You definitely want to make sure you have your skin care routine down pat before you try to fix any makeup issues you have. This is what I usually recommend to my oily skin clients:
1. At night, wash your face really well with a gentle cleanser, making sure to exfoliate at least 3 times a week to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. Follow with either a mattifying or PH balancing toner, one that won't strip the skin of it's natural oils. Over stripping the skin will only cause your glands to go into oil producing hyperdrive, making your skin even more oily, as @
@Reija said. Follow with an oil-free moisturizer to replace any lost hydration.
2. In the morning, wash face with water
only, and then instead of a cleanser, use a cotton pad soaked in a 3-in-1 micellar water/cleanser/toner and run over the face. This will remove any residual bacteria from your pillow that may have gotten on your face while you slept, or any oil built up throughout the night. There is nothing you are doing during the 8 hrs you're asleep that should warrant you scrubbing the crap out of your skin with a cleanser all over again after you just did it the night before lol. During the day, you wear makeup, you touch your face, you come into contact with food, oils, pollution, dirt, wind, etc. What are you doing at night? None of that. Trust me! This is what we do in Europe. I spent half my life there and the 3-in-1 is all you need. Over stripping your skin is over rated. Squeaky clean isn't always a good thing! Be gentle to your skin and it will love you back lol. Follow with an oil-free moisturizer with an SPF and begin your makeup routine for the day.
Disclaimer: This does not go into serums, eye creams, face masks, etc. This is a very basic skin care routine for oily skin,
Makeup for oily skin:
1. Begin with a mattifying primer. There are a few drugstore ones out there, but many more high end ones that are good. I personally don't like silicone based primers, bc they tend to clog your pores, but as long as you are cleansing really well each night and exfoliating on a regular basis, you should be fine. Silicone based primers, like the Smashbox Foundation Primer, give you a very smooth, velvety feel to the skin, but make a lot of people break out. They do help with keeping the shine at bay, though. I really like a non-silicone version, like the Laura Geller Spackle Under Makeup Mattifying Primer, or the Murad Oil Control Mattifier, which also has SPF 15, which is nice. Those are non-comedogenic and won't clog your pores and I think they work really well. They feel lighter on the skin to me.
2. Go with a foundation to match your primer. If you do choose to wear a liquid foundation, choose a silicone based foundation with your silicone primer, or a cream based foundation with your cream based primer, etc. Personally, I like using a full coverage loose powder foundation on clients with oily skin, bc the loose powder soaks up the most excess oil. I really love Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. It really does give you a flawless, airbrushed look to the skin, and as long as you don't use too much, and are blending it out well, it's not going to cake on you. I think women shy away from using powder foundations bc they use too much and apply it with sponges, when they really should try using a buffing brush. The Buffing Brush from Morphe Brushes, the M439, I believe, is around $14 and is one of my favorites. This powder has a really long wear too, so there is very little need for touch-ups.
3. If you do need to touch up throughout the day, I would suggest using something that won't wipe away any product from your face, but won't add much either, like the Mally Poreless Face Defender, which is a clear balm that simply mattifies your skin without messing up any color placement. Genius!
4. Blotting papers are always a good thing to have on hand, just remember to always blot, never wipe, or you'll displace the makeup on your face and wipe it away, causing it to break down and remove color.
5. Just as a rule, I always put all my liquids on the face, and then set them with powders. When I try to put liquids on top of powders, it will start to get cakey. Others may have had different experiences, but that has been mine.
6. Always end your routine with a good setting spray. I like Urban Decay's All Nighter or De-Slick.
I hope some of these tips help you@
@Sarah Potter!!!
/emoticons/
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