Summer heat can cause problems when it comes to keeping your makeup looking good! Add oily skin to the mix, and it's a recipe for disaster. Follow these tips to get a perfectly matte look and combat oily skin woes. ​

​# 1) Be sure to use an oil absorbent primer, prior to foundation application! Mattify Cosmetics Transparent Powder for Oily Skin works as a skin-perfecting primer, to absorb oil and protect pores from foundation. It can be used before any type of makeup, to prevent foundation from settling into pores, and to absorb oil before unsightly shine begins to appear. 

​Sunscreen is notorious for being thick and heavy – definitely not optimal for those prone to breakouts! If you’re in search of the best sunscreen for acne prone skin & oily skin, try these:

CoTZ - SPF 40 Sunscreen 

• Waterproof Formula
• Contains natural ingredients
• Light weight and oil-free
• Provides a fresh matte finish
• Comes in Tinted or Clear 
• Natural / Mineral Based
• Suitable to wear under foundation

Neutrogena Clear-Face Liquid Lotion

• Fragrance-free
• Does not clog pores
• Waterproof formula
• Ultra light-weight 
• Weightless / absorbs fast

​Comes in SPF 30 or 55

Hide Those Pores!

If you have large pores and oily skin, it can seem impossible to achieve a flawless look with makeup. Foundation often sinks into pores, accentuating and clogging them, while oily skin causes streaking, caking and fading.

View these 3 simple steps to creating flawless makeup, using primer and blurring powder, in combination with a long lasting foundation designed for your skin type. ​

Why is Face Primer important to creating a flawless look?
​
When foundation is applied without primer, it sinks deep into pores and fine lines- rather than skimming over the surface of the skin. This results in a blotchy, uneven complexion, with accentuated pores and likelihood for breakouts. When foundation enters pores, it stretches them out - causing them to look abnormally large. Primer essentially “fills in the gaps”, allowing foundation to look silky smooth. 
​
Oily Skin or Combination: Use a Powder Primer (try Mattify ULTRA Powder for Oily Skin). Women with oily skin normally have large pores and suffer from acne. Unlike gel primers, powder primer will not clog pores or cause breakouts.  Rather, application of this powder primer actually protects skin from makeup. In addition it absorbs excess oil, to help foundation look smooth and last longer, without creasing or fading. As an added bonus, this specific ULTRA Powder doubles as your Blurring Powder for Step 3 below! 

Dry Skin: Use a Silicone Gel Primer (try Benefit’s Porefessional Primer). 
Dry skin typically has small pores, but many fine lines. Silicone based primers settle into wrinkles, allowing foundation to skim over the top. Since foundation is essentially banned from seeping into fine lines, they become invisible and skin looks beautifully smooth. 

Selection of long lasting makeup allows foundation to survive the day without fading or rubbing off. This is especially important if you have oily skin, as that skin type tends to dissolve makeup even faster! Drugstore foundations normally last 4-6 hours, while higher end brands can last 6-10 hours.

Which type of foundation is best for my skin type? ​

Acne Prone Skin: If you suffer from breakouts and blackheads, water based foundations work best, as they are unlikely to clog pores. Stay away from any foundations that feel heavy, waxy or thick.  Try Tarte Cosmetic’s Rainforest of the Sea, and apply with a brushor sponge, or go with Dinair Natural Foundation which can be applied either with finger tips or an airbrush spray gun. These two formulas are water-resistant and provide excellent coverage, while feeling feather light on the skin. ​

​Dry skin:  Dehydrated skin types fare better with moisturizing foundations, marketed as having a dewy / luminous / or moisturizing finish.  Try Maybelline’s Fit Me Dewy & Smooth or Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. If your skin is aging and needs a lift, Estee Lauder Perfectionist used to be the go-to foundation. Sadly they have since discontinued this favorite, but they've added a new serum to their repertoire: Perfectionist Pro Firm & Lift. You can apply this under any foundation for an instant facelift and a younger looking you!   

What can blur powder do to help my complexion?


This step allows foundation to look truly flawless! Blurring Powder acts as a soft-focus filter, taking any remaining fine lines or pores, and virtually erasing them. It also sets makeup for long wear! 


Oily Skin:  The same Powder Primer you used in Step 1 (Mattify ULTRA Powder) also multi-tasks as an oil-absorbent blurring powder. Using a powder puff, pat the ULTRA Powder over your entire face. Blend in circular motions with a fluffy powder brush, to create a flawless complexion. This invisible powder sets makeup in place for long wear, and absorbs unsightly oil for hours. The product is completely matte and does not contain common irritants to oily skin such as mica, bismuth, or pearl powder. 


Dry Skin:  (try Smashbox Halo Hydrating Powder). Finally, those with dry skin can create a dewy complexion! Using a fluffy powder brush, apply this moisturizing powder in light circular motions until blended. Since the product does have a luminizing sheen, it is best used on dry skin types (because it can make oily skin look oilier). 

 
1) It really is all about that base! Apply a primer before foundation. Using primer before applying any type of  makeup will allow the products to stay put on your skin. Dry skin types will do well with gel or cream primers such as Tarte's Base Tape Hydrating Primer. Oily skin types will require a powder primer that absorbs oil, like our Mattify Cosmetic's ULTRA Powder. Best of all, ULTRA Powder doubles as a setting powder to help foundation stay fresh for hours.
 
2) Jump right in! Select waterproof or water-resistant makeup. Look for those words on any type of makeup you purchase for summer. Even if you don't plan to go swimming, this is an important step. Humidity and sweat will cause makeup to smudge and smear. Oily skin makes the problem even worse! Water repellent makeup is much more resistant to any such elements.
 
3) Ready. Set. Go! Use a makeup setting spray.  A few mists of setting spray will give any type of makeup (waterproof or not) extra staying power. Try Ben Nye Final Seal, now available on our Mattify website, or Model in a Bottle Setting Spray, to set everything from eyebrows to lipstick in place. This is a must-have item during hot summer months. 

**Extra Tip**
For an added glow, contour and highlight! ​

Don’t be afraid to highlight if you have oily skin! Mattify Cosmetics Strobing Highlighter contains natural ingredients to absorb oil, so you look glowy – not greasy! ​When skin is oily, the most important step in highlighting is to make sure you have a perfectly matte finish before applying highlighter. This ensures your oil-absorbent base will soak up any shine, leaving a subtle glow wherever your illuminator has been applied. 

“Get that Glow! Powder Highlighter for Oily Skin” ~ Mattify’s Powder Highlighter, has been featured on beauty blog  www.mybestfriendshair.com. Click the link to discover 4 ways highlighting can uplift your look! ​You can also click here for another tutorial on how to apply highlighter to oily skin.