My skincare journey has been a long and, at some points, painful one; only now, after so many years and tests and failures, can I see the light at the end of the tunnel. If my experience with handling oily/combination skin can help and inspire a struggling person, I am more than happy to share it. As a teenager, I occasionally had a few pimples in my T-zone. I always had one or two big pimples on different parts of my T-zone at all times, but mostly on my chin. I used very harsh exfoliants, even scrubbing ones, and all kinds of acne treatments on all of my skin without understanding that there are different areas that need different treatments. I would strip my skin of natural oils with antibacterial soaps, followed by astringent toners or lotions, making my skin look and feel worse over time. This played a big role in my confidence as I was not allowed to wear makeup in school. I continued to use products that stripped my skin of sebum, only to produce more sebum, more pimples, more redness, and more sensitive skin.Â
After years and years, I understood that oily skin needs hydration, balance, and a protective skin barrier before any spot treatment. Hydration needs to be done immediately after cleansing so as not to trigger a fast response from oily skin that immediately needs its sebum back. Hydration needs to last all day until the next cleanse and needs to be done with light-textured products that will not clog pores or sit on top of the skin in a heavy layer that will not let it breathe. The ingredients are also very important. They need to be tested for sensitive skin, preferably not contain perfume, and definitely not contain alcohol. Key ingredients that are best for oily skin include: hyaluronic acid, which brings hydration without clogging pores (search for the smallest molecule formulation possible or multi-molecular weights and always apply on damp skin to lock in moisture), and niacinamide ( vitamin B3) for calming skin and reducing excess oil;Â just test it locally because there are some people with sensitive skin who cannot use it. Stay away from heavy oils and comedogenic products like mineral oils or coconut oil. Regarding products with all-natural ingredients, I have my own experience to tell: not all 100% vegan, clean products made my skin better; some of them did the contrary. I have had irritations, redness, and even acne after using some natural ingredient product. I have come to the conclusion that for everyday skincare before makeup, for my T-zone where I am oily and have large pores or even pimples, I need to have HYDRATION that KEEPS SEBUM UNDER CONTROL. I need to use a MATTYFING MOISTURIZER.Â
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It is very important to understand and accept that mattifying PRIMERS cannot be worn on an everyday basis. Most mattifying primers contain alcohol and other components that, in the short term, help absorb and even stop sebum production, but in the long run, they dry out the skin and make you produce even more sebum, creating an imbalance that only adds to the problem. So for everyday use, go for a mattifying moisturizer to keep sebum on a certain level of control, and on special occasions only, use the primer just after the serum with foundation on top of it. A mattifying moisturizer will not give you the exact same effect as the primer, but you need to keep things in proportion and remember for the long term, that our skin needs hydration and care. Here are the mattifying moisturizers I have tried so far and how they performed for my oily T-zone, which is the most problematic area.
Hands down, this is my top choice (so far) for mattifying my skin on a daily basis using only my skincare-specifically, my moisturizer. It is one of the most popular and highly-rated products from the iconic French skincare brand La Roche-Posay. It specifically targets oily skin (it is not a generic “all skin types” product), meaning it slows down oil production and reduces shine, which makes your pores look smaller. I respect the fact that the brand doesn’t claim it shrinks pores, but rather improves their appearance by reducing shine. Let me tell you, there is no magical lotion or cream that will actually make pores smaller; I have tried so many over the years.
I am thrilled that it doesn’t clog my pores; it is lightweight, and I can wear makeup over it. I wish they made and SPF version of it, as most individual sunscreens do not sit well on top of it; they often add texture, pill, or cancel out the mattifying effect. The key ingredient in the moisturizer is LHA(lipo-hydroxy acid), which provides micro-exfoliation. You get hydration while gently exfoliating. I love LHA because it is a derivative of salicylic acid, so it isn’t harsh on the skin. There is also regular salicylic acid in the formula, though only in a very small quantity. Other top ingredients that help take manage oily skin include:
- Perlite: AÂ powder derived from volcanic rock and the star of the product for me; it absorbs water and oil to provide matte finish.
- Silica:Â A lightweight type of powder that absorbs oil and creates a silky feel with a soft-focus, almost blurring effect.Â
- Thermal Spring water:Â A core ingredient in most of the brand’s products.
By the way, if you want to see the best buys from French Pharmacy brands, I have a separate post you can read HERE.Â
The fragrance amount is very small and almost unnoticeable, but I still think it should be eliminated for acne-prone users. I apply this moisturizer only to the oily parts of my face-for me, that’s the T-zone-after the serum (following the cleanse-tone-serum-moisturizer skincare routine main steps). I only need a pea-sized amount.Â
If you have oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin and enlarged pores, and you need oil control and matte skin, I totally recommend this moisturizer. On my very oily T-zone, I get a solid 4-5 hours of matte-looking skin before shine appears and I need to powder or blot. The fact that I don’t get breakouts while my skin stays hydrated is the best part; the matte is just a bonus. The only downside is that it comes in small packaging and the price seems to increase every time I buy it.
Effaclar Mat La Roche-Posay
I discovered the Acure brand some time ago and I’m surprised I don’t hear and see more buzz about it. Besides decent pricing, it uses very good, clean ingredients and none of the products I used caused inconveniences for my sensitive combination skin. As my trusty La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat was about to run out, I decided to give the Acure moisturizer a try, not having too many expectations. I knew it would not make my skin worse, but it really took me by surprise. Formulated specifically for combo to oily skin, it is the first moisturizer that, although it is lightweight, has a nourishing or emollient feel on the skin. It sinks in rapidly when spread, but in the beginning it feels buttery ,which I like because I get to feel the hydrating sensation on the skin. Rated “Excellent”, 96/100 on Yuka app, it is 100% Vegan, Paraben-free, Sulfate-free, Mineral Oil-free, Petrolatum-free, Silicone-Free, and Cruelty-free. What is not to like about this product? Formulated with Lilac Stem Cells and 1% Chlorella Growth Factor, it helps control excess sebum and balance combination, oily, and acne-prone skin. It is absorbed easily and looks beautiful under makeup. I hope you will still be able to still find products from this “Incredibly clean” line, as lately it has not been easy to purchase them.
The matte look of the skin lasts for a good 3 to 4 hours, which is less than the Effaclar Mat, but it’s the next best thing. It doesn’t have any fragrance, which is a bonus compared to the French product. It has a reasonable price. You need a pea-sized amount of the moisturizer to be applied on clean skin, after the toner. I follow with SPF during daytime and foundation.Â
While searching for clues on the scarcity of the products in this specific line, I read the reason might be a rebranding, with products changing names and packaging and moving of the “Incredibly clear” line into other categories. For now, the mattifying moisturizer retains the OG packaging, but is regrouped under “Acne & Blemishes” or “Clean skin” collections on the website. I found mine on Notino, a very big cosmetics site in Europe.
Uriage is a French skincare brand that you usually find in the pharmacies. It has seen constant growth over the recent years, gaining popularity little by little. I trust French pharma for skincare, as you may have noticed. I tried the product because I read a great number of positive reviews, which gives me more confidence to buy a new product than seeing it goviral, being part of a trend, or being heavily promoted by influencers.Â
It caters to combination to oily skin and moisturizes while “trying’ to mattify the skin, which I found it was less likely to do FOR ME on my very oily T-zone. I appreciate that it didn’t make my skin oilier and didn’t cause breakouts or irritation on my acne-prone, sensitive T-zone. I’ve used it for more than one month, day and night, and I didn’t notice any difference in the appearance of my skin, besides hydration without extra sebum. I didn’t have high expectations either, as oily skin is problematic for most brands. Although it is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, it still contains fragrance, which is something I don’t like in my skincare.
It contains Lentil Extract, Aluminium starch (which is an absorbent powder), and Licorice Extract for soothing the skin, as it has anti-inflammatory properties for calming irritation and preventing the appearance of blemishes. Again, this gel-cream is highly rated; it is a good moisturizer for oily skin that will keep sebum under control, but I didn’t make me look matte.
You need only only a pea-sized amount of product, as it has a light, fluid texture that spreads very quickly and gently, sinking into the skin without leaving residue. I found that if you apply too much of the product, it will create texture underneath foundation, regardless of whether it is water-based or silicone-based. You must apply it to clean skin after the toner.
As a brand that caters to skin needs and health, Avene needs no introduction. A brand with more than 30 years of experience, Avene focuses on products that target dermatological conditions and skin concerns like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and burns, based on the therapeutically properties of the Thermal Spring Water. That is why I trusted this product not to break me out, as my T-zone is acne-prone. Surprisingly, it didn’t break me out despite the fragrance it contains.Â
Consistency-wise, it is somewhere between a gel and a light cream; it’s really fluid and you don’t need much. A pea-sized amount of product will be enough for your T-zone and another one for the rest of the face if you are oily there too. It hydrates without clogging pores and retains the moisture that oily skin needs so much. But mattifying? It is not. It maintains some level of control over oils and sebum, but it does not make your skin matte, although it claims to. It contains Comedoclastin, which is a stabilized extract derived from milk thistle that helps reduce the appearance of blemishes. I did see an improvement in the overall look of my skin after using it day and night for more than two weeks.Â
The mattifying powders that are in the composition didn’t make my skin matte, though- not even for one or two hours. It also contains also thermal water and glycerin, which are great ingredients in skincare. Do not apply to much of it, as it may create extra texture when it’s not compatible with your foundation, if you are going to use makeup. From my understanding, in some regions, the emulsion was replaced by an aqua-gel formula, which might be more suitable for water-based foundations. If you have mild to moderate skin imperfections due to oily skin, the Avene emulsion/aqua-gel is a great moisturizer that will not break you out, but it won’t be able to keep your shine under control.Â
If you have oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin, what moisturizer worked for you and most importantly, can you tell from your own experience which one gave you a matte look and reduced shine, even for a few hours? I don’t mind to use a regular moisturizer for oily skin, but if there are on the market products that claim to give you a matte look, this is what I am going for. Leave a comment bellow.