Great Make Up Tips for Oily Skin!

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Article by BR Dana

Oily skin can make a woman feel self-conscience and embarrassed, although, it is not noticed by other people as often you think. If you have oily skin no doubt you've already come up with your own ways to minimise it, but it's always a good idea to have a backup plan just in case you have an oil breakthrough. Having an arsenal of tools in your bag to battle the oil will give you the confidence needed to be able to face the world.

The Oil Battle

Over-active sebaceous glands can affect people for a lifetime so learning what triggers these glands to produce more oil than normal should be your first line of defense. Trying to remove the extra layer of oil will only make the body produce more oil which is a vicious and frustrating cycle.

Proper Cleansing is Vital

Proper cleansing of the skin, and with the right product, will slow down the production of oil throughout the day. Always ensure that you follow with an Astringent to keep the pores from clogging and it will also help keep the shine down all day long. The lasting effects of the right astringent will linger even after the makeup is applied. Keep in mind that over using Acne-Scrubs or Facial-Scrubs is not the answer: it will only encourage the glands to produce oil. Finding the right skin care products to help manage oily skin can be a costly endeavor. Until you find what works for your particular skin condition, here are some suggestions to consider on your quest to help hide the shiny, greasy outbreaks:

Always Use a Primer

Before any makeup goes on your face, do your skin a favor by throwing on a quick coat of Primer. Primer formulated for oily skin is a great way to keep the oil glands from producing oil in the first place. It tricks the skin into thinking that it does not need to produce any extra oil because it already has a coat of protection-it is when your skin is bare that it produces the most oil.   

Believe it or not, oily skin benefits from moisturiser, and don't forget the Sunscreen.

Unfortunately, there is a myth that says a person with oily skin won't get wrinkles later in life. Although, the extra oil may protect the skin from some of the free-radicals found in the environment, the oil, itself, will not protect the skin, solely. No one is immune from dark spots and the effects from aging, so moisturiser should be an essential part of every woman’s beauty regiment. More importantly, Sunscreen is the most critcal product for maintaining healthy skin especially in our part of the world where the sun is so harsh.

With so many products on the shelf it is hard to choose which type of Sun Protection is best for your oily skin. A protective veil or a mineral-powder based Sunscreen is a two-fold product that not only protects you from the harmful rays of the sun but it also is capable of absorbing excess oil. This is not only a great product to carry in your purse to have on hand for touch-ups but typical sunscreen only last as long as the SPF number implies. An SPF of 30 will protect you for 30 x your unprotected burn time. So as a rough calculation if your skin would burn in 10 minutes unprotected an SPF 30 should protect you for 300 minutes.  So, having Sunscreen available at all times will ensure that the oil is under control and you are protected from other issues that will really bother you later in life. Remember: You can hide the shine but you cannot wipe away wrinkles.  

Covering the Flaws

Concealer, or the wrong concealer, can be a disaster for oily skin. The heavy camouflage effect of concealer does not mix well with oily skin and can ultimately end up all over the face before the day is done. Highlighters are very light, sit on top of the skin, and covers imperfections while allowing the skin to breath.  And, for older skin that has excessive oil; Highlighters, create a chandelier effect which hides the effects from aging, beautifully. 

Success Always Begins with a Good Foundation

Some women have a misconception in their thinking that using a lot of foundation to cover up a not-so-perfect complexion helps mask imperfections. What people notice more than the issues, themselves, are the use of too much make up. Let’s face it, it is hard to take anyone seriously that is wearing a make-up mask. However, the skin needs something on it to absorb excess oil, without clogging pours, but looks natural. A good choice for this situation is a powder based foundation for oily skin. Powder provides the absorbent properties needed while allowing the skin to breath.  The availably of Mineral Based powder foundations has exploded on the market so the options are endless when it comes to oily complexions. What you need to look for is a foundation that has a matte finish. Matte foundations are formulated with finely micro-pressed minerals that have a long-lasting absorbent affect on the skin while looking natural and not overdone.  

Bronzer Instead of Blush

Blush is an especially difficult issue with excessive oily skin: cheek color seems to disappear a few hours after it is applied. Bronzer may be a better option because they come in so many different colors, formulated for every complexion type, and can be used all over the face. Bronzers give a nice healthy glow without being too noticeable.  No more are the days walking around with a bright orange face when all you ever wanted to do was add a little color. It's is another useful and duel product because it can be used as a color enhancer while it helps to control the shine.  

Make sure the eyes have it whan it comes to staying power

Getting Eye Shadow to stay on all day with an oily complexion can be another form of frustration for many women. The use of an Eye Shadow primer will keep the oil production down and prevent eye shadow from creasing in the middle. Also, try Pigmented Mineral Powder Eye Shadows which are long-lasting and stay in place all day long. The colors stay true and appear freshly applied and that gives you one less thing to worry about as you conquer the world and put your best face forward.

Mascara: The Super Hero of Makeup

When a woman has an over- abundance of oil, the only makeup that can be guarantee for all day-wear is typically water-proof mascara. For a dramatic result, try using two different types of mascara for every day use. Use a thickening and a volumizing mascara, together, makes the eyelashes pop with just a simple wave of a wand. If your eyelashes look amazing, no one will notice anything else.

Oil Shine Blotting Sheets

When all else fails a good touch up product to have on hand in an emergency is a book of oil blotting sheets. These are little sheets of absorbant paper, you just dab them on your shiny spots and they absorb any excess oil, minimising the shine.

So there you have it. These are just a few ways to help you minimize shine but you have to find what works best for your needs. It always helps to research the products you buy and pay special attention to the active ingredients listed on the labels. When you find a product that helps minimize oil and that works for you a good idea is to then  check for that same ingredient in future purchases.