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Burning Beauty Question: How do you keep shine in-check throughout the day, without removing makeup by using a blotting paper? – Avi
Answer: There are three fail-safe ways to keep the oil at bay:
1. Use a mattifying primer
There are some fantastic mattifying primers on the market that work really well. Illamasqua’s Matte Veil is a new product that has already achieved cult status. The key mattifying ingredient is Butyelene Glycol which dissolves the skin’s overactive oil levels while drawing in and retaining moisture.
Napoleon Perdis’ Pore Minimiser and Mattifier is another product that works wonders – it comes out of the tube brown, but, it becomes transparent when applied to the skin, and transitions from a cream to super velvety and powdery finish. Simply apply a pindrop of product onto the nose, t-zone and anywhere else that shine comes to say hello. The best bit? If you want to smooth over open pores, this works for that too. Magic.
2. Pick the right foundation
If you’re prone to oiliness, make sure you are purchasing the right foundation for your skin-type. Using the wrong type of foundation can make shine an issue, while choosing the right one could be enough to fix it. The best products for oily skins are liquid-to-powder formulations. These are self-setting products that are designed to last from morning to night. Napoleon’s China Doll gives a porcelain finish to oily skin types, while Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Even Finish Compact Foundation has won a heap of awards and boasts 12-hour wear. If you have combination skin and love dewy-looking cheeks, but want your T-zone matte, use a translucent powder on the oiler parts of your face. A great one is Laura Mercier’s loose setting powder or MAC’s Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.
3. Not all blotting papers are created equal
Use blotting papers that have a powder film, like Shiseido’s Pureness Oil Blotting Paper. They will absorb oil and promise to keep makeup intact.
The oil fighter's armoury
Any tricks we missed?