I started dealing with the issue of excess oil years ago as a teen. At fourteen, on a family trip to Florida, my aunt noticed and shared an expensive commercial mask that worked for her but it didn’t do the trick for me. Over time I tried an untold number of dedicated products, alternate use products and even do-it-yourself home formula suggestions designed to hold back the oily tide but experienced little lasting success.

Most of them did initially mattify upon application, but oil broke through quickly. Though I would apply the mattifier as late as possible in my morning makeup routine I still would arrive at my destination, even ones only twenty minutes away, needing to blot and powder.

The only product that did have a long-lasting effect was a department store powder that didn’t advertise itself as an oil retardant but did have that serendipitous benefit for me. However, I’d picked it up on clearance and when I needed to replace the compact it had been discontinued by the manufacturer.

When the opportunity to try “insta natural Dual Phase Mattifying Toner “ came along I was happy to give it a try but didn’t have high hopes, given my background. The pure and natural ingredient list is impressive. Even though I usually avoid anything with fragrance due to allergies, Insta natural’s very pleasant inherent natural scent is extremely subtle and didn’t bother me a bit. In fact, since hasn’t prompted any allergic reaction, I prefer it to fragrance-free.

The instructions call for shaking the bottle well before each use since separation occurs naturally, probably due to the kaolin clay. Then the toner is poured into dry hands and applied to the skin. The manufacturer, instaNatural, recommends after the toner dries, following with a moisturizer. I followed the instructions as written, applying a moisturizer (I chose an oil-free product) over my entire face.

Well, the proof is in the pudding and, to my surprise, the toner does reduce oil and shine for an extended period, in my case an unprecedented five hours, sometimes longer. After the first few days, I experimented by discontinuing applying the moisturizer on my nose to see if it had any impact on how long the mattifying effect would last. It seemed my nose remained shine-free for about the same length of time with or without the moisturizer, but it did look more matte (which I prefer for that area) when I didn’t use the moisturizer. I have continued using the moisturizer on the rest of my face, though, since it leaves a nice finish after using the toner.

The product also helps to reduce the appearance of pores (a big plus for me since you could drive a truck through mine) and helps with acne.

I’m delighted with my results and will continue using the product. It’s reasonably priced at about $16.00 for 8 ounces. I would pay more, if necessary, to achieve these results but am glad I don’t have to. And everything comes with a reassuring money-back guarantee.

Find it at InstaNaturals