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5 Great Cleansers to Balance Oily Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:00:00 PST

Even though we're in the heart of Winter, there are many of us, myself included, who still experience issues with oily skin. Over the next few days, I'll be featuring some highly rated cleansers from all price points using our Product Reviews pages for a part of my inspiration. For those of you with dry, acne-prone, and sensitive skin, stay tuned; you're up next. For now, check out these five cleansers that help to put oil in its place.

Source: Flickr User ">qhwa

How-To: Prevent Greasy Bangs

BellaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:22 PDT

Right after my freshman year in college, my high school friends and I decided to have a girls-only Mexican dinner at the local Chi-Chi's (remember that restaurant?). As we were getting ready for our big night, I reached for a can of what I thought was hairspray to finish off my look, and my bangs just kept getting greasier and greasier. Oops - I had grabbed my friend's high sheen finishing spray, instead!

Needless to say, most of the photos from that night showcase my Jennifer Aniston "The Rachel" haircut, complete with stick-to-the forehead bangs. If I had only known about these tips below, maybe I wouldn't have to have lied that it was my birthday just to get the free sombrero gift just to cover up that oily fringe.

Dry shampoo - Use a dry shampoo or powder between shampoos to tame the oily factor, such as Bumble and Bumble Hair Potion ($34), which comes in a variety of colors, Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion ($23), or Johnson's Baby Powder ($5.69).
Pin it back - Obvious, yes. Greasy bangs? No. Try a cute hair accessory instead. These Leafy Barrettes ($9.95) from Anthropologie should do the trick.
Just wash your bangs - A shampoo with an oil control formulation will work wonders for bang only cleansing. Try Matrix Scalptherapie Cooling Mint Shampoo ($12).

To see more tips,

Don't condition - Condition your hair, but not your bangs.
Keep the complexion oil free - Try a water based foundation like Revlon Colorstay for Combo/Oily Skin ($12.99) and touch up with a powder such as Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder ($9.99) as needed.
Hands off - Oils from your hands can make an oily situation worse, so keep them away from your face area.
A little dab will do ya - Use blotting papers when you feel your oil glands go in overdrive. I like Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($5.29).
Blow dry - Run a blow dryer over your bangs to absorb excess oil. It might not work for extreme oiliness, but it's an easy temporary fix.

Source

A Philosophical Approach To Shine-Free Skin

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:20 PDT

Brand-new from Philosophy is a range of mattifying skincare products called Never Let Them See You Shine. Each of the three items aim to cut down sebum production and reduce the look of oily skin, while leaving your face feeling refreshed. The light blue formulas have a minty, sea-inspired scent and are best suited for those with oily and acne-prone sensitive skin.

After trying everything out, I really liked the way my face reacted to the scrub the best. It's thick, but it spreads easily and the beads are smooth as opposed to feeling grainy and rough - so they don't irritate your skin. Plus, the menthol is the strongest in the scrub; after you wash it off, your face feels soft, smooth and cool.

For an up-close look at each of the products,

read more. Oil And Shine Control Cleanser ($20) gently breaks down deep-seeded dirt and grime in your pores without drying out your skin. It leaves your face feeling moisturized, clean and thanks to some added menthol, also a little bit tingly (in a good way). Oil And Shine Control Scrub ($20) helps remove dead skin cells with the help from small blue polishing beads. To use, simply massage a little bit into your skin in small circles for one minute and then rinse with lukewarm water. Oil And Shine Control Velvet Touch Primer ($20) is a mattifying pre-foundation, pre-powder primer that helps keep your face looking dry and oil-free all day long. It also calms, soothes and eases any redness and inflammation. It has a super-soft texture that leaves skin ultra smooth and helps reduce the look of large pores.

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SPF For Your Skin Type: Oily Skin

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:40:06 PDT

Hey everybody! Welcome to Beach Week on BellaSugar. Since we all love and adore then sun, but understand just how dangerous its powerful rays are to our skin, we've got to play on the offense. Take precautions when going to the beach, pool or playing outside this summer and slather on the appropriate sunscreen for your skin type.

In this first installment of SPF For Your Skin Type, I've collected a few different sunscreens that are best suited for oily skin. The challenge here was finding products that don't include common SPF ingredients such as zinc oxide, which can clog your pores and cause a breakout. But have no fear, we've found a few that'll do the trick to keep your skin safe in the summer sun!

Dermatalogica Oil Free Matte Block SPF 20 ($45) is a special kind of sunscreen formulated to absorb already existing as well as any new oils on your skin to create a matte finish. It's oil-free, color-free and fragrance free so it won't irritate your skin, and it's also made with green tea to help soothe and calm any special attention areas. Apply liberally and thoroughly to your face before exposure to the sun.

For two more sunscreens for oily skin,

read more Peter Thomas Roth Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Sunblock SPF30 ($8) is a fragrance-free, ultra-light dry and non-greasy sunscreen spray that absorbs quickly. And it's got a fab mess-free spray nozzle, which is always handy at the beach. It is formulated with lots of anti-oxidants, vitamins A & E and Parsol 1789r (which protects against UVA and UVB ray penetration). It won't clog your pores, and it's titanium dioxide and zinc oxide free!
SmartShield SPF 30 Sunscreen Gel ($8.95) has a an alcohol base which creates a cooling sensation on the skin. It's made with aloe vera to moisturize and heal, and it's also fragrance-free, waterproof (for up to 80 min), and it won't clog pores-which makes it great for those with oily and acne prone skin.

Fantastic Facial Creams, Part I: Oily Skin

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:36:39 PDT

Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the pleasure of chatting with acufacialist Shellie Goldstein, who caters to a number of celebrity clients at her Amagansett, NY, practice. We got to talking about skin type versus skin condition - skin type is something you are born with, while your skin condition is determined by your diet, your stress level, and your skin care regimen. There are five types of skin - dry, sensitive, oily, normal, and combination - and basically, you're stuck with the one you've got.

You can, however, change your skin condition by finding the right products for your face. Welcome to Part I of my five-part series on fantastic facial creams for each of the five skin types. Here are three great products best suited to oily skin.

Yon-Ka Creme PG ($43) is a lightweight and non-greasy lotion that helps balance oil production in your skin. It controls shine, tightens the pores, and fights blemishes. Made with retinol, burdock, vitamin A, and climbing ivy, it will give your skin a terrific matte finish. You can use it in the evening or in the morning as a base for makeup.

To see two more fantastic moisturizers for oily skin,

read more Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion ($33) is a light moisturizer intended for super-oily skin. It helps combat shine and tighten up large and inflamed pores, and since it contains salicylic acid, it also helps fight blemishes. It can be used as an all-over facial moisturizer or just in your T-Zone where shine is most apparent.
Peter Thomas Roth Oil-Free Moisturizer ($42) is an oil-free facial cream with a gel-like texture that is great if you're prone to blemishes. It is formulated with azulen and Vitamins A and E and will help soothe and hydrate skin without making it look or feel greasy.

How Carrie Underwood Gets Grammy-Ready

Sponsor — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:00 PST

Carrie Underwood, everyone's favorite Grammy-winning country singer and performer, has been using the suite of Olay deep cleansers to give her face a clean beyond what the eye (and cameras) can see.

To prep for last night's Grammy Awards, Carrie first used Olay Shine Control Lathering Cleanser to get a deep, down-to-the-pore cleansing to minimize shine. With all those flash bulbs on the red carpet, the last thing you want is a shiny forehead! Then she topped it off with Olay Complete Moisturizer, a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer for glowing, healthy-looking skin (and protection from UV light!).

To end the night, Carrie used Olay 2-in-1 Daily Facial Cloths to exfoliate and cleanse her skin of oil, dirt, and all that red-carpet makeup.

Like Carrie, you can get red-carpet-ready starting and ending with Olay!

"The Daily Facials are awesome at taking off makeup - especially eye makeup. You often get products that are super oily, or just don't do the job, or that sting your eyes. I honestly couldn't live on my tour bus without them." - Carrie Underwood.

What We're Sweet On: Cream That Makes You Soft Like Buttah

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:30:49 PST

A lot of moisturizers will hydrate your skin adequately enough, but it's far less common to find one that also makes it feel utterly amazing. That's why you'll love Algenist Firming & Lifting cream ($94), which makes skin unbelievably, baby's-bottom soft from the first time you use it. The alguronic acid inside is designed to increase cell turnover by a rather impressive 55 percent, and although you probably won't feel your cells shedding faster per se, skin is left more luminous, with a reduction in fine lines. It's quite a substantial cream, however, so it's not optimal for very young or oily skin types. But if you need lots of hydration and some gentle exfoliation, it's a really exceptional product.

What We're Sweet On: A Primer That Deslicks Acne-Prone Skin

Jaime Richards — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:05:17 PST

Most primers succeed at smoothing out skin at a basic level, a few stand above the rest. If you have oily- or acne-prone skin, you might want to give Murad's Skin Perfecting Primer Acne and Shine Control ($35) a try. Formulated with salicylic acid to help keep pores clear, this matte-finish multitasker helps reduce and prevent breakouts. (Although it's not a substitute for your regular skin care regimen.) And because it's universal in color, it will match your skin tone to a T; you can even get away with wearing it with very little concealer or foundation on top. Oh, and if you're someone who gets oil slicks so major you've considered alerting the EPA, you'll love the way this primer helps put a stop to excess shine.

What We're Sweet On: Truly Multipurpose Oil

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:06:42 PST

Can one product moisturize and balance your face, body, and even your hair? Yes, if it's the right oil. And right now we're rather fond of O.N.E. Skincare ($30). It's not for everybody - quite literally, since oily complexions won't benefit as much - but if you have dry, sensitive skin, O.N.E.'s oil is a lifesaver. It's a gentle blend of olive oil, sunflower oil, lavender, and geranium that absorbs easily and doesn't feel heavy or clog pores. We like that it's certified organic without being obscenely expensive, and it smells great, like a lavender bouquet picked out with bright red geraniums. We've been using it on our arms, legs, and lips, then dabbing it on as a spot treatment for dry spots on our faces, and it's worked like a charm. It's not the most complicated product, but sometimes the simplest things are also the best.

Beauty Must Reads From the BellaSugar Community

BellaSugar — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:31:43 PST

A glitzy gold manicure perfect for New Year's Eve - LesleyKat
The best beauty products for oily skin - Beauty Starlet
Get these sultry, smoky metallic eyes - The Make-up Blogette
A foolproof method for removing glitter nail polish - Kiss & Tell Blog
Six products (under $25) this blogger could not live without - Beauty and the Budget