to very dry” skin exists, but it’s never felt too rich or made me break out.
Have you used any of these products? Do you have any further recs? Drop your opinions in the comments!
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