How to Reduce Shine without Disturbing Makeup
Written for Walgreens.com
If your makeup has melted by mid-day, leaving you with a shine that can be seen for miles, you’re no stranger to the desire to clean your face and start all over with fresh makeup. But in a typical busy day, the time needed to do that is a luxury. That’s the bad news. But there is also good news. With a few simple tweaks to your beauty routine, and a few product additions to your purse, you can be shine-free without disturbing your makeup. That means no starting over with fresh makeup, and no huge investment of time. Your day is about to get a whole lot better.
Prep work:
A shine-free face starts before you initially apply your makeup. One of the best things you can do to protect your makeup throughout the day is to wait 10 minutes after showering to apply products to your face. This way, you start off with clean, dry skin that is easier to maintain. Also, a primer can be very helpful to apply before your foundation and powder. Primer absorbs excess oils and helps to keep makeup in place throughout the day. It only takes a few drops, concentrated on your most oily areas like your T-zone. To help keep your face shine-free throughout the day, try using oil-free foundation and powder. Some shine-free foundation sticks have ultra-lightweight powders built in to instantly dissolve oil.
Throughout the day:
Once your makeup has been applied and you start to notice a shine forming on your face, there are several quick things you can do to reduce the shine without disturbing your makeup.
Your first line of defense is a shine-control powder. These blot powders remove shine without depositing color. They come in several shades and are good for both men and women.
If you prefer not to use a powder throughout the day, try using oil-blotting papers. These can reduce shine by up to 95% by removing excess surface oils that may clog pores. They won’t over-dry the skin or disturb makeup, and their effect can last up to 4 hours. Look for sheets made out of flax seed linen or rice paper, but avoid paper that contains powder. In a pinch, you can use a paper toilet seat protector. Press the sheet gently to your skin to blot away oil and remove shine. Make sure to pay special attention to the forehead, nose, upper chin, and the area above the eyebrows. Repeat as often as needed.
If you don’t want to use any products on your skin, including oil-blotting papers, try carrying a portable fan in your purse to help you cool off. This can be a great strategy in warm climates, where shine primarily comes from sweating.
By tweaking your morning beauty routine and adding a few select products to your purse, your shine problem should be under control. If only tackling life’s other problems were so easy.