I’ve always had oily skin for as long as I can remember. Not wet, not greasy, not shiny, like a model – greasy. Not many people promised me that I’d age gracefully, because that’s enough to make it non-annoying. Even in winter
My T-zone is practically light-reflective and my makeup is gone by midday. That’s why a cleansing mask and a lightweight moisturiser are the cornerstones of my skincare routine, so two new favourites figured prominently in the discussion:
Sand & Sky’s Oil Control Purifying Moisturiser and Purifying Mask.
This Australian beauty brand is behind some of the hottest products in recent history. Take this rave-worthy Pink Clay Mask and their new Tasmanian Spring Water range. But now it’s Sand & Sky’s new Oil Control range
Surely the MVP for late summer, or for my oily friends, all year round.
Sand & Sky Oil Control Cleansing Moisturiser, £34.90
The first product I tried was the Oil Control Moisturiser. I loved the packaging straight away. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try in the bathroom sink every morning. As you can see from the texture swatch above, this moisturiser has a light gel-cream consistency that my skin instantly loved. It feels thirst-quenching but slightly cooling when applied – perfect for summer.
It contains niacinamide, salicylic acid, prebiotics and geranium (an Australian native plant with anti-inflammatory and calming properties). A common misconception about oily skin is that it doesn’t need a moisturiser. However, if you don’t moisturise your skin, your sebaceous glands may actually produce too much sebum to compensate. (TL;DR: moisturising oily skin is still important!).
The Sand & Sky moisturiser felt really good on my skin and I would definitely use it again, but I can’t say for sure that I felt less oily throughout the day (but that’s a tall order). It works well as a light moisturiser.
Sand & Sky Oil Control Cleansing Mask, £30.90
On to the next product, the cleansing mask. I love oil-control masks, so I had a feeling I’d love Sand & Sky’s white clay formula for acne-prone skin (it also comes with a tapered applicator brush for added spa-facial vibes). The product is the color of pistachio ice cream and has similar ingredients to moisturizers for maximum oil absorption. My skin isn’t particularly sensitive, but I felt a slight tingling sensation when I applied it to my T-zone and cheeks. The instructions say to leave it on for 10 minutes, but the first time I tried it, I rinsed it off after five minutes just to be safe. Not long after, I noticed a noticeable difference in the appearance of my pores.
The best thing is that my skin doesn’t feel super tight or dry afterwards—just balanced and smooth. I felt like my skin absorbed the serum and moisturizer immediately, and small zits looked like they’d subsided. I haven’t used it long enough to see if it significantly reduces my oil glands or lightens my acne scars, but so far, I like it when my skin feels particularly congested.
Final Thoughts
At £34.90 and £30.90 respectively, Sand & Sky’s Clear Moisturiser and Clear Mask are by no means cheap products. However, if you’re looking for something solid that’s a step above the high street brands, but isn’t as expensive as luxury goods, I highly recommend this. You can also save nearly £10 on the brand’s Oil Control Skin Balancing Kit (retail price £65.80). Get out and glow (but not too much – that’s where this stuff comes into play).
