FASHION Magazine

Despite using oil-free products exclusively, my face always looks and feels grimy by early afternoon. What else can I do to control the oil on my face?
The last time I used blotting papers was around the same time I assumed oily skin was caused by eating too many french fries from my school’s cafeteria. Now I know that it can be attributed to hormones, a lack of hydration in your body, or a change in climate—and I’m revisiting the notion that blotting papers are an easy, portable fix for nasty oil slicks. Speaking of nasty, I recall hearing a rumour that blotting papers clog pores and can actually have a negative effect on your complexion… but that’s simply not true! In fact, Japanese geishas have been using paper to blot and keep their makeup fresh since the 1800s—but it’s what’s in the paper that counts.

When that 10 a.m. shine becomes a ’round-the-clock problem in summer, soak up the slick with Sephora Collection Bamboo Charcoal Blotting Paper ($10, at Sephora).