at the end of my rope with oily skin

[cityofdaggers]

I know this is something that has been posted about before, and I've read through all the old threads I could find, but I've found a lot of conflicting info about dealing with/treating oily skin, and I wanted to see if anyone else has dealt with any situations similar to mine.
My skin is not great - I am constantly broken out (hormonal breakouts + being a teenager), my pores are huge, and my skin is ridiculously oily to the point of 10 minutes after washing my face, I can start to see oil forming in my pores. 2 hours later, I've got a layer of nasty all over my face. I've tried every combination of facewashes, exfoliants, less moisturizer, more moisturizer. I'm currently using differin gel as well, to treat my acne (a whooole other issue, haha)
so what I'm wondering is 2 things, really:
1. has anybody found any products that really helped them to treat/deal with their oily skin that were actually effective? (milk of magnesia, Lush's coalface, any really effective primers? have any of these actually worked?)
2. does any body have any good recommendations for foundation/concealer? between my horrible pores and oilyness, I've kind of given up.
I feel like there is still hope for my skin! thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions

 

[foomph]

Alhough I've long outgrown this stage, I remember it clearly. I used to wash my face in the morning and 30 minutes later if I looked in the mirror I could see beads of oil coming out of my pore (mostly in my T-zone and especially nose). Ugh.

The only thing I ever found that helped was blotting tissues and powder foundation. At that age it's so hormonal that it's hard to stop the actual production of the oil, so dealing with it was the only solution I had.

I used to use the Body Shop blotting issues and Cover Girl Simply Powder foundation back in the day.

In my twenties, I got on accutane twice (6 months each) and that finally stopped my oil production and acne. The first time I used it I was clear and oil-free for about 2 1/2 years and the second time I used it, well, it's been about 4 years, I think...maybe 3.

Anyway-sorry so long, I hope this helps a little bit at least.

 

[Vixxan]

I have the exact same problem. I have been putting on some many layers of products (primers and powders) just to keep the oil at bay long enough to leave my house. MUFE HD powder does keep it away for a little while. Wearing a eye primer, eye base (paint pot) and a layer of MUFE HD powder then putting on eyeshadow does help with the eyes somewhat. I recently purchase a sample of Super Matte Antishine and to my surprise it worked and it worked all day for me. I used this product for 5 days and on two of those days when applying the product it crumbled up on my face. I have no clue what made it do that. I let it dry then I brushed it off then I applied my makeup. I thought all of the product crumbled up and came off but it didn't. What was left did actually keep me oil free. I didn't try it on my eyelids. Also, the sample came in a 5g jar. I made sure to close it tightly after every use but it still dried up after about 6 days Face to Face. I'm going to order a full size of this product.

 

[gildedangel]

I was the same way a few years ago, I would wake up and feel like I could grease a pan with my face. The only thing that really helped to fix it was birth control. Powder foundations and primers and blotting products only help so much; and you will likely get annoyed with touchups like I did. The best powder foundation that I found when I had a lot of acne was the MAC Studio Fix powder. HTH!

 

[jazmatazz]

I know what you mean. My skin is usually soooo oily it's unbelievable. Here's some things that worked for me, although none of them are miracle workers.

MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing powder or blot powder to set face/makeup.

Blot one to two times a day. I like the Sonia Kashuk blotting papers from Target because they are huge. Right after blotting apply matte powder or blot powder. I am using one from Rimmel but I think it's been discontinued because I can't find it anymore.

Some primers help! I have used the Rimmel Primer and it helped some.

If you wear foundation, MUFE Mat Velvet Plus is wonderful for oily skin. It's super matte. I don't know what they put in that stuff, but it is the best foundation for super oily skin IMO.

Also, I like the Oil of Olay deep cleansing mask (it's blue) to use 1-2x/week. It has kaolin in it, which really helps soak up the oil. My skin is usually less oily the next day.

I currenly have super dry skin thanks to BP and Proactiv, not sure if it's worth it yet.

 

[anita22]

I share your pain... my skin is also incredibly oily. Honestly, sometimes when people say things like "My skin is sooo oily, I have to blot it twice a day", I just WISH my skin were naturally that good. I basically have to blot every 1-2 hours, or else I'm a greaseball

Like you, it pretty much gets shiny about 10 mins after I wash it. I also suffered cystic acne as a teen.

What I've come to realise over time is that the oiliness for me is a hormone imbalance. It's not a result of washing my face too much, or diet, or anything like that. The only thing that has ever made a big impact on the oil production is Accutane. For most people it dries their skin out, for me it was like heaven - it basically gave me normal skin! Although the oiliness returned after I stopped taking Accutane each time (I've been on it 4 times), it at least helped to clear up my skin. Currently I am using Retin-A, which does not really help as much to reduce the oil, but it at least keeps my skin clear. Contraceptive pills have helped a little, but made nowhere near as big a difference as the Accutane. So, I have clear skin now, the oiliness has improved slightly, but mostly I have just had to learn to live with it.

In terms of makeup, I've found that powder foundations work best with my skin. Currently I'm using Chanel Mat Lumiere powder. For liquid foundations, I quite like Makeup Forever Mat Velvet. MAC Studio Fix Fluid is okay, but not as good as the Mat Velvet. I also use Clean & Clear oil blotting sheets (these are the best!! I get them off Ebay), and MAC Blot powder. I also use a moisturiser with a mattifier in it.

 

[Funtabulous]

Wow, anita22, I feel exactly the same way when people talk about blotting 2 times a day! I WISH! I also have to do it every hour or two. I, too, have suffered from cystic acne. I use a cream called Retin-A Micro which takes care of almost all acne (except for some pesky whiteheads, bleh).

Yes, it's just the way I am hormonally. I'm 22 and the oil hasn't slowed down one bit. My mother is almost 50 and still deals with major oil production! I'm on a birth control pill called Yasmin, and I haven't really noticed a significant improvement, sadly. I'm starting to think that I just have to learn to live with it.

I am in need of suggestions for makeup myself, but what I have been using is mac's oil control lotion, then Studio Fix Fluid and powder, and blot with a tissue however often I need to. This doesn't really work for longer than about 8 hours or so, when I need to wash my face again.

I've seen Makeup Forever Mat Velvet recommended a lot, so I'm definitely going to give that a try sometime. Glad to see some suggestions here!

 

[anita22]

I have to say, it's nice to know I'm not the only one with such oily skin.. I do sometimes feel rather awkward about it (no one can understand why I never leave the house without blotting paper and powder!) but at least I know I'm not the only one with this frustration.

 

[pleomorphic]

My skin is really oily as well. I'm older than you, but I still suffer from occasional breakouts of cystic acne and oil production that starts to appear within 10 minutes of washing my face. Primers, powders, and foundations specially formulated for oily skin weren't intended for someone with completely out of control skin and frankly, nothing non-medical has helped. At all. I've been on three rounds of Accutane, and although it worked wonderfully while I was actually on it, once I'm off the round the oil starts to slowly creep back up and soon I'm as oily as before. The only thing that has worked is a strict regimen of Retin-A micro(night and day)and an erythromycin-benzoyl peroxide gel (night only). This dries out my skin enough to make it "normal." It's expensive and intensive but it works. HTH!

 

[hwilson18]

Oily skin can be incredibly annoying. I am an esthetician and makeup will help you throughout the day, but you really need to get to the source of your problem. What really helped my oily skin problem was getting on a good skincare routine. While makeup will help, like most of you say, you still have to apply powder and blot multiple times a day. And thats because you aren't curing the problem, you're just treating the symptoms.

My favorite lines for oily skin is Dermalogica and Aveda has great treatment products. Dermalogica has the Dermal Clay Cleanser which is amazing, as well as PreCleanse which is an oil based precleanser. I know it sounds weird but the product is designed for all skin types, especially oily, because like attracts like, the oil attracts your surface oil as well as all other makeup, pollution etc, and when you add water it emulsifies and lifts the oil away from your skin and encapsulates it within the molecules of the product. SO when you do your 2nd cleanse with your appropriate cleanser, you are cleansing your SKIN and not just removing dirt. So your cleanser is even more effective. PreCleanse has been the 1 product that has reallllly helped my oily clients. But along with that, they have 2 moisturizers that would be good for you to try, Oil Control Lotion or Active Moist. They have a few different exfoliants and tons of treatments as well. Aveda has an amazing mask "Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Mask" as well as their Balancing Infusion for Oily Skin.

I live in Oklahoma and treat a lot of oily/acneic clients and I have seen good results with these 2 lines. Search for a spa that carries these and talk with a skin therapist. She can see your skin and help you further. If you have any more questions you can message me and I can help you as much as you'd like. Once you get your oil under control, makeups that have been mentioned above will really help keep it under control during the day. (btw, I love smashboxes oil free primer, its white.)