Oily skin can make you prone to breakouts, makeup meltdowns and mid-day shine attacks, none of which is fun to deal with. Some people's skin is naturally a little oily; other people have to deal with oily skin in warm weather or during times of major physical change like pregnancy. Whatever is causing your oily skin, there are several practical ways to make your skin glow rather than shine.
Step 1
Choose a cleanser with 2 percent salicylic acid to keep oil from clogging your pores, and use it twice a day. Salicylic acid is less drying than benzoyl peroxide, dermatologist Amy Wechsler told "Marie Claire" magazine, and drying your skin too much can actually increase its oil production in the long run.
Step 2
Add more foods with vitamin A to your diet, like carrots, spinach and cantaloupe, suggests "Allure" magazine. Vitamin A may help slow your skin's oil production.
Step 3
Limit your intake of spicy foods, suggests "Allure" magazine. Because they make your blood vessels contract, eating them can cause perspiration, which makes your skin look shiny. Alcohol can have the same blood vessel-shrinking effect, so don't down more than one alcoholic beverage a day.
Step 4
Wear moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher every day. Some people with oily skin worry that moisturizer will exacerbate the problem, but moisturizer provides an essential barrier between your skin and the outside world. If you're concerned about your moisturizer causing breakouts, dermatologist Amy Wechsler told "Marie Claire" magazine readers to try sleeping with the moisturizer you want to try on your neck or jaw for a few nights before applying it to your whole face so that you can test for reactions.
Step 5
Dab up extra oil during the day with blotting papers. Just press the papers against your skin firmly but gently, and repeat as needed. "Allure" magazine recommends choosing blotting papers that come with just a little bit of translucent powder to get the best matte effect.
Step 6
Try mineral makeup, suggests Wechsler in "Marie Claire". Because it's noncomedogenic, it's a good choice for minimizing shine.
Tips and Warnings
- Oil-free products can still irritate your skin, so look for cosmetics that are both oil-free and noncomedogenic if you want to fight shine.
Things You'll Need
- Cleanser with 2 percent salicylic acid
- Moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher
- Blotting papers
- Mineral makeup
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