With the mercury rising, the wish for an > invisible < mattifying veil is strong. I think I’ve got you covered in this (men-friendly!) 3 part series.

The best thing about my anti-shine top 3 picks is that, Gentlemen, they can be totally used by you, too.
Because they’re invisible. Plus: they won’t steal all the moisture from your skin.

Let’s first agree upon the fact that mattifyers only help with the symptoms.
They are not the “cure” for oily skin. Okay?
But we’ll talk about the “cure” in part II (skin care) and part III (diet).

My faves, from left to right:
Inika Setting Powder, colourless/transparent.
Everyday Minerals Sunlight Finishing Dust, with translucent yellow pigments.
Tatcha Original Aburatorigami (blotting papers, no powder, no colour).

DISCLAIMER (sort of):
In the now following INCI check you’ll get honest and in depth explanations what might and might not work.
These products are considered clean, in fact, they are much cleaner than the majority of conventional powders that are filled with talc, paraffin, silicones and worse ingredients. This fact makes my mattifying picks sensational for most of us, but technically they still can be irritating on skin that’s particularly sensitive, reactive and/or out of balance.
Also remember, everybody can be allergic to anything and we don’t know much about the safety or hazard of mica yet.

My favourite mattyfing products

Inika Setting Powder, 3.5g, approx. €21.
I bought mine at ecco verde.
Certified: organic, UK Vegan society, Halal.
Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Calcium Carbonate.
May contain: Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Ultramarines (CI 77007).
Inika is an Australian brand.
+ Calcium Carbonate – aka chalk – is alkaline and does a great job at absorbing excess sebum.
+ Can be applied before/instead of/after the use of mineral foundation.
+ Not very drying. Non comedogenic.
+ If applied accordingly, invisible.
– If you’re in a hurry and don’t pay attention, it can look slightly white on skin.
– Mica can irritate super sensitive skin (in that case, most eye shadows, powders, blush etc. don’t work for you, so you probably know it).

Everyday Minerals Sunlight Finishing Dust, 4.8g, approx. €14.50.
I got mine from Everyday Minerals directly.
Certified: vegan, Leaping Bunny, cruelty free (Peta).
Ingredients: Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Fruit Extract.
May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).
Everyday Minerals is a US brand.
+ The Black Currant extract is considered beneficial particularly for acne prone skin.
+ Iron Oxides used are considered safe
+ If you don’t like using Mica and Titanium Dioxide, this might be the right thing for you.
+ Provides no actual colour, blends really well with any skin colour from pale to medium tan.
+ Can lighten up purple-ish dark under-eye circles and make you look less tired.
– Corn starch is not comedogenic per se but can act like a sort of ‘bacteria buffet’ on some types of skin.

Tatcha Original Aburatorigami, 30 sheets per pack, $12 (USD).
I got mine chez Tatcha directly.
Ingredients: Abaca leaf fibres, gold flakes.
Tatcha is a US brand based in San Francisco.
+ Does not soak in any moisture from the skin.
+ Doesn’t remove makeup.
+ Powder-free, fragrance-free, pulp-free, paraffin-free (most blotting papers contain mineral oil and other disturbing ingredients).
+ Gently but efficiently removes excess sebum and oil, the paper than becomes transparent, like parchment paper.
+ Positively men-friendly!

Inika | Everyday Minerals application tip

I hope my fave tricks will help you look fresh during hot summer days, be it office or vacation.

Next: skincare for oily skin and acne-prone adult skin in summer.