The Best Foundation for Oily Skin in 2025
I’m the go-to guide gal and routine queen here at Adore Beauty. I have a background in media and communications, and over 3 years experience in the beauty industry.
When I’m not answering all of your burning questions, you can find me spruiking underrated products to my co-workers and trying to figure out what our best bloody mascara is.
There are many benefits to having oily skin, but unfortunately having your makeup slide off and separate several hours after application isn’t one of them.
While oily skin tends to be naturally thicker, wrinkle-resistant and excellent at producing Vitamin E, it doesn’t always make the best base for makeup when it's not adequately prepped.
When the oil on your skin comes into contact with makeup it has the chance to change its colour and consistency, leaving your skin shiny and patchy.
This is where we debunk the biggest myth about oily skin: oil can be suppressed by drying, mattifying products.
The truth is oily skin is usually dehydrated and needs hydration to stay smooth and balanced.
This is why we promote starting your makeup routine for oily skin with a layer of hydration and a primer, before going in with your favourite longwear foundation and a light layer of powder to set it all in.
Start with a Hydrating Serum
For a shine free complexion, start with some skincare for oily skin. A hydrating serum is one one of the best products for oily skin as they penetrate the skin deeply, balance sebum levels and help control oil production.
When the skin is hydrated and balanced your makeup stays put for longer, as it is less likely to be disrupted by excessive oil production.
Prep with a Primer
Another way to improve the longevity of your long wear foundation for oily skin is to start with a hydrating or smoothing primer.
A primer is the best foundation base for oily skin as it creates a barrier between your skin and the liquid foundation, helps to absorb oil and creates an even surface for makeup application.
Choose a Longwear Foundation
The best foundation for oily skin & large pores isn’t necessarily a full coverage, oil free, matte foundation.
As we’ve discussed, foundation makes skin oily when it hasn’t been prepped correctly or the foundation is overly drying on the skin, causing it to over produce oil.
So, what kind of foundation is best for oily skin? Well, that depends on your preferences and price range.
The best everyday foundation for oily skin is something that is long wearing, which will hold up throughout the day.
We recommend using a foundation brush to apply a light layer of foundation. Start from the centre of the face, use small brush strokes and blend outwards.
Don’t Forget Powder
Powder is one of the best makeup products for oily skin because it helps set your makeup in place and can be reapplied throughout the day.
If you’ve prepped your skin properly, that should minimise the amount of powder you should need to use, so use sparingly on your t-zone and reapply as necessary.
