Is midday shine your biggest beauty bugbear? Feel like you constantly battle with breakouts? If you haven’t got the best foundation for oily skin in your arsenal already, it might just transform your make-up routine. Using the best foundation for your skin type is a complete game-changer, but it's crucial to know what to look out for before you head out on a beauty shopping spree.
How to find the best foundation for oily skin
Dr Ross Perry, cosmetic doctor and managing director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, has words of caution when it comes to pairing oily and or acne-prone skin with make-up. He says that it's all in the prep. "Before thinking about make-up, review your skin regime. Getting the best cleanser and best moisturiser for oily skin is key, so experiment to see what suits your skin," he advises.
"Don't be tempted to ditch the moisturiser as your skin still needs hydration, but choose a formulation which suits oily skin," he continues. "Exfoliate regularly to remove excess sebum as well as dead skin cells." The best way to do this is with a chemical exfoliator or a physical gentle face scrub.
It's also worth looking at complimentary products to go alongside your new foundation and help it achieve its full potential. The best primers will help to control oil levels and keep your make-up where you want it, setting powders to control shine, and make-up setting sprays – as these will only help to keep your make-up looking perfect for longer.
You may also find it useful to keep old school blotting papers with you for on-the-go touch-ups, or use something like Indeed Labs' Nanoblur, as the tiniest bit dabbed in with a beauty sponge helps to mattify shiny patches and excess oil.
Then it's time to think about exactly what you want your foundation to achieve. Although a full coverage formula won't act as a replacement for a brilliant hyperpigmentation treatment, it will mask any residual marks from previous breakouts, while something designed to mattify will work to keep your skin shine-free all day.
Oilier skin types often get along well with powder-based foundations, like bareMinerals Original Foundation, but if a powder finish isn't your preference there are many other brilliant formula options on offer. New-gen liquids will glide on seamlessly and can even strategically lock in oil.
Whilst you're here, we have guides to the best foundation for dry skin and the best foundation for combination skin if you're trying to find your perfect shade and coverage. Not a foundation fan? Don't worry, we also have a guide to the best tinted moisturisers.
Ecommerce Writer, Grace Lindsay, before and after testing one of the best foundations for oily skin
The best foundation for oily skin
Now, are you ready to find your new foundation fave? Keep scrolling for our edit of the best foundation for oily skin buys on the market right now.
We've tested each and every one so you know you're in good hands. For more information on how we do this, don't forget to check out our guide to how we test all the products that make it into our buying guides.
This foundation is a staple in several beauty editor and celebrity make-up bags. It offers long-lasting coverage that's full without being 'too much'. Blemishes and redness are covered easily, and it's got a nice matte finish that plays well with an oily complexion.
At the bargain price of £9.99, this is the best drugstore foundation for oily skin. Apply all over and buff from the centre of the face outwards for smooth coverage that'll last all day. It's super duper mattifying, so you won't see any oily patches appearing around 3pm.
A little goes a long way with Rihanna’s award-winning formula, giving a flawless, soft-matte coverage which you can tailor to your own coverage preferences. It glides onto the skin, and gives an airbrushed finish that’s perfectly in between matte and glowy - it just looks like skin. Believe us, the hype is real.
If blemishes are your biggest woes and you've not yet heard of Oxygenetix foundation, then your life is about to change for the better. In our opinion, this is the best foundation for acne-prone and oily skin. Not only does it completely mask angry redness, but it also allows skin to breath (hence the name) so that you don't have to worry about putting too much product on your already stressed skin.
Nothing really beats the best powder foundations when it comes to oil control, and bareMinerals’ is a timeless favourite for a reason – the mineral formula is completely non-comedogenic, so there’s no risk of pores becoming blocked, and still only contains five ingredients. It's an icon for a reason. Plus, the iconic foundation has recently expanded its range with seven re-formulated shades, so there are now 30 shades for you to choose from.
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation is great for oily skin as it is designed to stay all day, with a natural matte finish. It really does last and the full coverage formula also helps to reduce the look of pores - a win win!
Ah, No7. Our Ecommerce Writer, Grace Lindsay, has loved this brand for as long as she can remember, as it never irritates her sensitive skin. "Although I have an oily complexion, I still don't like a super matte finish when it comes to my foundation. That's why this is my go-to. The long-wearing formula keeps any shine at bay, but still leaves me looking radiant."
Easily one of the world's most popular foundations, Estée Lauder's Double Wear is known for excellent coverage and longevity, as well as spanning a huge range of 60 shades. It's a heavy-duty formula, but it never feels heavy or goes cakey on the skin, and it lasts for hours.
