10 Best Drugstore Foundations for Oily Skin – Matte, Oil-Free Foundations to keep you shine-free
We all know the struggle of finding the perfect foundation, right?! I know I went through tons of foundation types before figuring out what works best for my skin.
It can be really hard to navigate through all of the different foundations on the market and decide which one you should buy.
Even though I’ve trialed a ton of foundation before figuring out what works with my skin, I don’t want you to go through the same hassle!
In this post, I’ll share 10 bestfoundations for oily skin that you can buy at the drugstore! Most of these drugstore foundations are matte, oil-free, and full-coverage.
If you ever wondered, “What is the best cheap foundation for oily skin?” or, “Is liquid foundation good for oily skin?” or, “Is water-based foundation good for oily skin?,” this post is for you!
I’m also sharing key terms you should look for when deciding what foundation to buy for oily skin and tips on how to keep foundation matte and shine-free all day!
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Affiliate links may be used in this post, which I may receive a commission from, at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.
P.S. Before you even start to think about buying one of these foundations, be sure to sign up for Ebates!
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE AND GET A $10 BONUS after you make your first qualifying purchase using Ebates!
What to look for in foundations if you have oily skin:
1. Matte Finish
This is pretty self-explanatory, right? If you have oily skin, you definitely want to look for a matte foundation that will help control oil.
Without a matte finish, you’ll be shiny in no time!
2. Pore Refining
With oily skin, pores tend to be more visible, so finding a foundation that is pore refining or pore blurring would be great.
Of course, you can also use a pore-filling primer to blur you pores even more!
3. Long-lasting
With oily skin, it’s important to find a foundation that will stay put!
Oil tends to break up makeup, so when you’re wearing a foundation that doesn’t last long in the first place, your oils will break up your foundation even faster!
4. Oil-free
If you have oily skin, you totally want a foundation that’s oil-free! You don’t want to put oil on top of oil, right?
Choosing an oil-free foundation will no doubt extend the wear of your foundation and help control oil.
5. Medium to Full Coverage
When trying to stay matte, a light coverage foundation just won’t do as great of a job in keeping oils in check. There just isn’t enough coverage to keep your oils from getting through.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to cake on the foundation, a medium coverage matte foundation will totally work.
It’ll probably be pretty tough to find a foundation you like that hits every single one of those points, but it’s possible! And hopefully the list in this post will give you some ideas!
Is liquid foundation or powder foundation better for oily skin?
Generally speaking, powder foundation is better for oily skin just because powders naturally absorb oil better than a liquid does.
Powders have oil-absorbing properties, usually won’t clog your pores, and are great for reducing shine throughout the day.
However, powders tend to wear off quicker than liquid foundations, letting your natural oil shine through earlier in the day.
Powders also will generally provide less coverage than a liquid foundation and as mentioned in point #5 of the last section, medium to full-coverage foundations usually work the best at keeping oils in check.
Tips for Flawless Matte Foundation with Oily Skin:
1. Pore-filling Primer
As mentioned above, pores tend to appear larger on oily skin, so using a pore-filling primer before foundation can make a big difference when trying to achieve a flawless finish.
Best drugstore pore-filling primer: NYX Pore Filler (total dupe for the Benefit POREfessional primer!)
2. Mattifying/Blurring Primer
It says it all in the name, right? Using a mattifying primer before foundation will help your foundation stay matte even longer by controlling your oils.
Best drugstore mattifying/smoothing primer: NYX Angel Veil Primer (it’s oil-free, blurs pores, and has a matte finish)
3. Set your foundation with loose setting powder
Using loose powder to set your foundation will make your foundation last so much longer!
You can use the baking method – leaving the powder on your face for a few minutes to really let the powder sink into the foundation. And you can press the loose powder into the foundation all over your face.
Best drugstore loose setting powder: Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
Related: Best Loose Powders under $10 + How to Apply Loose Powder
10 Best Drugstore Foundations for Oily Skin
Makeup Revolution – Conceal & Define Full Coverage Foundation
This foundation was so well received in the beauty industry when it was released last year!
It’s a super lightweight foundation with medium buildable coverage and it has a demi-matte finish.
It’s also oil-free and long-lasting!
Shop Now: Ulta
Maybelline – Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
This foundation is totally one of the most popular drugstore foundations out there.
It’s a medium to full coverage foundation made to tackle texture issues of those with normal to oily skin – it has ‘poreless’ in the name!
It is oil-free also includes Maybelline’s special blurring micro-powders that erase pores and absorb oil.
It’s not quite as long-wearing as other foundations on this list, but it’ll probably last through an 8-hr work day with setting powder and setting spray.
Maybelline – SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation
Another winner from Maybelline as it was featured in Allure’s Best of Beauty 2018 list.
As the name suggests, it’s a full-coverage foundation that creates a flawless finish that lasts all day.
The foundation is a very lightweight formula and it minimizes the appearance of imperfections.
This is one of the best long-wear drugstore foundations as I mention in my post: Best Long-Wear Drugstore Foundations for Summer
NYX – Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation
This is a lightweight, waterproof, transfer-resistant, and full-coverage foundation that controls shine to keep you matte all day.
It claims to be a 24-hr wear foundation, but we know that’s impossible! (Plus, wearing makeup for that long is not good for your skin!) However, it is still very long-wearing.
It’s also non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores!
Also, can we give NYX a high-five for releasing this foundation with a shade range of 45 shades!
NYX – Total Control Drop Foundation
This is a unique foundation in that it allows you to customize the coverage to suit your preference.
It is a very liquid-y, fast-drying, velvet matte foundation with a dropper applicator that gives you precise control of how much foundation to apply.
Given its liquid-y consistency, it’s very lightweight and long-wearing.
L’Oreal – Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation
This is the first drugstore foundation I ever tried and it was the one that totally turned me on to drugstore foundation!
It’s an amazing foundation that is matte, has great coverage, and will last all day long. I would definitely recommend this foundation in a heartbeat.
The formula contains L’Oreal’s Shine Defy Blotting Sphere that act like blotting paper to control oil, and it is oil-free has high water content to provide comfort while wearing it throughout the day.
Also seen in: Best Long-Wear Drugstore Foundations for Summer
Revlon – ColorStay Liquid Foundation for Combo/Oily Skin
The name itself says it all!
This foundation has buildable to full coverage that has a matte finish and will stay in place all day!
It’s lightweight, Oil-free, and contains SPF 15.
Wet n Wild – Photo Focus Foundation
This is another fan-favorite of all drugstore foundations for its amazing quality at a really low price.
It’s a medium coverage foundation that’s buildable to full coverage and it has a matte finish.
Like the name of the foundation suggests, it smooths texture and is made with a light-adjusting complex that helps prevent white cast in photos.
L.A. Girl – Pro.Matte Foundation
For under $10, this foundation is one of the best full-coverage matte foundations around.
It super long-wearing and definitely helps to control oil and keep you matte all day.
Covergirl – TruBlend Matte Made Liquid Foundation
Another foundation with “Matte” in the name! So you know this is made with those with oily skin in mind.
It’s a medium coverage foundation that doesn’t dry you out or cake up, even with how matte it is.
The formula oil-free and infused with mattifying powders to absorb oil and minimize pores, and it is comfortable to wear all day long!
Here’s a quick comparison table of all the foundations mentioned in the post :
And that’s it for this post on the best drugstore foundations for oily skin!
Using any of the foundations in this post plus my tips on how to get a flawless matte finish will keep your oils in check!
And don’t forget to use Ebates if you are going to buy any of these foundations online!
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE AND GET A $10 BONUS after you make your first qualifying purchase using Ebates!
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these foundations or if you’re planning to down in the comments! <3
Thank you for reading and until next time! 🙂
P.S. If you like what I do here on lianadesu, it would mean so much to me if you bought me a coffee (support my blog)!
More Drugstore Makeup Posts:
- The 10 Best Drugstore Foundations for Dry Skin
- The 25 Best Drugstore Foundations in 2019
- Best Loose Setting Powders Under $10
- Best Drugstore Makeup to Buy on Amazon
- Ultimate List of Drugstore Dupes
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