Effective and Easy Foundation Tips for Oily Skin

Do You Have Oily Skin?

It is too easy to talk about skin types without really understanding what each type means. For example, we say “sensitive” skin but are never quite sure what leads to someone living with that skin type. Oily skin is the same, and not many of us can easily explain what it is and why it might be an issue.

In this article, we’ll explore the issue of oily skin and address one of the biggest challenges facing makeup lovers with that condition – using foundation. The rise of high-quality primers, BB and CC products and other similar goods makes most of us yearn for the ideal products for our skin types in order to enjoy all of the benefits that such makeup products offer. Yet, you cannot pick or use them without understanding your skin. So read on to learn foundation tips for oily skin.

So, Just What is Oily Skin?

Oily skin has to first be defined as a head to toe skin type. If you have a few oily areas on your face, such as the sides of the nose and the chin, you have combination skin, not oily skin. When you live with authentically oily skin it is going to have the following features:

• Overly large pores
• A greasy or consistently shiny appearance on all areas of the face
• The texture will seem coarse or thick
• You may experience periodic breakouts, no matter what age

Still not sure if you are an oily skin type? Use this expert method to figure it out: “Wash in the morning with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry, avoid applying any make-up or lotion, and wait an hour or two. When you look in the mirror, if your face is shiny and covered in oil, you have oily skin.” If you see dry patches on the forehead or the cheeks, you are a combination skin type.

Why Do You Have Oily Skin?

Folklore blames diet for oily skin, and while the foods you consume can influence your complexion, it is really more about sebum glands. These are glands that are all over the body and which produce the oils needed keep skin in good condition. However, many of us just naturally overproduce sebum, and it is the main reason for skin being constantly shiny, oily and prone to outbreaks or acne.

Of course, you can also cause yourself to have oily skin by using too many skin care products and cosmetics that ruin your facial skin’s natural balance, which can lead to an over-production of sebum.

The problems caused by oily skin are many and include that unwelcome shine or sheen, clogged pores that can lead to blackheads and pimples, and difficulty with cosmetics. The good news is that you can reduce the amount of oil your skin produces and use many different tips and tricks to enjoy excellent makeup applications at any time of the year.

First, let’s look at reducing oil and then discover how to apply makeup when you have oily skin.

Can You Control Oily Skin?

If you fear that we are going to send you off to a skincare professional or dermatologist in order to begin combatting your oily skin, you can stop worrying. There are actually a lot of home remedies to combat oily skin. They include some of the most basic methods, such as:

Use mineral and/or mud masks that will deep clean, and tone the skin around once or twice per week

Gently exfoliate two to three times per week, and use a gentle formula that will never strip away natural oils

Choosing a mild facial cleanser designed for oily skin and using it only once in the morning and once before bed. Wash oily skin too much and it actually causes your skin to produce far too much oil

Related: This is How Often You Should Exfoliate

Do your research and find a cleanser that deep cleans the pores and dissolves the oils. This will purify the skin without stripping it or exposing it to harsh chemicals.

Use toner, but with caution. Toner is great for cleansing pores, but it can upset the balance in the skin by eliminating natural sebum. Look for a natural and mild toner that helps cleanse without unbalancing the skin

Moisturize even though it seems a bit backward. Your skin is oily, that means its moisturized naturally, right? Actually, not so much, and after cleansing and toning, a light moisturizer designed for oily skin is a great finishing touch

Don’t skip serums or oils. There are many skin care products that are oil-based and which can actually help to maintain the balance of your skin

Use oil-free cosmetics and non-comedogenic products to help your skin remain balanced even when in makeup

Go light on powder. Again, this seems counter-intuitive, but too much powder is likely to get cakey on your oily skin and pores and this causes the skin to react by making more oil. So use it very sparingly

Related: To Use or Not to Use – Facial Cleansing Brushes

Invest in blotters. Blotter sheets can be dabbed all over the face at any time and are great at helping you capture surface oil and reducing your natural sheen.

Always use SPF if going out in the sun, whether your skin is oily or not, protecting it from sun damage is crucial. If you are worried that the lotion will increase natural oil, you can find those designed for oily skin. As one expert noted, “many brands are making great sunscreens that are mattifying and meant to last during these hot summer days…[apply] before a mattifying primer to lock everything in and make sure makeup doesn’t move.”

With this last tip, we mentioned the next tricky part of living with oily skin – using and enjoying makeup. So, now that you know how to self-manage oily skin through cleansing, toning and skin care products, it is time to look at makeup and foundation tips for oily skin.

Makeup and Foundation Tips for Oily Skin

So, how can you apply makeup to oily skin and make it last? You use a very easy set of nearly fail-proof steps. They include:

• Prep the skin with a quick wipe of witch hazel. This is an all-natural form of salicylic acid and it will leave a healthy balance of oils in the skin while ensuring a good surface for makeup application
• Opt for a mattifying primer as your first step. Many experts tell those with oily skin to skip foundation altogether and start with mattifying primer and some concealer. That may or may not work for all, but the mattifying primer is a MUST for anyone with oily skin who hopes to keep their makeup in place. Do a light coating over the entire face, and it will hold foundation all day. You can also use the primer on days you want to limit shininess and sport a natural look to your makeup. You can also do a light dusting of setting powder over mattifying primer to control oil and help makeup remain in place.
• Think concealer before foundation. With far less oil than foundation, it may be better to target specific areas of the face with concealer and eliminate any potential irritation or outbreaks. Skip cream concealers as they are more likely to clog your pores and stick to liquid concealers.
• If you are going for a foundation, choose only a matte and/or an oil-free formulation. These are the longest wearing and are designed to remain in place, especially if you have oily skin. You should also consider formulas with ingredients meant to support skin, such as mineral based formulas or water based products.
• Skip the contouring. Yes, it might be fun to attempt the different techniques used to change the appearance of your face, but heavy layers of foundation don’t work well with oily skin. Instead, use only a few light layers and target specific areas rather than full-face applications. Why no heavy layers? Oily skin and heavy makeup tends to lead to caking.

As one beauty expert advises about foundation tips for oily skin, it “looks the best when minimal number of products is used.”

Related: How to Choose the Right Contour Colors for Your Skin Tone

What sort of routine is best when doing a full makeup application on oily skin? The following approach is the most commonly advised for anyone with oily skin:

1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Moisturize
4. Apply a mattifying primer to the face and eyelids (remember, it is best to be matte and oil free in a powder or a liquid to powder format). This is put on in a very light and even layer
5. Use concealer on breakouts or pimples but use a very light hand to simply minimize these areas.
6. If you are going to use foundation, now is the time. Choose a formula for oily skin. Formulas that are long-lasting powder formulas and those that are mattifying, oil-free and noncomedogenic are your best bet. One expert suggests you, “Always stick to applying the foundation with your fingertips – Make sure they are clean, using a brush with increase your chances of developing acne problems. Refrain from slapping on foundation on your problem areas like acne on your face – This will only accentuate them making your skin look uneven.” You should then allow the foundation to rest for at least five or ten minutes and only then move on to the next step.
7. Use a loose finishing powder that is both translucent and matte. This can help to reduce oily skin and shiny areas, but apply lightly. Avoid any shimmery powders because they only enhance any shiny areas brought on by oily skin. You don’t need to do a full face application of finishing powder, but instead target the most problematic spots that include the nose, chin and forehead.
8. After that you can apply eye makeup, blush and lip makeup. When buying cosmetics for oily skin, remember that you will also need to use powder based formulas that will not slide or lost traction as your skin’s oil levels change during the day. You may also want to invest in waterproof mascara and eye liners because these can and do merge with the natural oils in the skin and can then bleed or blend.
9. Finish it all with another application of powder or a setting spray.

Related: Eye Makeup Tips for Mature Skin

As a word of warning, one beauty professional says you “need to keep a small kit ready for standby in desperate times. Always carry a translucent powder and oil- blotting sheets. You can always add touch–ups of compact or translucent powder to control the oil.”

Another says that many people with oily skin tend to fear powder, having heard it will only make matters worse. However, they advise that a setting powder “is crucial for oily skin as it’ll help lock in your look all day long, plus it’ll help smooth out your complexion. If you don’t get super oily and want to achieve a dewy finish, apply a light dusting of powder to your T-zone as these are the areas that get oily. However, in general, we’d recommend setting all over to keep your look on lockdown… try a setting powder… which contains sulfur, clay, and zinc to balance oil production and absorb oil.”

You will also have to train yourself to avoid touching your face, as another expert says “It’s a natural habit we all have, but avoid touching your face at all costs. The oils (and germs) from your hands get onto your skin and into your pores. It can cause skin irritation or even break down your foundation or powders, which means grease city by midday. You’d be surprised how long your makeup can truly last when you keep your hands away from it.”

Finally, we suggest you do as one beauty enthusiast said and keep in mind that less is more, adding “You may often sport that ‘dewy glow’ that others with dry skin work hard to recreate… so, own it!” Just remember that some people with dry skin wish they had too much oil, and that your skin is likely to be less lined and wrinkled with age. It’s not always a bad thing to struggle with oily skin, and you now know how to choose a makeup routine and foundation solution that will enhance your look and last all day with these foundation tips for oily skin.

More Great Foundation Tips for Oily Skin:

16 Oil-Fighting Tips That Stop Your Face From Getting Shiny

How to make Makeup last longer on Oily skin?

6 Must Know Beauty Tips for Oily Skin