While dewy skin may now be on trend, as anyone with oily skin knows, there’s a big difference between a radiant glow and an oil slick T-zone. Indeed, as someone who grew up with oily skin in the height of the matte skin trend, I consider myself an unofficial expert when it comes to choosing and applying makeup products to help combat that unfortunate combination of greasy skin, enlarged pores, forehead shine, and breakouts.
I learned (the hard way) the importance of skin prep, how to layer makeup to ensure it lasts all day, and exactly what to do when the shine begins to seep through. I also learned how important it is to consider the formula of a product when choosing makeup—liquid blushers and cream bronzers may be trending, but if you have oily skin, powder formulas will always reign supreme.
When you’re oil-prone, you probably find that makeup doesn’t last very long on your skin, and tends to slide off or melt into (and emphasise) pores by midday. The solution? Oil-free, mattifying primers that reduce shine and keep skin looking fresh and balanced all day long, powder textures that absorb excess oil, and setting sprays and powders to keep makeup locked in place.
But first, let’s talk skin. We all know that good makeup starts with the right skincare routine, so I enlisted the help of dermatologist Sonia Khorana to give us her top tips for oily skin.