How to deal with oily skin

For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from oily skin and I know I am not the only one. It can be annoying trying to deal with greasy skin everyday, especially when you are a makeup fanatic. Though I am still looking to find a product that can stop my pores from producing an unfortunate amount of oil forever, I have instead learnt many different ways that can help reduce an oily look which many of us dread.

Have a good and effective night routine -
Don't just use facial wipes, instead make sure your routine includes scrubs, cleansers, and toners. Scrubs are a brilliant way of getting rid of any dirt and dead skin cells, whilst cleansers get rid of the bacteria on your skin and in your pores. The toners will help to close your pores which is where the culprit of your oily skin is created. So by closing your pores will hopefully help tone down the oil. I would recommend to stay away from alcohol products as they strip the skin which can be unkind. Instead try and go for a micellar water or a gel cleaner.

Use an oil free moisturiser -
After your scrub, cleanser, and toner routine, use a moisturiser. Even though you may think that your skin is hydrated enough with all the oils leaving your pores, you should still moisturise morning and nighttime as even oily skin needs to be hydrated. But make sure your moisturiser is oil and alcohol free.

Use a makeup primer -
Using primer before applying your makeup will help keep your makeup at bay throughout the whole day, which is exactly what us oily skin people need. For my oily skin I personally prefer to use a silicone based primer as I think it creates better and longer results to help make my makeup look less greasy. It is great to use all over the face, but do make sure to focus on applying it to your oily zones.

Use oil free makeup -
This may seem obvious to many of you, but some people who have oily skin do not realise that it is down to the fact that it is because their makeup has oil in it, especially their foundations and concealers. So if you avoid makeup with oil in then you may find that this could be your main culprit.

Use colourless powder -
I'm sure we are all familiar with the quote "powder my nose", well this is indeed a good way to help reduce the appearance of an oily nose. By applying a powder to your skin with mop up the oil allowing a less greasy look. However, if you are doing this then please stay away from tinted powder. I know tinted powder matches your skin tone perfectly, but by using this it will just create a cakey look. Instead, go for a powder that appears colourless. This will get rid of the oil whilst also keeping your makeup looking natural. Rimmel sells a good powder called 'Stay matte pressed powder' which can be bought here.

Blotting paper - 
For a quick fix the best thing to do is just blot the oil away with some blotting paper or tissue. This will immediately get rid of the oil but it is likely to come back a few hours later. So make sure to keep a packet handy in your bag, or if you're desperate just lightly dab some tissue paper.

Facial masks -
Try and use a facial mask once or twice a week as they are a great to tighten the pores. As said up above, if you can tighten the pores then it is likely less oil will be produced. To get the best results then I would recommend using a clay mask.

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Review : Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener

I do not know what had overcome my nails a few weeks ago, but everything that could have gone wrong with them actually happened. They were brittle, peeling, flaking, breaking, and the skin around them just looked disgusting due to damaged nail folds. It was fair to say that they were at an all time low.

What was worse was that I didn't know why all of this was happening. Was it to do with my diet? My constant need to apply nail varnish? The weather? Or it could have been to do with an underlying illness? Because I didn't know what was wrong with them, and because I was too lazy to change my diet and way of life, I instead went out and bought a tiny bottle of 'Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener' from my local chemist.

This tiny bottle cost me around £7 and I have to say, it saved my nails! I applied the chemical onto my nail tips twice a week as recommended, and unlike other nail hardeners I have used (such as 'Sally Hansen Miracle Cure') you don't just get a coating of clear nail varnish over the nails. Instead, the chemicals in 'Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener' actually get absorbed into the nail bed so that you are left with no coating. And now after about two-three weeks my nails are back to their normal selves.

Now I just have to sort out my nail folds.

Positives:
- It works!
- The bottle lasts for a good few months despite how small the bottle is.
- Actually absorbs into the nail, instead of providing a clear covering.
- Affordable at £7.
- I think it has been around for 50 years, so it is obviously doing its job for others too.
-  It still works if you apply it to your nails before applying nail varnish.

Negatives:
- There is a fishy sort of smell to the bottle, but it is not overpowering. And it seems to disappear when applied to the nails.
- You need to be careful not to get on skin, or otherwise it may cause skin hardening.
- It took my nails around three weeks to get back to perfect condition, so you need to be patient.

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