The Normal Girl's Guide to Makeup: 2016

In bareMinerals, Bobbi Brown

Formal Event Makeup

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, by kathrynaustin

In Anastasia, Burberry

"No Makeup" Makeup

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In bareMinerals, Burberry

Four Favorites: November 2016

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In Benefit, Bobbi Brown

Holiday Gift Guide

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In CoverGirl,

Product Spotlight

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In IT Cosmetics, Maybelline

Four Favorites: October 2016

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In Clean & Clear, L'Oreal

#OilySkinProblems

In my years of playing with makeup, I have come to the conclusion that makeup is simply easier and more fun if you have normal-to-dry skin. Things stay on longer, look more flawless, and hardly require touching up. Unfortunately, I have not come to this conclusion as a result of my own wonderfully normal skin, though I wish that were the case. I have true combination-oily skin; my T-Zone (the "T" shaped area created by your chin, nose, and forehead) is extremely oily, while the rest of my face is mostly normal, but I also am prone to dry patches. Fun, right?! One plus of having this type of skin, though, is that I have really learned how to navigate makeup in the most oily-skin-friendly way, and I am here to share those tips with you!

To combat your oily skin, I recommend a 5-step process:

1. Use a Primer

I can't believe there was a time I didn't think primer was necessary. Not only does it make your foundation application so much smoother, but it also increases your wear-time throughout the day significantly. Even the areas of your face that get shiny quickly and break down product will fair better with a primer underneath.

My latest go-to has been this oldie-but-goodie: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36.00, Sephora).

This is actually not my most mattifying primer, so if I'm really looking to allow ZERO shine through, I'll go for another, like the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Mattifying Primer. That stuff is heavy duty. But for every day, I find that something lighter like the Smashbox one reduces my shine and does everything I want it to do just fine.

2. Use a Mattifying Foundation

You may be thinking, "Well, that's obvious," but it took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I really needed to be using foundations that actually claimed to be mattifying. Sadly, no foundations with the words "glow," "dewy," or "illuminating" are going to last more than 30 minutes on my skin, so I have to go with Plan B.

Probably my favorite matte foundation I have ever tried (and the one I am constantly reaching for these days) is a budget-friendly one: L'Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte ($12.99, Ulta)

3. Use an Oil-Control Setting Spray Under Your Powder

Here's my most innovative tip, if I do say so myself. There are a lot of finishing sprays out there that are supposed to mattify your skin while setting your makeup. When I first tried these, I was frustrated because there is simply no way for a liquid spray to not look shiny on your face, even if it is working to keep you matte. That's when I decided to try one underneath my powder. Game changer! This way, you get the benefits of the formula that locks in the oil, but it is topped by your mattifying powder and doesn't look shiny. Plus, I find that it gives the powder something to grab onto, make that application even better.

Here is my absolute favorite: Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray: Oil Control ($14.00, Sephora)

I always go for the travel size, because it's less than half the price and lasts a long time! Look for the travel size in the checkout line at Ulta if you can't find it with the full-size.

4. Use a Mattifying Translucent Powder

I have found that translucent powders are kinder to my skin while keeping it matte. With all of these products on your face already, a powder that has coverage to it might start to make you look cakey, but a translucent one is going to set everything and keep you matte without adding more layers. Like I said before, put it on top of the setting spray (after you have let it dry for about a minute), and the application is even better!

My favorite for years now has been from the same line as the setting spray above: Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder ($32.00, Sephora)

5. Bring Blotting Sheets With You

I have spoken before about my practice of bringing touch-up powder with me wherever I go, but my other oily-skin lifesavers are blotting sheets. What an amazing invention! The greatest thing about these is that they remove the shine without messing up your makeup or adding too many layers, like powder sometimes can.

You don't need to spend a lot on these (hint: all brands are basically the same), so I go for a cheaper drugstore option, and it works great: Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($5.99, Ulta)