5 Ways to Deal With an Oily Face

Weather the muggy months with products that degrease the skin.

By: Grace Clarke

Slick skin? You’re one of the more than 30 percent of men who wake up with an unwanted glow (blame higher levels of sebum-increasing testosterone). Mattifying products solve the problem by absorbing or inhibiting facial oil. They even help those with normal, dry, or combination skin survive the steamy summer months. Here, five ways to achieve just the right balance.

1. Lotion
Anthony Instant Fix Oil Control, $28; anthony.com
The paraben-free cream is both a short- and a long-term solution: It absorbs grease, dries matte, then reduces shine all day (a key ingredient is silica, which diffuses light).

2. Mist
Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Pore Minish Mist, $30; sephora.com
Do not try to say this three times fast. Do use this mix of herbs to soak up excess grease.

3. Cleanser
Kiehl’s Oil Eliminator Exfoliating Face Wash, $22; kiehls.com
Because this new scrub is soap- and sulfate-free, it poses no risk of overdrying skin—which jump-starts oil production.

4. Quick Fix
Gatsby Facial Clear Japanese Oil Blotting Papers, $5.75 for a pack of 70; amazon.com Keep this import in your back pocket as a last-minute solution. The filmy, tear-resistant squares sop up oil and dirt.

5. Mask
Murad Clarifying Mask, $37; murad.com
A nonabrasive cocktail of salicylic acid and kaolin, this mask leaves skin even and matte, not stripped. Limit use to less than 10 minutes weekly—more leads to irritation and overeager oil glands.

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Check the Oil
When in Rome, do as the Romans do—or did in ancient times: Use a facial oil to trick your body into thinking it has already produced enough sebum. You can rub almond, avocado, or hemp oil on your face, or a drop of a luxe elixir that balances and mattifies, whether your complexion is extra-oily (try Jack Black’s Epic Moisture MP10 Nourishing Oil), combination (Rodin Olio Lusso), or dry (Olie Biologique Hydrating Oil).

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Photography by Victor Prado.