Christi’s Curious:
Hi Beauty Brains! I was wondering if you could tell me about the product OC8 Oil Control Genius. It says it has “ACRYSORB micro-particles” (which sounds like a marketing gimick to me), and it absorbs only the excess oil on your skin. I’m just wondering if it really does absorb the excess oil like it says it does. And if it is absorbing oil, like it says it is, and it’s all sitting on your skin, would this cause acne?
The Right Brain Responds:
Christi, The Beauty Brains applaud your skepticism! Acrysorb sounds like Marketing hype to us too! Let’s take a closer look:
The product contains the following ingredients:
Purified water, Acrysorb (brand of acrylates copolymer), propylene glycol, PEG-400, carbomer 940, sodium hydroxide, methylparaben, and disodium EDTA.
The last two are easy: methyparaben and disodium EDTA are simply preservatives. The PEG-400 and Carbomer 940 are thickeners; the sodium hydroxide is a neutralizing agent for the carbomer (that’s what makes it get thick). The propylene glycol provide some humectant properterties and finally the Acrysorb (which is just their trade name for a type of acrylate polymer, is in the formula to absorb oil as they suggest.
Is this kind of absorption possible? Well, there are certain types of acrylate copolymers that can absorb oil. So theoretically, this kind of product could “trap” some of the surface oil on the skin and make your skin feel less greasy. That should not contribute to acne breakouts, however, because oily skin is not the only cause of acne. You also need bacteria and clogged pores.
But while it could work in theory, we doubt that it could absorb enough oil to really make a difference on your skin. To be fair, we haven’t actually tested it so we can’t say for sure. Have any of our loyal Beauty Brainiacs used OC8? If so, what do YOU think?
Loading ...
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
The best tip I got to absorb oil in your skin came from an interview with Courteney Cox. She recommend toilet seat liners. It sounds crazy, but as someone who has tried tissues, toilet paper, and all sorts of expensive blotting and rice papers, pieces of toilet seat liner work better than anything else. Just take one when you are in a public bathroom, fold it up, and put it in your makeup bag.
Sadly some public bathrooms are now using plastic toilet seat liners.
An interesting new application for that product. I’ve never tried it but it sounds reasonable to me. It’s probably not the “best” solution but if it works, great!
Any sort of blotting works better than caking your face with more powdery stuff to absorb the oil. Not that caking it with more stuff doesn’t work, but you get rid of the oil while looking like you put your makeup on with a cake frosting spatula. Not a good look.
That said, I’m still a sucker for oil-control facial products like L’Oreal Pure Zone. I’m not sure they work or it is just wishful thinking on my part though.
Oily skin is essentially sebum and your site has done a wonderful job in presenting the information neccessary to help the oily skin problem. Thank you.
As a response to your question, I just want to say that so far I have not found anything better than OC8. I have used their original product for many years called Clinac before OC8 came out. I don’t know how it works, but it does and it leaves my t-zone oil-free for at least 6 hours or so (not the 8 they claim). It also makes my pores look smaller if that is an issue for you. I have not noticed an increase in acne after using OC8 either.
I’ve been using Clinac/OC8 for years now and I love it. My face is left smoother and, of course, more matte. There are, however, several drawbacks: it can make my face very white (I apply lotion after OC8 to solve this problem) and it is so darn expensive! I suppose acrylate copolymers are as rare as gold.
IS OC 8- OIL CONTROL GENIUS AND OC 8- GEL MATTIFIER THE SAME PRODUCT?
THIS WORKS! I have found nothing like it, ever. My skin is normally an oil slick within an hour of washing. I have gone the entire day for the last 3 days without the problem.
)))))LOVEIT.
My daughter has very oily skin and her dermatologist recommended this product to control shine (the doctor also said she uses it). It works fantastic! My daughter loves it.
I bought this with really high hopes, and it seriously does nothing for me. I am still as oily as ever, and unlike other oil absorbing products like smashbox and clinique, there isn’t even a period in the beginning where you can see the matte look.
I have skin like an oil slick, and truly have never found anything that even begins to help. I bought OC8 and it is nothing short of brilliant – now, my skin stays matt for at least 4-6 hours after applying, and then if I pop on some more face powder, it will stay matt for the rest of the day. Without it, I’m literally wiping oil off my face within 30-60 minutes. I would never be without it now – give it a go, believe me I’ve tried everything else on the market, and they are all crap except for this. It’s a bloody miracle worker.
How much does it usually cost?
The product did not work for me long term. It helps just a little but not much. Not worth the price paid.
i love oc8, it works for me