We all want gorgeous, healthy looking skin, but there’s a big difference between glowing skin and a giant oil spill on your face. Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands overproduce sebum — a waxy substance that protect our skin. Sebum is vital in skin hydration, but too much can leave your T-zone looking shinier than you’d like.

While it’s hard to find a middle ground, there are plenty of ways to ensure your skin looks and feels effortlessly flawless all summer long. Take a look at these tips for stopping oily skin in its tracks:

Simplify your makeup routine

If you use foundation for full coverage, it may be time to switch to a lighter alternative, like BB cream or CC cream. Unlike heavy foundation, both BB cream and CC cream do wonders for your skin. Most brands contain SPF, and some are even packed with anti-aging serums to keep your skin as healthy as possible. The main benefit, however, is that they are both light, so they don’t clog your pores as easily as traditional foundation.

Try a cleanser with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide

If you are prone to breakouts, you need a cleanser built with oil control. Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide fight grease and oil without overdrying. Not only does this keep your complexion flawless, it also breaks down the oil in your pores to prevent acne in the first place.

Don’t scale back on moisturizer

All too many people confuse oil with moisture when it comes to fighting oily skin. In fact, many modern moisturizers contain hyaluronic acid, which balances the water and oil in your skin to protect it against oil overproduction.

Pass on alcohol-based products

It’s tempting to use an alcohol-based cleanser or toner to dry out your skin and prevent oil. Unfortunately, these products do far more harm than good. While alcohol does prevent oil buildup, it is also extremely drying and irritating. These products leave your skin feeling tight and flaky, even red and inflamed in some cases.

Exfoliate

Invest in a gentle exfoliator that fights oil and breakouts without causing skin irritation. Exfoliating once a week helps regenerate your skin by getting rid of dead skin on the surface. This leaves your skin flawless and fresh.

Examine your diet

A greasy slice of pizza and salty fries sound delicious after a few sugar-packed cocktails, but if these treats become a regular occurrence, your skin may suffer the next morning. Salt, red meat, refined sugar, and dairy stimulate oil production in skin. This leads to a number of complexion problems, including greasy, oily skin.

Touch up with oil blotters

Even the best skin care routine isn’t perfect. On days when you just can’t seem to control your T-zone, touch up throughout the day with oil blotters. These handy, discreet papers control shine and oil throughout the day, so you never have to worry about greasy skin.