13 Best Foundations for Oily Skin That Stay Shine-Free All Day Long

Get the highest level of shine-free coverage with Make Up For Ever's super-pigmented matte liquid base, which tied for best formula for oily skin in the GH Beauty Lab's foundation test. Experts rated it easiest to dispense and use, and it had the largest shade selection of all the top-tested foundations.

A triple-duty primer-concealer-foundation hybrid, CoverGirl’s silky, medium-coverage base is proven to perfect skin and stay in place. GH Beauty Lab evaluations showed that the blendable formula provided the coverage of a concealer and lasted all day while feeling light on skin and not looking heavy or cakey.

Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, Mary Kay's matte foundation is boosted with anti-aging active ingredients like peptides and antioxidants. The formula controls oil on skin for 12 hours after application, and 88% of testers agreed it smoothed the appearance of wrinkles after one week of use, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed.

With over 6,700 (!) reviews on Sephora, this Tarte fan favorite is packed with natural ingredients like oil-absorbing clay for a smooth, matte finish. We haven't tested it in the Lab, but one reviewer raves, "It stays on all day! I don't even have to apply setting powder — just primer and this foundation."

While we haven't Lab-tested this pick, this reviewer-favorite long-wear and budget-friendly formula from L'Oréal Paris covers well, provides a matte finish, yet feels light on skin. "I've tried every foundation on the market, high-end and drugstore," one Ulta reviewer says. "I always find myself coming back to this foundation!"

Maybelline's handy stick design isn't just for easy-application — there's a special anti-shine powder core in the middle that also helps blur pores. As you swipe on the affordably-priced foundation, the powder instantly absorbs any excess oil on your face.

A foundation and acne treatment in one, Clinique’s base is infused with the blemish-fighting ingredient salicylic acid to reduce breakouts as it covers — and is a go-to for GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek. "The best part is that it feels lightweight yet keeps my skin matte all day,” she reports.

The pioneer of mineral foundation, BareMinerals' oil-free SPF 15 matte formula set the standard for best loose powder in the GH Beauty Lab's test. With amazingly buildable coverage, it stood out in evaluations by professional makeup artists for silkiness and hiding redness. “Beautiful — you cannot do powder much better than this,” makeup artist Birgitte Philippides raves.

Wnek calls this Marc Jacobs liquid foundation her "holy grail" for full-coverage in one single application. "This is a very matte foundation, and having oily skin it's exactly what I want," she raves. "It's budge-proof and I only need a few drops to cover my entire face."

Set or touch up your foundation for a shine-free effect with MAC Cosmetics, the best pressed powder of the Beauty Lab's foundations test. This compact is recommended for oily and combination skin types and in Lab evaluations with professional makeup artists, it provided a sheer matte-satin finish that blended smoothly over skin.

The foundation that broke the internet, Fenty Beauty offers and impressive collection in colors to match any skin tone, from the fairest fair to deepest dark. The matte finish formula comes in a huge range of 50 shades, and at a reasonable price compared to other high-end brands — we get the hype!

Get the most bang for your buck with the two-in-one package from Stila — you get a foundation and matching concealer in the cap. The long-wearing formula is lightweight, oil-free, and water-resistant so the matte finish will last all day.

From sheer to full and everything in between, NYX's matte-finish drops make it a breeze to get your perfect coverage level. Start with a few drops on your brush, blender, or fingertips and keep adding more until you're happy with the look.