MAC Oil Control Lotion Review & Swatches

MAC Oil Control Lotion is my latest unexpected love! It’s funny how I got to have it in my possession in the first place and eventually fell in love with it. See, I thought I was placing a Nordstrom order for a mini Strobe Cream so when I opened my package to find that I had ordered this lotion instead, I was not happy! First of all, this product has received mostly negative feedback from a lot of reviews I’ve read; second, given the fragile condition of my skin as of late, I do not need another “mattifying” base product that could potentially irritate my skin further; and third, I just wanted the Strobe Cream and nothing else!

But of course, being a curious beauty blogger and all, I put it on anyway, not expecting anything out of it. But guess what, I think this lotion has turned out to be the best “base” makeup purchase I have made this summer! :)

Shown above is the mini version of the product that comes in a basic upside down squeeze tube. The full size one comes in a bottle with a nice pump (which I plan to purchase immediately after I finish with my mini). The lotion supposedly contains “natural exfoliants, colloidal minerals, and antioxidants” to improve the skin’s texture and clarity over time. Well, honestly, it doesn’t sound like anything special to me. I mean, lots of other face lotions promise to do just the same, too.

But the catch is this: it is formulated to balance the skin’s natural pH. Since our skin’s protective barrier performs best when it is in a mild acidic state at a pH of 5.5 ^(ref), I thought, well, maybe this is not just another face lotion after all!

And it’s not. For starters, the texture is milky white and super runny for a lotion. It goes on clear and spreads so well on the skin that I really don’t need more than a dime-sized to cover my entire face. The formula has a very mild scent of a typical lotion and you may not even notice it at all unless sniffing directly from the tube.

MAC Oil Control lotion literally takes the “fast-absorbing” property to the next level! It sinks into the skin immediately after application and leaves the skin soft, supple, and super hydrated, without any kind of greasy/oily feeling. It is supposed to give a matte finish but I find it to be more on the dewy-matte side instead. It still mattifies a great deal but at the same time also leaves a hint of dewiness to the face (oh this I love!). A lot of mattifying products tend to leave the skin with that kind of dry, tight, and sometimes flaky finish — not the case with this lotion at all. It feels like you’re just applying a nice, lightweight moisturizer; it does not in any way feel like you’re applying a mattifying base at all.

I like to apply it after my moisturizer and then followed with my makeup. Sometimes I also mix it with my MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance primer for an extra dose of brightening effect!

In terms of performance — wow, it does what it says and more! It keeps my combination-to-oily skin matte throughout the day from morning until I take my makeup off at night! I wish I were kidding but I am not! Normally in the summertime like this, I have to blot like crazy especially in the afternoon hours but with this lotion on, I don’t remember the last time I blotted! Last weekend I spent the majority of the time outdoor in the hot sun and honestly I did not have to blot at all. If I were being picky, I may have noticed the slightest hint of shine on my nose but it was so small that blotting seemed unnecessary (and a total waste of blotting papers).

Besides its impressive oil control ability, this lotion seems to keep my makeup fresh and vibrant throughout the day, too! I don’t know how it does it but this lotion really works wonderfully on me. It goes to show that what doesn’t work for someone may work for the others! :)

And just a side note, when I used it on the first day, I did not find it to be impressive at keeping the excess oil at bay at all. But on the second day, it got better, and later after that, the oil production was substantially reduced. It’s like my skin needed a few days to adjust to the lotion. So, if you do try it, allow yourself a few days to see its full potential!

I am so glad that I decided to give this product a try. It has completely outperformed all of the other mattifying bases I’ve ever used. MAC really nailed it on the formulation of this one. In my years of wearing makeup, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a product that mattifies a great deal and still hydrates the skin so deeply at the same time. If you are oily, I really recommend it. Buy a mini to test out the formula and if you are prone to breakouts, apply only on certain areas of the face to see how your skin reacts to it. I am acne-prone myself and have not had any adverse effects on my skin so far since I started using it a few weeks ago. Seriously, I cannot find fault with this product at all! :)

Have you tried this lotion? How do you keep your face shine-free during summer?

Purchase