Oily Skin Foundations

Oily skin foundations can mean the difference between a beautiful matte look and one that shines.

A pretty, polished, oil-free look.

You’ve probably heard the terms combination, dry, sensitive and oily skin, but may not be sure on where you fit in. As a quick tutorial, dry skin can feel "tight" after cleansing and may contain fine wrinkles, have a bit of flaking or redness. Sensitive skin may be "thin" feeling, may flush easily and have fine pores. Combination and /or normal skin has a smooth, even texture. The "combination" part comes from having an oily forehead and chin (the "T-zone"), and dry cheeks.

On the other hand, oily skin tends to be shiny, has enlarged pores and can be prone to breakouts and blemishes. If you suspect that you have oily skin, finding oily skin foundations that suit your needs may be something of a chore.

Here are some of the best and most widely recognized oily skin foundations on the market:

• Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Foundation: Even though the company claims that this foundation is perfect for all skin types, those with oily skin may particularly appreciate the formula’s "oil-free" component. Designed to enhance the natural undertones of the skin, this foundation can be applied lightly for a sheer look, or can be layere4d to impart more pigment (coverage). You can expect to pay about $42.00 for this bottle.

• Nars: Enriched with ingredients like Kaolin clay to control shine, this foundation leaves a soft matte finish. Nars also claims that the formula is non-drying, and won’t irritate the skin. Available for $41.00.

• Ulta: Ulta is an online makeup store that sells a variety of cosmetics, usually at much cheaper prices than if you purchased at a department store. What you’ll really like about Ulta is that they devote an entire section to oil free products, including foundations, that helps one achieve a beautiful matte finish.

Several different products are listed here including, Skin Clearing Oil free Liquid Makeup by Neutrogena to Elizabeth Arden’s Bare Perfection Makeup. A product that warrants special attention is Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

This primer is applied before foundation and because it’s oil-free and enriched with vitamins A&E, grape seed extract and green tea, it will "grab" onto any foundation placed over it. Another primer worth investigating is Under Cover Agent Oil Control Primer by Iman.

Other viable oily skin foundations include foundation powders, or foundations that act like a liquid, but once applied to the skin, turns into a silky smooth powder. Two such foundation powders are MAC Studio Fix and Laura Mercier’s Foundation Powder. Both are designed to minimize the appearance of large pores, while providing a silky, satin-like finish. Note that Laura Mercier’s product is the pricier of the two, but both work wonders for those with oily skin.

No matter what foundation you choose, these oily skin tips may help your skin look fresh:

• Use powder blush, not cream. The cream formula, particularly during the summer months, may cause you to break out.

• Try to only use makeup products designed for oily skin.

• When you’re outside and splashing cold water on your face is not an option, consider using a face blotter sheet. The body Shop sells these sheets that once pressed against the face, are specifically designed to remove oil.

Searching for oily skin foundations does not have to mean running off in a bunch of different directions. In fact, a targeted, fine-tuned search will yield amazing results. However, when you do find a list of products that look promising, you’ll still have to try them to see how they work with your particular skin, and that can get pretty pricey.

Circumvent this by walking up to your local department store’s makeup counter. Once there, ask for a sample of the foundation in question. If you get any push-back, simply explain that you are, in fact, looking to purchase. From there, it should be a cinch to get all the samples you want!

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