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Discovering the best foundation for oily skin can be life-changing for people who deal with excess oil production and find themselves packing blotting papers and translucent powders to reduce shine and minimize flashback. Another plot twist to consider: People with oily skin tend to be more prone to breakouts, making it all the more important to use foundation formulated without oil and pore-clogging ingredients.
Our Top Picks
But finding the formula that controls shine without looking flat—and lasts through humidity, hormones, and hot subway platforms alike—requires more than just a mattifying claim on the label. The best foundations for oily skin go beyond surface-level promises, combining skincare-grade ingredients with smart, buildable coverage that doesn’t oxidize by lunchtime.
With the warmer (and sweaty) months ahead of us, scroll ahead to find the best foundation for oily skin to blur the look of texture and large pores—and get ready to soften your shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Tarte Face Tape Full Coverage Foundation
Why we love it: For those who want full coverage without the weight, Tarte Face Tape Full Coverage Foundation is your IRL smoothing filter. It delivers a flawless finish while still managing to feel flexible and breathable, which is a major win for oily, breakout-prone skin and really anyone managing hyperpigmentation or post-acne scarring. Formulated with “tape technology,” it smooths over uneven texture and helps blur the appearance of pores without settling or caking. The longwear formula is built to resist creasing, fading, and transferring, even in heat and humidity.
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Tester feedback from Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen
“As you can see from the decrepit bottle, this foundation and I go way back. I’ve been wearing the full-coverage, long-lasting base for years due to its transfer-proof, can-be-worn-in-every-season formula. It evens out underlying redness and doesn’t disrupt my oily complexion. It’s truly the best!”
- Key ingredients: snow mushroom, apple fruit extract, hyaluronic acid
- Finish: matte
- Available shades: 50
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation
Why we love it: Makeup artist Delina Medhin counts Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear as one of her favorites: This popular formula comes in 50 shades, provides full coverage (which can be easily sheered out or built up) that doesn’t fade throughout the day, and doesn’t budge on oily skin. Medhin says it’s great to use on sensitive skin because “it helps cover up acne as your skin heals.” On top of that, this oil-free formula is also packed with perlite and silica to absorb excess oil and mattify. Also, the brand’s excellent Teint Idole concealer is similarly worth considering; it took home an Allure Best of Beauty Award back in 2022.
Tester feedback from Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“While I usually prefer a lightweight foundation, there’s nothing I trust more than this to get me through a breakout—or the usual post-inflammatory dark spots that follow. It gives me just enough coverage to even out my skin, but doesn’t ever feel cakey, and the transfer-proof, sweat-resistant formula can hold up even on the hottest days.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
- Key ingredients: moringa oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
- Finish: matte
- Available shades: 50
Best for Sensitive Skin: Haus Labs Foundation Triclone Skin Tech Foundation
Why we love it: In the wide world of foundations, this formula is doing the most. Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation is packed with calming, anti-inflammatory ingredients like fermented arnica to help visibly reduce redness and sensitivity. And despite its skincare-packed formula (over 20 ingredients!), it still delivers oil-controlling coverage that lasts all day and plays well with breakout-prone skin. The proprietary formula has a serum-like texture that feels weightless on the skin while seamlessly blurring and smoothing for a luminous, natural finish. (Fun fact: Lady Gaga has spoken about using arnica for her pain and inflammation related to fibromyalgia, which is what inspired the inclusion in her makeup line.)
“Is this an oil-controlling formula? No, certainly not. But what I will say is this foundation plays extremely nice with oily skin. It’s very lightweight so it doesn’t irritate my skin, and the glowy finish transforms unpleasant oiliness into the sort of dewy, beaming skin that people shell out a lot of money to achieve, if you catch my drift. This is an all-seasons, all-skin-types foundation, my unicorn product!” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: fermented arnica, bioferment complexes, medicinal herb complex
- Finish: natural
- Available shades: 51
Best Drugstore: Maybelline Super Stay Up to 30HR Wear Lumi-Matte Longwear Foundation
Why we love it: A hydrating foundation that actually lasts on oily skin? It exists! Maybelline’s SuperStay Lumi-Matte formula strikes that rare balance: it gives the skin a natural, soft glow without tipping into greasy territory. With buildable, medium-to-full coverage, it evens out skin tone and camouflages breakouts without clogging pores. Despite its dewy finish, it resists oxidation and won’t slide off by lunchtime, even on oil-prone complexions. It also gets bonus points for transfer-resistance—and the fact that it costs less than a fancy salad.
“I have combination skin and deal with hormonal acne, so I’m super picky about foundation—but this one checks every box. It gives me that glow-from-within finish I love without ever looking oily or cakey. It seriously looks like my skin, just way better, and actually covers the breakouts I want to hide without feeling heavy. It wears really well throughout the day too, even in my oily T-zone. I don’t even need to set it with powder, which is rare for me.” —Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: amino acids
- Finish: luminous-matte
- Available shades: 24
Best Cushion Foundation: TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation
Why we love it: A viral K-beauty favorite, TirTir Mask Fit Foundation lives up to the hype, and it works for oily skin, too. It offers buildable medium-to-full coverage with a surprisingly weightless feel while setting to a semi-matte finish that holds up against oil, humidity, and long hours. Infused with hibiscus and red propolis extracts, the formula helps enhance skin elasticity while leaving behind a lit-from-within, satin glow. Translation: makeup that lasts all day and lets your glass skin moment shine, without turning greasy.
“This is the only foundation I regularly carry in my bag. I love the portable design and the fact that it comes with a puff and mirror inside so I can touch up on the go. If you haven’t used a cushion foundation before, there’s a slight learning curve. To make sure I get a natural finish that doesn’t look cakey, I apply very thin layers. I’ll press the puff into the sponge once, then pat off most of the foundation on the black inner lid before I put any on my face. It’s best to work in thin layers and build it up wherever I need extra coverage—over blemishes or around my nose where I tend to get red. You can definitely build this up to a medium-to-full coverage foundation and it still feels lightweight. It stays put all day without creasing or caking on my combination skin and gives me a really beautiful, subtle glow. I also recommend washing the puff regularly (I throw mine in with my laundry once a week) so bacteria doesn’t build up.” —Sarah Y. Wu, Allure contributor
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, hibiscus and red propolis extracts
- Finish: natural
- Available shades: 40
Best Powder Foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation
Why we love it: Powder foundations have gotten a bad rap after the thick, cakey-looking formulas of yesteryear. However, Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Powder Foundation is lightweight and buildable; you can use the pressed powder for a barely-there makeup look or layer for more coverage. “It stays put even in humid climates, comes in 50 shades, and is ideal if you have oily or breakout-prone skin,” says makeup artist and photographer Robin Black. “This power compact comes with a convenient sponge for touch-ups, but for daily at-home, full-face use, I prefer a powder brush or a blender sponge.” She recommends applying a light layer over your entire face, blending at the jawline, temples, and ears; then, go back and apply an extra coat to any areas that could use a little more coverage.
“The product itself is described as having buildable coverage, so you can start applying as much as you want to get the finish you’re looking for. I had to add about two layers to get what I would comfortably consider “coverage,” which was still pretty light—just how I like it. I typically go for a dewy finish, but I don’t mind a soft-matte moment, especially since I realize that as the hours pass and the product sinks into my skin, it will look a little dewier. Besides the color being a good match for me, I noticed that the foundation didn’t go all over the place as the hours passed.” —Jihan Forbes, Allure contributor
- Key ingredients: kaolin, talc
- Finish: matte
- Available shades: 50
Best Matte: Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation
Why we love it: Nars is no stranger to making seriously good foundations—think Natural Radiant Longwear and Sheer Glow, for example—but this matte version outdoes them all. The Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation offers coverage that’s buildable enough to conceal dark spots and even out tone, but leaves a finish that still looks like your own skin. Plus, its finish is more satin than matte, so you retain more dimension.
“Immediately, I was smitten with how beautiful the satin finish was—it gave me the perfect base for the rest of my full-face beat. I typically avoid super matte formulas, so this finish was everything I wanted and more. It gave me the most flawless, even skin I’ve seen. Figuring out my shade was not too difficult since they are fairly consistent across the brand’s foundations, though some shades can run a tad lighter. I use New Caledonia (which isn’t a perfect match for my neutral brown skin but the best option for me), which worked just as well for me in the soft matte version.” —Gabi Thorne, Allure contributor
- Key ingredients: rice bran extract, sunflower extract, rosemary leaf extract
- Finish: satin
- Available shades: 34
More foundations for oily skin we love
Best with SPF: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Natural Matte Foundation SPF 40
It Cosmetics
CC+ Cream Natural Matte Foundation SPF 40
Why we love it: New York City-based makeup artist Neil Scibelli says IT Cosmetics’s Oil-Free Matte CC+ Cream is an awesome buildable-coverage pick for oily skin. “It leaves a matte yet still airbrushed-like finish to the skin, preventing shine and blurring pores,” he says. On top of its natural finish, this foundation features the oil-absorbing properties of lentil seed oil and kaolin clay, while niacinamide acts as an anti-inflammatory blemish buster. Not to mention, Scibelli says its formula gets bonus points for being infused with broad-spectrum SPF 40.
The original form of this CC cream has taken home multiple Allure Readers’ Choice Awards since it “goes on smoothly and won’t crack or crease over the course of the day,” according to executive beauty director Jenny Bailly.
- Key ingredients: lentil seed extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
- Finish: matte
- Available shades: 30
Best Longwear: Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro
FACE atelier
Ultra Foundation Pro
Why we love it: A long-standing backstage secret, the Face Atelier Ultra Foundation Pro is beloved by makeup artists for its unique ability to deliver flawless coverage without feeling heavy. “I like it because it has nice coverage but is so lightweight,” says makeup artist Alondra Excene, adding that it “also has a nice, slight dewy finish.” Excene also points out that when using it on oily skin, you will want to make sure to powder it down. Still, unlike many full-coverage foundations, it builds beautifully and never cakes, even in heat or humidity. If you want professional-grade results with minimal effort, this one earns its spot in your makeup bag.
Skip the primer. Ultra Foundation Pro has a built-in priming effect, thanks to its sophisticated silicone-based formula that smooths skin and blurs imperfections. Also, in addition to the 18 base shades, there is also a lineup of adjusters that help you deepen, lighten, or warm up any base, making it easy to customize your perfect match year-round.
- Key ingredients: cetyl dimethicone, glycerin
- Finish: natural
- Available shades: 18
Best Palette: Make Up For Ever HD Skin All-In-One Face Palette
Make Up For Ever
HD Skin All-In-One Face Palette
Why we love it: If you love flexibility in your complexion routine, this all-in-one palette and 2024 Allure Best of Beauty winner is your secret weapon. The Make Up For Ever HD Skin Face Essentials is a pro-grade cream foundation and sculpting kit that includes multi-use shades for foundation, concealer, contour, bronzer, highlighter, and blush—all with a smooth, skin-like finish. Excene likes using these cream foundations over liquids since they’re easier to carry in her kit, but they come with many other benefits. “They’re great because they’re full coverage but don’t go on thick, and can be thinned out to create different finishes and coverage,” she says. “I love using this palette because I know the makeup won’t look cakey and has great staying power, even on oily skin.”
Expert tip from makeup artist Excene
Using a cream foundation palette might seem intimidating, especially if you’re used to pump-and-go liquids, but according to Excene, it’s easier (and more customizable) than you’d think. “You can scrape the foundation out of the palette, and use multiple colors to make your perfect shade,” she says. “The foundation needs to be ‘warmed up’ for smoother application. To do this, you can mix it on your makeup palette or on the back of your hand. The more ‘warmed up’ the foundation is, the easier it’ll be to blend into the skin. You can also thin out cream foundations with face oils or moisturizer.”
- Key ingredients: vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, dimethicone, emollients
- Finish: natural
- Available shades: 12
Frequently Asked Questions
What formulas and ingredients should you look for in a foundation for oily skin?
First off, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD says that looking for oil-free and noncomedogenic (meaning it won’t cause pore blockages, otherwise known as comedones) foundations is the way to go. Look for certain wording on the packaging, such oil-free, long-wear, mattifying, and 10 or more hour wear, makeup artist Mai Quynh says. She also recommends checking the ingredients for soft-focus microsphere powders and water as the first or second ingredient in the product.
Salicylic acid is another key ingredient to look for in a foundation, according to both Dr. Gohara and King. While it’s powerful in cleansers, serums, and acne treatments, salicylic acid also helps resurface skin texture, clear dead skin cells, and even out your skin tone when infused into a foundation.
Hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are not only okay, but actually helpful. A common misconception is oily skin doesn’t need hydration, but “dehydrated skin is [caused by] a lack of water, not oil—so you can actually have an oily complexion but still have dehydrated skin,” Ross C. Radusky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Allure.
Therefore, you should enlist a foundation containing some form of hyaluronic acid to increase hydration and strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier. This way, less water escapes, according to Dr. Gohara. She also recommends choosing a foundation spiked with antioxidants (like vitamins C and E) that have anti-inflammatory properties and fight off destructive free radicals.
What formulas or ingredients should you avoid for oily skin?
In terms of specific ingredients to avoid, King calls out myristyl myristate, a waxy emollient found in some foundations. But, generally speaking, “anything that is heavy—like petrolatum, mineral oil, and lanolin—has the potential to clog pores,” she adds. Also off the table are certain oils. “Avoid ingredients like jojoba or any other types of oils or emollients,” says Quynh, as these can make oily skin look shinier.
Should you use matte foundation for oily skin?
According to Excene, oily skin types aren’t limited to using matte formulas, but it is helpful. “I don’t carry ‘matte foundation’ in my kit; I use products that I can get multiple finishes out of,” she adds. “It depends on what you want the finished look to be (glowy, matte, etc.).”
What is the best way to apply foundation on oily skin?
When it comes to application methods, Excene says she has never applied foundation according to skin type. “It’s based more on how much coverage I want with the foundation itself, whether it’s light, medium, full-coverage,” she says. However, she says skin preparation plays a major role in the makeup application. “Before foundation, after cleaning the skin, if they’re oily, I will use a mattifying primer,” she explains.
Meet the Experts
- Neil Scibelli, a makeup artist based in New York City
- Robin Black, a makeup artist and photographer based in Los Angeles
- Alondra Excene, a makeup artist based in Southern California
- Mai Quynh, a makeup artist who works with celebrities like Ali Wong, Nicole Richie, and more
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
- Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist
- Ross C. Radusky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best foundations for oily skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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