Think of oily skin and makeup as two people who don’t like each other but have to work together. They repel each other, but in front of others they’re “fake nice” and cooperate. That “fake nice” is what we’re going for. Makeup and your skin texture don’t have to like each other, they just have to get along!

The important point to remember is that we want to work with the oil. You will inevitably get oily throughout the day, but my goal is to keep you from getting that dreaded, broken apart foundation that looks like your skin cracked. Not cute! I also have trouble finding drugstore foundations that I like, so this post will contain all products more on the high-end side. If you have your own recommendation in the drugstore department, comment down below!

If you take anything from this post, it should be this next step. This step is important because it’s the only step that actually improves and changes the makeup of your skin. Everything else simply manages your oil through the day.

Simple Steps to Prevent Oily Skin

Some products just won’t help the situation, but remember this: it starts with your base. And that includes your skincare. My number 1 tip for you oily girls is to moisturize. I know that’s the LAST thing on your mind. “Why would I put more oil and moisture on my face when I’m clearly WELL moisturized all on my own?!” (Well ladies, always listen to the advice of your mother…)

I know it’s counterintuitive, but I promise you it works. I actually use a face oil every night! Part of the reason you’re oily is that your oil glands are in overdrive. Overly oily skin is also stripped skin, pleading for moisture. It is a consequence of all the drying acids and creams we use in a desperate attempt stop the oil and dry out our skin. Your skin is fighting back in full force!

Step 1 is to balance out your skin, and this won’t happen overnight. I found using products with limited chemicals is the best. This ensures you’re not accidentally stripping your skin. I use a few products from Drunk Elephant, specifically the Luxury Face Oil. I find that this product, in particular, restores moisture and allows my skin to heal. It’s a pure oil so it won’t clog your pores like some creams do.

This method may annoy you at first, and it might get worse before it gets better. Please stick with it for at least a week! Your skin has to figure out that you’re adding moisture so it doesn’t have to work so hard. Once it balances out, it will give your matte makeup something to hold on it, prolonging the wear of your products.

Prime Time

Now that you have beautiful, hydrated and plump skin, it’s time to prime. The common mistake is thinking that your primer has to be labeled as “primer.” Don’t fall for the marketing traps. You can use any product that works for you!

Again, I use a product from Drunk Elephant (actually two!) One is the C-Firma Day Serum, and the other is the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel. The Hydration Gel works fantastically as a primer for my skin. It continues to moisturize through the day while creating a smooth base for my foundation.

There are a few other products marketed as “primers” that are ideal for you oily babes – tried and tested! Too faced peaches and cream line of products are formulated to be matte. And believe me, they are truly matte. Be aware that the products really smell like peaches and cream! I personally LOVE it, but it may be irritating for those of you that are more sensitive to smells.

I also want to mention that each of these products are wonderful on their own – but if you want to combine them you can!

Primed & Peachy Cooling Matte Perfecting Primer is such a great product with a cooling sensation. What’s better than waking up your face with a cooling product that keeps you matte throughout the day!

Becca Velvet Blurring primer is amazing for smoothing out your pores and creating that perfect porcelain base. Your foundation is guaranteed to lay well on top of this. I’m always drawn to anything with the word “velvet” in it. Soft and smooth is always my goal.

Another option is to use a setting spray primer. The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is a go-to favorite for makeup staying power. This really helps your foundation adhere to your face. I would suggest using this primer in conjunction with a mattifying powder, as it isn’t specifically formulated to be matte.

My last recommendation is Fenty’s Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer. This primer will give you similar results to the Becca Blurring Primer. Its purpose is to control shine while leaving your skin flawless and poreless. No filter needed!

The Foundation of it All

When it comes to my oil control needs, I look for a foundation that won’t break apart in those typical areas (chin, smile lines, between the brows.) It needs to control my oil for the better part of the day. I don’t mind having to blot and powder once. I think this is one step that we oily girls realize is mandatory. I’ve made peace with that fact.

I will say, if you live in a dryer climate you may have better luck than I! I live in Florida, so the humidity levels make it extremely difficult to combat oil. It puts my foundation to the ultimate test – I’m getting hit with oil from underneath and moisture from above. Here are some of my picks when it comes to foundation for oily skin.

The Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation is fantastic for oily skin. It keeps you matte without looking cakey and never feels heavy on the face. It claims to wear flawlessly for 14 hours – though from personal experience I’ve needed to blot and powder once to make it that long.

YSL All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation is a little pricier, but it will really control your oil. Almost too much – it can be drying! I wouldn’t recommend using this as an everyday product. It’s perfect for special events because your makeup is guaranteed to look flawless!

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation brings and builds upon the same effect as the primer from Fenty. (These companies have the longest names for their products…) 

Another great foundation for an extremely matte finish is the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation. I recommend getting a sample of this one before you buy because it can break you out if you have sensitive skin. If your skin accepts it, consider yourself lucky! It gives you insane coverage.

My personal favorite at the moment is the Estee Lauder Double Wear. Their range of shades is amazing and I’ve found that it pretty much works for everyone. It has been a long-standing favorite in the beauty community for a reason! It’s medium to full coverage – you can build it up in the places you need most. Either way, it controls your oil and keeps you flawless.

Set it and Forget it

Again I have a Too Faced Peach product for you, this time it’s the Peach Perfect Mattifying Setting Powder. Like the rest of the line, this powder smells (and tastes) like peaches and cream. Believe me when I say this powder is MATTE. Your foundation will be locked in more than you ever thought possible.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder is a cult favorite. You can’t go wrong with this powder for oily skin. If you’re looking for a tried and true powder, look no further. I don’t have anything else to say about it! It’s amazing.

If you’re not a fan of loose powders, these next two are for you! Makeup Forever’s Duo Mat Powder Foundation. This product is technically a foundation, so be aware that your coverage level may be extreme if you use it with one of the foundations I listed above. But as long as you use a light hand you should be good.

Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Micro-Powder. (That is the longest product name of them all…Sheesh!) This is the powder I’m currently using and I keep one in my makeup bag and one in my purse for touch-ups.

I go between this one and the Laura Mercier one, depending on how I’m feeling that day. If I want to bake, I use a loose powder. If I want to set it and go when I’m in a hurry, I use the Micro-Powder. It gives you a beautiful airbrushed finish without being as heavy as loose powders typically are.

That’s all for this post! These are some of the best of the best so do yourself a favor and add at least one of these products to your makeup routine. You won’t regret it.