23 Best Foundations for Oily Skin, According to Makeup Artists

If you have oily skin, then you definitely want to use a setting powder. Luckily, Patrick Ta's duo compact comes with a pressed powder built in that matches your cream foundation shade. “Light medium 3 is the perfect match for my complexion,” says Yaptangco. “The cream formula melts into skin and never feels cakey or heavy. I top things off with the finely milled powder and my skin looks airbrushed. Plus, combining two products in the packaging is great for travel.”

We sound like a broken record whenever we recommend Ilia’s Super Serum, but it really is that good. Achieving a dewy effect is trickier for those of us who grapple with oily T-zones, but Ilia cracked the code. How? The brand knows that while you may feel oily all over, that doesn’t mean you can’t have dry skin (!). This tint will softly mattify you but won’t accentuate bumps or pores. It also creates a light barrier, so all the skin-care you used beforehand to deal with oiliness will stay intact to work its magic.

No-makeup makeup fans will love Fenty Beauty's latest foundation stick, which offers light to medium coverage for everyday use. The creamy formula melts into skin and keeps you hydrated all day to avoid any foundation spills. For quick coverage, simply apply the stick directly onto skin and blend out with your fingers.

While we’d typically recommend oil-free foundations that take a liquid form, pressed powders are great for those who want quick and easy application without having to deal with a potentially slippery situation. Jane Iredale’s fan-favorite product has a creamy texture that gives you buildable medium coverage and a never-chalky finish. It’s also a talc-free formula, in case you just watched Not So Pretty and want to cut the ingredient from your routine.

Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay is a huge fan of this foundation for oily skin, which has “extreme full coverage that could cover a bullet wound.” Oil-controlling ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, micro-algae extract, and anti-oxidation promise coverage for up to 16 hours.

If you want an ultra-glam finish, look no further than Make Up For Ever’s velvety foundation. It’s a waterproof foundation that can withstand a dip in the pool, so it’ll be able to handle your oil with ease. While it’s meant for full coverage, you can also blend and buff this formula out if you want a lighter, medium coverage, or you can build it up to your preference.

Tower 28 was Glamour’s top clean foundation, and it works great with oily skin. It provides more coverage than you’d expect from a tinted mineral sunscreen but gives just enough of a natural finish while still allowing your freckles to peek through. This tint is also highly recommended by those who have sensitive skin, as the brand follows the National Eczema Association’s ingredient guidelines in its formulations.

Not only does this award-winning foundation come in more than 50 shades, but it does a fantastic job of delivering full coverage of dark spots and acne for an overall pore-less and blurred effect. What we love most is that the brand created six unique formulas across six categories of skin tones and their different concerns (combination skin, you’re guaranteed to find your perfect match).

If acne is a major concern for you, consider this salicylic-acid-boosted foundation. The lightweight formula gives medium coverage that fends off new bumps and lets your skin breathe. The inclusion of aloe vera also helps to calm any redness or inflammation from current breakouts, while the proprietary oxygen complex helps heal scarring.

Face Atelier is a Canadian-founded brand that makeup artists love—Claire included. She recommends this foundation, which is highly pigmented and long-lasting, thanks to its inclusion of silicones. Unlike Otero or Greenberg, Claire says, “There are many myths about silicone being bad—but myth is the operative word here. Foundations with silicone smooth the skin and have amazing buildable coverage.” She adds that since “[silicone molecules are] bigger than your pores, they will not clog your pores.”

Barose also loves Armani's cult-favorite foundation, which is great for all skin types. “It’s a very versatile foundation that works with many skin types and age ranges,” he says. “It also has a great wide shade range.”

If SPF is your number one priority—in which case, we applaud you—we and Otero highly recommend It Cosmetics CC+ cream, specifically in the oil-free, matte finish. “This CC cream not only offers full matte coverage with a skin-like finish, but it also has ingredients like hyaluronic acid to add moisture, charcoal to detoxify, colloidal clay to absorb oil, and tea tree extract to combat blemishes,” says Otero. The buttery formula melts into your skin, and reduces any white cast you might notice on your initial application, says Otero. It Cosmetics offers the highest SPF on this list without compromising its performance, so it’s a real contender for those interested in smart sun care.

Estée Lauder’s Double Wear foundation is meant to last 24 hours, which makes it great for not only shiny skin but heat and humidity (hi, sweaty upper lips). Trust us: This is the choice for that summer vacation on the Amalfi Coast where Mercury in retrograde wasn’t accounted for in your itinerary.

For red carpet events, Barose uses this velvety formula on longtime client Lupita Nyong'o. “This is my go-to on Lupita,” he told Glamour. “It’s more matte and velvety and will set to a fresh finish even without setting powder. It’s longwear, but comfortable.”

Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filter foundation is the stuff of legends when it comes to oily skin. It touts all-day wear, and it ain’t lying. This liquid formula will take you from sundown to sunup without budging. What we really love about is that it doesn’t leave the typical dry, powdery finish on those with oily skin; rather, it has a softer, semi-matte, and breathable sheen. As usual (and what we’ll tirelessly thank Rihanna for), this foundation comes with an inclusive 50-shade range. Some users do note that it oxidizes into an orangey color over time, so try counteracting with a primer that can serve as a barrier between your skin’s oils and the foundation.

Glamour’s senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco named this her favorite foundation for her acne-prone skin in our 2023 Best Drugstore & Affordable Makeup Products list. As its name suggests, this foundation gives you total control in addressing blemishes big and small while maintaining a skin-true look. Its sheer formula can be built up but won’t end up ashy or cakey. Pro tip: You can buy this in a darker shade and use it as a seamless contour.

As mentioned, the inclusion of clay in foundations helps to soak up oil, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more trusted (or popular) formula than Tarte’s Amazonian Clay. Greenberg backs this top-rated pick because “​​it looks so natural and has so many shades.” She also loves that it’s buildable and long-wear, meaning you can get heavy coverage without a tacky feel. 

Here’s another formula meant to last as long as your night does. This A little goes a long way with this Bobbi Brown foundation; a small pump is all you need, which is great for avoiding a product pile-up to mask oiliness. It gives a lightweight feel with a smooth finish (would you expect anything less from Bobbi?!). There are over 40 shades to choose from a variety of undertones, which is especially great for midrange skin tones.

Bare Minerals’ mineral foundation has long been praised by wearers as a foundation that not only addresses shine but is great for sensitive skin. The loose powder builds easily so you can opt for either a lightweight finish or a full beat, but the talc-free formula (which consists of only five cruelty-free, vegan ingredients) won’t clog your pores and make you break out.

This affordable option applies like a powder but settles into your skin like a liquid foundation with a surprisingly luxe-feeling finish. It’s slightly matte—but you don’t have to worry about it sitting on top of your skin like other cakey powders. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at all of the TikTok videos demonstrating a truly flawless finish. 

Greenberg sent along no less than three exclamation points when recommending this powder, and for good reason. While we’d typically opt for liquid, she says Pür’s 4-in-1 foundation is foolproof and easy to use, thanks to the medium buildable coverage that lets your skin breathe. It also means less makeup for you when you don't need full coverage but still want a Paris filter-esque look. Oh, and if you're wondering what the 4-in-1 refers to, you’re getting a foundation, concealer, powder, and SPF in one compact.