Do you notice that your highlighter looks a little oily – somewhat greasy – after you apply it to your face? This is totally normal, but it could be caused by a few different things.
Believe it or not, the highlighter is probably not what’s causing the problem you are having. Since highlighter is one of the last products you apply to your face, it could be any of the steps leading up to your highlight that causes the highlight to appear oily.
Here’s some advice:
1. Start with mattifying products.
When you have oily skin, it’s important to use a primer before applying foundation. Preferably, you should use a mattifying primer followed by a mattifying foundation. If you have oily skin, try to stay away from illuminating or glowy foundations. You can still create glowy looks without adding the extra moisture to your skin through the foundation.
2. Avoid using too much product.
If you’re using a product that requires you to build up the highlight, you may be using too much product or trying to stretch that product too far. Some products are only meant to give you a subtle highlight, so if you’re going for the “stand out in the crowd” look, you may just be using the wrong product. Having too much product on your skin will give you an oily appearance especially as the day goes on.
3. Stay away from cream and liquid illuminators and highlighters.
If you are, the greasy look could be from that. I have found, even if you like to use cream products on your face, using creams as highlighters just gets messy. It’s easy to use too much cream product and it’s not easy to fix if you do because the cream products don’t typically blend out as well. If you use powders for your face, stick to a powder highlighter. If you primarily use creams, a powder highlight will help set some of the cream products you have already used.
4. Make sure you’re highlighting in the right places!
One of the most common mistakes is over-highlighting. If you bring highlight too far down your cheekbones or you have it all the way down the bridge to the tip of your nose, there’s a good chance you’ll turn out looking oily. If you are dealing with this problem, try keeping your highlighter on your upper cheekbones and away from the apples of your cheeks. Also keep it to the center of the bridge of your nose and away from the tip of your nose.
5. Don’t use cheap products!
There’s nothing wrong with shopping for drugstore brands, but I have found that when it comes to highlighting, the mid to high end brands do a much better job. Typically, many of the drugstore highlighters will be more patchy and less build-able. Plus, lots of them come with glitter in the product. There is a difference between glitter and shimmer. Higher end products are more shimmery while drugstore products tend to have more glitter which can cause your face to look greasy, to, if you’re not careful. Invest in a higher end highlighter. They last longer and will most likely give you the punch of highlight you’re looking for.
6. Use highlighter that matches your skin tone.
With hundreds of highlighters on the market, it’s easy to want to buy every single one of them! If your skin looks oily, it could be because the shade you are using is too dark. When you pile on a product that’s too dark, it will start to look muddy. Then, when you attempt to blend that product into the skin, you’ll look even more oily.
7. Finish with a setting spray.
Many people with oily skin will completely skip the setting spray for fear that the spray will cause moisture that makes things look even more greasy. With the right setting spray, it will actually do the opposite to your skin. If you’re appearing oily at the end of your makeup application, try a mattifying setting spray and it should straighten things out. Plus, too much powder product – even on oily skin – will make your face look cakey and uneven.
The Best Highlighter for Oily Skin
Stay away from liquid highlighters and reach for powders. The powders will help soak up some of the oils from your skin, too, so it’s a win-win! The Balm’s Mary-Lou Manizer is my absolute favorite for when my skin is feeling extra oily, but I’m still looking for a shimmery glow. You can buy Mary-Lou Manizer online from The Balm Cosmetics.
Do you have any other recommendations for highlighting with oily skin? Leave your suggestions below!