Let your glittering personality be the only thing that’s shining this summer.
Let’s be clear – radiant, dewy, catwalk-ready skin is fabulous. Nothing looks as healthy or as youthful, and it’s a finish we strive to achieve on a daily basis.
Why else do you think highlighters are in such high demand nowadays?
But there’s a stark difference between glowy and greasy, and keeping the latter at bay – particularly during a humid UAE summer – can be a task and a half.
As perpetually oily-skinned ladies, we’ve been on the hunt for products that truly do substantially control shine for years now… and here’s the result of our various experiments.
Read:
Five Foundations That Really Won’t Budge During A Humid Summer
Eight Things We Know About Huda Beauty’s Upcoming Foundation
All of the below have been tried and tested by us and our oily skin (we promise), and gave us a solid 5+ hours before we needed to blot. And trust us, we normally could use a routine blot every 60 minutes.
Got any other recommendations? Share them in the comments below!
Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner, Dhs92
When it comes to miracle workers, this is the closest we’ve ever found. The gel-like formula turns skin into a velvety-soft canvas, wears beautifully under makeup, and is the one product above all others that’s left us shine-free for the longest. It’s also the only thing that enables us to comfortably go out bare-faced, with no fear of looking like an oil slick two hours later. So from office days to beachy vacays, any normal to oily skins could do with this in their beauty bags.
MAC Blot Powder, Dhs135
No one product can keep shine away for 12+ hours (well, not in our experience anyway), so a little powder every now and then always comes in handy for setting makeup and mattifying the skin. We’ve tried probably every one on the market, but always end up coming back to this MAC option. Not only does in come in a wide variety of shades (including a colour-free translucent), it creates a matte finish that lasts for hours, and can be topped up without ever looking too cakey or talc-like.
MAC Blot Powder, Dhs135
We’ve pretty much got one of these in every handbag we own. The gossamer-thin sheets relieve your skin of any excess oil without disturbing your makeup – or adding the need to keep layering powder on. The cheapest gamechanger you’ll find when it comes to keeping your face shine-free.
Read:
Five Long-Wear Blushes That Truly Don’t Budge Over A Whole Day
The Best Smudge-Proof Concealers To Keep You Covered This Summer
Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, Dhs165
We’ve tried many a primer in our time, and this is easily the Holy Grail of the mattifying bunch. It immediately quells shine, with an effect that lasts until past lunchtime (and trust us, that’s no mean feat on our skin). It’s also water-based, so feels lighter and less cloggy than silicone-laden primers – and it’s hardy stuff, you really do only need a pea-sized amount. (Any more than that can almost feel uncomfortably matte).
Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Oil Control Cleansing Mask, Dhs190
No, masks don’t have an especially long-lasting effect – but on particularly oily days, a quick zap in the morning with a clay-rich formula really helps keep things under control. We’ve long relied on this one from Clinique, which is fragrance-free, helps control breakouts, and feels suitably creamy and hydrating, rather than overly drying.
Image: Getty
