If you’re prone to oily skin, you know full well how frustrating it is to check your makeup an hour and a half after application and find that it’s as shiny and reflective as the mirror in front of you. While my skin regularly switches between Sahara Desert status and possessing some crazy-serious shine, I find that the latter is significantly more annoying. Dry skin can be fixed with a little coconut oil and some coffee scrub, but moving in the opposite direction can be a bit of a hassle.
Oily skin happens for a whole bunch of reasons, including changes in the weather, hormone flares during your period, too much stress, poor sleeping habits, and the use of cosmetics and makeup that block pores. Unfortunately, it’s something that affects a lot of people, but fortunately, it’s a pretty common problem, so there are tons of well-known and effective solutions out there. This list of tips and tricks outlines the very best of them. Whether you’re looking for a new face cleansing routine, a better sponge, an oil-battling toner, or a powder to absorb all the grease, you’ll find it all here — and then some.
Control Oil With Kaolin Clay And Green Tea
Skin Obsession Oil Control Face Mask, $10, Amazon
For those of us who are particularly shiny by lunchtime, this Oil Control Face Mask provides up to 24 hours of shine-free matte finish. It’s made from natural ingredients like kaolin clay and green tea extract, and it can be applied both before bed or before makeup. It’ll keep your face looking matte in even the most humid of places, and users say their makeup stayed fresh until they washed it off at night.
Get A Moisture-Friendly Primer
Jane Iredale Oil Control Primer, $39, Amazon
If you teeter between oily skin and dry skin like me, this oil control primer could work because it reduces excess secretion of sebum without affecting your skin’s overall moisture levels. The key ingredient (hydrated silica) is said to absorb seven times its weight, and the primer helps to reduce redness and even out skin tone, as well. Best of all, it works all over your face — T-zone, eyelids, chin — to keep makeup in place and shine-free all day.
Cleanse With Tea Tree Oil
Desert Essence Facial Cleansing Pads, $8, Amazon
Tea tree oil is great for cutting right through oil, and that’s why these Desert Essence Facial Pads are one of the best solutions for shine. They make a great addition to any before-bed cleansing routine because they remove dirt, battle acne, and balance oil production in the skin. Reviewers say the pads leave their skin feeling clean and radiant, no matter how prone they are to breakouts.
Soak Up Sebum With Mineral Powder
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder, $8, Amazon
For use over clean skin or makeup, this No-Sebum Mineral Powder utilizes jeju and mint extracts to absorb all the extra sebum and sweat on your face. It’s free of talo, synthetic fragrances, and parabens, and it goes on translucent for use over your favorite makeup. Best of all, it does so without caking, ghostifying, or settling into lines, and reviewers say it’s a godsend for people with oily skin.
Tone Skin With Apple Cider Vinegar
Restoar Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner, $20, Amazon
Apple cider vinegar helps to restore your skin’s natural pH levels, and that’s why it’s a great solution for both dry and oily skin alike. This facial toner by Restoar uses apple cider vinegar along with other organic ingredients (like aloe, rose water, and lavender), to tone, soothe, and rejuvenate skin — all while keeping shine in check. Reviewers say their skin stopped being oily after the first use, and skin continued to look fresher and healthier every single day.
Finish With An Oil-Control Spray
Skindinavia Oil Control Finishing Spray, $11, Amazon
If your makeup tends to slide down your face halfway through the day, this Oil Control Finishing Spray could make all the difference. It keeps makeup looking matte, shine-free, and healthy-looking, which reduces the need for touch-ups or blotting throughout the day. One user refers to this finishing spray as “disaster proof,” while another swears that she "tried 'em all, but Skindinavia is the best one yet!" and didn't even need a touch-up after work.
Battle Oil With A Full-Faced Mask
Skin Repair Facial Sheet Masks, $26, Amazon
These Skin Repair Facial Sheets are 10 percent reminiscent of the Phantom of the Opera and 90 percent reminiscent of those epic at-home spa sleepovers I used to have as a kid. The masks, which are saturated with tea tree oil, witch hazel, lavender, and burdock root, balance and repair skin over a 20-minute period. Japanese silk comfortably contours your face, and because these ingredients are organic astringents, they reduce oil and give a natural-looking matte finish to your skin.
Switch Out Your Sponge For One With Charcoal
Konjac Facial Sponges, $12, Amazon
This trio of all-natural facial sponges is ideal for deeply cleansing pores and removing oil. They use activated bamboo charcoal to pull out impurities, and because they’re hypoallergenic and include no chemicals or additives, they’re wonderful for sensitive skin. This trio in particular comes with three different sponges (charcoal, green tea, and natural white) and each renews the natural pH level of the skin to leave it fresh and oil-free.
Exfoliate To Buff Away Excess Oil
Micropolish Cleansing Exfoliator, $18, Amazon
While exfoliation is often talked about for dry skin, it’s essential for removing the build-up of oil, as well. This Micropolish Cleansing Exfoliator contains antioxidant-rich ingredients like witch hazel and green tea that help tone the skin and buff away both oil and the dead skin that’s keeping it there. It gently dislodges build-up in pores and leaves skin feeling clean and smooth, and users say it smells incredible, too.
Battle Shine With Glycolic Acid
NeoStrata Oily Skin Solution, $20, Amazon
The Oily Skin Solution from Neostrata removes excess oil and sebum from skin, and it’s a great solution to use after washing your face — but before applying makeup. It’s made with glycolic acid, which is a natural chemical found in sugarcane that’s great for absorbing grease. While it removes dead skin from the surface of your face, it’s non-abrasive, and helps to clean out pores and leave your skin feeling fresh and oil-free.
Blot Away Oil With These Natural Tissues
Natural Bamboo Charcoal Oil Absorbing Tissues, $7, Amazon
These all-natural tissues are made from bamboo charcoal (which is known to draw out impurities in the skin), and they’re used to rapidly absorb oil from the surface of your skin. They work with or without makeup, and the linens are entirely natural — so even those with sensitive skin can use them. Because they come in an elegant pack of 100, they’re ideal for carrying around with you, and reviewers say they’re the best facial blotting tissues they’ve ever used.
Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments. Images: Fotolia (1); Amazon (11)
