Reducing Oily Shine

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You're in the bathroom at work. It's midday. You glance in the mirror and...the shine from your nose is blinding! If you've ever experienced this, then chances are that you've been cursed with oily skin. Fortunately, a plethora of skincare products are now available to help those of us with oily skin types get shine under control.

Read on to find out how to take care of your oily skin and banish shine once and for all. Basic 3-step skincare plan. The first and most important part of controlling shine is to follow a good basic skincare routine. The key is to rid your skin of excess dirt and oil without overdrying, which would cause your pores to overcompensate by producing even more oil than usual.

You'll want to start out with a deep-cleaning cream or gel cleanser, such as one of the following:

Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

Biore Warming Deep Pore Cleanser

Philosophy Purity Made Simple

Next, you should mop up excess oil with a cotton ball soaked in an oil-controlling toner - but avoid overly harsh formulas that will overdry and irritate skin. Some examples include:

Lancome Tonique Controle

Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion

Dickinson's All-Natural Witch Hazel

Finally, you need to moisturize. If you don't, your skin will just produce extra oil to overcompensate, and then you'll be shinier than ever. Look for an oil-free formula with an SPF of at least 15, such as one of the following:

Neutrogena Moisture SPF 15

Boscia Oil-Free Hydration SPF 15

Lancome Bienfait Total UV Mattifyers

The most effective thing you can do to prevent shine is to use an oil control or "mattifying" product. Mattyfiers generally go on over your moisturizer, but under any makeup. Some examples include:

Benefit Dr. Feelgood

Awake Day Matteness

Clinique Pore Minimizer T-Zone Shine Control Makeup

For women, another key to maintaining a shine-free face is to use an oil-free, long-wearing, matte- finish foundation. Some good examples include:

Clinique Superfit Makeup

Almay Skin Stays Clean Oil-Free Foundation

Lancome Teint Idole Touchups

To remain shine-free throughout the day, try to keep a packet of facial blotting papers on hand at all times to mop up extra oil. For example, try:

Bloom Face Blotting Tissues

Clinique Stay-Matte Oil Blotting Sheets

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets

If you're female, a compact with pressed powder is another essential. To prevent caking, use a small amount after you've removed excess oil with the blotting sheets. Try these formulas:

Benefit Get Even

Diane Von Furstenberg Beauty Translucent Powder

Maybelline Finish Matte Pressed Powder

Finally, if you're either male or a woman who doesn't wear makeup - or if you work out in the middle of the day and need something a little stronger than blotting papers or powder - try stashing a packet of facial cleansing cloths somewhere handy, like in your gym bag or glove compartment. Try some of the following:

Mac Wipes

Comodynes Makeup Remover Towels for Face and Eyes

Pond's Cleansing and Makeup Remover Towelettes

Treatment for Male Oily Skin

Oily skin is caused by a number of factors including genetics, humidity, stress, and the reaction of the sebaceous glands within skin to hormonal signals.

Use neutral liquid soap

Use as an exfoliating product

Reduce stress

Reduce humidity

Males with oily skin conditions caused by the onset of puberty should especially wash and cleanse their skin to prevent breakouts.

Products for Male Oily Skin

You must be careful when choosing the soaps and cleansers to use on your skin because if they are too harsh they will dry the skin out and cause irritation. Therefore, mild soaps should be used on the body, including glycerin based soaps. If harsh antibacterial soaps or wipes are used, it is important to wash them off and apply a non comedogenic moisturizer afterwards.