Afternoon beauty fix: Time to take another look at an old favourite for fixing oily skin

Date January 23, 2012

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. And what you want is abaca: a leaf and a key characteristic of a good blotting paper. Subpar varieties include rice or a blend of leaves with a dusting of residue-forming powder. The geisha community’s go-to papers, Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese papers ($12, shoppretty.ca) are pure abaca and the opposite of irritating. They’re also free of powder and fragrance, completely organic, and within reach for those who need ’em on North American shores. They’ll leave your makeup intact and help to maintain the best balance of oil and water in your skin. Your face will look fresh, even if your oil-exerting pores are in production overload.

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