Top hacks to make your foundation look flawless if you have oily skin

I know the commonest skincare advice given to people with oily skin is not to neglect hydration, that you still need to hydrate and moisturise your oily skin to balance it and prevent it from producing even more sebum and becoming oilier. But the trick here is to pick the right skincare and not to overdo it. Do not pick formulas that are oil-based or too heavy with emollients and occlusive ingredients as these can clog your skin. Go for water- or gel-based moisturisers or serums that hydrate without adding a greasy layer on top of your skin.

Try: Shiseido Waso Color-Smart Day Moisturizer Oil-free, $55; Eve Lom Oil Free Moisturiser, $125; Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb, $63

If you have really oily skin, before you apply foundation, you might want to try applying just a good hydrating serum followed by a suitable lightweight sunscreen that doubles as a makeup base. Do give your skincare some time to absorb into your skin (an extra minute will do) and blot off the access with a piece of tissue before you proceed to apply your foundation. Skip moisturiser altogether to prevent an oil slick that would cause your foundation to slip and slide off. Of course, get back on your full moisturiser routine for nighttime, when you’re not wearing foundation, in order to replenish skin’s hydration sufficiently.

Try: Dr. TWL Dermaceuticals Hyaluronic Acid, $117; and Kenzoki White Blossom Delicate UV Shield SPF 50 PA+++, $65

Don’t just go for any foundation that strikes your fancy or that’s popular at the moment. Think of what’s suitable for your oily skin. For example, a liquid or cushion foundation that promises that super dewy, luminous finish ain’t gonna cut it for your skin type. You’ll just look greasy with the foundation on and then it will disappear off your oily skin in a snap. Go for an oil-free, long-wearing formula with some mattifying properties to sop up excess sebum. I personally find that a two-way cake foundation, applied with a kabuki brush is a good foundie option for my oily skin.

Try: Za Perfect Fit Two-Way Foundation, $18.50 for the refill; It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation, $60; and Guerlain Lingerie De Peau – Compact Powder Foundation, $99

We get it, oily, overly shiny skin is not a good look. But don’t go overboard with the blotting papers because according to our Derm in the house, Dr Teo Wanlin, “Blotting does nothing for skin cleansing other than removing the surface oil, and this can cause a condition called reactive seborrhea, whereby the skin compensates by producing even more oil.” If you must, blot your skin with a piece of tissue, which won’t sop up all the surface oil too thoroughly, and limit the number of times you blot every day, maybe just once after lunch and again before you leave the office? To touch up, use a pressed powder and dust just a bit with a fluffy brush on the oiliest areas of your face.

Try: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed, $48; Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Pressed Powder, $61; Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush, $48