Blotting paper is designed to soak up excess liquids such as ink and oils. Today, blotting paper is most notorious in the beauty and makeup world. Blotting paper is recommended as a healthy way to remove excess oil from your skin before applying makeup, or just to prevent shiny skin. Reading about the different ingredients may help you decide which type of paper is right for you, or even help you create blotting paper in your own home to save money.

Cotton is known for it's soft and absorbent properties, and is one of the most common ingredients in blotting paper. Cotton is soft and gentle against the skin, while soaking up excess oil and leaving your face clean.

Rice is often used as a main ingredient for blotting paper. Rice paper is created using different parts of the rice plant, such as the pith and boughs. Rice paper is very porous and an excellent way to soak up excess oils.

Flax seed is another common ingredient in blotting paper, because it is an absorbent material. Flax seed is all natural and is often recognized for it's healthy properties, such as its ability to help ward off illness and its high content of fiber, lignans, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Powder is an optional ingredient in blotting paper and a matter of preference. After you remove the blotting paper, the powder stays in place, continuing the oil absorption. Using powdered blotting paper allows you to remove the oils from your skin, while replacing some of the makeup powder that the blotting removed.