The makeup world is extremely tricky for those of us with oily skin because there's a very fine line between "glowing" and just looking straight up shiny. But don't worry, after years of trial and error of working with my oily skin I am here to tell you all my secrets and favorite products. Here is the best makeup for oily skin!
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Cleanser
I am just going to start off by saving you a trip to the dermatologist. If you have oil-prone skin you NEED to be using La Rosche Posay. My dermatologist recommended it back when I was in high school and it is a complete game-changer. My skin breaks out less, has less texture, and produces less oil.
Plus it's not any more expensive than the average cleanser from a grocery store. A 400 mL bottle is $19.99 and lasts me about 6 months!
Primer
Primer should be your best friend as an avid oil producer. I used to hate using primers because I didn't like the way they felt on my bare skin and I was under the (wrong) impression that they were just making my skin even more oily.
I've learned from my naturally glowing friends (not fair, I know) that the difference between being oily vs. glowing is only the placement of the oils.
This is where primer comes in to play. I apply primer where I DO NOT want my oil to come through ie. around my nose and forehead. But I make sure to steer clear of my eyebrow and cheek bones.
Applying this primer trick to my daily makeup routine has allowed me to add some shine to my look without looking shiny.
Hands-down my all time favorite primer. I hardly ever use anything else because this primer is just so dependable. My makeup looks smoother, my shine level stays minimal, and nothing creases!
My biggest issue with my oily skin is that my pores end up looking huge by the end of the day where my oil pokes through. This is the ultimate blurring primer that holds in all of the oil and fills in all of your pores- all day/night long!
This one seems counterintuitive, right? More moisture to try to avoid looking oily? But the more we moisturize our skin before applying foundation, the less moisture our skin feels like it needs to produce- hence less oil!
This is the ULTIMATE primer for all skin types. The first time I used it I kind of freaked out because it's thick. But I've learned, the tackier the better as far as primer goes. My makeup genuinely looked airbrushed after using this. AND its under $5!
Foundation
Foundation is the basis for a flawless face of makeup. Picking the wrong one can be absolutely detrimental. Here are the absolute best long-wear, oil-hiding foundations to make sure you don't have to constantly run to the bathroom for touch ups.
It took me so long to finally crack down and buy this foundation because of the hefty price tag. But I am here to tell you, it's worth every single penny. This is the only foundation I have every tried that looks the EXACT same 12 hours later. Plus, it has full coverage so a little drop goes a long way and the bottle will last a long time!
This is my favorite everyday foundation. It has buildable coverage so you can adjust it to what you're doing that day. And perfect for keeping the oil at bay all day.
Setting Powder/Spray
Setting powders and sprays are essential for us oily-prone girls. On days where I am in a hurry or forget to set my makeup I can actually feel it melting off my face and looking extra shiny.
Laura Mercier has a complete monopoly on setting powders, and it's for good reason. It blends beautifully with different shades of foundation and gives full coverage without looking cakey. My absolute go-to for setting powders.
My favorite lightweight setting powder. Perfect for setting your tinted moisturizer and keeping it in place for a day around the town! Flawless application for a "no-makeup" look.
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The cult-favorite drug store setting powder. This powder actually absorbs oil and leaves skin with that matte finish that we're all looking for.
The BEST matte setting spray out there. This spray goes on as a liquid but somehow dries as a solid and sets everything in place. I once applied two layers of this before a 2 pm football game (102 degrees) and nothing moved.
The name is pretty self explanatory. If you want your makeup looking the exact same hours after application this is the spray for you! It isn't specifically made to mattify your makeup but it will keep the oils from peaking through and make sure you look flawless all night.
Makeup Remover
I got my Makeup Eraser in a subscription box and was very skeptical about how well it would be able to get all my makeup off. But this thing works! Just run it under warm water and its ready to remove even the toughest of waterproof mascara.
I throw it in with my laundry once a week (or whenever I remember) and it's brand-new again!
Oily skin shouldn't mean we have to run to the bathroom every ten minutes for touchups or avoid going outside in the heat. It just means our makeup has to work a little harder.
There's a mix of high-end and drug store products. So, no matter your budget, you can live your life shine-free.
After many, many trial and errors, I can say with complete certainty that these are the absolute best makeup products for oily skin.