As a pro makeup artist, the question I get asked most often is “What’s the best matte foundation for my oily skin that won’t make me break out?” It’s a great question and I get asked so often I decided it was high time to make a blog about it. I hate to break it to you, but there is foundation that will single-handedly solve your oil or acne problems, despite all of the fancy marketing claims cosmetic companies love to make. Here’s why…
First off, a ton of people think they have very oily skin…but they actually don’t. Most people have normal or combination skin with a tendency to get oily as the day goes on. The truth is, most of you are actually giving yourselves oily skin and/or acne by using harsh acne products, strong toners, drying mud/clay masks, fragranced products, oil control products, silicone primers, and thick full-coverage foundation (which most people don’t need…but that’s a whole other blog topic). All of these can wreak havoc on your skin.
What? Then how do we make the oil stop? Let me break it down for you. Skin naturally produces oil called sebum which helps keep your skin hydrated and healthy. When you use products to remove it, you strip ALL the good stuff too. So your skin becomes thirsty because it’s lacking any sort of oil/hydration. The skin then goes into oil production panic overload because it’s thirsty AF. But you don’t know that- you just want the oil gone and so you do everything you can to remove it. And then your skin produces extra oil that causes clogged pores and acne. And then you use drying, harsh acne products. Which results in a vicious cycle. Sometimes there are other underlying causes for excessive oil production such as hormones, so it’s important to see a skin expert to help determine what your skin’s deal is.
Ok so how do you fix it? By seeing an esthetician who can recommend skincare products specifically designed for your skin type and provide treatments to address your skin concerns. The goal is to get your skin balanced, that way you will have normal oil production levels with hydrated skin. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on skin care products. They just need to be effective and suitable for your skin type. If you need a referral for a great esthetician in the Toledo area, send us a DM or an email! Frequent facial treatments will really improve the look and feel of your skin, as well as how well your makeup wears.
Once you finally have balanced out your skin struggles, you should be able to wear any foundation you like without it turning into an oil slick or getting patchy and cakey halfway through the day. Touching up with blotting paper once or twice through the day is normal. There is no holy grail foundation that will fix acne problems or make your skin less oily, it does not exist. So many people don’t realize how important proper skin care is in relation to makeup. Good makeup ALWAYS starts with good skin care! The two go hand-in-hand, so it’s time to stop relying on makeup wipes to clean your face, start drinking more water, and get a consistent skin routine locked down so that your makeup will last and you’ll feel your most confident.
I hope you found this helpful! Leave a comment below and feel free to share as always.
XOXO,
Amy