Mica Ricketts
Is midday shine your biggest beauty bugbear? Do you feel like you constantly battle with breakouts? Well, it turns out that adding one of the best foundations for oily skin to your arsenal might just be the key to transforming your make-up routine entirely and improving its longevity.
However, before you head out on a beauty shopping spree, we thought it would be useful to call on our Marie Claire editors and contributors with oily skin to get their recommendations of the formulas that are worth spending your money on. After all, they’ve spent years between them testing hundreds of different foundations to work out which ones will help you stay shine-free all day.
What kind of foundation is best for oily skin?
First things first, it’s important to think about exactly what you want your foundation to achieve before you splash the cash. 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.
Traditional foundations tend to offer more coverage and better lasting power than a tinted moisturiser or skin tint, and it's rare to find a tinted moisturiser with a true matte texture if that's what you're after.
“There is no one holy grail product that is best for oily skin. No matter your skin type, the first question you should ask is what finish you are looking to achieve,” explains makeup artist Ruby Hammer MBE. “There is now a formula and a finish to suit everyone, oily types might just have to add in an extra step via a primer or translucent powder to finish.”
And while it might feel natural to gravitate towards foundations with a matte finish when you’re on the oily side, that doesn’t have to be the case. “Everyone can have a dewy, glowing finish, even oily skin,” says Ruby. “Opt for a soft matte or luminous finish foundation over a primer, and use a Beautyblender to stop the layers shifting. Then finish with a powder or setting spray. The other option is using a matte foundation then adding in a highlighter.”
What foundations do makeup artists rely on for oily skin?
“I love Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for oily skin as it is non-greasy and gives a beautiful natural glow,” says Ruby. “Prep with Milk Hydro Grip Makeup Primer and build light layers to get the coverage you require, then finish with a translucent powder.”
How we tested the best foundations for oily skin
Each foundation in this guide was tested by an experienced beauty editor with oily skin. We called on the expertise of contributor Laura Mulley, writer Dionne Brighton, freelance beauty editor Mica Ricketts, contributor Grace Lindsay, and Junior Shopping Editor Valeza Bakolli to ensure that only the best of the best were included.
Every formula was worn for at least one full day to test its wear, and we also assessed how long it took shine to appear, each foundation's impact on breakouts, and how they impacted texture.
12 best foundations for oily skin at a glance - Quick Links:
- Best overall foundation: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, £38 | Sephora
- Best drugstore foundation: L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32H Matte Cover Foundation, £8.99 | Lookfantastic
- Best shade range: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, £35 | Sephora
- Best powder foundation: bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation, £38.50 | Lookfantastic
- Best for a long-lasting finish: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, £39 | Space NK
- Best for a radiant finish: No7 Stay Perfect Foundation SPF30, £16.95 | Boots
- Best CC cream: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Oil-Free Matte SPF40, £23 | Cult Beauty
- Best for blemish-prone skin: Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup, £37.50 | Sephora
- Best tinted moisturiser: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector SPF 20, £42 | Sephora
- Best stick foundation: Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blur + Smooth Tint Stick, £29 | Sephora
- Best skin tint: Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint, £37 | Lisa Eldridge
- Best high coverage foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, £39.50 | LookFantastic
How to use foundation when you have 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 that 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 will control shine, and make-up setting sprays will 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.
And before we get into the best foundations for oily skin, we also 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 or the best skin tints for those that only like a wash of colour.
The best foundation for oily skin
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.
1. Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
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.
Beauty contributor Laura Mulley says, "This goes on really smoothly and evenly, and skin feels matte but not too dry. I'd call this a great foundation for a night out."
2. L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32H Matte Cover Foundation
At the bargain price of £10.99, this is the best drugstore foundation for oily skin, and has recently been updated to include niacinamide and give an impressive 32 hours of wear (not that we'd recommend that you wear your make-up for that long, of course). 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.
Laura says, "I was really impressed with this. It gave an instant blurring effect to the skin and felt really comfortable (not too drying). My shade 110 has the perfect mix of undertones for my skin, too."
3. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
A little goes a long way with Rihanna’s award-winning formula, giving a gorgeous soft-matte finish 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.
Marie Claire beauty contributor Dionne Brighton says: "I don’t feel like I need to apply a powder on top, like I typically do with other liquid foundations, because it dries beautifully matte and is so lightweight I actually forget I have it on."
4. bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation
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 (two of which as sun filters). It's an icon for a reason.
Laura says, "If you've always been a little dubious about trying this, I urge you to give it a go—I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the natural finish it gives. Because it's so kind to the skin, this is the foundation I reach for if my complexion is feeling especially irritated."
5. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation is great for oily skin as it's designed to stay all day (or night) and give a natural matte finish. It really does last and the full coverage formula also helps to reduce the look of pores—win win!
Freelance beauty editor Mica Ricketts says, "If you want a long-wearing, full-coverage foundation with a velvety finish then I can’t rate this enough, this foundation is unrivalled."
6. No7 Stay Perfect Foundation SPF30
Marie Claire contributor, 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," she says. "That's why this is my go-to. The long-wearing formula keeps any shine at bay, but still leaves me looking radiant."
7. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Oil-Free Matte SPF40
OK not technically a foundation, but it might as well be. Here at MC we're huge fans of the original CC cream and this one also doesn't disappoint. It gives just the right amount of coverage—not too heavy, but more than a tinted moisturiser—and has the added benefit of covering up any redness caused by raging blemishes. In its formula, there are two types of clay, tea tree extract and oil-absorbing charcoal, so it treats as it covers.
"I didn't think I could be swayed away from the original IT Cosmetics CC Cream, but I'll happily reach for this one now when I want a little less shine," says Laura. "It has a soft, almost whipped texture that melts seamlessly into the skin, and it gives a lovely 'medium' finish—not too matte, not too glowy."
8. Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup
This lightweight, oil-free formula conceals blemishes while actively tackling them and preventing them from returning. Plus its cooling sensation and skin-soothing ingredients help to calm any angry breakouts and inflammation.
"It can be tricky to know what make-up to wear when you're suffering with an outbreak of blemishes; you want to cover them up but you don't want to make them worse," says Laura. "This for me is the perfect solution. It blends instantly into the skin and leaves a light, velvety finish."
9. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector SPF 20
As its name suggests, this is an oil-free version of Laura Mercier's iconic tinted moisturiser, and gives light, comfortable coverage with a semi-matte finish.
"If I'm being honest, I always found the original tinted moisturiser a little too sheer for my liking, but this one has a bit more oomph," says Laura. "It does indeed feel like moisturiser to apply, but with hardly any sheen, and it's easy to slap on quickly using fingers."
10. Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blur + Smooth Tint Stick
If you think solid stick foundations are something best left backstage at the theatre, you'll think again when you try Fenty's. It melts into the skin like butter—not a hint of dragging or tugging—and blends out beautifully with fingers of a make-up brush. The finish is a very soft matte; honestly, swiping this over your face is like using the 'smooth' tool on Facetune.
"I adore this foundation," says Marie Claire's Junior Shopping Writer Valeza Bakolli. "I honestly never thought I’d find a stick foundation that acts like a serum formula, but this one has now found its way into my regular make-up rotation. When I’m after a quick, easy-to-blend base this is what I reach for."
11. Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint
Having oily skin doesn’t mean you have to opt for heavy, high-coverage foundations and this lightweight skin tint from Lisa Eldridge proves it. It delivers a lightweight coverage to even skin tone, blur over blemishes, and diffuse the appearance of pores, along with an array of hydrating skincare ingredients to strengthen and support your skin barrier. Unlike other skin tints on the market, it actually does provide a decent amount of coverage and leaves a velvety, natural finish on the skin, rather than being excessively glowy or shiny.
“Typically, I’m not that bothered about skin tints,” says Marie Claire contributor Mica Ricketts. “As someone with oily and spot-prone skin, I tend to find that they offer very little in the way of coverage and have often disappeared by lunchtime. This one from Lisa Eldridge is the exception. It actually has more coverage than some more traditional lightweight foundations that I’ve used and it makes my skin look undeniably fresher and healthier when I’m wearing it.”
12. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup
Although it’s not always the case, oily skin does tend to be more prone to breakouts and spots, and therefore coverage is often top of mind when choosing a foundation. Estee Lauder’s iconic Double Wear foundation is a classic for a reason—it delivers incredible coverage, masking blemishes, redness and pigmentation, without looking like you’re wearing a mask of make-up.
“When I was going through a particularly bad bout of acne in my early 20s, this was my foundation of choice,” says Mica. “These days, I’m less bothered about trying to fake a perfected looking complexion, but I recently rediscovered this and can’t deny how impressive it is as a foundation. The tiniest amount covers every acne scar, patch of redness, and dark circle, and it’s the perfect foundation if I know that I’m going to be out all day. It lasts through school runs, tube commutes, walks in the rain and dinners out, without even a hint of oiliness coming to the surface. I fully understand why it’s such an iconic foundation.”
