When you have oily skin, doing your makeup can be challenging, thanks to the area we all know and love: the T-zone. Falling horizontally along your forehead and vertically down your nose to your chin, the T-zone is like the Bermuda Triangle for makeup, making pigments disappear seemingly out of thin air.
However, it doesn’t have to be like this. Allow us to share our best oily skin makeup tips, courtesy of Sara Wren, Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry. Next time you do makeup on oily skin with these quick tricks, your pesky T-zone—as well as the rest of your face—will be virtually shine-free all day long.
Don’t be afraid to moisturize
No matter your skin type, a complete skincare routine is always essential in Sara’s book. For those with oily skin, slathering on a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer (and SPF!) before getting into your makeup routine is necessary to hydrate your skin, help smooth and balance out your complexion, as well as control oil, she notes.
Use a mattifying primer
After moisturizing, reach for a mattifying primer. We’re obviously partial to Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer, which is spiked with lentil extract to stave off shine, and niacinamide, which helps minimize the appearance of pores. Sara recommends layering a pea-sized amount onto your skin with your hands while your moisturizer is still damp. Start applying primer onto the center of your face, particularly throughout your oil-prone T-zone, and work outward. “Your T-zone tends to have larger pores, produce more oil, and more visible more skin texture and breakouts,” Sara says. Then, let Pore Eclipse dry down for about a minute to seal in your makeup with a blurred, matte finish.
Seek out foundation and concealer with oil-controlling ingredients
Just because you have oily skin doesn’t necessarily mean you have to seek out matte foundations and concealers only. Instead, check the ingredient list of your favorite base makeup selections: Do they feature niacinamide, silica, aloe vera, or even hyaluronic acid? If so, feel free to add them to your makeup routine. All of these ingredients are amazing for keeping greasiness at bay.
Our Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer has a few of these ingredients packed into it. The creamy medium-to-full coverage formula is a no-brainer for oily skin. It never looks cakey, and seamlessly melts into complexions for a second-skin effect. Although it’s technically a concealer, Sara often uses Future Fluid as an all-over base product, dotting it onto the areas where she needs coverage most, like under her eyes and around her nose. Then, she blends it out with a fluffy foundation brush.
Don’t be scared of dewy formulasPore Eclipse was formulated to work with cream, powder, and liquid foundations, as well as other types of makeup products, so you can mix and match with your favorites. We particularly love it with the glowy goodness of our beloved Bionic line; the primer is the ideal complement to the sheen our liquid blushes, highlighters, and bronzers give, plus it keeps skin looking fresh. Give your contour and color time to setIf you plan to contour your face with Sculpt Stick, add warmth with Matte Bronzer, or go in with Lip + Cheek, Sara suggests giving them time to sink into your skin a bit before spritzing on setting spray. In the meantime, she likes to work on her brows, lashes, and lips. Blot your lidsBefore applying your eye makeup, Kelly Kossakoski, Milk Makeup’s Director of Global Education has this quick tip: Gently blot any excess oil away from your lids with a tissue or cotton pad to create a drier, smoother canvas for your eyeshadows and liners. Prime them, tooAnd while you’re at it, prep your lids for long-lasting color with Hydro Grip Eye Primer. If your oiliness tends to extend to your eye area and makes your eye makeup crease and fade, a bit of this blue agave extract-infused primer on and around your lids will keep pigments vibrant and locked in place. You can also dab it underneath your lower lids to keep your under-eye concealer gripped. |
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Remember to highlight
With all the mattifying happening on your skin, adding a little glow onto the high points of your face will add gorgeous dimension without looking greasy. Try Bionic Glow for skincare-infused radiance, or our cream Highlighter stick for a pearlescent glow.
Use a mattifying setting sprayOur Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray is particularly ideal for oily skin, Sara says. The oil-free formula is packed with shine-eliminating lentil extract and oil-managing niacinamide alongside blurring microspheres for the ultimate soft-focus filter finish. Be sure to shake the bottle to activate the formula before spraying the micro-fine mattifying mist onto your face. Then, let it dry for about a minute, the makeup artist says. Give your T-zone some extra attentionIf you don't have setting powder on hand, tame the oiliest spots on your face, particularly along your forehead, around your nose, and on your chin, with an extra, targeted layer of Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray. Here’s one of Sara’s favorite hacks: Spritz the setting spray onto a sponge and gently pat it onto those areas. “It won't mess up the makeup underneath but will mattify without adding any heavy product to the skin,” she adds. We also love this tip if you just want to touch up a specific area throughout the day. Set with Setting PowderFor ultimate shine control, try a setting powder like ourPore Eclipse Matte Translucent Setting Powder. It's made with ingredients like lentil extract and niacinamide that help absorb oil and give your skin a soft-focus effect. Use ourPore Eclipse Powder Brushto apply as a penultimate step to set your makeup (for up to 16 hours, btw) with a matte finish. You can also apply it to your T-Zone for extra oil control or to touch up during the day. And use it againTo secure your long-wear makeup look, don’t be afraid to reapply Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray throughout the day. Even though that initial layer should do the job, you can add more whenever you feel like a little refresh. It’s free of alcohol, so it won’t dry out your skin or make it feel tight and uncomfortable in the process. Plus, any return trips to your bottle of Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray throughout the day will give your oily skin “extra mattification magic,” Sara says. |
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Meet the Experts
Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.
Kelly Kossakoski (she/her) is the Director of Global Education at Milk Makeup. In her role at Milk, she works with our retail partners and field teams to develop and deliver our educational content—from offline training programs to online videos and platforms—all over the world.
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