Oil – in most cases, it isn’t your friend. It creeps up at the most inopportune times, adding shine where you don’t want it giving the surface of your skin that all-too-familiar greasy feeling. In fact, if you’re reading this far, it’s probably something you would just as soon be without. For good. Of course that isn’t possible (or even a good idea), but there are some steps you can take to help control the problem.

Mattifiers

Topical mattifiers – or oil reducers – can help to absorb excess oil before it causes your makeup to clump or starts to reflect light. Some of these products rely on a polymer technology that actually lifts the oil form the skin. These polymers are inert and won’t over-dry your skin. One of the mail positive points to products like these is that they can be applied to the entire face to help control oil production all day long. Another big plus is that because these products are inert, they also do not interact with other acne medications, leaving you free to use your choice of other products without fear of excessive drying or irritation.

Tip: When it comes to these or any facial products, the less fragrance, the better. Fragrances can cause drying, irritation, or interaction issues with other products.

Glycolic Acid

Look for products that include glycolic acid as an active ingredient. Glycolic acid is one of the beneficial alpha hydroxy acids that can help reduce excess facial oils. Glycolic acid can play a dual role in your skincare regimen by gently exfoliating your skin to keep debris and dead skin cells from clogging your pores while also helping to reduce the amount of surface oil itself. Glycolic acid can also help other acne-fighting products penetrate deeper into your pores, but be careful to read the labels to be sure there are no interaction difficulties (be particularly careful with benzoyl peroxide).

Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid) works a lot like glycolic acid and is found in a wide variety of acne cleansers. It can be found in varying concentrations, with the most powerful being 2%. As we mentioned with glycolic acid, sometimes a combination approach works best. In fact, some products already combine the two. Look for AHA/BHA (alpha hydroxy acid/beta hydroxy acid) on labels. One word of caution, some skin types can be excessively dried by salicylic acid, so be sure to monitor your skin carefully and discontinue use if your skin exhibits dryness or redness.

Astringents, Toners and Blotters
Astringents and toners are temporary fixes at best. Usually these products rely on ingredients like alcohol and witch hazel to cut through surface oil, but do not do anything for exfoliation or debris that can still be clogging pores. The results can look good however and even last through the day. Look for products that combine these toning and astringent ingredients with salicylic or glycolic acid to give you a more cohesive approach to oil control.

Blotting papers are another quick fix. If you’re on your way to a meeting or late meeting a date, having some blotting papers handy can be a lifesaver. Just as the name implies, blotting papers are absorbent sheets of tissue-like paper that can quickly and effectively absorb surface oils that may have made their way through your other lines of defenses. Plus, if done carefully, blotting can save you from reapplying your makeup – a huge blessing when time is of the essence.

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