Oil Control!

Do you feel that your skin is prone to oiliness & no matter what you do you can't have a shine free day....??!!! Well here's some tips & products to help keep a perfect matt complexion all day long!

With Oily skin types the oil producing 'sebaceous' glands are overactive and produce more oil than what is needed so the oil can create a shine that appears greasy. The pores will be enlarged, the skin can appear coarse, prone to blackheads & blemishes. The reasons for this can be heredity, diet, hormones or even the cosmetic products you use. Of course one great advantage with oily skins is that they age at a much slower rate than other skin types!
Oily skin needs thorough cleansing with plenty of hot water (dissolves skin oil better than lukewarm or cold water) to prevent the pores from clogging, it is best to avoid harsh products that strip your skin such as any products containing alcohol, as they will only harm your skin's natural barrier & encourage bacteria build up, it can also encourage the oil glands to work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils which in turn will worsen the oily appearance to the skin.
To clean the skin, use a clarifying product as it will remove the surface oil on the skin effectively, also opt for oil-free moisturisers to maintain a shine-free complexion & ensure you exfoliate twice a week to keep your skin healthy & remove excess oil & dead skin.

Here are a few top products I would highly recommend -

Lancome's Gel Pure Focus (17.55) - This is a foaming gel cleanser that has a purifying effect which absorbs excess oil around the pores, inhibiting oil production & bacteria build up. Leaves the skin feeling fresh & matt for hours.
Clinique's Pore Minimiser T-Zone Shine Control (£11) - This reduces & controls excess shine without drying out the skin & leaving a long lasting matt finish, works brilliantly under make-up as a primer. Also try their Blotting Sheets (£7.50) as it is better to use these rather than a build up of powder throughout the day.

Neutrogena Oil Free Fresh Moisturiser - An oil free moisturiser that still keeps your skin well hydrated & will help avoid shine throughout the day.