How to deal with oily skin

Wondering why your skin is so oily and what you can do to treat it? Whether you’ve been dealing with oily skin for what feels like forever or your skin type has recently changed, it can be maddening to be met with an oil slick when you’re trying to achieve a dewy glow. And while you can’t permanently get rid of oily skin, you can reduce its appearance. 

Let’s look at what oily skin is and what you can do to control it:

What is oily skin and what causes it?

Oily skin appears shiny and slick, with prominent pores that easily become clogged and are prone to acne. This happens because glands produce an excess amount of a substance called sebum. Sebum is made of fats and has a shiny appearance. When it passes from your glands through your pores and to the skin’s surface, it can cause your face to look slick.

Why do I have oily skin?

There are a number of factors involved in why skin is oily. Hormonal changes, genetics, the weather, diet, and stress can all kick your oil glands into producing too much sebum. While you may not always know exactly what causes oily skin, (particularly yours!), there are steps you can take to make your skin appear less shiny.

How can I make my skin less oily?

1. Cleanse regularly: Take care of your oily face by cleansing it daily, morning and evening. Try not to overdo it: over-cleansing can strip the skin and actually spur your glands to produce more oil, putting you back to shiny square one.
   
   
2. Be gentle: Avoid rubbing your face and be careful not to use overly harsh cleansers. Too much physical pressure and products that dry you out can irritate your skin, once again kicking your glands into overdrive. Mario Badescu Botanical Facial Gel is formulated for oily skin types to wash away grime without stripping skin.
   
   
3. Use moisturizer: You may think that with all that oil, your face doesn’t need any more moisture. However, one of the best ways to combat oily skin is to keep your face healthy and moisturized. Look for a lightweight, oil free moisturizer. Mario Badescu offers two oil free moisturizers that won’t clog pores: one even contains SPF 17! Discover our best moisturizers for oily skin here.
   
   
4. Try glycolic acid: Glycolic acid is one of the best ingredients for oily skin types, since it encourages cell turnover, exfoliates dead surface skin cells that can clog pores, and minimizes the appearance of pores. Glycolic acid is a powerful ingredient, so start slowly and step up your sunscreen usage. Swap out your regular cleanser 2-3 times a week for Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser for a complexion that’s radiant rather than greasy.
   
   
5. Mask mindfully: Kaolin clay and bentonite clay are common in the best clay masks for absorbing oil and pulling impurities out of congested skin. Be mindful of your masking—alternate with your stronger products so you are not overdoing it. Mario Badescu’s Special Mask for Oily Skin contains both kaolin and bentonite clays to control excess oil along with calamine to protect and re-balance skin.

Mario Badescu offers a variety of specially formulated products that can help control oil, so you can feel like you’re getting rid of oily skin without losing out on oil’s skin-protecting and plumping benefits. You’ll appreciate having a dewy glow instead of a slick shine!

Originally published as Oily Skin from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Looking for the best skincare regimen, one that actually meets your skin concerns? At Mario Badescu, we know everyone’s skin is different. There is no one-size-fits-all skin solution. Your skin is unique to you!

There are numerous skin types and skin conditions – from oily and dry skin to acne prone and sensitive skin. You probably think your skin has a personality all its own! When you discover the best face cream or rejuvenating toner for your skin type, it can work wonders for your skin, and how your skin looks and behaves from day to day.

That’s why we created our Skin Analysis tool. Just answer a few brief questions and you’ll be paired with the right skincare products for you – the cleanser, toner, moisturizer and specialty serums that meet your own skin concerns.

Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, you’ll get product recommendations for a complete daily skincare regimen. Choose which products you want to pick up now and, for our friends in the US, you’ll have the option to order a free sample regimen to try product recommendations before you buy. (You just have to cover the $2.95 shipping fee!) 

The Mario Badescu Skin Analysis takes just a few minutes, but can offer invaluable skincare advice that will leave your skin clear and your complexion glowing!

Are you ready to get your best skin yet? 
Start your Skin Analysis here.

Originally published as Find Your Best Skincare Regimen from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

From travel sizes to retailer exclusives, here is a list of our favorite insider intel to help you shop smarter:

1. Loyal to Mario Badescu Drying Lotion but hate glass bottles? Our much-loved blemish solution is available in a travel-friendly, shatter-proof plastic bottle on Nordstrom.com.

2. Love your cleanser (toner, body lotion, or shower gel) so much you wish you could bathe in it? Well, we can’t fill a bathtub for you, BUT most of our cleansers and toners are available on mariobadescu.com in 16oz. bottles. And the best part? The double-sized bottles aren’t double the price. That right. Snag a giant bottle of your go-to cleanser and put the money you saved toward a new bottle of Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater! Strategy, see?!

3. Speaking of Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, did you know you can buy it in a giant 8oz. bottle? Or a very cute, carry-on friendly 2oz Bottle? You haven’t fallen down a rabbit hole, Alice, this is all real.

4. Calling all jet Setters, gym goers, and bi-coastal babes! You can buy travel-sized Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 15, and Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea on Ulta.com.

Head to Ulta.com for carry-on friendly Facial Spray!

5. Are you in the know? Mariobadescu.com shoppers have access to exclusive GWPs, discounts, and free shipping on orders over $35? Sign up here and be the first to find out about our special offers.

6. Wondering how to get Mario Badescu samples? There are two main ways. The first way is for customers who’ve never taken our online skin analysis. Simply fill out the information requested here and a free sample regimen will be sent out for you. * ** The second way is to select three free samples whenever you place an order on mariobadescu.com.

Now, which of these tips will you put to use first?

*Sample regimen only available in the United States.

**Must pay $2.95 for shipping and handling.

Originally published as Mario Hacks: Travel Sizes, Free Samples, and Beyond from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Depending on your skin’s needs a toner can brighten, clarify, balance, or even help soothe sensitivity. But with so many options, we know that finding the right one can be a challenge, so we decided to put together this handy guide to help you find your perfect match!

Oh, what was that? You aren’t sure why you need a toner in the first place? Take a look at this and meet us back here. Take your time, we’ll wait.

Dry/Sensitive skin:

Aloe Vera Toner– This gentle, alcohol-free toner will whisk away traces of makeup and oil without stripping essential moisture from the skin. Aloe Vera has long been known for its soothing and hydrating properties. Even the most sensitive skin types will feel refreshed.

Try pairing with Cucumber Cream Soap.

Dry/Dull skin:

Glycolic Acid Toner– Glycolic Acid and Grapefruit Extract gently work to exfoliate dull skin and uncover your freshest complexion. The alcohol-free formula is easy on dry skin.

Try pairing with Orange Cleansing Soap

Combination/Unbalanced:

Seaweed Cleansing Lotion– Mineral-rich Seaweed and naturally clarifying Witch Hazel come together to restore balance and address the concerns that come with combination skin. Oily areas will feel thoroughly cleansed and dehydrated areas nourished. If you feel like your skin has multiple personalities, this toner is for you!

Try pairing with Seaweed Cleansing Soap.

Oily Skin:

Cucumber Cleansing Lotion– Amino acids found in Cucumber Extract work to refine the skin as you banish excess oil from the T-Zone. We always look forward to using this invigorating Cleansing Lotion first thing in the morning.

Try Pairing with Enzyme Cleansing Gel.

Acne-Prone Skin:

Special Cleansing Lotion “C”– Cucumber and Sulfur purify pores and target blemishes without overdrying. Use twice daily to keep troubled skin at bay.

Try pairing with Acne Facial Cleanser.

Which toner is right for your type?

Originally published as Best Toner for Your Skin Type from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Holiday season is hectic. To-do lists at home and at work become longer and social calendars become busier. To turn the pressure up just a little bit higher, this is not one of those occasions when you can hunker down and power through all that needs to be done because the holidays involve showing face.

That’s right, nestled between working late to tie up loose ends before the New Year, and taking advantage of your favorite retailer’s extended hours for late gift shopping sessions there are holiday parties. To get through this marathon of a season in one piece I’ve learned to take a few precautions to preserve my skin, sanity, and (most importantly) my holiday cheer—at the end of the day the holidays are supposed to be fun, right?

Sleep. Eat. Hydrate.

Life simply works better when the basics are attended to. Do whatever it takes, schedule in sleep, set phone reminders to finish your water bottle before lunch, and keep apples and almonds in your bag so that you’ve consumed more than that grande skim latte (extra shot of espresso, please!) before 3pm. Skin.

Craft a skin strategy that will keep your skin glowing from today straight through New Year’s Day!

Here’s what I’m using this year to keep my skin bright, hydrated, and ready for holiday party pics or any instagrammable moment that comes my way:

Holiday Party Season Essentials

Botanical Exfoliating Scrub– The energizing mix of botanicals in this scrub makes me feel like I’m being extra kind to my tired skin. Use three times a week to keep winter skin flake-free and smooth.

Enzyme Revitalizing Mask– During the holidays I go for an extra shot of espresso and an extra dose of brightening. I’ve been known to gift this mask to new parents, frequent flyers, and college students during finals. Its ability to unearth a glow from even the most tired, dull skin is unmatched.

Herbal Hydrating Serum– This is my trusty year round skin-saving hero! The thought of not having a fresh bottle of this tiny miracle worker at hand during the season where my schedule fluctuates between chaos and frenzy is unfathomable. It is my favorite thing for helping to ward off cold weather dehydration without causing breakouts.

Eye Makeup Remover Gel (non-oily)– The late nights and early mornings of the holiday season make it very tempting to skip important steps like removing eye makeup. I leave a bottle of eye makeup remover out in plain sight, right next to my toothbrush, to avoid any temptation to crash without removing every trace of mascara first. I’ll thank me in the morning.

What are your tricks for powering through the busiest season of the year?

Originally published as Holiday Skin Saviors from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Your skin care arsenal is stocked. Cleanser? Check. Toner. Check. Drying Lotion? Check! And since you’ve done your research, you know not to shake the Drying Lotion (Still want to give it a shake? Don’t take our word for it.) You skin is looking good and you feel like this:

Then, when you least expect it, a blemish pops up! You know what to do. You reach for that bottle of zit-fighting magic, and before you can even register what is happening, you fumble. Your Drying Lotion slips, escapes from your hand, and your #catlike reflexes kick in (Luckily, you took those martial arts classes for that month in second grade! #thanksmomanddad) and you are able to catch the bottle before it crashes to the floor. Whew! But, ugh, not before your perfect bottle of layered pimple kryptonite is all mixed up. First you feel confusion, then despair sets in and now you are all:

So here’s where one of our most frequently asked questions comes in. Lots of you would like to know, “If my Drying Lotion is shaken, is it ruined?” The A. to that Q. is, no. Not at all. Simply set the shaken bottle on a flat surface then distract yourself with some TV, or better yet, a good book, and hang in there until it settles. “But will it still work the same?” you ask. Yes, it will. “It won’t make it less effective?” No, sir or ma’am. It will not.

Us? Oh, we’re just waiting for our Drying Lotion to settle.

So there you have it! The most anxiety-provoking conundrum in the battle for clear skin has been solved for once and for all. It seems that when it comes to Drying Lotion (and life in general) an occasional shake-up is nothing to worry about!

Originally published as Our Best Skin Care Tips: What Happens if you Shake the Drying Lotion? from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Conspiring to give you resolution tips!

What’s your resolution this year? Do you make them? This topic can be very polarizing, most of the folks here at Mario Badescu are firmly pro or against making New Year’s Resolutions.

When you think about it, there are many opportunities to start fresh throughout the year: birthdays, holidays, Mondays—but none seem to have quite the amount of gravity that the New Year brings. For many of us, New Year’s Day is the freshest of fresh starts on the calendar. So much so that it is during this time that we toss our old calendar aside and buy a whole new one to mark the occasion.

I decided a few years back that I’d made my last ultra-ambitious New Year’s resolution. Instead, I jotted a list of extremely simple, easily achievable goals that would have a lasting positive (though sometimes subtle) effect on my life. So no, 2016 will not be the year that I set out to become fluent in Spanish, or successfully eliminate all sugar from my diet. This is the year that I will keep hand cream with me at all times, and wash my coffee cup every morning before I leave for work. Dreaming big? No. Feeling good? Yep.

In the name of deliberately simple, feel-good goals for 2016 I asked a few of Mario Badescu’s veteran aestheticians to give skin care tips for the resolute among us! Here’s what they said:

Q. “What skin care resolution would you tell someone to make for 2016 that they would thank you for in 2026?”

“Mask more often!” –Elena, Mario Badescu Head aesthetician for 31 years

“Use toner. If you begin to use toner after you cleanse today, you will thank me in 10 years.” –Leah, Mario Badescu aesthetician for 16 years

“Eye cream is very important. It is important to find the best eye cream for you.” –Luba, Mario Badescu aesthetician for 18 years

Originally published as Resolution Made Simple from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.