Oily But Dehydrated Skin?

3 Key Takeaways

1. Oily skin can still be dehydrated, which means it lacks water, not oil.
2. Over-cleansing and harsh products can worsen dehydration and trigger excess oil production.
3. Gentle, hydrating skincare and professional treatments can help restore balance and improve overall skin health.

Oily skin is commonly described as having a shiny or greasy appearance, especially in the T-zone. As it is mostly due to an overproduction of sebum, it is almost never associated with dehydrated skin that is usually dry and itchy. The reality, however, is oily skin can be dehydrated too, mainly due to lack of water, not oil. 

With dehydration, oily skin can produce more oil or sebum to overcompensate due to lack of water. Understanding how this happens (and how to fix it) can help you take better care of your skin and achieve a healthy, radiant glow. Our aesthetic clinic in Singapore shares what you need to know about dehydrated oily skin. 

But first, why does our skin produce oil?

Our skin naturally produces oil or sebum to protect itself and maintain a balanced barrier. Produced by the sebaceous gland, this oily, waxy substance moisturizes the skin and helps prevent excessive water loss. It also forms an antimicrobial barrier that prevents the growth of harmful bacteria on the skin. 

Factors such as genetics, hormones, stress, and even Singapore’s humid weather can affect how much oil your skin produces. With stress, for instance, the body releases cortisol, decreasing your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid levels. This can lead to a lack of moisture, which the skin tries to compensate for by producing more oil.

For further reading: Are You Making Your Oily Skin Oilier?

Hydration vs oil: What’s the difference?

Dehydration simply means your skin lacks water. Oil or sebum provides both lubrication and protection, but it cannot replace hydration or increase the skin’s water content. This is the reason why oily skin can still feel tight, dull, or rough when it’s dehydrated (particularly after cleansing). 

And even with excess surface oil, dehydration can make the skin look dull or lackluster. It can also make fine lines and wrinkles look more prominent. These are also referred to as dehydration lines, which are temporary and can go away when your skin is properly hydrated. 

A common mistake for those with oily skin is over-cleansing or using harsh acne products. This doesn’t actually benefit the skin, as it only strips away natural moisture and triggers even more oil production and breakouts. It also weakens the skin barrier and makes it more susceptible to irritation. 

How does oily skin become dehydrated?

Dehydrated oily skin is more common than you think. Some of the factors that can contribute to this include:

• • Prolonged and unprotected sun exposure – this can dry out the skin and cause damage or premature skin aging. Extended time in the sun can lead to moisture loss, prompting the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to overcompensate.

• Air-conditioning – common in offices and classrooms, air conditioning lowers indoor humidity and draws moisture from the skin. This increases the rate of evaporation, causing the skin to lose moisture faster than it can be restored. This then triggers the skin to produce more oil, resulting in a combination of oiliness and dehydration. 

• Insufficient water intake – when the skin lacks water inside, it will try to protect itself from more water loss by overproducing oil. This can then lead to a cycle where your oily skin will look shinier or greasier, while also appearing dull and feeling tight. 
• Overuse of drying skincare or acne treatments – harsh products dehydrates oily skin by stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier. This can lead to transepidermal water loss (TEWL), causing moisture to evaporate easily. The sebaceous glands respond to this by producing more oil to protect the skin.

Can your skincare routine make dehydrated oily skin worse?

Yes. Many products, especially those for acne like benzoyl peroxide or retinoids, can over-dry your skin, disrupting its natural balance. When this happens, your skin enters “panic or survival mode”, producing even more sebum to compensate, leading to clogged pores and breakouts.

At our aesthetic clinic in Singapore, we recommend gentle, hydrating skincare for oily skin that removes impurities without stripping moisture. We offer gentle cleansers formulated with calming and nourishing ingredients that can deeply cleanse without over-drying the skin. 

Signs of dehydrated oily skin

Dehydrated oily skin can be inconsistent in how it looks and feels. This is why it often goes undiagnosed, and most don’t even know they have it. It can still look shiny or greasy, but you might notice other common signs, such as: 

If you’re unsure, our skin consultation in Singapore clinic can help determine your skin condition and skin type. We can also recommend skincare and/or treatments that can improve the most common concerns that are making you self-conscious.

How to treat oily dehydrated oily skin

Dehydrated oily skin may lack moisture, but this doesn’t mean you should pile on thick creams. To protect your skin, you need to use lightweight, water-based products and treatments to restore balance.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Gentle cleansers – cleanse twice daily to remove excess oil without drying your skin. Dr. Sylvia’s LuminousFoam Cleanser and Sensitive Cleanser with Aloe Leaf Water gently cleanse without over-stripping, as well as promote a fresh, radiant appearance.  
• Regular exfoliation (2–3 times a week) – this helps unclog pores, smooth texture, and improve absorption of hydration products. Make sure to avoid harsh scrubs or those with abrasives, as this can damage the skin and lead to irritation. 
• Hydrating toners and mists – look for a gentle toner that can help refine pores, balance oil production, and refresh the skin. You can also use a facial mist, like Dr. Sylvia’s Calm & Clear Mist, which helps calm irritation and supports a healthy skin barrier without harsh ingredients. 
• Hydrating serums – choose ones with hyaluronic acid (HA) or vitamin E for a hydration boost without heaviness. Our Flawless Radiance Elixir has 2% HA that deeply hydrates and plumps, while helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We also offer Hyaluronic Acid (H.A.) Intensifier Serum, which boosts skin’s natural HA levels by 30%.
• Lightweight moisturizers – gel-based formulas work wonders in Singapore’s humid weather. These are lightweight, fast-absorbing, and non-greasy. Our Hydra Pro with MoistureLock with Complex is a lightweight formula that provides deep hydration. It also leaves the skin looking and feeling healthy and radiant. 

For optimal results, pair your home skincare with a hydrating treatment likeHydra-Clarifying facial in Singapore. This is designed to deeply replenish moisture while balancing oil production. Treatments like chemical peels, microneedling with serums, and certain injectables can also target both oil control and hydration from within.

Get in touch with us

The key to healthy skin is about maintaining the right balance of oil and water. With customized skincare, professional guidance, and in-clinic treatments, your skin can look clear, hydrated, and healthy.

WhatsApp us today at +65 9780 2079 to book a skin consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors in Singapore and discover skin treatments tailored just for you.