We’ve Rated Our 5 Best Concealers for Oily Skin and Acne Prone Skin
My name is Iain and I've worked in the Beauty Industry for 8 years now. I've been on the front line in store helping people navigate the world of skin, as well as worked in education, artistry and marketing. When I'm not writing about skincare, you can find me over at Instagram talking about beauty or working on my PhD.
If you’re dealing with acne prone skin, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with oily skin too.
When I get asked, ‘What’s a good concealer for oily skin?’, the unspoken understanding is that the asker also wants something that covers acne blemishes and scars.
Today, I’m going to take you through the best concealers for oily and acne prone skin to deliver the coverage you’re looking for without making things worse.
I’m also going to share some of my favourite concealer hacks throughout to get you looking immaculate.
Before we get started, let’s cover the basics of how to choose a concealer for oily skin. In brief, you want a long-wearing product that sets to a matte finish.
This ensures longevity on the skin. When your natural oils come through, they’ll be less obvious and won’t move the product around.
One of the best concealer hacks when it comes to covering acne on oily-prone skin is to let your concealer dry for about a minute before you blend it out.
This lets the formula thicken ever so slightly to give you maximum coverage.
Here Are the 5 Best Concealers for Oily Acne-Prone Skin in NZ
1. The Best Liquid Concealer for Oily Skin
What it is: M.A.C Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer
- This oil-free, non-comedogenic concealer delivers a full-coverage, natural matte finish that lasts an impressive 15 hours on the skin.
- Pro Longwear Concealer is sweat- and humidity-resistant, won’t oxidise, and looks fantastic in photos.
Who it's for: Because Pro Longwear Concealer is also designed to control oil, it’s one of the best concealers for oily skin. Rest assured that anything you want to cover will stay covered with this formula.
Why it’s so good: This oily skin concealer blends effortlessly and can also be used under the eyes and as an eyeshadow primer to keep eye makeup from smearing. With 16 shades and multiple undertones to choose from, you’re sure to find a perfect match for your skin.
2. The Concentrated Crème Sister of the Famous Foundation
- This oil-free yet easy-to-blend concealer for oily skin is available in 24 shades at this time and wears for 15 hours. Yep, that’s double time, making it one of the best liquid concealers for oily skin.
Why it’s so good: We all know and love Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation for oily skin for its incredible staying power. But did you know there’s a concealer version? Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer is infused with minerals and emollients that condition skin and make texture look smoother.
3. The Coverage and Treatment You Need in One Swipe
- Not in the mood to do full makeup? No worries: use it to spot-conceal and treat blemishes in one step before you run out the door.
Why it’s so good: This cruelty-free treatment concealer not only covers breakouts but treats them at the same time! Bye Bye Breakout Concealer is enriched with Kaolin, Witch Hazel, Tea Tree, and a gentle AHA/BHA complex to help soothe breakouts.
Who it's for: This full coverage concealer for oily skin won’t crack or fade throughout the day. And despite its treatment complex, this product is great to use under the eyes!
4. The Best Natural Concealer for Oily Skin
What it is: Inika Sheer Coverage Concealer
- Composed of certified organic ingredients while also being Australian-made, cruelty-free, and vegan, this concealer gives you full coverage without the ingredients you prefer to avoid.
Why it’s so good: Here’s a fun concealer hack you can do with this product: mix a dab with a touch of a loose powder. This will increase coverage and wear time!
Who it's for: Natural Perfection Concealer features Green Tea Extract and Aloe Vera Juice to help calm the inflammation of breakouts.
5. For When You Need Maximum Coverage
What it is: MAKE UP FOR EVER Full Cover
- If you’re like most of us, you need a little more coverage on some days than others. Make Up For Ever comes to the rescue with its Full Coverage concealer!
Why it’s so good: Properly applied, this concealer holds even through extreme conditions, thanks to its highly stable formula. This water-resistant concealer really lasts and offers such good coverage that it can be used to cover tattoos.
Who it's for: This full coverage concealer for oily skin can also be mixed into foundation for extra coverage all over. Set with a light powdering to keep it in place all day.
And there’s my list of the six best concealers for oily and acne prone skin.
Regardless of what you need to cover, there’s a formula for you. None of these concealers will clog pores, but all will ensure you’re covered—literally!
Find more of our concealer tips are product recommendations in the guides below...
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
Concealer
Sometimes, foundation just isn’t enough. If you're trying to banish blemishes, ditch discolouration, and send dark under-eye bags packing, all you need is the right concealer. From all-purpose concealers to highly pigmented cure-all concealers, these powerful little products can cure whatever ails you. Whether you go for waterproof blemish concealer that glosses over even the biggest, most irritated spots or a colour-correcting cream that gives you the skin of your dreams, concealer is a must-have. Even the most naturally beautiful women on the planet never leave home without this stuff. Ready to start shopping? At minimum, you need to pick up two different concealers. First, you want to have one that works on blemishes and red spots. You probably know what sort of skin issues you're looking to fix, so work with those. If you have oily skin, look for a matte concealer. Prone to redness? Get a green-based concealer that will counteract red tones. Next up, you've got to pick out the right under-eye concealer. The skin under your eyes is totally different from any other skin, so treat it with TLC to reduce puffiness and prevent premature ageing.
