Oily skin comes down to sebaceous glands producing more oil than the skin needs — often driven by genetics, hormones, heat and humidity. Stripping it with harsh products tends to backfire, because the skin reads that dryness as a signal to make even more oil. The aim is to clear and balance, never to strip.

Keep it light and consistent. Cleanse morning and night with a gentle exfoliating wash, use a Vitamin C serum to brighten and even tone, and — the step most people skip — finish with a lightweight moisturiser. A few drops of facial oil a couple of nights a week round it out. Balance, not stripping, keeps oil in check.

No — this is the most common mistake. Left dehydrated, oily skin simply produces more oil to compensate, which makes things worse. A lightweight, non-greasy moisturiser gives the barrier the water it needs, so your skin has no reason to overproduce — you end up more balanced, not shinier.

Once or twice a week suits most oily skin. A gentle exfoliating cleanser used daily keeps the surface clear without harsh scrubs, and over-exfoliating only irritates the barrier and prompts more oil. Let how your skin feels guide the frequency rather than a fixed rule.

Yes, counterintuitive as it sounds. A lightweight blend of plant oils reinforces the skin's own lipid layer rather than sitting on top of it, and when the barrier is intact skin is less inclined to over-produce oil. Use just a few drops at night, a couple of times a week to start.

Absolutely — oily and blemish-prone skin tends to love Vitamin C. It brightens post-blemish marks, evens tone and supports collagen, and a well-formulated serum sits comfortably under a light moisturiser. Apply to clean skin morning or night, then follow with your moisturiser.