Many women think they are cursed with an oily T-zone, where oil glands work overtime at the forehead, nose and chin areas. Well, if they saw how soaked my blotting sheet is after a blotting session, they’d feel blessed that oiliness is concentrated only at their T-zone instead of the WHOLE FACE like mine.
I try as many methods and products possible (within reasonable budget and common sense, of course) to keep my face as shine-free as possible, at least for a good half of the day.
Mineral makeup worked up the oils on my skin within 2 hours and accentuated my pores, makeup face primers like the Stila Hydrating Primer turned me into an oil slick, liquid foundations that claim to give the ‘glowy finish’ usually give me the ‘greasy finish’ and sometimes even setting it with loose powder barely works.
Sigh, these are just fragments of an oily girl’s woes.
When I chanced upon a review on Youtube about the Murad Oil Control Mattifier SPF 15 being a great product that helps to keep shine away, I was immediately interested! Anything that controls oil!
Sephora Singapore sells it but I asked a friend who was coming back from the US to get it for me. Everything Sephora Singapore sells is much more expensive than in the US. Actually, basically everything is just more expensive here. Times 2 and then plus about SGD10-20 and you can guess how much it retails for at a Singapore cosmetics counter. Some people say Amazon or ebay sells it for cheaper.
Moisturizer for Oily Skin
Some people claim that they use the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier in replacement of their regular moisturizer since it does the job of oil control, SPF and hydration. Yup, it is considered a multi-tasking solution to many!
I still use The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream after applying toner because it really helps to mattify my skin. After allowing the TBS Day Cream to be absorbed into the skin, follow up with the Murad Oil Control Mattifier. I’ve tried using the Murad Mattifier alone, without the TBS Day Cream, and don’t find it creates more or less oil than with the TBS Day Cream.
Controls Oil and Shine?
I actually had this product chucked away for at least a good half year before finding it again while reorganizing and relocating my makeup stash. I remember not liking it very much before because I felt it didn’t keep my face as shine-free as advertised.
The funny thing is that I actually quite like it now.
I can only guess that it’s the products I used atop the layer of the Murad Oil Mattifier that made the combination and finish less desirable.
I was using the not very oil-free Makeup Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer and that could be the reason makeup was sliding off my face in the first place. I've used the Murad Oil Control Mattifier as a primer and it works alright.
I was also using Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige and it could be that I was so overwhelmed with my dislike for how Sand Beige looked grotesquely orange on my face that I blamed everything I was using in conjunction with it. I was also using MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC25 on some days.
At the time of writing, I alternate between Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Buff, Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + in Porcelain 30, Stage Cosmetics Photo Pro Foundation 02 Take 1 + 03 Take 2, and Lancome Maqui Blanc Miracle in BO-01.
I am NC20-25, by the way.
The other I went for Salsa dancing class with the Murad Oil Control Mattifier and Lancome Maqui Blanc Miracle in BO-01 with a little dusting of NARS Loose Powder. My face makeup was still in contact after 5 hours of dancing!
Makeup Tip from Bun Bun: It is important to allow the previous layer of product to settle first before applying the next. This is most essential for the steps from moisturizer to primer to foundation.
It takes between 5-10 minutes for the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF15 to be fully absorbed into the skin. You can use the downtime to choose your eyeshadow colors for the day! =)
Acne Treatment for Breakouts
Not only is the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 a moisturizer, sunscreen, skin mattifier, it also claims to act as an acne treatment plan.
I don’t know how effective the acne treatment part is, my acne-prone and blemished skin condition hasn’t improved, but the Murad acne treatment product hasn’t caused any negative reaction.
Smells and Looks and Applies Like Glue
It is a known fact that the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier smells like craft glue and even looks like it when squeezed out of its boring-looking white and blue tube.
I imagine this is how I’d start my glue sniffing addiction, except I don’t like the smell at all and don’t find myself feeling high from sniffing it.
The formula is very thick and creamy (just like craft glue!) and can be a little hard to spread if you don’t do it fast enough. But you’ll get used to it after a few times.
Dries clear!
All in all, I think this is a good product because it contains SPF and keeps the skin mattified for quite a few hours (but not 8 hours as claimed!). The only thing that might keep me from repurchasing is its price tag, especially if I buy it in Singapore!
Get the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 HERE:
Bun Bun rates the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15:
How do you keep skin oiliness under control in summer months, or if you're in Southeast Asia, EVERYDAY? Haha!
Any cheap alternatives to the Murad one?
