It's usually caused by stripping your skin with harsh cleansers or over-exfoliating – the fix isn't less moisture, it's more of the right kind: a hydrating (not astringent) tonic, a lightweight moisturiser, and SPF, while cutting out alcohol-based toners.

• Harsh, foaming cleansers and alcohol-based toners strip natural oils, triggering your skin to compensate by overproducing more.
• Astringent toners make this cycle worse – swap to a hydrating, alcohol-free tonic instead.
• A lightweight moisturiser still matters, even on oily skin – skipping it entirely often backfires.
• SPF protects skin that's already more reactive from the stripping-and-overcompensating cycle.
• Give your skin two to four weeks after switching products before expecting the cycle to fully break.

Stick to water-based brighteners like tranexamic acid, azelaic acid and niacinamide, and apply SPF every morning – uneven tone won't budge without it – while using a calming step like the Centella Tonic first to soothe any irritation your brightening actives might trigger.

• Water-based brightening actives (tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, niacinamide) are far less likely to clog oily, breakout-prone skin.
• Applying a calming tonic like Centella Asiatica first helps buffer any irritation from stronger brightening actives.
• SPF is non-negotiable here – uneven tone simply won't improve without consistent sun protection.
• Introduce one new brightening active at a time so you can track what's actually working.
• Give any brightening routine consistent time before judging the results.