How to say bye to oil blotter papers: 4 tips on staying shine-free all day long

The usual on-the-go fix for oily skin in Singapore is blotter paper to soak up grease, but regular users know it’s not a real solution. Shine normally returns almost as soon as it’s gone because oil blotter papers do not go beyond skin deep to help regulate sebum production. Cue the shiny T-zone! Exercisers have things worse, as do makeup-lovers – foundation strays easily from a greasy face, so you need endless touch-ups. And if you have oily skin, chances are you suffer from breakouts and perhaps even red and inflamed acne too.

But if we ditch the blotter paper, what can we do instead? After all, Singapore’s high heat and humidity aren’t conducive to us achieving matte, imperfection-free skin. Thankfully, there are simple lifestyle changes we can make to calm our skin and reduce the oil levels and breakouts too, like adding La Roche Posay Serozinc to our skincare regime – it mattifies, purifies, and even soothes inflamed acne, instantly.

This seems counterintuitive – it feels like the more you wash your face, the more excess oil you’ll remove. But over-washing can lead your sebum-producing glands to think that your skin’s drying out, so they go into survival mode and start producing excess oil. Cleansing morning, night, and after exercise with a gentle cleanser, is fine, but you may want to be stricter in choosing your skincare products. For example, when looking for an exfoliant, choose a gentle scrub that is suitable for sensitive skin and will not scratch and irritate it.

There’s evidence that topical zinc can reduce sebum production and also soothe acne inflammations. French dermatology brand La Roche Posay has created Serozinc ($12.90 for 50ml and $24.90 for 150ml), a fine spray that contains zinc in a base of its iconic Thermal Spring Water, a powerful antioxidant thermal water that helps soothe and protect sensitive skin.

This cult beauty product instantly takes the shine off your skin, whether it’s caused by hormones, stress or working out, without causing dehydration or dryness. It immediately soothes redness from acne too, and has an antibacterial effect, improving the condition of your skin over time. It also helps in tightening pores so they’re less likely to accumulate bacteria, which could lead to pimples and acne. And Serozinc is also ultra hygienic – there’s no chance of spreading bacteria because you don’t need to touch your face when you use it. It dries in a few seconds and leaves no residue. Tested under dermatological controls, it is fragrance and paraben free, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

Most people touch their faces dozens of times a day, but hands and fingers aren’t sterile – touching your face transfers dirt and oil to your skin, creating shine, and a perfect breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. Other possible bacteria-carriers include your phone and your pillowcase, so keep the former clean or use handsfree, and change the latter a couple of times a week.

OK, so avoiding heat is not an option in Singapore. But sweating does contribute to acne on the face and body because it can cause dirt, oil and bacteria to become trapped in your pores. What should you do? Limit your time in the sun at peak times - between 11am and 2pm - and wear a sunscreen with minimum SPF30 protection that’s suitable for sensitive skin every day. Look for the words ‘non-comedogenic’ (non-pore-blocking) on the label, and reapply every two or three hours for maximum protection.

Buy La Roche Posay Serozinc at a special introductory price of $9.90 (50ml) and $18.90 (150ml), in an exclusive pre-launch online on Lazada from October 21, 2016. From October 28, it will also be available at the same introductory price from major pharmacies including Watsons, Guardian, Unity, selected hospital pharmacies and Derma Center at Westgate #02-33.

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Brought to you by La Roche Posay