THE BEST SHINE-CONTROLLING PRODUCTS FOR OILY SKIN
The oily-skinned have a lot to be thankful for (fewer fine lines being top of the list) however, when the weather warms up and the morning commute gets, er... greasy, these everyday skin care essentials will ensure the sun's the only thing that's shining (#smug).
The right cleanser should help to re-establish equilibrium. Anything too astringent can exacerbate oil production and in turn, contribute to congestion - so use something gentle and non-stripping, to clarify without leaving skin feeling stripped. Alpha-H's Balancing Cleanser does exactly as its name implies, while Sunday Riley's Ceramic Slip Cleanser stars French green clay to draw out impurities and 'shrink' the appearance of pores. Follow cleansing with a purifying treatment 2 - 3 times a week to keep blemishes at bay and help to 'mop up' excess oil; Aesop's Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque is a beauty blogger favourite, adored for its phenomenal calming and clarifying capabilities.
Hydrate with something lightweight or hyaluronic acid-based - refreshing gel formulas feel soothing without suffocating oily or problematic skin types. Bio-Essence's Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Moisturising Gel is ultra-lightweight yet replenishing - absorbing almost instantly to leave skin dewy but not smothered. Or, those with combination or mature skin types should choose Resultime by Collin's Anti-ageing Mattifying Fluid - an oil-controlling formula which nourishes while stimulating synthesis of collagen (the 'scaffolding' that helps maintain skin's firmness).
It seems counter-intuitive, but oils can really help to restore harmony - often skin makes oil because it's feeling over-exposed, so by 'tricking' it into believing the opposite can gradually combat the problem. Uma's Deeply Clarifying Face Oil stars a cocktail of essential oils to wage war on blemish-causing bacteria, while pausing the oil-production process. Similarly, Sunday Riley's Artemis works to normalise skin that's bewildered - toning, purifying and radiance-boosting to recover a luminous (non-greasy) glow (just apply overnight to 're-train' your cells as you slumber).
Make up-wise, a mattifying primer applied sparingly will have a massive impact on the longevity of your base. Blend BECCA's Resurfacing Primer on any areas you'd naturally see a sheen - forehead, nose and chin - to absorb excess sebum and enhance make up wear. Alternatively, those with enough wisdom to have graduated to the 35+ category should try Studio 10's Prime & Perfect Refining Powder Silk - an ultra-finely milled priming powder that's enriched with anti-ageing active, to blur visibility of fine lines and blemishes for a semi-matte, soft focus finish.
Jouer Cosmetics Matte Moisture Tint has a whipped, 'mousse' consistency to grant medium coverage and leave skin looking velvety-textured. Oil-free, this breathable tinted moisturiser doesn't clog pores and blends imperceptibly for your-skin-but-better effect. Set everything in place with a quick spritz of Pixi's Make Up Fixing Mist - a skin-freshening formula which prevents make up migration - then mattify on the move with NudeStix Skin Pencil - Matte + Blemish; a handbag must-have, this oil-absorbing crayon contains salicylic acid to stop spots in their tracks, while Amazonian clay 'soaks up' sebum.
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
