Makeup solutions for oily skin!

Previously, I posted about the skincare that has helped rein in my excessively oily skin. Today I would like to share with you the makeup items that keep me semi-matte throughout the day. I have given up the dream of shine-free skin; at this point I am thrilled with just a little oiliness on the nose. Hopefully some of these products will help you!

• Primer:

I can not emphasize enough just how important primer is to keeping oil at bay. After years of serial dating, I am finally in a committed, monogamous relationship with  Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector. Although I can’t attest to its “poreless” claims, this is hands down the best mattifying primer I have ever tried. If you are at your wits end with your skin, I promise you that shelling out the relatively steep $36 is so worth it. The tiniest amount leaves my shiniest areas matte for 6-8 hours (a record for me).

After the Becca primer, I like to use a pea sized amount of alcohol-free aloe gel all over my face. I find that this smooths my skin texture, adds a little moisture, and may even contribute to oil control. Aloe gel is available in any drugstore near the sunscreen. This step is entirely optional, but once I tried it I couldn’t go back. 🙂

• Foundation

As far as foundation goes, I have extremely varying tastes in finish. I find that a lot of “matte” foundations patch oddly on my face. Usually I look for a thin, buildable formula in either a natural or illuminating finish. In no particular order, I am currently loving:

1. Lancome Nude Miracle: this formula is very light-weight and easy to apply with fingers. Some are turned off by the alcohol-y smell but it doesn’t bother me.
2. L’Oreal True Match Lumi: I know, you’re probably cringing at the thought of a illuminating foundation on oily skin. The formula applies so beautifully that I work around the shine with setting powder.
3. Givenchy Eclat Matissme: This used to be my absolute favorite formula; it is smooth, creamy, and deliciously scented. Unfortunately it started oxidizing to a shade I can only describe as Cheeto Orange. 😉 I highly recommend getting a sample from Sephora, though!
4. If I had to choose a holy grail foundation, it would be Dior Star. I didn’t want to love this foundation due to the hefty price (and my already fairly high-end collection) but it is just beautiful. I don’t want to speak prematurely but I think this formula outperforms anything I have used before.

• Setting Powder

You all need to jump in the car right now and head to the nearest drugstore, Walmart, or Target and purchase Coty Airspun Powder. It is a must have in every makeup lover’s life. Some are off-put by the fresh scent, but I have come to enjoy it. The powder is so finely milled and it sets foundation flawlessly!

Please comment below and tell me your experiences with these products or any other oily skin savers!

Oily mess: the skincare that has been working for me.

Let’s just say the BP fiasco looks tame compared to the glisten-y goodness of my face. Oily skin runs in my family; I have countless memories of my mom powdering her nose. Throughout my teenage years I tried to combat the issue with makeup alone (bad idea). This led to too many days of cake-face to count…I am shuddering at the thought. Recently I have grown a little older and wiser by incorporating quality skincare into my routine. I am still an oily gal but with the help of these products I can trick people into thinking I’m “dewy”. 😉

• Cleanser

There is a common misconception that oily skinned folks should use a harsh cleanser to strip the face of oils. I fell victim to this school of thought for years. Then, last year I picked up a small size of the Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser and fell in love. The smooth, velvety texture left my face feeling wonderfully clean without the usual dryness. If you aren’t willing to dish out $30 for a cleanser, I also highly recommend the Foaming Facial Cleanser by CeraVe. This product yields similar results for less than half the price.

Courtesy of Sephora.com

• Exfoliation

Courtesy of Sephora.com

As far as exfoliation goes, chemical is key. Physical exfoliation can be extremely harsh on skin and can exacerbate the oil problem. Chemical exfoliation is not only gentler on the skin, but it is much more effective. People use many different acids depending on preference. A little research will help you choose an acid that suits your skin-type and desired results. My favorite is the Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel. The combination of alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHA/BHA) leaves my skin feeling smooth and breakout free.

• Moisturizer

Courtesy of Sephora.com

Moisturizing is my absolute favorite step in my skincare routine. After cleansing and exfoliating my skin feels parched and in desperate need of hydration.

Do not believe that oily skin does not need moisturizing! Every person’s face benefits greatly from hydration and keeping it adequately moisturized may reduce oil production.

I highly recommend using an oil rather than a traditional cream moisturizer. Seems counter-intuitive, but oils are super effective and haven’t noticeably contributed to my oiliness. My all time favorites are the Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil and Josie Maran Argan Oil (argan oil is available in tons of places at much more affordable prices than Josie Maran).

I hope this article introduces you to some awesome products for oily skin. What skin-type do you have, and what are your favorite products? Please comment below!

Also let me know if you would be interested in hearing about makeup products I love that help keep oil at bay!

The Best (and Cheapest) Mascara You Will Ever Purchase

Without a doubt I own far too many mascaras. There is no way a single person can use 10-15 open tubes before they expire. However, this hasn’t deterred me from spending hundreds of dollars on mascara searching for “the one”. How do you think I felt when I discovered that my holy grail mascara was $2.99 at Walgreens?! You read that right: effective AND affordable.

So you’re probably wondering “What is this miracle mascara?!” Well I won’t make you wait any longer: Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara. I first heard about this brand from Lauren Curtis on YouTube. Her amazing eyelashes (often with no falsies!) convinced me to give it a go.

This mascara is a thick, non-runny formula that coats each lash and dries quickly. I usually find that two coats gives me the desired effect. The only downside I have found is a problem that isn’t a concern for every girl: oily eyelids. Occasionally if I’m have a particularly shiny day I will find a few smudges and flakes on my cheeks. Fear not, a thin coat of waterproof mascara over-top will take care of this issue!

Try it out, let me know what you think and comment with your favorite mascara formula!

P.S. I’m sure we can all relate 😉

Dry Shampoo: Which is best?

Here is my modest collection of dry shampoos…can you already tell my favorite?

I think we can all agree that dry shampoo is a gift from the hair gods. But while good in theory, a great dry shampoo is hard to come by. So many companies have jumped on the dry shampoo band wagon that it can be a little daunting choosing one that is right for you. Hopefully my experiences with several brands will make shopping a little easier! I will give each brand an overall grade and then a score out of 10 for how “clean” it leaves my hair (10 = fresh out of the shower).  Enjoy!

• Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo ($5.99)

I really like this one. It sprays on white and blends fairly easily into hair for an undetectable finish. The scent is clean and fresh but is unexciting. Although not my favorite, this is a close runner up and worth a try for the awesome price!

Grade: B+

Clean score: 8/10

• Dove Invigorating Dry Shampoo ($11.88 on Amazon)

The Dove version of dry shampoo is the most expensive I have tried and was just…meh. It applies very white and powdery and I have found it fairly difficult to blend into my hair. The smell is reminiscent of baby powder; a plus for some, but not for me.  It does a fairly good job of soaking up oil, but with the steeper price I expected to be WOWed.

Grade: B-

Clean score: 7/10

• Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo ($8.79 on Amazon)

Hate is a strong word…but I really didn’t like this shampoo. It lives up to its claim of applying clear but then it didn’t give me quite the “fresh start” I was looking for. It managed to cake around my roots and had the texture of hair spray. After some struggles I was able to brush the mess out of my hair. Unfortunately after the ordeal, my hair was left feeling just as greasy (if not greasier) than before.

Grade: D-

Clean score: 2/10

• Batiste Dry Shampoo ($7.99 at Ulta)

Now…if you had trouble guessing my favorite dry shampoo from the group photo, you know now! Batiste is what the hair gods intended when they created dry shampoo; it is powdery, does an excellent job of absorbing oil, and disappears when brushed into hair. PLUS if you aren’t a fan of baby powder scents, Batiste has tons to choose from. My personal favorites are the scents in the paisley and cheetah print bottles. Both are fairly perfume-y and make my hair smell great! My only complaint is that the Hint of Color for Blondes is very yellow. If you’re a cool toned blonde, this might not work for you. However, I have heard great things about the Hint of Color for dark brunettes! Overall, Batiste Dry Shampoo really gets it done at a great price. I always have luck finding Batiste at Ulta and occasionally can find it at CVS or Walgreens.

Grade: A

Clean Score: 9/10