I've been dealing with an oily T-zone since I was a teenager. It's improved as I've gotten older - probably thanks to getting a grip on my diet and exercise - but some degree of oiliness is still something I deal with on a daily basis. Here are my 4 absolute must-have, go-to products that I use multiple times a week, if not daily, to keep my skin's oil production under control.

Step 1: Calcium Bentonite Clay

I love a good mud mask. Two parts Calcium bentonite clay combined with one part raw apple cider vinegar makes a fantastic, oil-absorbing skin mask. I use a super-affordable clay called "Health & Beauty Aztec Secret," which claims to be the "world's most powerful facial." I find the exoticizing slant of the branding questionable, but the product is definitely effective for clearing out pores and drying out excess oil.

Note: The container hilariously states, "Feel your face pulsate!" which is accurate. This mask is strong, so be careful with it if you have sensitive skin. If you let this mask dry out all the way, your skin will probably be red for a while after from all the increased blood circulation, so keep that in mind and don't, say, use the mask right before a date night. If you're in a rush, you can speed up the drying process by hitting your face with a blowdryer on the cool setting for a few minutes.

Step 2: Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is magic. It's anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and dries out excess oil production - it's particularly great for spot treatments. This is another product to be used very carefully if you have sensitive skin. I only use it on my forehead and nose - the area around my mouth does get oily but is also more sensitive than the rest of the T-zone and dries out if I apply tea tree oil there.

Above is a photo of my face immediately after applying tea tree oil. I've noticed that it doesn't visibly matte-ify my skin immediately, but that on days when I use it, my skin produces less oil overall.

Step 3: Nurturing Force Instant Matte/Anti-Shine Moisture Cream

Nurturing Force's Anti-Shine cream is amazing. I bought it during a Muse Beauty airbrush workshop this summer and have used it every single day since then. It's a hydrating moisturizer and primer that keeps my skin matte for hours. If I'm in a rush or don't want to put on foundation for whatever reason, I'll just dab a bit of this stuff on my T-zone and press it in with a Beauty Blender.

Step 4: Neutrogena Shine Control Powder

I've tried so many shine control powders - everything from drug store brands to Sephora to DIY recipes made of rice flour. My favorite, hands-down, is Neutrogena Shine Control Powder in Invisible, which you can get at drugstores for about $15. It has a really sheer texture, lasts for hours, and doesn't cake up when I reapply the way some other brands do. I also like the design of the compact. It's sturdy enough to handle the wear and tear of my purse.

So those are my four favorite mattifying products! I hope you find them helpful. Let me know if you try any of them and what works for you.

Thanks for reading this Instructable! You can follow me on Instagram at @KirikoKikuchi or shoot me an email at KirikoKikuchi@gmail.com.