Tips for Creating an Effective Skin-Care Routine for Oily Skin

Reader Contribution by Gwen Lewis
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Having oily skin is not fun—think makeup that drips or fades halfway through the day. But there are some important ingredients and tips you can follow to ensure that you remain looking fresh and beautiful.

Ingredients to Look For

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is an ingredient found in many acne preparations because it helps control oil and prevent pimples. However, if your skin is oily you should also look for salicylic acid in basic skin-care products such as cleansers, moisturizers and makeup. Always wash your face with a salicylic cleanser before applying moisturizer so that your skin is clean and ready to absorb any lotions or makeup you may apply.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is often found in chemical peels because it scrubs away dead skin on the surface so that your complexion looks renewed. Glycolic acid is taken from sugar cane and is also highly beneficial for oily skin types. Exfoliating allows fresh, new skin to be displayed. You can find glycolic acid in a variety of skin-care products, such as skin lighteners that will help you on your way to brighter, healthier skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Before you think you should skip the moisturizer because you don’t want your skin to appear greasy, be careful not to fall into the trap of making your body’s glands produce more sebum (oil) because your skin is drying out! Hyaluronic acid is a good choice to look for moisturizers, and has recently become a buzzword in the skin-care industry. It draws moisture to itself, making your skin feel supple and gorgeous, but hyaluronic acid also helps to keep your skin naturally moisturized without making it greasy. If your skin is smooth and healthy, the makeup you apply will also look more beautiful.


 

Choosing Makeup

Prime Your Skin

Once you have applied your moisturizer, apply a primer before applying foundation. This helps create a barrier which the foundation will be able to stick to, meaning that oily skin won’t cause it to run or fade soon after application. Primers also help to fill any lines and wrinkles you may have, which helps create a flawless appearance. While you’re priming your skin, don’t forget to apply primer to your eyelids; this will ensure that gorgeous eye shadow stays put all day.

Choose the Right Foundation

You pick the right foundation according to your skin type, but what about its consistency? This plays an important role in how well makeup will last on oily skin. A powder foundation is good to keep oiliness or shine under wraps, but make sure it’s a light consistency so that it won’t feel too thick or heavy on your skin. If you like a liquid foundation, you should go for a mousse consistency. Make sure your foundation is mattifying or non-comedogenic, which means that it will be less likely to cause pimples.

Avoid Shimmer

Although you might be tempted to wear shimmer blush or eye shadow, such products can actually make your skin look shinier. Stick to matte colors and always choose oil-free formulations so you don’t accidentally trigger your skin to become oily. If you do want a bit of shimmer, use it in very small amounts on eyelids, but try to keep your blush sparkle-free, otherwise all the elements will begin to clash.

Get Blotting

Blotting powders are essential to carry in your bag when you want to reduce shine. The great thing is that by merely pressing them onto your skin, you remove oil without removing makeup with it. You can find blotting papers that also dab a bit of powder onto areas where oil is running rampant, such as your T-Zone, so that you can keep that fabulous, matte finish!


 

Play with Clay

Just because you don’t want your skin to look oily, that doesn’t mean you want it to look dry. Skin that is too dry appears dull, so focus on a radiant balance for your skin type. Use a clay face mask, such as kaolin, once a week to help absorb excess oil while keeping your skin radiant and healthy.

Having oily skin doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the latest beauty trends or have beautiful, smooth skin. By following the above tips, you will be able to flaunt radiant skin and enjoy long-lasting makeup.

Find more tips and advice for creating effective skin-care routines inThe Best Natural Skin Care for Every Skin Type

Images by Shutterstock.


  • Published on Oct 28, 2015
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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