Makeup 101: Shine Without the Shiny

By Ali

Along with the beautiful summertime weather we are all so freaking excited about comes the not-so-beautiful summertime shine. Not the shine of the gorgeous sun, not the shine of that hot guy’s beach body, but the shine of your oily face. Not. So. Hot.

Oily faces are definitely not cute and leave you feeling gross, dirty, and, well, oily. Not to mention a reflecting surface for camera flashes. But warm weather doesn’t have to mean a slippery face; there is something you can do about it! There are several types of products out there to help with your shine, from anti-shine powder to oil absorbing blotters.

Below are some of my personal favorite products that are easy to carry with you all summer to stay looking matte and fresh. (Smelling fresh, however, is a whole different article…)

Smashbox’s Anti-Shine Compact: This portable compact comes with a brush and applicator sponge and goes on clear.
Benefits: it helps clear acne, soothes skin, and erases grease.
Downside: While this stuff is a lifesaver during the day, I learned the hard way that oftentimes anti-shine powder doesn’t look so hot under black-lights. So be prepared to look like a scary ghost when you go shake your groove thang at the bar.

Baby Powder: Why spend a ton of money on name brand products when you can throw a little of this stuff on your face? Baby power erases shine and grease from your face, just like with your hair, and is oh-so cheap!  Just put a little bit of powder on a face brush, tap to get excess powder off, then dust it lightly over your face.
Benefit: Cheap. Like, really cheap.
Downside: It’s not portable, so getting a compact may be a good idea for on-the-go. Your face will also smell like a (clean) baby’s butt. That is a downside, right?

Sephora Brand’s “Tricks of the Trade” Primer: This type of anti-shine treatment helps prevent shine before it even happens! Apply this to your face before you apply your foundation, whatever type you choose. It holds your foundation in place and keeps your skin looking matte for up to 8 hours.

Bare Escentuals Blotting Papers: This packet of blotting papers is portable and can fit into your purse or beach bag. Just pull one out and blot the grease away. And these little guys are brilliant; they somehow eliminate only unwanted grease, leaving your natural oils and makeup in place.

Prepare yourself and you will be shine-free in all of your summer selfies.