Murad Oil Control: InstaMatte Mask and Mattifier Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.

press sample affiliate link

Let me share a summer day in the life with y’all, pre-Murad magic: it starts with fresh makeup, applied to perfection. Fast forward three hours, or maybe four—when I check my reflection, my perfect makeup has been eaten by the face oil monster. We’re talking total wicked witch “I’m melting, I’m meeeeeeeelting” territory.

If I need to keep my makeup fresh and flawless all day, I usually have to implement a gazillion tricks: primer water, actual primer, eye primer, setting powder and a healthy coat of setting spray. Plus, I STILL need to use blotting papers throughout the day.

Post-Murad magic is a different story. With the Murad Oil Control Mattifier and InstaMatte Oil Control Mask, wicked-witch face melts are a thing of the past. I’ve tried a handful of Murad products before, but this dynamic duo has been saving my skin (and makeup) in a super effective way.

As soon as hot weather and humidity hits, my already oily skin goes into overdrive, and I’m prone to hormonal acne. Enter the Murad Oil Control Mattifer with SPF 15 ($39.50), AKA my summer savior. This paraben and phthalate-free moisturizer is light, comfortable and capable of mattifying my face all day, without drying out my skin. Plus, it’s nice to have the SPF protection built in.

The ingredients in here are stellar: willow bark extract and tea tree oil to fight acne and purify the skin, along with argan extract and sesame oil to soothe and soften. The mattifying magic comes in with Murad’s Oil-Control Complex®, which “helps diminish shine while preserving moisture to provide a long-lasting matte finish.” The end result? A moisturizer that keeps my skin matte and oil-free, but never dry or uncomfortable. In fact, this feels so silky and comfortable that it works wonders as a primer. After using this, my skin is nicely prepped for makeup application. The best part, though, is that it truly does mattify all day and it fills in my pores. It’s a small miracle, is what I’m saying.

Equally as miraculous is the Murad InstaMatte Oil Control Mask ($38), designed to “reduce 93% of oil after just one use.” This baby is an oil busting machine; you leave it on for three minutes and then rinse, or you can use it my favorite way—as a daily cleanser. Salicylic acid helps to keep acne at bay and beeswax and olive leaf extract moisturize. The mask also helps to minimize the appearance of pores. Even with the pore-busting and acne-fighting ingredients, though, it’s really soothing. I haven’t experienced any dryness or tightness after application. In the morning, I like to use the mask as a cleanser, ensuring I get a deep down clean and a jump-start on quelling oil production.

Murad InstaMatte Oil Control Mask and Oil Control Mattifer

Pairing these two products together leaves my skin looking fresh, matte, and oil free. Bye bye, summer makeup melt. If you have combination to oily skin and larger pores, this duo might just be your summer savior, too.

Murad’s got oil control all wrapped up!

we heartsters: Are you a summer oil slick? And what’s your favorite Murad product?

Amity writes and teaches in Central PA. Her obsessions include: Rodarte (she can’t afford any Rodarte, mind you, but a girl can dream), espresso, books, vintage/thrift fashion and fountain pens. She thinks you should dress like a weirdo once in a while, just to shake things up.