If you're like me, sometimes your skin is comparable to that of a bag of McDonald's food: greasy and/or oily. And sometimes, it seems like no matter what you do to keep the natural dew at bay, it somehow always finds a way to sneak back up on you. Over my span of 18 or so years living with oily skin, I've basically figured out the do's and don'ts and how to avoid looking like a grease ball, and now I'm gonna share those tips with you!

1. Moisturize with oil free products

I know it may seem like adding MORE moisture to your skin would have the opposite effect, but honestly, that's wrong! I used to be afraid of moisturizing my skin, but in reality less moisture in your skin causes it to actually produce MORE oil to compensate. Now, moisturizing is a key step in my face routine, and it has paid off greatly! A light moisturizer or a serum with Hyaluronic acid is your best bet!

2. Blotting = your best friend

Sometimes, oil appears with a vengeance in the middle of the day. That's where blotting papers come in! You just dab the little sheet of thin paper wherever you see any excess oil, and in the blink of an eye, the oil is off your t-zone, and on the paper! These little sidekicks are awesome because you can literally see the oil itself on the sheet, and you see the results immediately! If you wanna opt for something more high-end, I totally recommend the re-useable Blotterazzi by the makers of the Beauty Blender!

3. "Bake" your makeup

Baking my makeup has become a staple in my makeup routine! Here's a short breakdown of "baking" you those of you who don't know what it is: baking involved taking a translucent setting powder, applying it to a makeup sponge, and then applying it to your undereye area to prevent makeup creasing, and in your most oily areas to (obviously) prevent an oily look to your face. Usually on any given regular day, I only bake my undereye and my t-zone to prevent any oil, but if your skin is more oily than mine, I recommend using a heavier bake to combat oil! Baking comes in handy especially for going out, or for events where your makeup needs to last the whole night through! I use e.l.f translucent setting powder to bake my face; its cost effective, and gets the job done perfectly!

4. Find a routine that works, and stick with it

Consistency is key people! Inconsistency in my skincare routine in the past, has contributed to having problem skin. I never gave a product an ample amount of time to work, because I didn't see immediate results, and in turn my skin suffered. Between not using the right products, and changing it up so often, that caused me to become even MORE oily! Once I finally solidified my routine, my skin improved greatly! Now and then, I'll try a new product for my face, but here's my biggest rule with that: never switch up your whole routine at once, only try one new product at a time.

5. Utilize matte makeup

Using matte foundation, concealer, etc. is one of the best kinds to use with oily skin! The matte finish of the makeup visibly reduces the appearance of oil on your face, and along with baking your most oily areas, this will provide you with a shine free face all day! My go-to matte foundation is the Mac Studio Fix Fluid foundation!

6. Try your best to avoid greasy food

You are what you eat, literally. I've found that cutting greasy/oily foods out of my diet has drastically changed the level of oil on my face! Don't worry, you can still have your pizza, but try to blot the grease off with a napkin before eating it, or utilizing a different cooking method with other foods, to reduce oil and grease!

7. Don't touch your face

Constantly touching and picking at your face not only makes you more oily, it also puts the dirt from everything you've touched with your fingers, onto your face (gross).

8. Drink more water

Hydrating from the inside out is a key aspect of reducing an oily complexion. In addition to using an oil free moisturizer, hydrating your skin from the inside out via your water intake promotes a healthy, fresh complexion!

9. Exfoliate weekly

Exfoliating your skin helps to remove built up dead skin cells and and residue left on your skin! Gentle exfoliation promoted a healthy glow, and a fresh complexion with reduced oil. Built up dead/dry skin cells on the face can cause excess oil to build up, so exfoliate away people!

10. Prime your skin before makeup

Using a primer before foundation application is a key step for increasing the longevity of your makeup! make sure to use a primer that's specifically made to combat oily shin, or one that's made to mattify the skin. Primer provides an extra layer between your skin, and your foundation, making it harder for the oil to seep through and breakdown your makeup!