Tag Archives: oily skin

Five Minutes to a FLAWLESS Face!

When you’re short on time but need to look flawless, here’s a super easy and fast way to get the job done in five minutes or less!

After cleansing and toning, apply our Acne-Safe Tinted SPF40 + Primer all over your face. This product serves as a substitute for a light foundation, SPF and primer all-in-one!
Tip: Be sure to wash your hands right after you apply this product as it may stain some fabrics.

Next, apply concealer to any areas that need some extra attention such as under the eyes and blemishes. You can use PRIIA’s creme concealer right out of the tube and blend with your fingers or you can use our loose mineral foundation with our Wet/Dry Concealer Brush.

Third, apply a light dusting of our Behave Finishing Powder in Tinted or Untinted all over the face.  If you’re prone to excess oiliness during the day, use our HydraPrime Oil-Control Powder instead.

Fourth, apply a little bit of our Vacation In a Jar Loose Mineral Bronzer to areas where the sun would naturally “kiss” your face. Or use the bronzer just on the apples of your cheeks in place of your regular blush.

Next, apply our Lip Treatment Balm in Tinted or Untinted to keep your lips protected and feeling baby soft all day.

Lastly, apply one to two coats of your favorite mascara.

Voila! You’re done in five minutes or less!

How to Stop Makeup Slide

Every so often we have a customer contact us to say that no matter what they do their PRIIA makeup seems to ‘slide’ off within a few hours. The first questions we ask them are: “What skin care products are you using?” “What is your skin care routine?” “Which PRIIA minerale-derm products are you using?” We ask these questions because PRIIA’s formulas are made to adhere to the skin.  We have thousands and thousands of customers who successfully use our products without incidence so we know that 9 times out of 10, makeup slide is due to ‘user error’.

More than 99% of the time we find out that customers are using inappropriate products for their skin type and/or they’re layering one product after the other and not letting those skin care products absorb properly.  When you’re using skin care products that are too ‘heavy’ for your skin type or you haven’t given the correct products a chance to fully absorb, your makeup can’t adhere properly.  This goes for ANY makeup- not just PRIIA.

Here’s how to correct the situation…

  1. Make sure you’re using skin type appropriate products. Heavy, oily-based skin care products don’t absorb properly and tend to just sit on the surface of the skin. Likewise, skin care products that are too harsh can adversely affect the skin barrier causing an over-production of sebum throughout the day. When using appropriate skin care products don’t use too much. Use only the recommended amount. Too much of a good thing isn’t good. You’re simply wasting product AND money.
  2. Before applying primer and/or foundation, wait AT LEAST 10-15 minutes for your moisturizer/SPF to fully absorb. Your skin should NOT feel wet or overly tacky. It should feel soft and mostly dry to the touch.  While you’re waiting for your products to absorb go brush your teeth, get dressed, have breakfast, etc.
  3. Once your skin care products have absorbed properly apply your makeup in light layers. Remember that you can always go back and add more but you can’t take away if you’ve applied too much to begin with.
  4. When using our acne-safe primer only use a pea-sized amount (about a half pump’s worth) for the entire face and use less around areas of the face with a lot of creasing (i.e. the sides of the nose). We’ve had customers tells us that their using a couple pump’s worth at one time! WOAH…don’t do that! Again, too much of a good thing isn’t good.
  5. If you’re an oily-skin gal, consider using our HydraPrime oil-control powder to ‘set’ your makeup and to help absorb oily breakthrough during the day. If you have combination skin, our BEHAVE Finishing Powder is a great product to help balance your complexion and complete your look.
  6. Give your complexion a refreshing hydrating boost during the day with our Hydrating Skin Spritz! It instantly delivers moisture while helping to lock down makeup.

If you’ve tried the above suggestions and you’re still experiencing problems, consider making an appointment with a licensed skin care professional. They can examine your skin properly and assist you in choosing the correct products for your skin type and skin condition.

Oily Skin Part II: What Can You Do About It?

oily skinIn last week’s article, you learned what facial oil is and I discussed what the causes of oily skin are.  Today we’ll find out if there’s anything we can do about oily skin and what are the best ways to manage it.

First and foremost, you can’t stop your skin from producing oil. Short of taking a prescription drug like Accutane, you can’t just shut off your sebaceous glands.  However, you can get your oil production under control.  Here’s a few simple tips:

  1. Get hydrated!  Yes, drinking water is important to overall health but it’s not enough to keep your skin hydrated. You MUST use a hydrating product that’s going to draw moisture to the skin. Look for ones that contain Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid).  This ingredient is like a tall glass of water for your skin.  My favorite is HydraBalance by Face Reality Acne Clinic. Just like the name says, it HYDRATES and it BALANCES.  I just LOVE this stuff!
  2. Start using the correct products for your skin type.  Steer clear of products that are too harsh and that can strip away the lipid barrier of the epidermis (top layer of skin).  Likewise, don’t OVERUSE your skin care products.  Washing your face twenty times per day isn’t going to get rid of the oil; it just compounds the problem.  Oh and when you do wash your face, use TEPID water only.  Water that’s too hot will leach moisture right out of your skin!
  3. If it all possible, get a home humidifier installed to run during the cold months of the year. Dry indoor heating is horrible!  It dehydrates the skin.  If a home humidifier is too expensive, consider getting a small unit that you can run at night while you’re sleeping.  A good brand is Honeywell.  Just be sure to change the filter often enough to prevent mold & bacteria growth!
  4. Don’t even think about using oil as a moisturizer.  I hate to break this to you but oils DO NOT moisturize the skin.  They only create a barrier that helps to prevent TEWL (transepidermal water loss).  Hydrate your skin first with a water-based moisturizer and then you can use an emollient-type of product on top to seal in that moisture.  My favorite is Clearderma by Face Reality Acne Clinic.  I put their HydraBalance on first and then I put on a light layer of Clearderma. Voila!  Instantly plumped and hydrated skin. Me likey.
  5. I can’t believe I even have to say this but…STOP TANNING!  It’s bad for you and your skin. Enough said.
  6. Lastly, consider using an acne-safe oil-control product such as PRIIA’s HydraPrime oil-control powder BEFORE and AFTER foundation application.  It’s specially formulated to absorb excess facial without over-drying the skin and it’s translucent so it won’t interfere with other makeup colors.  Customers have reported that it helps keep the shine away for 6, 7 and even 8+ hours.  *Before applying any makeup products, make sure you’ve let your moisturizer/SPF absorb into the skin.  This means you’ll need to wait about 10-15 minutes.  I’m sure you can think of something to do such as brushing your teeth, putting on your undies or checking your FaceBook and Instagram feeds…

Hey Kelley, what about those oil-blotting papers?  Should I be using these?oily skin blotting papers

Oh I have a love/hate relationship with oil-blotting papers. Why?  Because they’re expensive!  Plus, I’ve seen a few that contain ingredients (besides just paper) that can be a problem for acne-prone skin.  Not to mention I’ve seen gals literally pressing these things into their faces.  You don’t want to do this!  Why? Because your face collects dust, debris and environmental pollution throughout the day.  Pressing a piece of paper into your skin may collect some oil but at the same time you’re forcing all of that gunk into your pores and asking for an acne breakout. Ick.  Instead do this:

  • Save yourself some $$$ and grab a few toilet protector sheets the next time you visit the ladies room.  Don’t be embarrassed!  They’re there for you to use.  There are no rules as to how you use them, right? Cut them up into small squares and carry them in your purse.  Voila!  Oil absorbing sheets for free!
  • When you want to absorb some excess shine, GENTLY lay one of the sheets onto your oily spots and let the paper do the job of absorbing the oil.  DO NOT PRESS it into your skin. When done, throw it out.
  • Lastly, mist a few pumps of PRIIA’s Hydrating Spritz on our Deluxe Powder Buffer Brush and lightly sweep across your face to refresh your makeup and give some extra hydration to your skin.  *Optionally, you can dust on a little extra HydraPrime to help absorb oil throughout the rest of the day.

I hope you enjoyed these tips!  Please feel free to share this post with anyone you know who’s dealing with oily skin! 

Oily Skin: What Are The Causes?

oily skin confusedOily skin.  It’s a love/hate relationship.  For those of us who have oily skin, we love it because we show less aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. Yay!  But we hate it for the inevitable shine breakthrough, enlarged pores and more often than not, acne breakouts. Boo.

What is facial oil?

The technical term is: sebum.  Sebum is a material comprised of fatty materials secreted by the skindiagramsebaceous glands.  Sebum’s function is to protect the outermost layer of skin known as the epidermis against dehydration and bacterial invasion.

What actually causes oily skin?

  1. It’s a genetic thing.  If oily skin runs in the family, you’re more likely to also have it.  Thanks Mom and Dad.
  2. As the seasons change, so does our skin.  In the heat and humidity, oily skin can go into overdrive.  Likewise, in the cold months oily skin can become dehydrated from indoor heating which also ramps up oil production.
  3. Using products that are too harsh for your skin (i.e. alcohol-based toners).  If you strip away your skin’s natural lipid barrier, guess what?  It’s going to work overtime (by producing more oil) to replenish itself.
  4. Just like using incorrect products, over using the correct products is just as bad.  No matter how much you try to wash, rub and scrub the oil away, it will come back and sometimes with a vengeance.  Put away those wash cloths, facial scrubbers and any other “power tools” you’re using to banish the oil.  As with anything in life, the key is finding balance.
  5. Medications can cause havoc for those with oily skin; especially hormonal medications such as birth control and hormone replacement therapy drugs.  Basically ANY medication can cause dehydration in the skin which will cause oil glands to kick into gear.
  6. Ultraviolet exposure (a.k.a. sun tanning, tanning beds).  Tsk Tsk.  Please tell me you’re not doing this!  Besides the obvious increased risk of developing skin cancer, sun exposure through sun burns and tanning (natural or artificial) sends a signal to the body that there’s a need for damage control.  Can you guess what happens next?  Yep.  Oil glands to the rescue!
  7. Too hot!  As in you’re showering, bathing and washing your skin with water that’s too hot.  Hot water literally strips away moisture from the skin causing TEWL (transepidermal water loss) which leads to dehydration.  Dehydration = oil glands working some serious overtime to compensate for the water loss, even though water and ‘oil’ are two different things.
  8. Hormones & Stress.  Ugh.  When hormones fluctuate and stress is high, oily skin can go nuts.  Literally.  A rise in androgen hormone levels (i.e. puberty, pregnancy, peri/pre menopause, as well diet) will cause oil glands to secrete an over-abundance of sebum.

In my next article I’ll discuss how you can bring balance to oily skin in just a few easy steps.  Stay tuned!

Can Oily Skin Be Dry At The Same Time?

True or False: Oily skin be also be dry at the same time.

Answer: True.  The dryness that is felt is actually dehydration which is a skin condition (not a skin type).  The surface of the skin is lacking water.  This condition is usually caused by using and over cleaning with harsh soaps, too much sun exposure, overly hot water and either using the wrong type of moisturizer or non at all.
Woman washing face To treat this type of condition, stay away from harsh facial cleansers containing sulfates and alcohol that strip the skin’s surface of it’s natural lipid barrier.  Instead, look for a mild foaming cleanser with natural surfactants from plant derived oils and extracts such as Decyl Polyglucose which is made from corn, glucose and starch.

If you decide to use a toner after cleansing, use one that will balance the skin’s pH and is free from alcohol and synthetic fragrance.  Natural hydrosols are wonderful as toners. One of my favorites is organic rose water hydrosol.

For moisturizing and sun protection, look for products that are non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) and non-acnegenic (won’t cause breakouts).  They should have a lightweight texture to them.  Oily dehydrated skin needs humectants (water binders) not emollients.  Oily skin makes enough of it’s own natural emollient in the form of sebum.  The best humectant ingredients to look for are: sodium PCA, glycerin and my favorite, hyaluronic acid (50 kDa).  All of these ingredients not only attract water to the skin, they bind it there.  Typically these ingredients are found more in serums as opposed to traditional moisturizers.

 

Beauty True or False: Oily Skin Needs LESS Moisture Than Dry Skin Part 2

In my last post, I asked, “Do oily skin types need LESS moisture than dry skin types?”

The answer to this question is NO.  I can also say the answer is FALSE if I were making the statement that oily skin needs less moisture than dry skin.

Oil and water levels within the skin are 2 very different things.  Did you know that over 78% of individuals with oily skin types are actually DEHYDRATED.  This creates a vicious cycle: the skin is oily yet dehydrated (lacking sufficient moisture) and then begins to produce more oil because of the imbalance.  This process will continue to repeat itself over and over until the problem is addressed and corrected.

The plain and simple truth is that ALL skin types need the proper amount of hydration to look their best and stay balanced.  Oily skin types should look for a water-based moisturizer, whereas dry skin types should look for a emollient-based moisturizer.

If you have oily skin, your best bet would be to use a water-based hydrator first and then apply an acne-safe moisturizer. You can also apply a few drops of high linoleic safflower or sunflower oil over top in order to “seal” that moisturizer within the skin’s surface.