All Made Up: 3 Steps to a Flawless Face for Oily or Dry Skin

Your skin type makes a huge difference in what products you should use. Skin problems and makeup woes are oftentimes caused by using the wrong products for your type. So I’m making it simple for you. Here are 3 basics for oily and dry skin.

Oily Skin

First you need to confirm that you do, in fact, have oily skin. Most people have oily t-zones (that’s the forehead and nose area) but to have truly oily skin, your cheeks and chin will be oily too. If you have large visible pores, that’s another sign you fall into the oily category. So for you oily chicks – here’s a few things to pick up.

Murad Pomegranate Foaming Facial Cleanser ($25 sephora.com)

This fab cleanser dissolves dirt, makeup and most importantly – oil – in one easy step. Best of all, it won’t over-dry your skin. One pump of this cleanser leaves you feeling fresh and clean.

Clinique Dramtically Different Moisturizing Gel ($11.50 clinique.com)

This ultra light moisturizer is oil-free, so it won’t cause breakouts. It absorbs instantly so you can layer on more to get just the right amount of moisture. Perfect to replenish moisture if you are using acne treatments which can dry you out.

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens ($10 sephora.com)

These handy little papers are perfect for absorbing oil throughout the day. The best part is they are oil free. Believe it or not, most brands of blotting papers (i.e. Clean & Clear or Sephora Brand) actually have mineral oil in them! Defeat the purpose much? Stick with Boscia.

Dry Skin

You’ll know you have dry skin if you have flakiness is the cheek area and no visible pores on your t-zone. You might have dry patches if you are using an anti-acne treatment with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (like Proactiv). That doesn’t mean you have dry skin – if you have frequent breakouts or large pores you don’t have dry skin. But for those flaky pore-less ladies who do, here are three superstar products to try.

Philosophy Purity Cleanser ($10 sephora.com)

This cleanser is perfect for dry sensitive skin. It dissolves dirt, makeup and deep-cleans pores without stripping your skin of its natural moisture.

Olay Complete Night Fortifying Cream ($15 in drugstores)

The best time to add much needed moisture is at night when your skin is naturally repairing itself. This night cream won’t clog pores but will replenish your skin’s moisture. The best part: it keeps working by preventing moisture loss the next day.

Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15 ($27 clinique.com)

If you have dry skin, never miss a chance to add moisture! This sheer foundation provides just enough coverage to even out skintone and keeps your skin moisturized and protected throughout the day.

So those are the basics. If you still aren’t sure about your skin type, Clinique has a quick and easy survey to figure it out here.