MUAs Say These 12 Foundations Are Oily Skin–Proof—They Stay Put, Control Shine, and Don't Clog Pores
Promise.
Here's the thing about foundation for oily skin: It has to look flawless and stay put. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. That second part is surprisingly complicated. After all, oil and makeup rarely mix. Anyone with a slick T-zone knows how the wrong foundation can slip, smudge, and slide off the skin after only a few hours. Add in heat, humidity, or a lack of setting powder, and your makeup won't stand a chance.
The key word there was "wrong." The right one won't do any of those dreaded things. Instead, it'll perfect the look of the skin, control shine, and stay right where it should. Oh, and it won't clog pores either. No breakouts, no problem! You just need to know which one to reach for.
"I think it's key to use the right formula for your skin type to achieve a fresh, undetectable look," says Gabriella Elio, a makeup artist and the founder of Sweed Beauty. "A foundation should look like your skin, only better—not like you're wearing a mask." The following foundations will do just that. Keep scrolling to see the 12 best foundations for oily skin.
The Best Foundations for Oily Skin, Listed
- Best Overall: Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation
- Best Affordable: Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin
- Best Luminous Finish: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
- Best Matte Finish: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
- Best Powder: Dior Forever Natural Velvet Compact Foundation
The Best Foundations for Oily Skin
Best Overall: Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation
Size: 1.0 ounce | Finish: Natural | Coverage: Medium | Shades: 51
I don't know a single beauty editor who doesn't swear by this foundation. It's weightless. It's flawless. It's long-wearing. I mean, it's pretty close to perfection, and I don't say that lightly. While it works for most skin types, it's especially beneficial for oily and/or acne-prone skin because it's noncomedogenic (won't clog pores) and features skin-loving ingredients. There's fermented arnica to reduce redness, even out your skin tone, and protect from environmental stress. There's also a proprietary blend of soothing botanicals that plays nicely with sensitive skin (think rosacea), inflamed breakouts, and the like.
As if that's not enough, it has a weightless liquid formula that feels as light as air. All 51 shades leave you with a smooth, flawless, and natural-looking complexion. It's truly exceptional. In fact, beauty editor Shawna Hudson has acne-prone skin, and she says it's a game-changing formula that she'll never stop using. (Read her full review for more details.)
Customer review: "I love this foundation! I have acne prone skin, and it doesn't make me break out. It's great for sensitive skin! I never loved doing my makeup until I got this! Now I do it everyday, and it looks flawless."
Best Affordable: Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin
Size: 1.0 ounce | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium to Full | Shades: 43
This foundation is so good you'll be shocked it costs only $13. How do I love it? Let me count the ways. It's oil- and fragrance-free. It's long-wearing, maintaining flawless-looking coverage for up to 24 hours. It's waterproof, transfer-resistant, and immune to heat, sweat, and humidity. It contains SPF 15 and vitamin E. It comes in 43(!) shades. As if that's not enough, it contains mineral powders that control excess oil and prevent breakup, patchiness, and feathering. Yeah, I would pay a hefty price for this formula, but luckily, I don't have to.
Customer review: "I've been wearing this foundation since high school. Holy grail!"
Best Luminous Finish: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
Size: 1.0 ounce | Finish: Natural to Glowy | Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40
Having oily skin doesn't mean you have to stick strictly to matte formulas and miss out on a lit-from-within glow. Nope. You can use Armani Beauty's iconic Luminous Silk Foundation. You might think it would make already-oily skin look worse, but it does the opposite—think flawless, softly radiant skin.
If you're still not sure about it, you should know that makeup artists and facialists recommend it to literally everyone. Take it from Etienne Ortega, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Ortega. His clients include Lana Del Rey and Christina Aguilera. He calls it his "favorite foundation of all time." He recommends it for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin but adds that "it is extremely versatile for all sorts of skin."
Even skin experts swear by it. Aesthetician Dakota Katt says, "I always recommend Armani Luminous Silk to my clients with oily or acne-prone skin. Its light, oil-free formulation gives your skin a luminous glow—just like its name promises—without causing any acne or congestion!" Convinced yet?
Customer review: "My favorite foundation I cannot live without! Believe the hype."
Best Matte Finish: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
Size: 1.08 ounces | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full | Shades: 50
This isn't the flat, one-dimensional, or cakey matte finish of yesteryear. It's light, fresh, flexible, and modern. Leave it to Rihanna to create the foundation equivalent of a unicorn. It offers the prettiest plush, velvety matte finish that screams "I have my skincare routine on lock." Thanks to climate-adaptive technology, it resists heat, sweat, and shine all day long. You just have to choose which of the 50 shades suits you best.
Customer review: "Best foundation on the market, love it!! Best for oily skin!"
Best Powder: Dior Forever Natural Velvet Compact Foundation
Size: 0.35 ounce | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium | Shades: 16
Celebrity makeup artist J Guerra loves using powder foundations on clients who have oily skin. "Mineral-based, loose powders or compact powder foundations can be excellent options for oily skin," he says. "They leave a matte finish, are lightweight, and absorb excess oil. Touch-ups are also much easier and more convenient. Just be sure they're finely milled for the best finish." He counts the Dior Forever Natural Velvet Compact Foundation as one of his all-time favorite options. It's silky, lightweight, and perfect for people who detest the feeling of heavy makeup.
Customer review: "Works wonders on my breakout prone skin (no oils) and feels great like a true Dior foundation along with the signature Dior subtle rose fragrance which I absolutely love. … This powder foundation also lasts a good bit of time so I like that and also that it's very portable and lightweight!"
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
Size: 1 ounce | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full | Shades: 56
Here's another iconic foundation that's passed our strict set of standards. The full-coverage formula gives new meaning to the word "flawless." Think smooth, even, airbrushed-level skin. Its matte finish is perfect for oily skin, and its shade range is beyond incredible, incorporating 56 shades. There's a reason so many makeup artists swear by this formula.
Customer review: "Estée Lauder Double Wear completely lives up to the hype. I love that the coverage is buildable, from natural to full. If applied correctly, it never feels heavy or cakey on the skin. I truly appreciate it's staying power. It genuinely lasts all day without melting, fading, or separating. It's a great choice for special occasions or long work hours, as it holds up even through heat & humidity."
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self Refreshing Foundation SPF 30
Size: 1 ounce | Finish: Semi-matte | Coverage: Medium to Full | Shades: 28
If you want a foundation that provides a pore-smoothing, filter-like effect, Elio recommends Shiseido's Synchro Skin Self Refreshing Foundation. She says it gives the skin a "blurry, velvet finish that stays in place and provides more than medium coverage." Beyond that, it has a stunning semi-matte finish; offers medium-to-full, buildable coverage; and lasts up to 24 hours. Its patented ActiveForce+ Technology resists, heat, humidity, oil, and environmental stressors. So yeah, it's the real deal.
Customer review: "This foundation performs like no other in the heat! It stays were it supposed to. The formula doesn't feel sticky or goopy, it feels like a second skin. By the end of the day your foundation looks like you just applied it! Love this! Performs like a champ!"
Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation
Size: 1. 5 oz | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Full | Shades: 24
Are you sensing a theme with the soft-matte options on this list? It's not an accident. As I said before, some matte foundations can look flat, powdery, or cakey on the skin, but soft-matte foundations tend to have a lovely velvet-like finish, and this one is no exception. It has a soft and plush quality that easily blurs enlarged pores and visible skin texture, and the formula stays transfer-proof and oxidation-resistant. Meanwhile, good-for-skin ingredients like bio-hyaluronic acid and microalgae extract maintain moisture without clogging pores.
Customer review: "I've been a fan of this foundation since 2020. Every season and so many trips, it's been my go-to because it doesn't change color throughout the day, looks great in photos, and keeps my super oily skin from showing up. I look smooth and matte without dryness or cakiness."
Chanel Ultra Le Teint Flawless Finish Foundation
Size: 1 oz | Finish: Semi-matte | Coverage: Light to Medium | Shades: 32
If you prefer light to medium coverage, Elio recommends Chanel's Ultra Le Teint Flawless Finish Foundation. It looks like a second skin thanks to the brand's Luminous Perfection Complex that combines multiple soft-focus powders and pigments to blur imperfections and visibly erase dark spots. Like so many other foundations on this list, it's also heat-, sweat-, humidity-, and transfer-resistant.
Customer review: "I have nothing bad to say about this foundation! It offers a stunning lightweight finish that is never cakey, even long after it has set in on your skin. One thing I really love about this product is that its lightweight qualities allow either a medium or full coverage look that is perfectly & easily buildable to your liking. It spreads on the skin easily as well and does not dry or set in too quickly. It is my favorite of all foundations by far!!!!!"
Dior Forever Matte Foundation
Size: 1 oz | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40
Here's another designer foundation that's worth its weight in gold for oily skin types. It's the ideal cloud skin formula. The matte finish is soft and velvety, and the formula grips the skin for up to 24 hours with zero transfer or oxidation. Meanwhile, luxe, skin-loving ingredients like iris, rose, and wild pansy extract actually improve the skin over time.
Customer review: "On my top 5 all time favorite foundations in my makeup loving lifetime! she's similar to EL double wear but less thick. I love the performance and the way she sits on the skin. If you're an oily girly and have the money to splurge, this is a great option!"
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Oil Free Liquid Foundation
Size: 1 oz | Finish: Semi-matte | Coverage: Medium | Shades: 40
Here's another drugstore foundation that will leave you speechless. Maybelline's Fit Me Matte + Poreless Oil Free Foundation contains flexible micropowders that control shine and blur pores all day long. It's also dermatologist tested, allergen-free, and noncomedogenic. Translation? It's formulated to play nice with oily skin. No slipping, smudging, or sliding—we promise.
Customer review: "I have never found a foundation that can cover as well as I need it to without melting off my face in three hours, so I don't wear it often. ... I was shocked at how well it stayed as well as how well it covered."
Sweed Beauty Glass Skin Foundation
Size: 1 oz | Finish: Natural-Luminous | Coverage: Medium | Shades: 15
I know what you're thinking: "A glass skin foundation on my oily skin? I don't think so." Let me explain. Even though it's called the Glass Skin Foundation, it's not shiny or overly greasy. Instead, it provides a natural-looking, slightly luminous effect with all-day wear and a formula that won't clog pores. Take it from Elio. (She created the foundation after all.) "This foundation makes the skin look fresh and plump with energizing seawater while still staying in place all day with a beautiful lifting effect and medium coverage. It gives a glass skin finish without any greasiness," she says.
Customer review: "I'm very impressed with the foundation as it has a lightweight, buildable coverage that applies smoothly and blends easily. It leaves a natural, dewy finish without appearing greasy."
What to Look For
Guerra says there are five things to do when choosing a foundation for oily skin.
1. Choose an oil-free formula: "These are typically designed for oily skin types specifically. They provide coverage and perform like other formulas without adding extra oil to the skin," he says.
2. Consider a formula with a matte or semi-matte finish: "This will help control shine and give the skin a more refined surface without adding any unwanted glow or shine," he says.
3. Choose a foundation that's labeled noncomedogenic: Guerra says this refers to a formula that is unlikely to clog pores. "That's especially crucial for oily skin, which can be more prone to breakouts," he adds.
4. Look for claims like "long-wearing" and "24-hour wear": Guerra says these formulas are designed to last longer and can stand up against oil production better than other foundations.
5. Consider the ingredients: Guerra suggests checking the label for salicylic acid, silica, and dimethicone. The first one can treat breakouts, the second one can absorb oil, and the third one creates a smooth surface for a flawless-looking complexion. On the flip side, Guerra recommends avoiding isopropyl myristate, which makeup artists call IPM: "It can exacerbate oiliness, clog pores, and even lead to severe breakouts."
At the end of the day, though, it might take some trial and error to truly know if a foundation will work for your skin and your preferences. "I always think it's important to test a foundation to see how it performs on your skin throughout the day to really know if it's right for you," Elio says. "As a rule, I would stay away from all 'serum foundations' and 'dewy foundations.'"
How We Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best foundations for oily skin, we leaned heavily on expert insight and firsthand testing. We also considered several factors, including active ingredients, finish, and longevity. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to include all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
Why Trust Us
Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
