How to Choose The Best Foundation for Oily Skin

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Oily skin can be both a curse and a blessing at the same time – just ask the people who have to deal with this issue on a daily basis. Using foundation on oily skin can be tricky, especially on hot, summer days with higher than average levels of humidity. On top of all that, oily skin has an annoying tendency to ruin makeup, rendering your hard work almost useless.

But all’s not lost, because there are many foundation products on the market that cater specifically to people with this type of skin. Since picking the right one out of the plethora of choices can be extremely frustrating, we have comprised a short list of tips and general advice that will make your shopping experience much easier. Here is how to choose the best foundation for oily skin.

Choose Foundation By Your Skin Tone

The first thing you should consider before going for a particular brand is whether or not it matches your skin tone. The wrong type of foundation will give your skin an unappealing shine that will make your cosmetic work seem uneven and badly applied.

The best way to determine if the foundation is the right fit for your skin type is testing it in natural light, rather than the store’s lights. Pick up several small samples and test them at home, by the window, or in any room that you feel like it is getting sufficient natural light. A good rule of thumb is to pick four samples, with varying shades of light and dark, to give you a wider margin of error.

As for ways to determine exactly which one is right for you, sadly, this is not an exact science – you will know it when you will see it. One thing you could do is not test in on your hand, arm or wrist, because the skin on your face usually has a different color and tone than the rest of your body.

For persons with oily skin, a good approach would be going for all-purpose foundations. Most Korean brands - which have been slowly gaining popularity in the last few years -  are suitable for more than one type of skin. If you are looking for the best Korean foundation for oily skin, make sure to check Beauty Essential, a great blog dedicated to all matters concerning skin care, beauty products, and makeup.

For the purposes of this article, we have chosen two products that every person with oily skin should try out. The Clio Kill Cover, for example, is a water-based that offers full coverage and neat finish. Another great product for this skin type is the Etude House Double Lasting Foundation, which has the same characteristics as the previously mentioned product, with the bonus that it works extremely well with combination skin as well.

Matte Foundation is Your Best Friend

Another good approach if you have oily skin is to choose matte foundation. Matte foundation is quite balanced, in the sense that it hits the sweet spot between shiny and glossy. It will eliminate the shine from your skin without giving it a dry, scorched look.

It is worth noting that not all matte foundation is good for your skin type – therefore, make sure to avoid foundation with a semi-matte or radiant finish, because these types will only enhance the greasiness and oiliness of your skin.

Matte foundation can usually be found in powder or liquid form. Liquid matte is best suited to day to day usage – the office, for example – because it is light and will keep your makeup intact. Powder matte foundation, on the other hand, is strictly suited for evening events or a night out in the city, because it tones down the shine (especially in photographs).

Choice Foundation with Low Amounts of Oil

The next step is ensuring that the foundation has low amounts of oil. The first obvious reason for this is that your skin already produces an excessive amount of oil, so products high in this ingredient will give your face a greasy, shiny look. The second, less apparent reason, is that artificial oil will clog your overactive pores, which could potentially trigger infections and acne eruptions.

Make sure to read the label and choose products with no oil-based ingredients. The foundation should be long lasting in order to ensure that your makeup will not turn into an incoherent mess after spending a few hours outside. Your main priority, as a person with oily skin, should be picking products that will not make your makeup get too greasy or oily throughout the day. In this way, the makeup will keep its structural and aesthetic integrity without too many interventions on your part.

Conclusion

Maintaining makeup intact on oily skin can, at some points, feel like a chore. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing all the effort that you have put into your makeup suddenly vanish as soon as you leave the house. Thankfully, there are many ways to counteract the effects of oily skin, and the best one is choosing foundation that is specifically designed for this purpose.

As a person with oily skin, your priority should be choosing the products that will maintain the integrity of your makeup without giving your skin a dried aspect – powder matter for evenings, liquid matte during the day, and foundation with low amounts of oil that matches your skin tone. Make sure to give these tips a thorough read, and soon enough you will learn how to manage this issue.