How to make my shiny face look less shiny (ie sweaty)??

[janmoomoo]

I deliver a lot of presentations for work and in this weather I am always aware my face is pretty shiny - basically sweaty. I use a tinted moisturiser but thats about all. A matifier or primer sound like they might help but I have never used them (and dont really know what they are). Any suggestions?

Laura Mercier do a good primer, if your face is very shiny then go for oil free. Boots no7 do a good oil free make up base and its half the price of the Lm one. You could try using face powder (laura mercier and bobbi brown both great) or carry some little make up blotting papers with you.

what about a powder over your tinted moisturiser? I find primers make me look even more shiney

tinted moisturiser just melts off my face in this weather. I just wear a clinique pore perfect lotion that acts as polyfilla to the pores and gives a nice matte effect for ages. Don't need any other face make-up in this heat. Just carry a compact with you to freshen up during the day.

Do you have oily skin? Is it oil or sweat? (Sorry, I'm making you sound lovely, aren't I?!)

I use MAC spf 50 primer, which really helps. Have tried many primers, and most don't really help, but this is my holy grail.

I also use blotting paper, available from the spot cream section of boots, a couple of times a day in this weather, to take away the shine ( but leave my make up in place ).

The MAC one mentioned by Quinn is better than many, I find the Laura Mercier oil free is a nice base but still quite shiny (or wont stop shine) - you could consider changing your tinted moisturiser for a matt finish one. I don't personally recommend the No 7 mattifying makeup base - it pills for me, particularly with an emolient top. The pore filling ones vary in quality, I find them good and they are mattifying but often your makeup can feel like its sliding around on top.

If you don't like powder and want to try a mattifying primer, I suggest you get the body shop one which is quite cheap but brush a little on top after you apply your tinted moisturiser and top up througout the day with a light hand.

But ideally you would get the MAC SPF 50 one which really works and if you still feel shiny, change your tinted moisturiser.

That said if you are sweaty, nothing will really help except not sweating! I have trouble if I perspire around my side of nose/cheek area and forehead and upper lip (god I'm attractive) - you just have to blot it off and touch up your makeup.

I'm thinking of hiring a houseful of staff so I don't ever break a sweat but I'll do that tomorrow.

The point of the Body Shop one by the way is that because its cheap, if you don't get on with it, you haven't wasted much and it can be used several times througout the day if you need it without thinking "god this is expensive" because its not. Brush on lightly with a flimsy foundation brush (not a stiff one) over your tinted moisturiser and I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. You probably don't want a "powdered" finish or you'd just get a powder so I reckon try that before investing £££ in anything else (apart from the MAC 50+ which should be given to all women by the government as it is SO in the public interest)

No7 oil free make-up base - works a treat, I've been using it for years.

I would suggest using a primer before using foundation, that reduces alot of the sweaty/shininess. Then when you actually get sweaty/shiny use powder blotting sheets - you can get them from the body shop for a couple of pounds. Its better than using a powder as the applicator sucks in the oil and gradually gets worse, whereas the paper soaks it in and then you just throw it away.

Okay No 7 fans, how the fuck hell do you use it? I put it on, then put foundation on and it all pills up and flakes off. What am I doing wrong?

Not sure what's going wrong there Tatty, but I have similar problems with other products. I put a little of No7 on my chin about 15 mins after moisturiser, then leave it another 5 mins before make-up. I don't use liquid foundation, but mineral powder is ok.

Tatty. I was taught to put a pea size amount on your finger tip and then slightly rub into your finger tips and pat (as if playing a piano)on your face using all your finger tips in massage this movement is called tapotement. Wait a few mins and then apply foundation.

Hmmm. Will try the tappy tappy. Do you use liquid foundation, applied with a brush, or something else?

yes i use liquid and apply it with a mac foundation brush. i put a pea size amount on back of my hand to warm it then dip brush onto it and apply.

Thanks all, this is really top intelligence! I have never heard of these blotting pads, I will be down the shop for those tomorrow. Great idea to try the body shop stuff to see if that does the trick before forking out loads of £££. Also I might need to get to MAC sometime (when its not full of gorgeous young things)..

Or just have slaves to do all my hard work like Tatty, so I dont break a sweat.

Jurlique do a rose face powder which us amazing. I have the loose powder and apply with one of those big fat brushes. It's invisible and seems to be able to soak up oil all day. Often I will feel oily on a hot day but be glow free due to this product (I normally just use tinted moisturiser underneath too.)

Thanks Hiphop. Gonna try some of these things.

I have a boots brand 17 primer. Is great. and cheap

Tried the No 17 primer again today. Did the tappy method. Waited at least 5 minutes (probalby 8)

Tried to apply my foundation over the top (Clinique Even Better) with a brush. It went on better than previous times but still looked like I had scraped some clay around on my face.

Its not for me!

OP if you PM me your address I will lob it in the post to you and you can have it! Seriously. Then you can try it, who knows, you might like it.

Have you tried oil cleansing? I used to have very oily shiny skin but oil cleansing has sorted it out. I no longer shine.

After the thread yesterday I've used the Laura Mercier primer today, and the tinted moisturiser, and a sweep of loose powder on top. Skin actually looks very nice - not super matt or powdery but not shiny either.

Unlike oiliness sweat is something I think you just have to anticipate and work around, though - i.e. don't expect to look perfect straight after a brisk walk, and be prepared to touch up.

Rizlas work just as well as the powder paper and are a lot cheaper.

Matte Miracle from Cosmetics a la Carte. I am a grease-bag and it really does help. I feel a bit of a cheat buying stuff from them as I'm really too poor and un-chic, but it works for me.