Oily Skin Part 1: Makeup Essentials!

I have combination skin. I have some really oily areas around my nose and in my t-zone, and then some drier patches on my cheeks and forehead. So while I can definitely relate to both people with dry and oily skin, one of my least favourite feelings is when my makeup starts to slip and slide off throughout the day. That's where these products come in! I have 5 simple oily skin essentials to help out those of you who are noticing that your makeup is fading, your skin is getting shiny, and you're touching up with powder all the time throughout the day. These products have certainly helped me, and I've used them on days when my skin is a sensitive, broken out, oil-producing powerhouse, as well as on days when my skin is calmer and more combination than oily. Hope these help you guys out!

1. Let's start with the basics - primer!

These two primers are my absolute favourite for keeping oil at bay. Both the NYX Pore Filler and the Benefit Porefessional (I have the little baby deluxe size) have a similar function. They fill in any large pores that are often caused by excess oil, they make your skin feel amazingly smooth, they provide an awesome base for foundation and concealer, and they keep you shine-free for a long time. Adding one of these under your makeup in the morning will prolong the wear of it, meaning less fading and less touchups.

2. Foundation - a must-have base.

I've chosen Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation as my pick for oily skin because it works so, so well. Once you apply this, it's sticking around. It's oil-free, and mattifying without being drying or cakey. It gives a beautiful, skin-like finish, even though it's incredibly full coverage and perfect for concealing any blemishes, hyper-pigmentation, or acne scars. The clay in the foundation helps keep oil under control, so you don't constantly have to worry about whether you're shiny. And the natural ingredients make this an amazing choice for anyone with acne-prone or sensitive skin. This is by far my favourite full coverage foundation.

3. Concealing time!

Even when you have an amazing foundation base, sometimes you need concealer to achieve a flawless look. And when you have oily skin, you need a concealer that's going to stay put without looking heavy and obvious. I'm in love with both of my picks - the Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Concealer and the Revlon Colorstay Concealer. These are both wonderful for oily skin, as they won't budge once applied. The Kat Von D concealer is a bit more thick and concentrated (without ever looking cakey), while the Revlon one is thinner and slightly more sheer. Overall though, they have a similar look once applied to the skin, and I use them both all the time. The Colorstay is perfect for covering large areas of redness or hyper-pigmentation, and the Kat Von D is my go-to for blemishes or really dark acne scars. You can't go wrong with either of these!

4. Finishing up with powder.

Everyone with oily skin knows the importance of a good powder to lock everything in place. I recommend MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. This adds just the slightest hint of coverage, without overpowering the makeup you've already applied. It looks incredibly natural and feels light, so you don't look powdery and you never get a thick, mask-like effect. This won't settle into fine lines and pores, so you can apply however much you need throughout the day. It's also great at combating shine. You won't even feel it on your skin, but it will make a huge difference.

5. The final step - setting spray!

Some people think that setting spray is unnecessary when you use powder, but I totally disagree. When you have oily skin, you need all the staying power you can get. Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray (I have the extra-large bottle) provides another layer of protection against oil, but it's invisible and never feels heavy. You won't even be able to tell that you applied it, but you'll notice a difference in the wear time of your makeup. This even protects against humidity and sweat, as well as oil, so that you can look flawless for hours.

I hope that these suggestions help out some people dealing with oily skin woes. I'll be posting a top-5 skincare essentials list for those with oily skin, as well as those with dry skin! Look out for that, I'll have it up as soon as I can.
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