Anyone who knows the struggles of a shiny face has a unique set of beauty baggage. You follow a special set of makeup rules, blotting protocols and skincare hacks— or maybe just a few of the above. But don’t sweat over it. If your current oil-control routines aren’t giving you that matte complexion you crave, it’s time to consider new tricks. Let’s begin with these 7 reasons your skin is oily and how to get matte.
To get all the facts, we referred to celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau and leading dermatologist, Diane Elizabeth.
1. You’re not drinking enough water
Water is one of the most underrated beauty tools. Our bodies need water to regulate itself– including our oil levels. So when you get dehydrated, which is common after your morning coffee, your skin can over-produce sebum to replenish the lost moisture.
“Dehydrated skin is oily, combination, or normal skin that is lacking water and feels tight,” Rouleau says. In fact, it’s trying to compensate for the low moisture levels in the skin, leaving your face extra greasy. This happens when your face has overactive sebaceous glands. You’ll notice large pores because they’re congested with sebum. These are signs that your skin is out of balance.
By drinking more water ( ideally 6-8 glasses per day), you can help your body manage its hydration levels, leading to a more matte complexion.
2. Your skin products are too harsh
You might love those intense acne-fighting products, but do they love you back? Using harsh skincare products, like those made with salicylic acid, can actually worsen your oil production.
Although salicylic acid is meant to clean your pores by dissolving debris and sebum, not all skin types can handle this heavy-duty cleansing action. As Rouleau explains, “Dehydrated skin is common among those with oily and acne-prone skin who use harsh products that strip the skin of water.” If you’ve got sensitive skin, these products can over-exfoliate your skin, which can cause irritation, dryness and excess sebum.
Instead of using these harsh skin products, you should try a gentler approach. Rely on safe organic face soap, followed by natural aloe vera, which soothes the skin and controls grease. Finish your routine with a toner containing witch hazel to keep your pores clean without adding more stress or chemicals to your face.
3.You wear too much makeup
Our skin needs to breathe. So when you mask on the makeup, your pores are basically suffocating. Grim, we know.
According to Diane Elizabeth, beauty expert and founder of Skin Care Ox,”The most likely outcome of wearing too much makeup is clogged pores and irritated skin. Highly comedogenic ingredients get trapped in our pores, along with dirt and bacteria, and cause blackheads and breakouts.” This extra oil production is your skin’s way of cleaning itself and handling all the gunk and goop you slather on.
Basically, the more heavy-handed you get with makeup, the more you’ll see grease puddles collect in your T-zone. You’re better off using minimal layers of makeup and opting for better oil-control remedies. Dermalogica makes an impressive mattifying lotion that safely absorbs sebum from your pores.
4. You need more leafy greens
The saying, “you are what you eat” couldn’t be more true. If you eat rubbish, your face will look like rubbish. Awful yet right.
By getting more leafy greens in your diet, your skin gets the nourishment it needs to manage its oil levels. Charlotte Vohtz, the founder of organic and natural beauty brand Green People, believes that beauty starts from within. She recommends to “eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits” to help regulate your body’s hormones and internal filtering system.
“A deficiency of vitamin B2 can also cause oily skin,” Charlotte explains. “Good sources include brewer’s yeast, whole grains, beans and nuts.” Once you start focusing on balanced diet, your skin will improve by balancing itself too.
5. You’re using silicone-based makeup
Among makeup addicts, silicone-based foundation is the holy bible of a flawless complexion. Or is it? Perhaps you’ll enjoy that airbrushed look for the first few hours, but through the day, your artwork melts into a shiny spill hazard. Surely, we can all relate.
The problem with silicone-based makeup is that it doesn’t allow your skin to breathe. “Many of the ingredients in makeup products, from natural ingredients like coconut oil to synthetic silicones and petrochemicals, are highly comedogenic or pore clogging,” Rouleau says. So, if you try to contain the grease with more silicone-based foundation, the problem will just continue in a cycle.
To stop the cycle, use a lighter foundation that’s water-based. Not only will you get breathable coverage, but it offers a more natural looking finish. And best of all, your skin will stay matte for longer.
6. Your moisturizer is too oily
Not all moisturizers are treated equally. Some brands skip corners when it comes to quality, adding buttery textures that won’t actually nourish your skin– although they might feel quite nice. But don’t be fooled; these moisturizers are not truly hydrating. They’re just spreading more oil on the surface of your face.
“Avoid mineral oil, petroleum, and petrolatum in your moisturizer, as they will suffocate oily skin and clog pores,” Rouleau says. Look for oil-free moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid, which is intensely hydrating yet lightweight. These higher quality versions will plump and replenish your skin without contributing to excess oil.
7. You need finishing powder
There’s a lot of hype around finishing sprays, but rarely do we ever fuss over finishing powder. Blame it on beauty trends, perhaps. Yet the truth is that finishing powder goes a much longer way for an oily face.
If you don’t know the difference, let’s review the basics. According to beauty expert Nikki Apostolou, a finishing spray keeps your makeup from smudging or melting, while a finishing powder works to achieve a matte texture. “It’s used after setting powder and adds even more of a blurred look to imperfections of the skin (lines under the eyes, pores, etc.) and control shine,” Apostolou says.
If you’re serious about managing oily skin, forget about the whole finishing spray trend. Your greasy realities are better handled by the matte effects of a finishing powder. Pledge your allegiance, stat!
Uncovering the reasons why your skin is oily is a comprehensive mission. No doubt. However, if you’re prepared to make the right changes to your daily habits and product choices, you’ll be well on your way to a matte face.
