Gather ye, gather ye all those who'd like to share their greasy skin miracles (commiserators more than welcome)

[WineAndIntrigue]

So, yet again I spent a mere three hours outside of the house today before discovering my makeup had slid entirely off my skin leaving a greasy, unwashed looking sheen behind it. Delightful. I have tried primers, various cheap to mid-range foundations and combine everything with a slightly claggy looking layer of powder but to no avail. I have searched through the archives on here yes really but one of you might have had a totally life-changing experience and have found something to help.

I have a particularly oily t-zone and cheeks, and a ton of spots in the same areas and around my chin. My forehead in particular is incredibly bumpy with what feel like/look like clogged pores from the vast quantity of grease on my face (yummy) rather than actual spots. I am at this point willing to try any combination of things. I know it sounds stupid but it's really beginning to get me down - I am in my mid-twenties and I thought I had suffered enough during my teen years. So please if there's anyone who uses a great cleanser/exfoliater and particularly a foundation step up to take my and in thanks!

Try blotting papers, I found the Shiseido ones work best.

I'm in my early 40s and still have very oily skin. I don't get spots though, thank god. No real wrinkles yet either.

I use Clinique Pore Perfector over my t-zone (it's very mattifying), or Boots No 7 Matt primer if i run short of Clinique near payday. I swear by Corn Silk loose powder over the top. None of these things are a perfect fix, but after years of trial and error, these are the products that work best for me.

But I find my greasy complexion embarrrassing; I'm always popping off to the loo between meetings to blot my face. Its a real nuisance. I'd love to have a matt complexion.

I meant to add that you should try Clinique Clarifying Lotion No 2 - I used it years ago, it really cleans your skin but i found it too harsh to use twice a day. However I tried it again last year, but only using it at night, and it's definitely making a difference.

I'm not sure about make up but I read a thread on here a few months ago about la roche posay cleanser and other products. I have oily skin too, especially my t-zone, and used to get outbreaks and jawline spots. I decided to give lrp a try as it was on offer in boots (3 for 2) and I haven't looked back. I have had maybe one very insignificant spot since I started using it and I wouldn't use anything else now. I read a lot about the products and chose the physiological cleanser and efflaclar duo (sorry I'm not sure if that's how it's spelt) which is an after cleansing cream I use on my t zone only.
Would be happy to hear any tips about make up and oily skin, still haven't quite figured that one out yet!

Hmm... I think try the blotting sheets for during the day and maybe a mattifying moisturiser before makeup rather than a primer (La Roche-Posay do one in their Effaclar range called Mat: www.boots.com/en/La-Roche-Posay-Effaclar-Mat-40ml_1338916/ )

If it's really bothering you and you want a more drastic result then it might be worth going to your GP who could prescribe a whole bunch of things that sort out oily/acne-prone skin. I've written extensively on my blog about how I dealt with my oily, spotty skin, what really worked for me was a topical retinoid: daisydabbles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/acne-part-two.html

It really just depends how much of an issue your skin is, and how much time/money/emotional energy you have to spend!

Hope that helps!

Daisy

xxx

I can really relate, in the past I've felt so down about my skin and even found it hard to leave the house.

Check out Caroline Hirons' advice. Particularly, her advice to double cleanse if you wear make up - my skin has never been better. Another important point is not to use anything foaming on your face.
Here's her cheat sheet on cleansing. She has further advice for acne too if you look around her site :)

I've had further improvements recently since I mostly stopped using cows milk. It's not that hard, most coffee shops will even do a soya latte these days, and Koko coconut milk is really nice in porridge and cereals.

AlfAlf - have you tried unsweetened almond milk? It's my fav. non-dairy milk equivalent (I find soya too bitter...)

I also found Caroline Hirons acne advice really helpful, but it was only making a marginal difference to my skin. It wasn't until I went to the doc and got antibiotics/topical retinoids that I really saw a big difference. Now I incorporate CH's advice into my new GP-approved routine and my skin is looking better than it ever has :-) It makes such a big difference to your self-esteem, for a while spots were making me properly miserable! xxx

I have read and read so much online with so much conflicting advice over the last couple of years - this has been so much more clarifying and helpful, thank you all very much

Lozpot and daisydaisys would you reapply powder after blotting? I would love love love to be the sort of person who can just wander out of the house looking effortless and stay like that all day (yeah, right!) but these sound like a very good option.

daisydaisys that's interesting about the GP. I've always felt relatively lucky with my skin - it looks terrible to me but I am well aware that in life it's not a major problem. I just feel like it makes me look young and unprofessional - that's a whole other issue as I feel like I'm punching above my weight in terms of the job I do and so the stress I put myself under is not helping with my skin I fear...anyway the long and short of it is that it is probably something I would be interested in if nothing I try over the next few weeks works... Thank you to you and AlfAlf I will check out those links this evening.

Sunnyfeet Clinique sounds like it might be worth a go in general then, especially if they do one of those three-for-twos I see advertised all the time. Silly question alert - IYE are the people at the counter helpful? I am the most easily intimidated person, despite the fact that it's my money yadda yadda...would it be better to buy online given my incompetence at talking to other humans?

loobyloo24 I've used Effaclar...the one for oily skin? as a spot treatment before and it was great - I started using it just before they stocked it in Boots so it's still not on my radar as something to get hold of. Interesting to hear that though as it's slightly cheaper than Clinique, plus I am going to France for a weekend in the summer so can pick the bits up there really cheaply. (On another note - their spray-in-a-can toner is meant to be amazing!)

Thanks again all - keep the suggestions coming! In terms of make-up, the best foundation that doesn't bleed one dry I have found is Revlon Colorstay - it's a good match for me which is good. The No7 matte one isn't bad either although all the colours seem a bit grey on me. Has anyone given mineral makeup a go? I'm really intrigued - I know it takes a bit of work to get used to but the idea of matching the colour and building consistency appeals to me. Other than that, I think I'm going to go for EL double wear next...

Best foundation I have found to eliminate shine is Maybelline whipped Mousse Foundation.

No7 matte doesn't cut it and looks grey on me as well.Revlon Colorstay is a perfect match colour wise but doesn't cut it for long before the oil bursts through on my t- zone. I have tried quite a few and keep coming back to Maybelline- it's the best by far.

It's the dream matte mousse one in little glass pots rather than the pump one.

The best I have found for my skin is to use Clarins stuff. They do a face wash that's designed for oily skin, I use their green toner and a ultra matte moisturiser. I asked for some advice about the oiliness and they gave me a sample of oil .

However, I've used it on it's own at night when I'm particularly oily and I find the next day I'm a lot less oily.
Foundation, well Bare Minerals is the best I've found. With a primer. It stays put, can't say it still looks matt and pristine by the end of the day, but it lasts a lot longer than many others I've tried.

I was warned off Clinique clarifying lotion - it's too harsh and strips the skin apparently, which causes it to produce more oil. And I also heard that they clean the counters with it .

Clarisonic

Cheers Daisy, I'll try the almond milk :) do you recommend it for drinks or cereals or both? I tend to like coconut for cereals and soya for tea/coffee because it's less watery.

I'd also like to add another tip: apple cider vinegar toner. I make it with 1 part apple cider vinegar to 8 parts water, but you can make it stronger if needed. My skin is sensitive so I like it on the mild side. Anyway, it sorts out the ph level of your skin as well as making it naturally nice and clean, thus making it all lovely and balanced.

Milmingebag thank you - there's a shop near me which sells branded make-up products (albeit whose origin is of a slightly questionable nature) and they are full of Maybelline products - I'll give it a go. I know that Revlon whipped creme is meant to be incredible but as with all the alleged miracle products it's for American faces only. I feel like if I can get my underneath-y skin looking good, a cheaper product on top would be fine.

42notTrendy Bare Minerals I would love to try but it is so pricey...I have spent so much in the last few years on expensive makeup products that I can't face another £25 on something that doesn't work. (As an aside, can you mix textures with mineral foundation? Could I wear a cream blush or liquid highlight with a mineral base?)

Totally tempted by a Clarisonic Bonsoir and have been for a while do you think it's good value?

Funny you mention that AlfAlf I have over-washed my hair for so long that it's a grease-bucket too (sensing a theme?) and my friend has been persuading me to wash it with ACV as well. I might have to get some and make up a couple of concoctions with it.

I like Clinique pore refining stuff - it seems to really mattify my skin. I use it with Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. I think benefit do a similar cream.

I have tried a lot of the things on this thread - but they all seem to make my skin greasier. Oil cleansing, clarins, double cleansing, . Bare minerals seemed to just sit in my pores.

A few years ago when I was richer I used dermalogica which I liked

Now I'm using avene face wash, and various creams - it seems to have cleared my skin up loads, but doesn't necessarily make it less shiny during the day. Only the clinique pore refining cream does that.

I have tried a lot of things in the last few weeks (reached the end of my tether with my greasy skin too), but have discovered that if I do too much it just generates more grease. Maybe this is the case with you - I can't seem to exfoliate or use a toner. Or even hot cloth cleanse anymore. Avene seems ok though.

Lili Lolomineral foundation.
Incredible for oily skin. They also do a mattifying setting powder to go on top.
You can buy tester pots from them for £1.5 which lasts 3/4 days.

Lili Lolo foundation full size pots are circa £13 and will last you 3/4 months perhaps more.

You can also get blush from them, lovely bronzers and a high lighter called Stardust.

Right thank you again all. Stayed up far too late last night googling all of the things mentioned and found myself on very helpful parts of the internet.

MrsFlorrick I have seen those tester pots and was intrigued, fairly sure I'll be in between two colours and I was going to buy both and have a go. What brush do you use? I think I'd need something a little firmer than my usual powder brush...also I know I asked this above but with the Lily Lolo can you use your original stuff (liquid blush/highlighter etc) with it?

BeattieBow totally agree RE not using too much product; recently have just switched from Cleanse and Polish to just using a micellaire water (Bioderma, it's amazing stuff!), a natural toner in the morning to wake me up and a soothing moisturiser. I rather think I need something in between!

I think the Clinique pore refiner is going to be the thing I go for, along with a couple of the La Roche Posay bits if Boots puts an offer back on - I generally prefer to introduce new things to my face one at a time rather than six new things altogether IYKWIM. Thank you again

Have you ever tried the (very cheap and cheerful) Ponds Vanishing Cream? I have very oily skin and this was recommended to me - whatever makeup I apply after using this stays on all day, even in hot weather

The Body Shop tea tree mattifying moisture lotion was the only product that kept my skin matte all day,and I have very greasy skin,used clinique bar to wash with but absolutely swear by that moisture lotion.

Use milk of magnesia as a primer. I laughed when someone told me but it is the only thing that works all day. Total game changer for oily skin.

I swear by this range
Occasionally I'll go off and try some other 'wonder product' but always come back to Dr Nick

Wow - I'll definitely try milk of magnesia, never thought about that! And I'll also seek out Ponds Vanishing Cream, I didn't know it was still on sale? I'd just love to have skin that stayed matt for a few hours; I know I'll never be one of those lucky girls who has a pristine face all day .....

I am very very very very oily.

I use la roche posay effaclar wash, toner and their Mattifying day cream. The effaclar k lotion or avene cleanance k lotion is amazing for night wear.

Make up wise has to be anything poser based. I use black up Mattifying primer for nights out or day time but not for work. Urban decay make up setting spray also good. Mineral foundation ok for short term up. Shiseido blotting sheets are excellent. As is Nars setting powder.

Some make up like bobbi brown mac makes my skin soooo oily and then blocks my pores so I tend to stay away from stuff like that.

I currently use the Estée Lauder powder foundation and it is ok.

Powder based!!