Before you buy another beauty product, let’s talk about some of the skincare and makeup products I’ve used up and whether I think they’re actually worth the money for oily skin.
I’m big on skincare because I believe it can make or break how your makeup looks. I also like keeping my skincare and makeup routines relatively simple, so when I find a product that works for me, I tend to stick with it.
Here are some of the products I’ve used up recently, along with my take on whether I’d spend my money on them again.
Skincare
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
A good cleanser is an important part of my skincare routine, and the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser has been my favorite facial cleanser for years.I like this cleanser because it provides a deep clean while completely removing dirt, excess oil, and makeup. Even though it cleans my skin well, my skin isn't left feeling dry or tight afterward.
I’ve also found that it has helped minimize the appearance of my pores.
The formula contains ingredients including niacinamide, vitamin B5, and hydrating glycerin, which have helped with the moisture resilience of my skin.
Is Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser worth the money? Yes.
I’ve tried other cleansers, but I keep coming back to this one.
I think it works particularly well for oily skin because of how well it cleans without drying out the skin. I’ve found that keeping my skin moisturized helps it produce less oil.
It also isn't an expensive facial cleanser, and I rarely have to pay full price for it. I can usually find it on sale or find a coupon.
I tend to use this cleanser at night to remove my makeup and sometimes in the morning to wash my face before applying makeup.
When I don’t use it in the morning, it’s usually because I want to use something even gentler.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
That brings me to the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. This was actually the first Cetaphil cleanser I used on my oily skin, and I liked how gentle it was.It hydrates the skin while removing dirt, makeup, and impurities. It also contains ingredients similar to the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, including hydrating glycerin, vitamin B5, and niacinamide.
The main difference for me is that the Gentle Skin Cleanser doesn't do a very good job of removing makeup. At least, not as well as the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.
I felt like I needed to use more and more product to get all of the makeup off my face when I used this cleanser at night. I eventually stopped using it for a while and later brought it back as my morning or daytime cleanser during the winter months.
My skin tends to act more like combination skin in the winter, so this works well for me in the morning because of how hydrating it is.
Is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser worth the money for oily skin? For me, no.
I think this cleanser is better suited for dry or combination skin.
If you have oily skin and don't want to spend money on multiple cleansers, I think the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser is the better option.
Mighty Patch The Original
I actually bought the Mighty Patch The Original while traveling because I had a few stubborn pimples pop up. I had previously used acne dots from another brand, but I couldn't find that particular brand in the store I was in. I remembered people talking about Mighty acne patches, so I decided to give them a try.These are medical-grade acne patches that work best with whiteheads. These are made to be used overnight rather than during the day.
They’re placed directly over the pimple and work over a 6–8 hour stretch to absorb the pimple gunk. In addition to helping shrink the pimple, the patch also protects it overnight from picking and popping if those are issues you have.
When I notice a pimple forming or one has already formed, I start by washing my face. Then I go through the rest of my skincare routine before putting the patch over the pimple and leaving it on overnight.
One of the things I like about these patches is that you can actually see when the patch has done something because the clear patch turns white.
For me, these have worked on most of the pimples I’ve tried them on. I tend to see the pimple stop growing and even shrink some overnight.
Not every single pimple starts shrinking overnight, though. Sometimes I have to use the patch multiple times before I really start to see a difference.
Are the Mighty Patches worth the money? Yes.
And I’ve already bought them again. I don't break out often, but when a random pimple decides to show up, it’s worth having something around that I can reach for.
Up & Up 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment
Another product I use for pimples is the Up & Up 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment.This is one of those products I keep around and reach for when I want a daytime treatment for breakouts. I don't break out often, but when I do, it can be a doozy. Having two products working together, with one for nighttime and one for daytime, is helpful for me.
My favorite daytime treatment is one with benzoyl peroxide. This spot treatment has some, and I apply it only to the problem area rather than using it all over my face.
I mostly use this during the day. If I use it at night, it’s because I’m not using an acne patch or dot. When I apply the acne treatment, I put it on between my facial serum and moisturizer.
Is the Up & Up 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment worth the money? Yes, if you need a targeted acne treatment.
I wouldn't buy it simply because you have oily skin, but it works for my oily skin when I have breakouts.
I don't think I've ever gotten this product on sale. It is a store-brand product, so it's usually less expensive than name-brand options while still being effective for me.
Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner
Now we have a product from a brand I’ve used quite a bit over the years: the Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner.I’ve used several Thayers toners because I like what a toner adds to my skincare routine. For me, toner is less about trying to completely transform my skin and more about giving my skin some extra hydration and refreshing it after cleansing.
It can also help remove any leftover makeup, dirt, or oil that might still be hanging around.
I like that Thayers has different formulas, so I can switch things up depending on what my skin needs. I’ve used the Rose Petal toner before and like it. The scent is distinctly rose, but it’s subtle.
There is one thing about this particular bottle that I do not like, though. It leaks in luggage. And if you've ever opened your suitcase and discovered that one of your beauty products decided to investigate your bag, you know exactly what I mean.
Thankfully, I use silicone covers on my toiletries, which keeps product leakage to a minimum.
After I had this issue once and realized it was due to the bottle, mostly the top of the bottle, I ended up transferring the toner into a leakproof bottle that I typically use for my toner.
Is the Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner worth the money? The regular size is worth the money. The smaller size isn't worth it for me as a travel product.
The product itself is fine. The issue is the travel packaging. Instead of buying this or another Thayers toner in a smaller bottle for travel, I'll just buy a larger bottle and transfer some of it into a container that I know won't leak.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum
This is one of those products that I have a LOT of history with. I originally started using The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum because my skin was extremely oily.I was dealing with visible pores, breakouts, dark spots, and the kind of oiliness where I would put my makeup on in the morning and by lunchtime I was already reaching for the blotting products.
When I started using this serum consistently, I noticed that my skin wasn't producing oil as quickly. I didn't have to blot as often, my pores looked less noticeable, and when I did get a breakout, it seemed to shrink faster.
I use this serum on my skin day and night. It’s usually the third step after my cleanser and toner.
Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% worth the money? Yes.
Not only does this product work for me, but it's also budget-friendly. The product isn't expensive, so I tend to stock up on several months' worth when it's on sale, which is only a few times a year.
Related read: Review Of The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum
Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Matte Face Primer
Now let's switch over to makeup, starting with the Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Matte Face Primer. With oily skin, primer can be one of those products that makes a noticeable difference in how your makeup wears.For me, I like a matte primer because I don't want to start the day with a dewy finish and then have my face turn into an oil slick a couple of hours later.
The goal is to start with a smoother, more controlled base so my foundation has something to work with. This particular primer from Wet n Wild gave my skin a matte finish without drying it out.
It also helped even the look of my skin tone. The formula contains white sapphire, which is formulated into a smooth, silky cream that glides on the skin. That may have been a contributor to the evening out.
And because this is Wet n Wild, it's also one of those products where you're not spending a ton of money just to see if a primer works for you.
Is the Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Matte Face Primer worth the money? For me, no.
It's a really affordable matte primer, but the formula was too watery for me. So I felt like I was wasting as much product as I was applying.
Despite that, it's still one to try if you find a way to use it without the waste because it did a really good job of controlling shine and giving me a smooth base for applying makeup.
NYX Blurscreen SPF 30 Primer
The NYX Blurscreen SPF 30 Primer is one of those products that I find interesting because it's doing more than one job.You've got the primer aspect, but you've also got SPF. I'm always interested in products that can simplify my routine.
As someone with oily skin, though, I don't want a primer that feels heavy or greasy underneath my makeup. I want something that gives me a smoother base without making me look shiny before I've even put my foundation on.
So for me, the question with a product like this isn't just whether it has SPF. It's whether it actually works with rather than against my oily skin. For me, the answer is that it kind of fights against my oily skin.
This primer did help blur my pores, and I do think my makeup gripped to it like it claims it would. However, I do think it made my skin look a bit shinier even after I applied a matte foundation and powder.
I also don't think my makeup stayed looking good for as long as it usually did with my normal matte primer. Needless to say, I did end up using up this makeup primer. Just not under makeup most of the time.
Is the NYX Blurscreen SPF 30 Primer worth trying? No, not for me.
You can get SPF either from your moisturizer or even your foundation. And with oily skin, a matte primer is preferred, and this isn't a matte primer.
NYX The Face Glue Gripping Primer
This is a completely different type of primer from the matte primer. Instead of focusing primarily on controlling shine, the NYX The Face Glue Gripping Primer helps your makeup grip and stay put.That can be especially useful when you have oily skin because sometimes the problem isn't getting your makeup on. It's keeping your makeup on.
This is a gripping primer that contains ingredients like maple syrup to help with the grip. With maple syrup as an ingredient, you might think the primer would be super sticky. It wasn't. It was pretty tacky even after drying down on my skin. In addition to the gripping power, it’s also hydrating.
Is NYX The Face Glue Gripping Primer worth it for oily skin? Maybe.
It did a good job of helping my makeup stay in place even on my oily skin. The NYX Face Glue Primer also didn't make my skin any oilier than normal. What it didn't do was help minimize pores or give my skin a matte finish.
So if your foundation, powder, or setting spray gives you the type of matte finish you're looking for, this primer could work for you.
NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray
Speaking of setting sprays, I also used up the NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray. This is a beauty product I buy again and again.I've tried other drugstore matte setting sprays because I'm always looking for ways to save money on makeup. So far, I keep coming back to this one.
I like that it's lightweight and gives me a light matte finish that lasts for hours. And probably one of the biggest compliments I can give it is that I don't feel like I'm wearing a mask after I spray it on.
It also does a good job of helping my makeup stay in place throughout the day. I've tried other drugstore matte setting sprays and even higher-end ones, and I've liked this NYX one better.
Is the NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray worth the money? Absolutely.
If you have oily skin and you're looking for a drugstore setting spray, this one gets a big worth-the-money from me. It's also stayed on my repurchase list.
Related read: Why The NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray Is Worth Trying
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder in 375 Java
If you have oily skin, you already know why I wanted to include the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder. Powder is a big part of my makeup looks.I like to apply it before and after liquid foundation, or just wear powder on its own. This Maybelline Matte Powder is used all of those ways.
One of my favorite ways to use it is to help create a barrier between my oily skin and my makeup. Additionally, I can use this to set my liquid foundation, but I also like that I can wear the powder by itself when I want a lighter makeup day.
I've tried a few different shades of the Fit Me powder over the years, and the shade I prefer and have used up is 375 Java.
What I like most about this product is how it gives my skin a matte, airbrush-like finish and how versatile it is. If I can help it, I'm not buying a powder that only has one job.
And because it's Maybelline, it doesn't have the price tag of a lot of higher-end powders. Plus, I can usually get it on sale or get a discount from a coupon.
Is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder worth the money? Yes.
Especially if you have oily skin and like a matte finish.
Which Beauty Products Are Worth The Money?
After using all of these products, there are definitely some that stand out as products I'd spend my money on again.Worth the money for oily skin
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
- Mighty Patch The Original
- Up & Up 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray
- Maybelline Express Brow Ultra Slim Eyebrow Pencil
- Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder
Not worth the money for oily skin
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for oily skin
- Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Matte Face Primer
- NYX Blurscreen SPF 30 Primer
- Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner in travel size
Maybe
- NYX The Face Glue Gripping Primer
Of course, what works for me may not work the same way for you. But hopefully seeing which products I've actually used up and would spend my money on again helps you narrow down your own beauty shopping list.
And if you're trying to keep your beauty spending under control, that's really the goal: finding the products that work for you and spending your money on those instead of constantly buying something new.
See more about and shop all of the products mentioned below.
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