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When it comes to oily skin, a perfectly made-up face can turn sometimes turn into an oil slick. What looked matte in the morning is suddenly shiny and blotchy past noon. First things first: put down the powder. Layering on more shine-stripping products can overdry your skin, causing it to pump out more oils to compensate. Keep your skin comfortable by choosing a makeup to balance oil production all day long -- and keep you looking flawless with medium coverage.
Mineral
Often sold in a loose powder formula, you might not believe that mineral foundation has the coverage you need -- but it's all about the buildup. Since there are no drying ingredients, you can keep adding as many layers as you like without it caking or looking obvious. The natural color of minerals gives your face that lit-from-within glow while ingredients like zinc oxide, a common mineral in makeup, can actually reduce redness over time.
Moisturizing and Mattifying
A foundation with matte moisturizers and oil absorbers can give you the best of both worlds: hydrated skin and a dry T-zone. Oil-free moisturizing formulas leave skin soft and quenched while ingredients like kaolin take care of any excess shine. Pick one with antioxidants to protect against environmental damage to your skin. Look for a moderate-coverage liquid formula that's hypoallergenic (meaning it won't clog pores). This option is perfect for oily-skinned gals with occasional dryness on their cheeks.
Water-Based
For gals on a budget, drugstores offer plenty of water-based foundations that can offer natural-looking coverage without the shine. Choose an oil-free formula that might not have the bells and whistles of fancier foundations but has a clean list of ingredients; avoid lanolin and heavy fragrances. Many brands even include some SPF to protect your skin from sun damage. Avoid this type of foundation if you've got dry areas on your face, though; without moisturizers, it could cake.
Application Tips & Tricks
No matter how effective your foundation is at controlling oil, your pressed powder could be a hidden culprit. If you're layering on a mattifying powder throughout the day, it's continuously sending messages to your skin to produce more and more sebum to keep your skin hydrated. For refreshing without starting from scratch, try carrying blotting papers. If your coverage is fading, mix just a dot of your foundation with water and touch up areas that need it.
