oily skin and pores!

[emory28]

Heyyyy. Sooooo I have very oily skin and large pores! I have tried multiple things to try and get my large pores and oily skin to go away. They all make small changes but nothing big and long term! I have to cake on powder to get a matte makeup look! Are there any products that y'all recommend? Skincare or makeup! (Preferably something a little more affordable!) 

[faithnmoore]

@emory28 I have the exact same struggle with my skin, so you are definitely not alone in that! First, one of the biggest lessons I've learned when trying to control my oily skin is to start with establishing a good oily-skin friendly skincare routine. I learned the hard way that layering on too many mattifying makeup products everyday actually led to even MORE clogged pores and therefore more oiliness! So, prep your skin well - caring for your oily skin through skincare will lead to healthier skin, while trying to primarily control oil through makeup could lead to congested skin! And, I would specifically recommend making a gentle chemical exfoliant part of your routine to help clear out excess oil that may build up in your pores. AND don't shy away from moisturizer or hydration for your skin! Here are some of my favorite oily skin products:

- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum  

- The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner 3.4 oz / 100 ml (if you have sensitive skin, this one is great!)

- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (if your skin is not too sensitive, try this one!)

- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oil-Control Moisturizer 1.7 oz/ 50 mL 

- Shani Darden Skin Care Weightless Oil-Free Moisturizer 2.5 oz/ 75 mL 

- Elta MD UV Clear Sunscreen

Once you have figured out the best way to prep your oily skin, then see how your skin starts to do throughout the day and you can adjust your makeup products accordingly! Again, I wouldn't reach for too many "oil-control" makeup products, but rather just shoot for "oily-skin friendly" products, if that makes sense. This means you should look for features like oil-free, non-comedogenic, etc., (rather than just looking for "mattifying") and maybe opting for more powder formulations. If you also deal with large pores, a mattifying product you might look for is a primer, to give you a good base. I recently got the caliray So Blown Blurring & Hydrating Collagen Peptide Primer With Niacinamide 1 oz / 30 ml and have found that it really helps with oil control, and my makeup goes on a bit smoother! Keeping a pressed powder on hand throughout the day might be good for touchups - I have heard good things about the ones from Rare Beauty or Fenty Beauty!

Hope this is helpful! 😊

[emory28]

Thank you so much for the advice and recommendations! I will def be trying this out! 

[lmaster]

I recommend making sure your not using products with alcohol and also make sure you're hydrating your skin extensively @emory28 

[emory28]

Thank you so much!! Will def try!