6 Tips For All-Day Lasting Makeup On Oily Skin

One of the main struggles of wearing makeup on oily skin is keeping it looking good all day. When you go to work, go out with friends, serve all day at church, or spend the day running errands, you don’t want your makeup to look “used,” which is what I call when it starts to smudge or break down.

It’s embarrassing and frustrating if you spend some time putting that makeup on. That would happen to me a lot until I found these six techniques that help keep my makeup looking fresh while I’m out and about.

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1. Start with a clean face

Before I apply any makeup I start with a freshly cleansed face. I don’t like the idea of putting makeup on top of dirt, oil, and sweat and trapping that in my pores. By washing my face beforehand, I can remove dirt, excess oil, and leftover skincare or makeup that may not have been fully removed previously.

Having a clean face gives your makeup a clean base to adhere to, helping it last longer throughout the day. The facial cleansers I use are

• Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Wash 
• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser

Related read: 12 Facial Cleansers Perfect For Oily Skin

2. Hydrate your skin

I used to be one of those oily skinned people who believed that because I had oily skin I could skip moisturizer. Boy was I wrong. Not using a moisturizer dehydrated my skin. To compensate for my skin, which creates excess oil. And that excess oil would break down my makeup within hours of it being applied. I would have to blot and reapply powder throughout the day.

The key was to moisturize my skin. Once I realized what I was doing to my skin, and started moisturizing every day, I noticed my makeup lasting longer and the need to blot and reapply lessened drastically.

When it comes to oily skin, the key is to use a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer. Some of my favorite daytime moisturizers for my oily skin are the Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel, SPF 25 and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer SPF 50.

Related read: Neutrogena Hydroboost Moisturizer With Hyaluronic Acid And SPF 50 Review

3. Use oil-free products

Those of us with oily skin do better with oil-free skincare and makeup products as they help avoid adding extra shine to our face. When I shop for or buy new products, I look for foundations, concealers, powders, and skincare labeled “oil-free”.

Oil-free products don’t add extra oil to the skin and don’t clog pores. Oil-free skincare products tend to absorb faster into the skin versus sitting on top, which helps makeup apply better and not sit as an odd layer on the top of the skin.

4. Use a good mattifying primer

When I started using a mattifying primer, it was a game-changer for the wear of my makeup. Primers, no matter which kind, help to create a smooth surface for your makeup. Mattifying ones are really good at helping to blur pores and control oil production.

There are a couple of mattifying primers that I like and recommend. One is the NYX Professional Makeup Shine Killer Mattifying Primer. I use this most of the time whether I wear makeup or not. Another is the Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Primer. This is a good high-end primer for oily skin.

When I use any of these makeup primers, I apply a small amount, making sure to pay close attention to the areas I tend to oil up, which are my cheeks, forehead, and chin. I then let the primer sit on my face for at least a minute before I start applying makeup. Letting the primer set, it dries down and gets tacky to better grip the makeup, helping it stay on longer.

Related read: 5 Best Oil Absorbing Makeup Primers For Oily Skin

5. Pre-set your face with a translucent powder

This is a trick I saw some different makeup artists and influencers do years ago. When I first saw it, I wasn’t convinced it would work for me but I tried it anyway. The trick is to take a translucent setting powder, a mattifying one is best, and apply it to your face after primer and before foundation.

This acts as another layer to absorb excess oil before it reaches the foundation and can break it down. My translucent powder of choice is the Make Up For Ever HD Skin Shine-Controlling & Blurring Setting Powder.

6. Set your makeup with powder and setting spray

The last step for longer lasting makeup on oily skin is to set it all in place. I like to use a matte setting powder and setting spray. The powder could be the same one used to pre-set or a different one. The one I use is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Powder Foundation. I usually take a foundation brush or a powder puff and press the powder into my skin focusing on the oily areas.

After I apply the setting powder, it’s time for the setting spray. Three of my favorites are the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, The NYX Matte Finish Spray, and Milani Make It Last Matte Setting Spray.

The setting spray is the final step and helps to lock in the makeup while stopping excess oil from rising to the surface. The setting sprays I use give my skin a mattifying finish and are good to use on oily skin.

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