Top 5 Products to Counteract Oily/ Combination Skin : Hacks & Tips

Would you believe me if I told you the best products to counteract oily/ combination skin is in you medicine cabinet and you just don't know it yet...?

Nothing is more unappealing than oily skin that seeps through your makeup, it simply ruins that perfect foundation base, you probably spent 20 minutes trying to flawlessly perfect, as the makeup "sweats" off your face. 

People who have oily skin often have a shine on their face with noticeably larger pores and suffer from regular breakouts. The same applies for combination skin, which is the most reported common skin type, however, this skin type gets oily in the T-zone and the rest of the face tends to be dry. 

What causes all that oil on my damn skin?

Our body produces oil to help keep our skin soft and supple, but if too much sebum is produced, it can lead to acne flare-ups and oiliness which are some of the leading causes of acne. Two main factors are to blame: hormones and genetics. 

Oily skin is known medically as seborrhea and is caused by excess skin oil produced within the pores. During puberty and other life events, fluctuating hormones can result in increased androgen levels. Androgens are male hormones present in both males and females that signal the maturation of the skin’s sebaceous glands. As these glands mature, oil production increases. 

The higher amount of androgens present, the more sebum is funneled through the pores, which then sits on the surface of the skin, creating an oily sheen. Should this excess oil become trapped in the pore and combine with dead skin cells and bacteria on the surface of the skin and inside the pore, pimples, blackheads, and other blemishes will form. 

I've always suffered from oily skin and this has proven to be makeup sabotage over the years. Until I came across a few hacks, both affordable and costly to counteract the demon of oily skin. 

If you're on a budget, look no further for 2 of the most inexpensive hacks & tips to counteract oily/ combination skin, that sits in your medicine cabinet. If you guessed Calamine Lotion and Milk of Magnesia you're right. Yes, these products are for medical purposes, before I didn't quite believe it would work as some people claimed, until I actual saw it working before my eyes, now, I swear by this hack.

To apply, after you prep your base, you simply rub the liquid into your T-zone or your entire face wherever gets oily, then you apply your foundation over it. This product can be sourced at any drugstore. 

If you want to get fancy, and throw some cash at that oil, there are 3 must have products I honestly can't live without. You can use them individually or together in a step by step process as stated below.

Firstly, I believe getting rid of the oil starts with skin care. To do this I use my Neutrogena Deep Clean Long Last Shine Control cleanser/ mask. This 3 minute intensive mask thoroughly absorbs shine and pore-clogging impurities that cause surface oil. You feel a cooling intensity as the mask penetrates the pores just enough to not cause dryness. After washing the mask off there is a refreshing and  noticeable difference in the texture of your skin. This product can be sourced in any pharmacy. 

Secondly, when you're wearing makeup to really counteract oily/ combination skin you must prep your base properly. If you're not a fan of the Calamine Lotion or Milk of Magnesia which can turn out to be quite chalky, Trini makeup brand SACHA developed a Mattifier Face Primer, which is  a lightweight face primer that absorbs excess oils and smoothes skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and pores. This product can be worn under foundation or alone. The mattifier can be sourced in any Pennywise or SACHA retail outlet/ SACHA Cosmetics Online  (See link) and it retails for $20 USD online.

Lastly, to have full shine control coverage you must have the perfect setting spray to keep everything in place. My ride or die setting spray is definitely the Urban Decay de-slick makeup setting spray for oil control.  This is by far the most powerful oil control ally you can ever find. It's a weightless mist that deflect surface shine and keeps the skin looking beautifully matte. The high-tech ingredients keeps foundation, eyeshadows and blush from smudging, sliding or fading for a long lasting vibrant look. This product can be found at The Law of Beauty locally for $140 TTD or online at Sephora for $31 USD.

So there you have it, my top 5 products I swear by, that helps me counteract my combination skin. Try them all out, or which ever stands out to you and tell us if these hacks & tips were helpful. 

Tag us:

-XOXO AriNelly