Oily skin has the benefit of aging slower, better hydration, and less fine lines and wrinkles. However, one of the biggest challenges is finding the right make-up for your skin type and being able to keep it on for long periods. Here are some tips on how to look your best with make-up.
1. Prepare your skin Before applying make-up you must cleanse your skin. Getting rid of any excess oil and dirt will help the make-up sit better and last longer. Avoid abrasive cleansers as they will strip the skin of moisture, leading to increased oil production.
Exfoliation - Include exfoliation in your weekly regime by exfoliating at least once or twice a week. The excess oil produced leads to dead cells on the skins surface resulting in pimples, dull skin, acne and blackheads. Be gentle and do not scrub your skin in a harsh manner.
Face masks - include an oil absorbing face mask in your weekly regime. Products containing bentonite clay, or sandalwood are good as they absorb excess oil naturally.
2. Tone Use an alcohol free toner at least once a day to wipe off excess oil and to close the pores.
3. Moisturise your skin Moisturise with an oil-free moisturiser. When using sunscreen, look for one with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as they have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
4. Prime For your make-up to last longer than a few hours, prime it with a matte primer. If you don’t have primer, use milk of magnesia. Apply a thin layer on your face and allow it to dry. This is an important base for your make-up. Primer plays an important role in absorbing the oil that our glands produce. Therefore, the make-up will last longer as it won’t streak or fade.
5. Conceal To hide blemishes, use a stick concealer rather than a liquid one. Apply a small amount and blend in with your finger.
6. Foundation Select a product that’s oil and fragrance free. Apply foundation with a brush or your fingers as this helps you to cover the problem areas. Allow the foundation to set for at least 10 minutes before applying translucent powder. Avoid powders with a shimmer which may make one appear oilier.
7. Eye shadow Go for powder formulations rather than cream palettes. For better application, use a brush and blend in.
8. Apply blush Use a big brush to apply powder blush. Avoid stick or oily blush as it will only make oily skin appear greasy.
9. Remove make-up
Always ensure that you remove make-up before sleeping. If you are careless in this area, it could lead to pimples and blackheads.
Ensure all your applicators are clean, by washing them at least once a week. For those emergencies, carry sheets of blotting paper to control oil production.