25 Best Foundation for Oily Skin According to Makeup Expert

Keeks Reid, Contributing Beauty Writer: This foundation was the biggest talking point when Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty collection launched, and with its extensive shade range and lightweight formula, what’s not to love? The consistency is runny, but don’t let that deceive you, once it’s buffed in this base isn’t budging.

Finish: Ultra-matte. If you have super oily skin this is the one for you.

Coverage: Medium-to-full coverage and it’s really easy to build up layers.

Shade range: 40 shades from very light to very deep.

Lasting power: Impressive. It’s the type of foundation you could wear to work and then just blot down the T-Zone to extend the lasting power through the evening.

Final thoughts: What did I do before this foundation? It’s my new go-to on a long day.

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: If you want a perfect finish, fast, you need a foundation that offers more coverage and this is it. The formula smooths over everything from acne to redness.

Finish: A classic satin finish, not too matte, not too dewy.

Coverage: Full, but apply it with a makeup sponge and you can sheer it out a little.

Shade range: Over 60 shades. Yesssss Estée Lauder!

Lasting power: This formula stays in place for up to 12 hours, so go ahead and plow through your day without having to touch up.

Final thoughts: I wore this foundation for my sister’s wedding – when I knew I needed a base that would stick around all day (and night), luckily this one did not disappoint. It gave excellent coverage (without looking cakey), and the lasting power was second to none. No wonder this is the UK’s best-selling foundation…

Keeks Reid, Contributing Beauty Writer: This all-in-one foundation is an absolute steal. For its budget price, the water-based foundation gives you just enough coverage to wear daily, and it has SPF in it, so it’ll protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays.

If you’re acne-prone this light-weight formula is the perfect option, as it doesn’t contain pore-clogging ingredients.

Finish: Smooth, mattifying and pore-blurring.

Coverage: It has Medium Coverage, but if you want a lighter finish that’s possible.

Shade range: It has varieties of color shades, that’s more than 35, which is impressive for a drugstore brand.

Lasting power: If you have a small amount of patching around the nose by the end of the day, it will stay flawless other than better.

Final thoughts: The pore-blurring finish applied easily and gave my skin a smooth finish. For under a tenner, I’m sold.

Keeks Reid, Contributing Beauty Writer: Whatever life throws your way, you will not see the effects of it while wearing this foundation. Well, that’s what I took from the name of it anyway. It’s an oil-free formula that promises to leave you shine-free.

Finish: Matte, this formula will keep you oil-free.

Coverage: Full, very full.

Shade range: 24 shades

Lasting power: Wow, this stayed pretty much perfect from 8 am till 10:30 pm. Not bad, Sleek, not bad at all.

Final thoughts: I was definitely shine-free throughout the day, which was great, but I did feel like my face looked kind of flat and I don’t know if I’m a fan of that.

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: After face wash, if you want to wear a foundation on your skin, this is a completely flawless finish. It makes sure to set the foundation for a long-lasting.

Finish: Dewy. The skin looks fresh and hydrated.

Coverage: Lightweight. This formula has the feel of a tinted moisturizer with a slightly more dialed up coverage.

Shade range: 13. Not great, but not dismal.

Lasting power: The lighter finish means this foundation doesn’t have quite as good staying power as others, but layer it on top of a primer and set with powder to keep it intact for at least 5 hours.

Final thoughts: This will always have a top spot in my holy grail makeup bag, the finish is glowy and light, whilst still giving a decent coverage – it’s magic.

Keeks Reid, Contributing Beauty Writer: This stick is a foundation and concealer in one, making it perfect for those of us with oily skin that needs to touch up post-work or gym. Also, the formula delivers twice as much pigment as traditional foundations, giving high coverage without the cake.

Finish: Satin, with a slight dewiness.

Coverage: Full, without question. But it doesn’t feel heavy in the slightest.

Shade range: 32 shades divided up by color as well as an undertone

Lasting power: This foundation honestly lasts all day without me shining like a headlight in the night.

Final thoughts: This is a great choice if you don’t want a full-on matte look. Plus, it doubles up as a concealer, I used it on blemishes and dark areas (chin, upper lip, and under-eye) to even out my skin tone.

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: It’s not impossible to fake a fresh face when you’re prone to dry skin. If you want that glowy finish, this dewy CC cream is ideal. It goes on slightly sheer but gives you enough coverage to hide any imperfections without clingy to any flakey patches.

Finish: Glowy, dewy, fresh. Dry skin types will love this.

Coverage: Medium coverage

Shade range: 12 shades, but there aren’t many options for deeper skin tones.

Lasting power: Consider the dewy finish, I was seriously impressed, this stayed put all day long.

Final thoughts: This has fast become my go-to everyday foundation. It glides on like a dream, smoothing over dryness whilst giving my skin a healthy glow. The coverage is impressive and always leaves me looking even and perfected.

Victoria Jowett, Beauty Director: Feel like your foundation can get a bit blotchy? To avoid this issue, invest in a formula that blends flawlessly into the skin.

Finish: Satin, with a slight glow.

Coverage: Medium-to-full coverage, whilst still being light and non-cakey.

Shade range: 24 shades

Lasting power: All day long.

Final thoughts: This is the ultimate people-pleaser, a winner for most skin types, whether you’re dry or oily, the formula applies beautifully leaving skin looking perfect, but not overdone.

Keeks Reid, Contributing Beauty Writer: Laura Mercier certainly wasn’t playing around when they added ‘ultra long-wear’ onto this foundation bottle, it stays put for up to 15 hours and the formula controls oil throughout the day. Ah-mazing.

Finish: Satin, perfect for oil-prone or combination skin types.

Coverage: Laura Mercier say medium to full but I’d say it’s on the fuller side of the spectrum.

Shade range: 32 shades!

Lasting power: I didn’t put the 15 hours to the test (what can I say, I’m no wild child) but my t-zone certainly wasn’t as oily as it normally is.

Final thoughts: This one is a new favorite. The formula is light despite the full coverage and sets well without looking cakey or too flat.