Five Makeup Essentials for Women with Oily Skin

Here are the five makeup essentials for women with oily skin:

Hydrating Moisturizer

As someone with oily skin, your facial moisturizer should definitely be suited to your skin type. However, don't run the risk of choosing a moisturizer that won't provide adequate hydration. A common misconception about oily skin is that it doesn't need hydration. In fact, oily skin has too much sebum (your skin's natural oils), but it still needs hydration or it will acquire a scaly, flaky appearance while still being annoyingly greasy.

To combat this, choose a moisturizer that's made for extreme hydration. It should provide essential hydration but be non-comedogenic (won't clog pores). Look for products with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, or if you're looking for something with SPF, try Ivy Blue Cream for Sensitive Skin.

Silicone-Based Mattifying Face Primer

After applying moisturizer and letting it set a few minutes, you'll want to apply a face primer, but not just any. You'll need one that is silicone-based and mattifying. Silicone in itself acts like spackling for your skin. It'll glide right over those pesky pores and fill them in. Get a mattifying feature on top of that, and you'll literally see your shine disappear. Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer works exceptionally well, but it's expensive. E.l.f. Poreless Face Primer is the next best thing, and it's much cheaper.

The only thing about using this type of primer? You've always got to wash it off thoroughly before bed. Leaving products like this on your skin for an extended time will clog pores.

Oil Absorbing Powder Foundation, Bronzer & Blush

Those with oily skin should opt for powder-based foundations. BareMinerals is the crème de la crème in this category, but there are lots of options out there. Essentially, you'll want powder foundation so that it absorbs excess oil from your skin throughout the day while still providing coverage.

The same thing goes for your bronzer and blush. There are lots of cream, stain, gel, and stick options for these products, but if you have oily skin, stick to powders. By the end of the day when your makeup isn't streaming down your face, you'll be glad you did.

Waterproof Eyeliner & Mascara and Wax Eyebrow Filler

Don't forget: you have skin around your eyes too! So even though it's technically different skin than on the rest of your face (it probably doesn't breakout), it can be just as oily. And this means that anything on it that's not waterproof will slowly melt off throughout the day. If you've ever looked in the bathroom mirror on your lunch break only to find that the mascara and eyeliner your thought you applied to your top lashes and lids that morning is now sitting beneath your lower lashes, you get it. You've got to switch to waterproof products.

If you're someone who likes to line or fill in your brows every day, you'll want to go for a waterproof option as well. In this case, you should be looking for a wax-based product, which will repel moisture and last for hours.

Oil Blotting Sheets

Finally, when you're in a jam and you feel the makeup melting down your cheeks, reach for one of these. Oil blotting sheets come in small packets that can easily be toted around in your purse or clutch. Unlike a regular piece of tissue or toilet paper, they're specially designed to blot the excess oil off your face without mussing your makeup.

Oily skin can be a hassle, but remember this: there are advantages to oily skin. As you age, this seeming hindrance will serve you well. Not only will it help your facial skin stay soft and supple, but studies show you'll be less likely to develop lines and wrinkles. So don't fret the small stuff now. Use these mattifying, oily skin-friendly products, and you'll have great skin now and later!