The 21 Best Foundations for Oily Skin, According to Top Makeup Artists

Pat McGrath Skin Labs Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation (£60) is a great all-rounder, according to Grace Ahn (who often works with Lizzo). "It's just a beautiful, sheer foundation for both dry and oily skin," she said. It's also made to be incredibly buildable. One thin layer is almost as lightweight as a tinted moisturiser, while layering it on with a brush can result in medium-to-full coverage. Either way, your skin will always look radiant with this option.

"Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10 (£34) is iconic for a reason," Wolff said. "It's full coverage, has extralong staying power — so doesn't budge on oily skin — and it's available in so many shades that you'll always find your correct match." The classic is also a favourite of makeup artist Lucinda Worth. "It's buildable and it clings to skin, so it doesn't slide off when the skin gets oily throughout the day," she said. "It also has a semimatte finish, meaning it doesn't appear drying on the skin."

Named after the brand's best-selling concealer, the Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation (£28) has quickly become a favourite amongst professional makeup artists when it comes to oily skin types. And it's not hard to see why. The formula contains two different types of powder — one for helping diffuse light to give your skin an airbrushed effect, the other for absorbing excess sebum on your skin to help the formula last for long periods of time (the brand promises 16 hours, we've given it a go for at about nine hours and its staying power is quite impressive). Available in 34 shades, the formula is full coverage with a velvet-matte finish — in fact, it feels (but doesn't look) powdery on the skin — and contains an "anti-oxidation complex" that keeps the pigments from changing colour on your skin.

The Uoma Beauty Say What?! Foundation (£29.50) will help get you that flawless, airbrushed look regardless of whether your skin is oily or acne-prone. It comes in 51 shades that are formulated specifically for your skin tone. It's weightless and long-lasting with buildable coverage and a matte yet hydrating formula.

"Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation (£51) is on the drier side, so it won't add any additional oil to the face," said Quinn Murphy, who works with Dakota Fanning, Kate Hudson, and Sophie Turner. He notes that although this foundation has good coverage, those looking to make it a little more sheer can do so by blending it with a damp Beautyblender or mixing it with an oil-free moisturiser.

Makeup artist Daniel Martin (whose A-list clients include Meghan Markle, Elisabeth Moss, and Jessica Alba) swears by Dior Forever Matte Foundation (£37) for his clients with oily skin. "This formula gives a matte, but not a flat finish," he said. "It also doesn't oxidise over time — even when in contact with the natural oils in your skin — so it stays true to tone after hours of wear."

Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Cream Foundation (£100) is expensive. Like, really expensive. But it's loved by many makeup artists around the world. "It has excellent coverage, great staying power, and it doesn't make you look heavily made up," Sandy Linter said. If you're feeling really fancy, Linter recommends applying La Mer Moisturising Matte Lotion (£195) underneath for a dreamy, luxurious, and ultranatural finish — all while keeping any unwanted shine at bay.

Although Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup Foundation (£55) is on the pricier end when it comes to foundation, makeup artist Hannah Martin, who did Princess Eugenie's wedding makeup, said the serum-like formula is perfect for oilier skin types and gives a second-skin finish. She noted that only half a pump is needed because a little goes a long way, meaning the bottle will last a long time.

Another favourite of Martin's is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 Oil Free (£35) because it has "light coverage, but still looks like skin, without being too shiny or dewy."

"The Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation (£34) is a medium-coverage formula with a buildable, semimatte finish, which helps to keep shine to a minimum while retaining the skins natural glow," Young said.

It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better CC+ Cream Original SPF 50 (£31) is a great option for those after a foundation that gives a natural look on oily skin, according to Linter. "It looks heavy and pasty in the tube, but when applied, it looks astonishingly natural. You never want oily skin to look heavy in makeup as the pores will appear larger, so this is a great option."

The Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 (£24, originally £29) is a great option for those who deal with dark spots on top of acne and oily skin. It has moderate coverage with a natural, skin-like finish. Not only does it come in 52 shades, but it's also sweat- and humidity-resistant.