Aside from providing you with your preferred level of coverage, the best foundation for oily skin has to tick a number of boxes. First and foremost, it shouldn't make oily or blemish-prone skin even more so. It must also go the distance and not go shiny within an hour or two of wearing it, whether you prefer a natural, skin-like finish or velvety matte, full coverage.
With all that said, the hunt for the best foundation is easier now than ever before, as many modern formulas work to keep shine levels down while covering imperfections with ease – all in natural-looking, true-to-skin shades, of course. So what does a makeup artist advise you to look for when shopping for a good match for oily skin?
"Make sure to look for foundations that specifically say 'oil-free', advises Bobbi Brown Pro Artist Hollie Ellis. "If you want your foundation to last all day, this is key to helping the makeup stay in place." Non-comedogenic is another keyword to look out for, indicating that none of the ingredients contained in the formula will clog your pores. As for making base last on oily skin? "Dust a little powder through the t-zone after your foundation to control the oils," Hollie says, recommending the brand's Sheer Finish Pressed or Loose Powders because they don't add coverage, therefore won't cause a foundation to go cakey.
After putting dozens of formulas through their paces, we compiled this list that covers powder foundations, long-lasting liquids, foundations with antibacterial ingredients, and the best matte foundations with shine-proof finishes that don’t look flat or chalky.
The best foundations for oily skin, chosen by our beauty experts
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RRP: £71 Shades: 23 Finish: Luminous
This is one of the pricer foundations on our list, and it has a supremely rich texture to go with it. It's smooth, velvety and evens out skin thanks to the brand's Fluid Pigment technology, which works to create more adhesion to the skin. This makes it one of the best foundations for oily skin we've ever tried because it stays in place all day, whilst offering luminous finish that doesn't look powdery or caked on. The impressive list of ingredients is worth noting. It contains 13 Japanese botanical ingredients that work together to give high coverage but a natural finish and doesn't crease or separate, just what our oily skin needs. We couldn't ask for anything more from this foundation and couldn't fault it.
Buy if: You don't mind splashing out on a new foundation and want a full coverage formula that will last all day.
Avoid if: You're looking for something more affordable.
RRP: £39 Shades: 10 Finish: Natural matte
Have oily skin and want to keep your makeup sheer and skin-like? This is the foundation for you. It offers medium coverage that is on the sheerer side, but because of the fluid formula you can easily build it up and layer it for a fuller look. The foundation minimises the looks of pores (perfect if your oily skin makes them look more prominent) and gives a naturally matte finish to the skin. There are corrective powders within the foundation that work to blur blemishes and fine lines, and we found it comfortable to wear all day without needing touch-ups throughout the day. It's oil-free, paraben-free and enriched with hyaluronic acid, but to keep this lasting as long as possible, you will want to use a finishing powder and a primer.
Buy if: You have oily skin and want a foundation with a sheer to medium coverage that doesn't look cakey
Avoid if: You want a foundation with higher coverage
RRP: £42 Shades: 30 Finish: Luminous
Just because we have oily skin, it doesn't mean a luminous and dewy finish has to be avoided, especially when it's set to be one of the biggest makeup trends this summer. However, it can be tricky to get right and to find a foundation that will give you a luminous look without slipping off entirely by the end of the day. But Makeup artist to the stars Mario Dedivanovi has created a formula that is breathable, illuminates the skin, and lasts all day. Surrelskin promises 16 hours of wear, and when we tested it, it delivered. However, we used a setting powder after applying (because we know we have super oily skin) and had to get our favourite blotting papers out several times throughout the day on our t-zone. But thanks to the brand's patented MoistureGrip tech, it didn't slip off or dry out our skin even after wearing it for nearly 10 hours. What we loved about this is medium coverage, but we could sheer it out as easily as we could build it up, and it's vegan formula.
Buy if: You want a luminous finish that will last all day long
Avoid if: You don't like a dewy look and want something that doesn't need touch-ups throughout the day
RRP: £38 Shades: 7 Finish: Velvet matte
Don't be fooled by the youthful pink packaging or sassy product name; this is excellent stuff for skin of any age. We cannot get enough of this foundation for oily skin, which benefits from its all-day mattifying properties. Thanks to its flawless coverage, it's become a go-to among our testers for evenings out or long working days. The very well-balanced formula combines lasting pigment, non-pore-clogging hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and coconut water, plus mica, a mineral powder that gives a soft-focus glow (often found in higher concentrations in the best highlighters). It offers medium to full coverage, which will be good news to many, but we found it can yield a look that's a bit too 'done' if you prefer sheer, barely-there tints.
Buy if: You want a foundation that is lightweight, waterproof and oil-free with a blurring finish
Avoid if: You prefer sheer coverage
RRP: £28 Shades: 30 Finish: Satin, between matte and glowy
In a word, we would say that this Sculpted by Aimee foundation is b-e-a-utiful. It builds well, gives excellent coverage, and, rather impressively, we found that one pump is enough to cover the entire face (for very full coverage, two pumps are plenty). Despite yielding such full coverage and promising long wear, it's non-comedogenic and doesn't feel at all heavy on the skin while you are wearing it.
As for the finish, as the name satin suggests this strikes that nice balance between matte and glowy – we'd describe it as a healthy-looking, skin-like matte. Also, very importantly for oily skin, we found that it doesn't go shiny throughout the day. When testing the sweat-resistant pigments in the formula impressed us and the nice cocktail of skin-loving ingredients involved here, too, including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E, and Centella Asiatica. All in all, it only confirms our hypothesis that Aimee Connolly can do no wrong when it comes to creating makeup products.
Buy if: You're looking for a full coverage foundation with a satin finish that won't slip off during the day
Avoid if: You like a sheer coverage or a super dewy finish
RRP: £34 Shades: 58 Finish: Soft matte
This is the best Fenty foundation suited to oily skin. As well as its shade range, what really impressed us is its ability to stave off shine all day or night long – even without setting spray – something that's no mean feat in oily skin and something our testers agreed is a rarity.
Despite its thick consistency, it offers medium to full coverage, and we loved how buildable the formula is when buffed in with a firm brush. With a nice soft matte finish that doesn't look at all heavy, it also won't creep into any fine lines. The shade selection now stands at 50, so you're even more likely to find your perfect match.
Buy if: You're looking for a foundation that will last all day long and give excellent coverage without the need for setting powders or top ups throughout the day
Avoid if: You like a super lightweight and dewy formula
RRP: £50 Shades: 16 Finish: Soft matte
When it comes to oily skin, sometimes only the best powder foundation will do, and the Dior Forever Natural Velvet Compact Foundation is one of the best. It's one of the only foundations I trust to not transfer throughout the day, and despite being a powder, it offers a naturally radiant finish to the skin. Mostly made from naturally derived ingredients, it boasts up to 24 hours of wear, and while we haven't worn it for that long, we can attest to ten hours of a flawless finish. Using a powder can feel a little daunting for oily skin at the risk of becoming cakey, but this powder does not cake or smudge. It delivers a great amount of buildable coverage, and thanks to the fine texture of the powder it feels super comfortable on the skin without settling in to fine lines, we couldn't fault it.
Buy if: You have oily skin and want a matte but luminous finish that looks like your skin but better
Avoid if: You don't enjoy a powder foundation and prefer a cream or liquid
RRP: £39.50 Shades: 60 Finish: Matte
This is an absolute classic long-wear foundation and easily one of the most well-known, best-selling buys on the market. Even faced with the oiliest T-zone on the most humid day – and let’s throw a hot flush in the mix, too – this stuff seriously does not budge. This makes it an absolute godsend for those with very shiny skin or acne, particularly as the formula is oil-free. Naturally, the trade-off for that supreme wear is that this is a full-on, full-coverage foundation. There's no building up to full coverage here; you get it from the get-go as it is absolutely loaded with pigment, so it wouldn't suit those who want a natural look. It’s also on the thicker side, so although the texture certainly feels comfortable for how hard-working it is, we would also point out that it dries down or 'sets' in place quite quickly. Another aspect of Double Wear that ticks our testers' boxes is that it has an exceptionally strong shade range with 60 different options on offer. Estée Lauder offers a handy virtual try-on tool for its colour products, making shopping for foundation online much easier.
Buy if: You want a foundation that is ultra long wearing, oil-free and oil-controlling, won’t clog pores and has an excellent shade range.
Avoid if: You prefer a natural finish and don’t want a heavy, full coverage foundation
RRP: £39 Shades: 44 Finish: Matte
The Airbrush Flawless Foundation offers a matte finish and the fullest coverage from Charlotte Tilbury's repertoire, so if you like lighter bases or dewy finishes, this won't be for you. That said, it's buildable, doesn't go cakey when applying and a little goes a long way, meaning it feels quite light on the skin. However, as is the case with all very full coverage foundations, we would say that if you apply too much it can look a little mask-like. The broad range of 44 different true-to-skin shades is very impressive and it blurs the skin well, disguising any large pores or uneven skin texture nicely. The finish isn't too matte, and we also love how resistant it is to sweat and transfer. To that end it's become one of our testers' go-to camera-ready formulas, so we highly recommend it for special occasions.
Buy if: You have oily skin and want a foundation that will last all day, as well as offering full coverage
Avoid if: You prefer a dewy or natural makeup look
RRP: £56 Shades: 32 Finish: Soft glow
If you want to keep oily skin at bay without giving up your glow, this is the foundation for you. This foundation is the definition of 'your skin but better'; it feels weightless upon application and throughout the day whilst simultaneously protecting the skin. There's a lot we love about this formula. The fact that it lasts all day (it promises 16-hour wear, but we don't typically keep our makeup on that long). The added blue light protection and the buildable coverage that blurs the appearance of fine lines and blemishes, all while still looking like skin and offering a gorgeous glow. Infused with vitamin E and white tea extract, the clever formula protects the skin from free radical damage, too.
Buy if: You want a formula that will last all day, with added skincare benefits and coverage you can build up depending on your makeup look and style
Avoid if: You like a super matte finish (although we did manage to achieve a matte finish with some added setting powder)
RRP: £53 Shades: 14 Finish: Matte luminous
Just because you have oily skin, it doesn't mean you should skip out on hydration. In fact, when your skin is dehydrated, it can produce more oil to make up for it, so don't be put off by a hydrating foundation; it may be just what you need. This By Terry formula is particularly great for oily skin as it is long-wearing and infused with skin-fitting technology to control shine. Similar to a serum foundation, this is super hydrating and almost feels like a second skin. As well as being infused with hyaluronic acid, it also boasts SPF 30 protection. A hardworking, long-lasting foundation with buildable coverage; if you have oily or combination skin with some dry patches, you will love this.
Buy if: Hydration is a priority, and if you enjoy a skincare-infused foundation
Avoid if: You like to keep your foundation and SPF protection separate
Which foundation type is best for oily and acne-prone skin?
Foundations generally have one of three bases: oil, water, or silicone. “Water-based foundations provide long-term hydration in the skin,” explains Ellis. “They are normally slightly lighter weight in formula and are great for all skin types."
“Silicone-based foundations are best used on normal-oily skin types. The silicone helps to control oils in the skin, and normally provides a matte finish." Silicones tend to give foundations a kind of slippy feel, but they often help to blur the look of enlarged pores and smooth out their texture, as well as helping to control oil levels.
"Oil-based foundations are best used on normal-dry skin types," Ellis continues. "The oils in the foundations help to provide long-term moisture in the skin, give a gorgeous glow, and help with skin texture.” Therefore, for oily skin, water or silicone bases are generally the go-tos.
Is liquid or powder foundation better for oily skin?
While powder was once the go-to for oily skin, many modern liquid formulas are excellent at controlling oil and providing a long-lasting, shine-free finish. That said, it’s often a good idea to set any particularly shine-prone areas with a little setting powder to keep your base in place – though it’s important to apply carefully to avoid looking cakey.
“Use a sheer [loosely packed] powder brush and sweep the powder foundation onto the skin for a lightweight finish,” Ellis advises. “On any areas where you may want a little extra coverage, a full coverage face brush provides a cushion effect, so simply press and stipple into the skin. Tailor where you want coverage to avoid the skin looking cakey.”
How we tested the best foundation for oily skin
A selection of the foundations one tester trialled for this guide
To ensure that our guide contained the very best foundations for oily skin, a few oily-skinned testers wore the foundations for at least one full day, in order to share their first-hand experience of how well it applies and stays in place. When testing, we took all of the following factors into account:
- Number of shades available
- Packaging and dispensation
- Ease of application
- Buildability
- Finish
- How it wears throughout the day – did it go shiny, patchy, or transfer?
- Cost
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