The 5 Best Foundations for Oily Skin of 2026

Coverage: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 44 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If full coverage is your goal, this Charlotte Tilbury formula is the gold standard. We’ve tested high-coverage foundations for years, and it consistently stands out for its performance. With 44 shades (spanning fair to deep), the formula feels surprisingly weightless for its category and blends seamlessly—whether applied with a brush or a damp sponge. Once it sets, it leaves behind a softly matte, powder-like finish that delivers a smooth and, yes, airbrushed look.

Our oily-skinned tester appreciated that this foundation felt matte without tipping into cakey territory. It also held up impressively over a full day of wear, showing no signs of creasing, separation, or settling into fine lines. While it didn’t accentuate texture or cling to dry areas, she noted that its finish is firmly on the matte side, making it best suited for oily or more balanced skin types rather than dry skin.

Dominique Hobdy, senior editor with oily skin: “This foundation went on smoothly and had an almost powdery finish, which I liked. I only needed to use 1.5 pumps for my entire face, and I found it to be really buildable, easily customizable, and I didn’t experience any caking.”

Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural matte | Shades: 55 | Cruelty-Free: No

When we tested foundations for mature skin, Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation was far and away our favorite of the matte options. Our tester with combination skin found its coverage easy to build and effective at evening out dark spots and discoloration. It layers evenly without feeling heavy or cakey, though be advised that the formula sets quickly, so you’ll likely want to work in sections. Overall, the result is a soft, satin-matte finish that holds up well throughout the day—mattifying yet comfortable and never drying.

Melody, tester with combination skin: “This product enhanced my skin’s radiance. It blurred fine lines, wrinkles, and pores, leaving a satin finish.”

Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 25 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our list is full of matte foundations, as they tend to suit oily skin types best, but this liquid option from Anastasia Beverly Hills stood out for its especially beautiful finish. Our tester with very oily skin observed that it applied matte at first, then softened into a more natural-looking finish as it settled and warmed on her skin. 

Beyond finish, this formula impressed us with its smooth application and impressive coverage; one to two pumps were enough to blur and even out skin tone, while still feeling lightweight and comfortable. The main drawback to this formula was its shade range: With just 25 shades available, it falls short for a full-coverage foundation where a close color match is especially important.

Dominique Hobdy, senior editor with oily skin: “It wasn’t drying at all and left a lot of room for moisture and hydration. Because my skin is extremely oily, it ended up giving me a finish that leaned more natural.”

Coverage:  Light to medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 25 | Cruelty-Free: yes

Milani is one of our go-to affordable brands, and this foundation delivers especially strong value for oily skin types. For under $20, it offers light, natural-looking coverage that wears comfortably and maintains a balanced finish throughout the day. Our tester found that the formula blended seamlessly into her combination skin and kept excess shine in check without feeling heavy or greasy.

While the coverage is only medium, it was still effective at softening discoloration and breakouts, creating a subtly blurred effect. She also noted that it held up for several hours of wear without turning patchy or breaking down, making it a reliable, budget-friendly pick for everyday use.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “This formula performs as well as some high-end options I’ve tested. I wore it for about six hours, and it looked just as good at the end as it did when I first applied it.”

Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Soft matte | Shades: 44 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Designed for oily skin, this Fenty Beauty foundation features sweat-resistant technology that helps it grip the skin and stay put in heat and humidity. The formula includes oil-absorbing silica alongside antioxidant-rich papaya and pineapple extracts, which our tester appreciated for keeping shine under control throughout the day. 

Our tester found the texture surprisingly creamy for a matte foundation, noting that it applied smoothly before setting into a true soft-matte finish. During wear testing, it kept her T-zone matte without powder or touch-ups—even in extreme Georgia humidity—while evening out her complexion with just two pumps. While she noticed that the finish made skin texture slightly more apparent, she felt it excelled for long days, special events, or photo-heavy moments where staying power is extra key. We also love that it’s available in 44 shades.

Bianca Lambert, contributing writer with combination skin: “Not only did the oil-free formula keep my T-zone matte without any powder or touch-ups, but it also evened my skin tone with just two pumps of product and matched my skin seamlessly.”