I remember a time, intrepid makeup moppets and whippersnappers, when blotting papers were rare, or at least before they hit it really big and went mainstream.
That year was 1996. Or ’97. Thereabouts.
One of my coworkers and I were on our break when she pulled a powder blue packet of Shiseido blotting papers from her purse, and I was like, “Ooh! What’s that?”
She tore one in half and handed it to me. “Blotting paper,” she said, “for soaking up shiny oil.”
Brilliant! 🙂
I’ve been a regular user of blotting papers ever since, and now they’re carried practically everywhere, even at drugstores.
The newest ones I’ve tried hail from NYX. The budget line just released three themed packs for $6 each (100 papers apiece).
Each pack caters to a different skin care issue, like, the Blemish Control pack’s papers contain salicylic acid to help zap zits, the Green Tea papers contain antioxidant-rich green tea powder to soothe and nurture mature skin, and the Tea Tree papers help to prevent blemishes with (surprise!) tea tree oil.
They’re pretty straightforward to use, as you can imagine. Just remove one of the sheets from its packaging, and press it against your face to absorb excess oil and eliminate shine.
The papers are a good size for me and kind of delicate, like thin paper streamers, and one is usually enough to absorb all of the excess oil on my face.
The Green Tea and Blemish Control papers are unscented, while the Tea Tree papers have a fairly strong medicinal tea tree scent. I’ve been bouncing between all three packs and like them equally.
Now, I’m not sure if the special ingredients in these make any difference at all, but they don’t seem to be causing any harm. The papers themselves work fine, absorbing oil and keeping my face looking fresh, and that’s the most important thing.
PRICE: $6 each (for a package of 100 sheets)
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I like the regula NYX Blotting Papers. The ones in the black packet. I always add a couple to my cart when I place a Cherry Culture order.
oh, this looks lovely! I’ve been a fan of blotting paper for ages, but yeah I think it was popular in Asia first. I used to get mine in Japan, but now you can find them much more easily in the US and UK.
Now come to think of it, I always get my supply back home from Taiwan. I’ve never tried to look for blotting paper here and I’ve never seen any local girlfriends use it! Back home all the girls go through several sheets on a daily basis, but I think it has a lot to do with Asian skin (the majority is less dry) and the heat/humidity. These look cute!
these seem like such a gimmick lol!
Blotting papers are amaaaazing, and are something I cannot live without. (when I studied abroad for a semester I bought six packs of the Clean & Clear ones before leaving in case I couldn’t find them there!!) As for the ingredients on these particular blotting papers… That seems a bit gimmicky..
Before blotting papers became the new thing and were readily available, I used Papier Poudre (the delicately scented blotting papers that were lightly powdered) all the time! Then I graduated to Crabtree & Evelyn when they started making them. Now, I’m a Clean & Clear girl. I find that I go through about twice the amount of the thin little tissue-y ones (like Nyx) as I do with the plastic-y ones and will DEF be sticking with these-even though I wish they were infused with something awesome like green tea or tea tree oil 🙁
I remember when I was in HS when the Clean and Clear blotting papers were first introduced, everyone’s been grabbing them. You’d look totally uncool if you don’t have one (or at least not using one) in your bag. hahaha… now they’re literally everywhere!
Oohhh these look interesting. I have a NYX voucher I need to use and was looking for new products to try. YAY!
I’m like Becca, above me, I’ve always preferred the plastic-ey ones, I find I need to use more sheets if I use the papers ones. Though these are a better value than my usual ones (the CVS brand knock off of Clean&Clear, the plastic-y kind), so I might be tempted to check them out!
I have lots of different blotting papers, I’ve tried them and they all work the same. But, now I carry them around in my bag, but I never ever use them. Don’t really need them I think.
The first and only blotting papers I have used to this day are Boscia Tea Tree Blotting Linens, mostly because after going through half of the pack I came to terms with my combo skin and finally started to use different skincare products and primers and foundations in place of using something else rather unnecessary that takes that sliver of time out of my day that I could be using to relax instead of worrying about blotting my T-zone.
I think out of those three, I would choose the green tea one. The paper seems thicker comparing to the other two. It reminds me the Shiseido’s one that I love. So fun that you shared that story 🙂 I’d never thought that the Shiseido’s blotting papers been out for that long!
i am very loyal to my Japanese blotting sheets but green tea — i love !!! ill check these out!
So cute, but a little gimmicky! I use brown paper napkins from Starbucks when necessary! Much more available and cheapppp!
I should definitely start using some blotting papers. I have the oiliest skin in the world and I’ve never thought to carry some in my purse. I do use the MAC stuff from time to time but that doesn’t really make it into my everyday purse either. I really need to get it together! But next time I’m at Ulta I’m going to check this out!