INEXPENSIVE BLOTTING PAPERS!
Gigi here! Our dog Skittles (West Highland Terrier mix) loves to chew my personal items if she doesn’t receive much attention—oh, that would be playing with her 24/7. I’ve lost my pens, flash drives, a purse, and a crystal candy dish (don’t even ask). Her actions scream, “You stopped petting me and now you will pay for it.” The joy she brings is worth a few ruined items. Okay—more than a few, but they can be replaced.
Thus, this review is brought to you in part by our little “terrierist.” She is savvy when it comes to cosmetics and generally chooses the best and most efficacious. Her last “meal” was a great choice! She gave me the ideal product for a review. I found her chewing on paper blotting sheets.
I melt in the summer sun like the witch in “The Wizard of Oz.” Heat, humidity, and long days out working hard at amusement parks, county fairs, and picnics leave me appearing like the wilted last rose of summer. Beware layering more pressed powder to address this if it happens to you, as it will only exacerbate the problem when it coagulates. What saves the day? Blotting tissues to eliminate shine and leave makeup intact in an instant! Unwashed is not the look I’m trying to achieve.
My love affair began with Papier Poudre’s version twenty years ago. They retail for $2.75 and up at Amazon (which just morphed into a drugstore for the time being). They were first sold at Crabtree & Evelyn and I recall purchasing the entire display. The clerk said, “Must you have them all now?” My reply: “Yes.” I can still see her annoyed expression. They are a delight and come in shades including rose. Press the powder sheet gently—emphasis on gently—on affected areas (not under eyes) and savor the delicate, sweet scent. There is just a tiny hint of color, nothing to leave you looking garish, only a soft matte finish. These were created at the turn of the century so that women could touch up their faces without calling attention to themselves; makeup was considered “inappropriate.” I suppose they wouldn’t have approved of us. Life before “Megettes”—unthinkable!
I also use Clean and Clear’s sheets available everywhere ($5.99). Steph222 knows these rock. The texture feels like a balloon and appears strange at first, but they rid your face of oil easily as well as grime and perspiration. There is no fragrance, but the tissues pop up easily. You will be amazed at what they remove! One of the advantages of all blotting sheets is that they are portable and will fit wherever you go, even in a pocket in your “skinny jeans” or a tiny purse. I keep them in my glove compartment, desk, vanity, and my luggage just in case.
If you cannot find Palladio’s rice paper version at a drugstore, check them out online at Amazon or Beauty Habit, where they sell for about $4.00 (Gigi, for shame—did you lose your mind completely?). These are unique and have a dual purpose. One side is used to absorb shine and the other leaves behind just a trace of scented powder. Shiseido, Clinique, and many companies have created their own sheets and this is a time when price absolutely doesn’t matter. Why pay $15.00 and more for something that works just as well or better for less?
We all want to glow, but your T-zone shouldn’t. What are you waiting for? Purchase them now and I promise that your summer skin will thank you and Skittles will be happy. She gives them five tail thumps!
Who else has found some "value" blotting papers? Whatcha got!?
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Reviews
I should have counted on my good friend Gigi to understand the pain of face melting! It is an awful phenomenon. I have also enjoyed the Clean & Clear brand. But not since I found the best blotters in the world. They are from a company called Face Secrets. They cost about $2.99 for 150 sheets. Wow! They come in a cute little purple pouch. They are available at Sally Beauty Supply. I highly recommend these. They last forever. They work very well. And I tend to be very oily!! This will really get rid of your face melt at a fraction of the price.
Oh, my soul sister! While you were cleaning out your local Caswell Massey, Gigi, I was doing the same on Lexington Avenue! I live on these little wonders in the summer, when even my dry skin is no match for New York City's steamy streets, and I have no doubt that Theda Bara and Vilma Banky did likewise. I tend to lay in a supply of Papier Poudre from Beautyhabit $3.65 for 60 sheets) at the start of Spring, and then fill in as needed at my local Duane Reade. You are right about the ooky texture of the Clean & Clear variety, a tad creepy for my taste. I will always prefer the simplicity of the paper variety. I believe The Body Shop stocks Lehcaresor Papier Poudre, a similar version, and Victoria's Secret and Almay used to do their own versions. Love 'em!
Your so right Gigi,on both counts they definately work but the texture is really weird like little blue sheets of plastic,also the papier poudre packaging is cuter.
PotionPrincess♥
I have tried the "Clean and Clear" and found them to work well...now that you have SO perfectly brought this to our attention I am now on a hunt and will be tracking down some that are worthy! I had forgotten what a waonderful addition to one's purse they are,God knows I've tried the "Tide Pen" in a pinch with bad results,LOL! Always in yoru debt girl!!!
I use Boscia's Green Tea blotting linens. They are $10 for a pack of 100 sheets, which lasts me a very long time. I use them primarily on hot, humid days or when I am feeling a little extra oily. I am looking forward to trying the much less expensive Clean and Clear and some of the other blotting paper brands (like Paper Poudre) the others ladies have suggested.
I've used the Jane Iredale one's which work great but are a little spendy. Mostly I paid for the super cute gold hard case they came with so I could have it long term in my purse and just buy refills. Blotting papers are simply genius and I love them Haven't tried the C&C ones but the texture sounds kind of creepy. I think I'll hunt down the others first to see if they work in my refill. Thanks Gigi...we love you!
Love, hugs and shoes...Angie
I used to love them and somehow forgot about them. Thanks for the reminder!
Indi
These things save my life!! Or at least keep me from looking like a messy oil slick on practically a daily basis! I stumbled across the sisheido (sp???) ones a long time ago then found the clean and clear ones. I adore those little plastic blue things! I find them to be more effective than the powder covered ones since they don't deposit anything behind, and then there is the ickily satisfying feeling of tossing away the now transparent sheet when you're done with it. It is similar to that satisfaction of seeing all that nasty gunk on those biore strips, gross, but so good to have it all off your face! (sorry for gross imagery)
I used Clean & Clear sheets in highschool and loved them. I now use the blotting papers by Everyday Minerals (everydayminerals.com), they're only $4 for 100 sheets and are all natural. They also have fabulous make-up wipes too that are only $2.50 for a thick pack (they're all natural too, and can be used as baby wipes and are flushable). I always stock up on these handy face-savers when I buy my foundation!
Like another poster, I use Boscia 's Blotting Papers. They work very well and don't leave any sort of powder and don't remove my makeup. I absolutely love a great deal of items in the Clean & Clear line but I'm not a fan of their blotters. I found they sucked up too much, left my skin too dry, and smeared my makeup in a really odd way. I don't find Boscia's to be too expensive at 10 bucks for 100 sheets and I've honestly had the same pack for over a year. They last me a long time because a single sheet can do my whole face and I only need one a day, which I don't use every day.
I love Clean and Clear's version also! I've grown addicted to the rubbery texture. I tried ELF's, which were $1, and did NOTHING for my shiny face.
♥ bluedevilkittyhttp://mtycer.weebly.com/
LOVE these! Although, it is fairly horrifying to look at the paper you just patted your face with and seeing that it looks like the napkin at the bottom of an empty potato chip bowl... But, they work!
Wow....I must have been living under a rock, I've seen blotting papers but I just gave them a passing glance, I did't know that they not only blotted the moisture off your face but also had a powdery sidy to touch up you face. I too melt in summer. The humidity here is southern maryland can make a face melt with in minutes, faster then an ice-cream cone!! So with June here and the humidity fast on my heels I am going to buy some blotting papers and give them a try....I am so excited! huggs to all you girls
These are really great for the price! Especially here in FL where the humidty can make my skin oily throughout the day!
I use both Boscia 's Lavender Blotting Papers and Bobbi Brown's Blotting Papers. The Bobbi Brown ones come with a niffy refillable hard sided case that looks like leather and has a mirror. When I worked at The Body Shop I used to use theirs, they have several different options.
I first tried them in samples and I really like them.They really help if you have an oily face.
My Beauty Blog:http://laxmorena.blogspot.com/
cant remember where i read this, but you know the disposable toilet seat covers..........i heard they make great FREE face blotters.
I found that ELF's sine eraser is cheap and works great. For a dollar, you get 50 sheets. I have also cried Clean and Clears, they work the same. So I would go for ELF's because it's way cheaper.Here's the link:http://www.eyeslipsface.com/tools/shine_eraser
I have European Soaps facial blotting tissues in my purse at the moment, they are cute little beige powerded papers that smell a little like lavender. They come in package of 65 sheets and I don't remember how much I paid for this. I've picked these up at the Tampa airport. I'm looking forward to try some of the great recommendation you ladies have posted. Great review Gigi, thanks for reminded me I have these in my bag and should use them. ;-)
I am going to repeat this for everyone. Just try the Face Secrets brand. You won't be sorry. 150 sheets for $2.99. They work so well. And I am super oily. They are a lifesaver for me! I promise that they will be for you too!
I've never tried them!But i'll go look for them in walmart tomorrow!
The blotting papers by NYX are awesome, and pretty affordable.
i love these blotting papers. easy to carry in your handbag and does the job well. and they aren't as expensive as other brands. excellent product.
this product really does work. I dont really have too oily skin. I have used them though, and they work wonders. my friend uses them and she loves them! great product.
I've seen these and been so tempted but now that there is a review i feel tha ti need to go out antd at least try them.
j.baby
I use these almost daily...I love the rubbery texture. They are such a good value for the quality.
I already own these they really work
I received a sample of these in the mail awhile back and I love them. They wok great at absorbing the oils on my face. They are small and very convenient to use and carry.
i never leave home without these blotting sheets..sometimes i make my b.f use them haha
I've used tracing paper and it works the same for me lol
going to have to try this
These came with a cleanser. I don't have oily skin so I have absolutely no use for this. Any suggestions?
I feel so ripped off here in little old New Zealand. I can't seem to find any blotting papers cheaper than the ones I get from The Body Shop which are $8.99 for 65 sheets!! i use their Tea Tree Oil ones which I find to be really good, but I would love to be able to get ones that are cheaper than this!
I believe that there are things you splurge on and things that you don't. Blotting papers are something that I don't splurge on and settle for cheap ones because they only serve a common purpose no matter what brand it is. Sometimes when I forget mine I use paper napkins, I even heard from someone that she uses the paper napkins from Starbucks!
I remember reading in a blog how great Starbucks napkins are for that reason too! The blogger had tried them when she run out of blotting paper and she loved them! I have to try that too...
I don't get oily skin except in the summer, then I stock up on these puppies and keep one in each purse I have so I won't leave home without it. It may sound gross, but the one thing I like about the clean and clear ones specifically is that you can see that it's working...if you know what I mean. It looks gross when you're done with it, but at least it's not on your face!
I love these. They're cheap and they work really well. I like the morning burst ones (I think that's what they're called - in the green package) because they're scented. I wish that they came in larger packages though, like with more in each little box, because I tend to go through these pretty quickly. Sometimes it takes me two sheets to do my face because I tend to get pretty oily.
for only $1.00 you can get ELF shine eraser- 50 blotting sheets, and they work fairly well. i dont know how they compare to the rest of the pack, though.
In case anyone missed it I will be extremely repetitive and mention for a third time the Face Secrets Oil Blotters. They are available at Sally Beauty. They cost $2.99 for 150 sheets. They come in a cute purple pouch. They work marvelously! I just adore them. I am convinced that you will to. Just give them a chance and I will try very hard not to post on them here again.
kellie76- what's the texture of the face secrets oil blotters? If they work, it doesn't really matter, but I was just wondering if they were like the Clean & Clear ones (kind of rubbery?)
♥ bluedevilkittyhttp://mtycer.weebly.com/
They are just like soft, thin tissue paper. But they hold up well. They are not rubbery at all. And they work better than any other that I have found particularly for that price.
I have ridiculously oily skin during the summer and blotting papers are an absolute must! I currently use Boscia blotting linens in the green tea and lavender but the aroma is not really noticeable or necessary. As soon as I am out I will have to try the Clean & Clear and see how they compare.
i need to get myself some more, since i just ran out of them.... even thought i'm going to have to try the starbucks napkins
i remember the first time i saw the Papier Poudre blotting papers. a friend that went to F.I.D.M. with me had them and when she pulled them out and used one i sighed. i just loved how sweet and dainty she looked inconspicuously blotted her face (i'm a drama queen at times i know!) but i had to have them! too bad they were powdered. but that moment started my obsession with blotting papers. i would go to every counter asking the workers if they had blotting papers (i was new to all this love your skin stuff at the time...around 13 years ago) and bought a new brand everytime i needed new ones, all the way from stuff from the indoor swap meet to the shiseido ones. i have come to love the boscia green tea and the lavendar ones. they're $10 a pop so i just make sure to buy one pack everytime i'm at sephora.
http://manthatsfraiche.blogspot.com/
You gals have me ready to jump in my car and go to the new ULTA in my neighborhood for these blotting papers. I honestly have never given them a second thought, but I MUST try them now. I will review again after trying.Thanks Gals for the good work!
i absolutely love the blotters! with the oily skin that i have, these work wonders!
<3 Samantha
These are great, but I've also used starbucks napkins, disposable toilet seat covers -- I know that sounds really gross, but obviously, I use them straight from the package. All of them work to blot up the oil and leave the makeup pretty much intact. And in the summer, I probably go through a dozen or more a day. Victoria's Secret makes something very similiar to the clean and clear blotting papers, same rubbery type of consistency,but they're white, not blue.
I'm just a tad more frugal than you girls! I use (gasps all around!) the toilet seat covers (not sure if that's what they're called??). I found out that it was the same material from a youtube girl and I've been using it ever since :) I don't tend to get too oily anyways so I don't have that much of a need.These are good in a pinch though! I want to try the Palladio one, I love that it's dual purpose :D
xoxo
I love oil blotting sheets because I have oily skin on my tzone.. I'm talking oily after 2 hours of makeup... :( But isn't it kind of ridiculous that these little sheets of paper cost so much??? I mean, we could just use toilet seat covers for goodness sake... of course I wouldn't, but you know what I mean! I hate spending so much for these thin sheets of paper, but they are the only thing that works to keep my skin relatively matte, so I guess they'll have to do.
Thanks for reminding me to keep my blotter sheets in my purse!