Oily Skin, Skincare Routine for Hot Weather (Bonus Makeup Tips Too)!
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YES, YOU CAN MAKE MAKEUP LAST ON OILY SKIN
It’s heating up, y’all! While you will NEVER hear me complaining about the warm temps, my already oily skin can get, well, let’s see….have you ever seen melted butter on a warm piece of bread? My friends with similar skin know exactly what I mean, and it ain’t pretty.
For years I’ve battled with keeping my skin (and therefore, my makeup) looking good throughout the day in all the seasons. Summer, with it’s heat and humidity is of course, more difficult. I could put my makeup on and by the time I walked to my car, it looked like my face was melting.
And then I was given the best beauty advice I’d ever been given:
You will never combat oily skin, by adding oil to your skin. Profound, right?
And what was I doing to my skin? My oily skin? Before I even put makeup on, I was adding moisturizer. With oil. And then I was doubling up on that oil by using foundation. Also with oil.
And yet I couldn’t understand why my skin/makeup never looked as good as everyone else’s. I meeeaaan, I bought the exact foundation so-and-so used in this-or-that video.
Which leads me to the second best piece of beauty advice I’ve been given:
My skin is not her skin. She might have normal skin (or dry skin), or any other type of skin other than mine. So even if we have the same product, the makeup won’t look the same. That’s life.
Over the course of time (or since I heard about not adding oil to oil) I’ve made it my mission to try to figure out a way to keep my skin looking as fresh as possible, even in full makeup, throughout the day. Keep reading for the products I’ve come to love and techniques that have helped my oily skin look it’s best no matter the season!
SKINCARE ROUTINE STEPS FOR OILY SKIN
I used to only use a toner at night, and sometimes not even then. But, I now usually use it both morning and night. Even after I’ve washed my face in the morning, I usually find some dirt and oil still lingers around until I nuke it with my Pixi Glow Tonic. In my opinion, this is the best toner for oily skin. Formulated with 5% Glycolic Acid and equipped with Aloe Vera and Ginseng, this feels great on my skin, minus the burning sensation I sometimes feel with other toners.
Pixi manufactures in a variety of countries, including, Korea, USA and China.
After my toner, and next in my oily skin skincare routine bag-of-tricks is to use an oil-free moisturizer. Up until a few years ago, I didn’t realize oil-free moisturizer even existed. It’s hard to grasp - my skin is oily, so why do I need moisturizer? Honestly, I don’t know the semantics, I just know my skin looks and feels better when I moisturize, plus, makeup goes on much smoother. And while at night (and especially winter nights), I still do use a regular moisturizer (with oil), during the day, if I’m wearing makeup, it’s a huge no.
Lately, I’ve been using Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Moisturizer and WOW! This is good stuff guys. It both hydrates skin and keeps it shine-free for up to 24 hours. I’ve not worn it for 24 hours straight, so I can’t vouch for that, but I will tell you - my cheek-shine has been non-existent this spring. And while I can’t say it’s solely because of Kiehl’s, I will say it’s been improved upon from a year ago (when I was doing everything I’m telling you to do here, sans Kiehl's).
This Kiehl’s for oily skin moisturizer retails for $32 and in addition to being oil free, it’s also alcohol-free, fragrance-free, mineral oil-free, dye-free and TEA-free.
Kiehl’s is manufactured in the USA.
Best Primer for Oily Skin
After my moisturizer fully absorbs, it’s time for primer. I L-O-V-E LOVE Neutrogena Matte Primer + Serum . Formulated with rice protein, this will again help soak up excess oil, blurring pores and mattifying skin. And yes, it’s oil-free:)It really is the perfect canvas for the rest of your makeup.
Neutrogena is manufactured in the USA, UK and Germany.
Next up, one of the most important steps for those of use who wear a full face of makeup: foundation.
Foundation for Oily Skin (it Does Exist!)
Once again, I did not even realize there was oil-free foundation...or maybe I didn't know oil was in foundation to begin with, but once I did, I had to stop using it.
And the good news, my favorite foundation for oily skin can be found at your local drugstore. CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Liquid Foundation is, you guessed it, oil-free, doesn't cake and minimizes pores for up to 12 hours of wear.
I’ve tried several higher end oil-free foundations and guess what? I either hated them or didn’t love the results, going back to CoverGirl every time. I’ve also tried e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation and wasn’t wowed by it. It felt (and looked) like it was sitting on my skin instead of really blending in.
The CoverGirl shade I’m using here is M30, but here’s a little pro-tip. I also have a really light version and as my skin coloring changes throughout the year, I custom blend the two to create my perfect shade:)
CoverGirl products are manufcatured in both the USA and Germany.
My other must-have beauty product is the e.l.f. Perfect Finish HD Powder. This transluscent powder instantly mattifies and sets makeup in place.
I do a dusting after my primer AND after my foundation to keep my skin looking fresh all the live-long day. This powder is inexpensive and, even using twice during my process, the amount of product in the container is ample, lasting a really long time.
e.l.f. products are manufactured primarily in China.
I do have one other favorite product I use regularly that likely has oil in it, but oddly, they don’t list their ingredients anywhere (that I could find). The Billion Dollar Brows Highlighter and Concealer Pencil has been on my favorites list for quite awhile.
While it’s meant to frame your brow, I actually use the highlighter portion under my eyes and the concealer around my nose.
Billion Dollar Brows is manufactured in the USA.
My last step in makeup is to mist with Makeup Magnet Mist from POPbeauty. Formulated with Vitamin C, caffeine, licorice and cucumber extract, this locks makeup in place with just a spritz or two. All POP products are 100% vegan and cruelty free.
POPbeauty is manufactured in Korea.
Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin - Face Specifically
Something I’m excited to begin working into my summer beauty routine, a facial oil-free sunscreen from MyChelle. Their Tinted Sun Shield Liquid has an SPF 50, and is oil-free. It’s perfect for under makeup, or alone.
Offering 100% mineral broad-spectrum protection, it’s available in three tints or non-tinted. I’ve worn this alone, in the medium/dark tint, and it was a nice alternative to foundation for a casual day out. And, just like all MyChelle products, Tinted Sun Shield is CLEAN - no phthalates, parabens, petroleum, sulfates, ureas, or artificial fragrances and colors.
MyChelle products are made in the USA.
As promised, I do have a few additional makeup tips for oily skin:
Use powder options as much as possible - I LOVE how cream blushes and bronzer look on me, but unfortunately, they just don’t last.
Don’t be overly aggressive with your foundations and concealers. Meaning, only use as much as you need to. I used to pile it on because I thought that’s what I was supposed to do. Now, I add a little where I need it and if I need more, I add a little bit more. But I don’t start with a lot.
If you see oil start to creep in, you don’t need expensive blotters, a little tissue, napkin or even paper towel will do the trick. Lay it flat on the oily spot and gently press to absorb the oil, without smearing your makeup.
Hopefully you find some of these tips helpful in dealing with your oily skin this summer season. Have a tip of your own I need to try? Let me know in the comments!
