10 Ways to Deal with Oily Skin

RealBeauty.com

We hate excess shine on our faces just as much as you do, so we hit up makeup artist extraordinaire, Davisha Dadone, for her life-saving tricks and favorite products to keep sweat-free and matte all day.

1. Know your skin type. If you think your skin is oily and it's not and you're using every 'drying/anti-shine/matte' product you can get your hands on, your skin will respond by producing more oil-what a mess! Conversely, if you think your skin is dry and you load up on moisturizer, it'll cause all kinds of breakouts on normal or oily skin. To determine your skin type, note how long you can go before you need a touch-up after applying powder. If it's more than a few hours, you're normal, or even dry. If you need to touch up within the hour, you're probably oily.

2. Remember to blot. Blot Film by M·A·C is hands-down the best makeup-free way to keep the shine at bay, no matter what your skin type. Just press the paper against shiny areas and voila!

3. Get creative. Ran out of Blot Film in a public place? Don't sweat it, toilet seat covers make a great substitute. Tear off a small square and press against the shiny areas, don't wipe.

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4. Be on time! It might seem unrelated, but the less rushed you are, the less likely you'll be to arrive sweaty and shiny.

5. Sweat and shine-proof primer is your new best friend. Every body's chemistry is a little different, so you should find the one that works best for you. Some favorites: Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer, Too Faced Primed & Poreless, NYX Shine Killer, and M·A·C Prep & Prime Skin Refined Zone.

6. Cut down on coverage. Touching up throughout the day? Use a pressed powder that absorbs more than it covers. Too much coverage will look cakey and make your skin rebel. Again. Try Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder. Buy a few extra puffs and change them often-they absorb oil and sweat, and bacteria will breed like mad on them AND your powder."

7. Switch out your winter foundation. Try a matte-finish foundation when the temperature rises. Most formulas feature an oil-disperson-and-control action that will keep your foundation from getting slicker than you. Remember that 'less is more' when it comes to these formulas, so be sparing! If you're a dry-skinned chick, skip any powder until you need your first touch-up, or look for a matte formula for dry skin. Try Koh Gen Do Triple Lighting Foundation SPF 22, or Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet.

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8. All SPFs are not created equal. Use SPF (always!) but take note of the formula. Use a heavier pick on beach days and a lighter option on days when you'll see more office lighting than actual sunshine. Go for the simple and inexpensive, like NEUTROGENA® Pure & Free® Baby Sunscreen Stick. It's lightweight, matte, SPF 60, and doesn't interfere with makeup application. The stick design makes it easier to re-apply without wiping makeup off your nose and cheekbones.

9. Let your skin breathe. If all these products leave you feeling claustrophobic, try a BB Cream. They give a little coverage, a little hydration, and a little sunblock. Try the the CG Smoothers BB Cream for a super affordable summer stand-in.

10. Let go and stop stressing. "That shine on your nose is a sign that your skin is functioning and doing it's job!"



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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.