My Favourite Foundations for Oily Skin

As many of you know, I have oily skin. It used to be the absolute bane of my existence but over the years I have learnt how to treat it correctly and how to use products that help to control the oil. 

Skincare and looking after your skin is of the utmost importance no matter what skin you have. It will really help in achieving a look that keeps the oil away. I use a variety of products including Vichy Normaderm, which really helps with the oils on my skin but time and time again, I always find myself going back to clean and clear. I use the blackhead removing scrub, the deep action creme wash and occasionally I will use the Double Action moisturizer, which keeps my skin very smooth yet controls the oils and helps to keep breakouts at bay. I think all in all, this costs me no more than £20 every 6-8 weeks. They usually have 3 for 2 offers on in Superdrug as well, which is a bonus.

There are of course other, more high end products that work amazingly well, for example Dr Nick Lowe products, available in boots, are supposed to be really good. I haven't personally used any of these products, as I find that if I change my products about too much, I do break out and so therefore I tend to stick to what I know works. Some people may find that these products would be too harsh on their skin, and this would definitely be true of somebody that has a dry skin. The problem with these drug store brands is that they work based on the assumption that all problem/spotty skin is oily, which is 9 times out of 10 the case. 

Anyway, I always make sure that I remove my make up before bed and cleanse thoroughly in the morning. I use my clinique repairwear laser focus serum both morning and nighttime and pair it with a good moisturizer. (See my post on the serum update). I will ALWAYS use a good primer. My favourites are MAC Face Protect primer, which is amazing at keeping the oils in my skin away, or Laura Mercier Oil Free, which doesn't have quite the same strength but is lovely too. 

My personal favourite foundations for oily skin are:

1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation -I couldn't be without this foundation. It has amazing coverage which covers up all of my blemishes on a bad day, and just like it says, it  stays on. It lasts well in heat and humidity and makes my skin look absolutely flawless. I literally only use a pea sized amount of this foundation as too much makes the skin look cakey. It has a setting agent in it which helps it to last and therefore, you have to work really quickly with it, as if you apply more over the top, it can look very ashy. The colours can also be quite difficult to work out so as ever, I would ask the Lauder assistant to help you, even if she just explains how the colours in Lauder work. 
2. MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation - this is amazing. It doesn't have as much coverage as EL double wear but it still offers a good coverage with a beautiful matte finish. I swap and change frequently between the two. 
3. MAC Matchmaster Foundation - A beautiful matte foundation which doesn't offer as much coverage as the two above. I love this on a good skin day when I just need a bit of evening out. It has amazing staying power again and is perfect for those who don't want as much coverage! 

As always I would finish with a concealer and a powder. I tend to use a translucent powder but if I want more coverage, I use EL double wear powder, or MAC fix powder, both of which are amazing, but again can go cakey quite quickly. Just be aware that less is more and it's all about how you prep and look after your skin and you will definitely keep those oils at bay! 

Benefit She Laq

I have been looking for years for something that is waterproof to fill in the large gaps that I have in my eyebrows. I've never found anything that I was completely satisfied with and I settled with a MAC paintpot in quite natural to fill in my brows. I loved the texture and still use it, along with my HD brow pencil to fill in my brows, as both have a warmth that compliments my red hair. But I have now found an AMAZING product that allows me to use my existing products and then just seal my brows with an amazing waterproof layer!

Not only does it seal by brows in place but it has the capacity to turn any make up product into a waterproof one! I have used a drop of it in mascara that I have decanted, and more recently I used a few drops of it in foundation in order to seal that into place too. It does alter the product slightly, mainly where colour is concerned. This doesn't really bother me too much as I just love using it for my eyebrows. I use it straight from the bottle and brush it onto my brows. I then give it a few seconds to set and brush my brows through with a spooly so that they don't look really rigid, as once this sets, it's set! 

It's a must have product for hot summer months, (which you will definitely only get if you are going away on holiday!)

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Serum UPDATE

I have been using this serum for about 4 weeks now and I have noticed a massive difference in my skin. It feels nicer, looks more radiant and healthy and most importantly, has diminished a few of my fine lines. I had noticed previously that some wrinkles had started to appear around my eyes and one quite defined one on my forehead. The ones around my eyes have almost completely gone and the one on my forehead, which I was particularly conscious of, has almost disappeared too. I have applied the serum twice a day, combined with one of my favourite moisturisers. This month it has been either Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrait or MAC Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel. I then use the MAC charged water eye cream too. 

The biggest change has come from my mum's use of the product. She hasn't looked after her skin quite as much as she should have done in years gone by and she does have quite a bit of sun damage too. Her skin has completely changed for the better with her use of this product. Like me, she uses it twice a day. The biggest difference has been seen in the skin around her eyes. Before, the skin was quite baggy yet it has completely tightened up over the past month. I cannot wait to see what the results are like as she continues to use the product. 

I'm dying to try the foundation too, although I'm not sure what it will be like, or if it will be as effective as the serum. If any of you have tried it please let me know what you have thought of it. 

Real Techniques brushes

I cannot explain I much I love these brushes. They are perfect!!! They feel amazing, are multi use and they apply the products so beautifully that it makes me wonder why everybody in the world doesn't own them! They really are gorgeous! They're also very affordable considering the high quality. I cannot wait to get my hands on the new ones. The only thing I would say is that I do prefer to use natural hair brushes on my eyes, as I feel that they apply products better but I use all of these brushes on the skin and for lips. They are amazing. Well done to my lovely teacher Sam who has obviously worked so hard to make these brushes really amazing!!!