When you’re forced to grapple with oily skin, the process of finding suitable makeup can be a real challenge. Faced with a complexion that resembles an oil slick, the thought of slathering on layers of foundation, powder, and blush is more than some women can take. More than a few wind up giving up on makeup altogether, letting their confidence and self-esteem fall by the wayside.If this predicament sounds familiar, don’t despair. Beauty experts say that it is possible to manage your oily complexion and find makeup that works with, rather than against, your unique skin type. By making just a few small changes to your skin care and makeup routines, you should start to see vast improvements in your complexion within a few weeks.

Confused about how to care for your oily complexion? Here are a few basic steps to add to your skin care routine.

• Wash frequently. If oily skin is an ongoing problem, experts recommend washing your face multiple times each day. Use a special soap formulated for oily skin and lukewarm water, and then pat dry with a towel. When you’re on the run, carry a small pack of pre-moistened facial wipes, preferably in a formula made for oily skin.

• Don’t use cleaners that will dry out the skin. Although astringent cleaners that tighten and dry out your skin might offer a short-term solution, experts say that these products may tend to worsen the problem in the long run by prompting the already overactive sebaceous glands to kick into high gear. Stick with non-drying products formulated for oily skin, and switch to another brand if you find that a product tends to dry out your skin too much.

• Check the label. When you have oily skin, it’s important to make sure that your skin care products and cosmetics aren’t contributing to the problem. Before you buy any cosmetics, sunscreen, moisturizers, or other skin care products, check the label to ensure that they’re certified as “non-comedogenic.” Products with this designation have been formulated to avoid clogging pores and exacerbating skin problems like oily skin and acne.

• Keep tabs on possible diet, health, and lifestyle factors. Although the experts are divided on which outside factors play a role in causing oily skin, most agree that greasy foods and excess sweets aren’t beneficial to people with problem complexions. Other variables like monthly hormones may also worsen your complexion, so you should take note of this trend and ramp up your oily skin defence in advance.

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Today the term ’skin type’ is something of an anathema. We all know that our skin can change from greasy one day to dry the next (depending on fluctuating hormones and outside factors like the weather), and that we need to change our skincare routine accordingly. Dry skin tends to age quickly and can be flaky. Although its pores are barely visible, and sebum production is minimal, the idea that dry skin suffers no break-outs is a myth.

Most people try to combat dry skin by saturating it with oil….not the best plan if you realize that dry skin is actually thirsty. What it needs is a regular supply of water (taken internally) as well as a boost by using the right face creams.

Because we lose about 600 ml (1 pint) of body fluid a day through epidermal evaporation, those with dry skin should ensure that they drink at least eight glasses of water a day. In particular, air conditioning and wind exposure aggravate dry skin, so make sure you always wear a protective moisturizer. Cream cleansers are best for dry skin, as water-soluble products tend to exacerbate the problem (depending the skin type). As well as moisturizing religiously twice a day, an occasional intensive night treatment will boost your daily routine (skin absorbs active ingredients best when you are asleep).

Choosing the right makeup is key to disguising dry skin: while powder products will stick in every crease and crevice and make your face look like a road map, oil-based products (with ingredients such as silicones) will glide on easily without cracking.