What is the right foundation for oily skin?

Finding the best foundation for oily skin while considering your skin tone, coverage needs, and personal preference can be hard work. Makeup for oily skin needs to have very specific ingredients and you need to follow a comprehensive skincare routine for oily skin. Clarins is here to help you on your quest to find the perfect foundation for oily skin.


Finding the right makeup when you have an oily skin type can be completely overwhelming. Oily skin makes it hard for your makeup to stay in place. Choosing the wrong products for your skin type could mean watching your makeup slide off in the middle of the day.


Oily skin can be incredibly tricky to deal with daily. When it comes to applying makeup on a shiny complexion, only those with oily skin will know the difficulties. If you’re tired of your face getting a greasy sheen, halfway through your day, luckily for you, there are some makeup tips and a skincare routine for oily skin. It will help your makeup stay sheen-free and in place. First, it’s important to understand what exactly you are dealing with if you have an oily skin type.

1. What is oily skin?

If you have a shiny or greasy sheen to your face, struggle with rough skin and large pores, clogged pores, chances are that you have an oily skin type. An oily face will be particularly bad in your T-zone area - your forehead, between your eyes, and down your nose.


Oil is secreted by the sebaceous glands which are found just under your skin. The oil they release is a fatty substance known as sebum. While sebum is normally healthy secretion that keeps your skin soft and reduces moisture loss, it’s not good if it is overproduced. The secretion of sebum can be affected by a number of factors:


  • Hormones: Hormones have a big impact on how oily your skin is and that’s why teenagers tend to suffer from oily skin. Changes during puberty cause the pores and sebaceous glands to enlarge and stimulate the production of oil through hormones known as androgens.

  • Stress: You might find that you have a pretty normal skin type most of the time, but as soon as you get stressed, your face starts to get oily. This is because when we stress, we produce cortisol, which is a stimulator of oil production in our body.

  • Diet: While your diet may not be the primary cause for your oily skin, it can certainly exacerbate your symptoms. Diets that are rich in sugar, fried foods, and dairy are not ideal for oily skin types.

  • Genetics: If your parents had oily skin, then chances are you are going to inherit it too. There’s not much you can do about this factor, however, you can implement the best skincare routine to help you take care of your skin.

  • Environment: External factors such as weather and temperature can have an effect on the amount of oil that our glands tend to produce.

2. Essential oily skin products to always have on hand

Before we go into the best routine for makeup for oily skin, we’re going to give you a rundown on the best products to have in your makeup kit. If you’re after a variety of makeup looks for oily skin, ensure you have these skincare products on hand for your routine:


  • Face cleanser
  • Oil-free sunscreen
  • Blotting paper
  • Toner
  • Moisturizer
  • Primer
  • Foundation and concealer

3. Make-up routine for oily skin

Before beginning to apply your makeup, ensure that you have properly prepared your skin. It’s important that you cleanse, tone, and moisturize your face before putting on your makeup. Go for a gentle cleanser for oily skin. The best cleanser for oily skin should have ingredients such as salicylic acid, which will cleanse and exfoliate your skin without drying it out. Next up, use a toner for oily skin to help unclog pores, then use a moisturizer for oily skin that will keep your skin hydrated without adding any excess oil.


One of the most essential aspects of preparing oily skin for makeup is using the best primer for oily skin. This will help to control the amount of sebum on your skin. It has an impact on oil production and will also help you to achieve the appearance of smoother skin at the same time. Primer also helps your makeup stay on for longer and ensures it won’t slip off in the middle of the day.


Now that you’ve finished prepping your skin, it’s time to get onto your makeup application. Remember to always buy high-quality products that are designed for mattifying oily skin; products should be oil-free and long-lasting to see you throughout the day.

Apply the best full coverage foundation for oily skin

Foundation should be your first port of call in the makeup department. Use a mattifying formula, such as Clarins Everlasting Foundation. This is the best matte foundation for oily skin that offers 18 hours of coverage. This lightweight formula is perfect for oily skin, as it uses a High Fidelity System with mattifying Bamboo powder that ensures the makeup stays on your face even on the hottest days. It also has Organic Quinoa extract that helps the skin to stay looking smooth, feeling more supple, and hydrated. This foundation helps to cover up dark spots, freckles, and other blemishes in a natural-looking way. Use a blending sponge or makeup brush for the best results.

Setting your makeup

After applying your foundation, cover any imperfections with an oil-free concealer. Once you’ve applied the base of your makeup, set it in place using either the powder for oily skin or a spray. The best setting powder for oily skin or setting spray should be light and refreshing but strong and offer long-lasting hold. Our Fix Make-Up Spray is a light and refreshing spray that is enriched with Aloe Vera and Allantoin. It instantly soothes and moisturizes oily skin. Grapefruit extract and organic rose water are the cherries on top for a soothing sensation and long-lasting makeup.

Finish your makeup

Now that we’ve covered the preparation stage of the best makeup for oily skin routine, it’s time to apply the rest. Get to applying your chosen makeup that could include blush or bronzer, eyebrow tinter, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick, and whatever else you know pulls off the killer look.


It can be a bit of a schlep to take along your entire bag of makeup If you have a long day ahead or you are traveling away from home. Our Ever Matte Radiant Matifying Powder is the perfect portable solution. This compact contains a mattifying mineral powder that takes down shine and evens the complexion to reveal a healthy, natural glow. Apply over foundation for a radiant, matte finish, and longer-lasting hold.

4. Don’t forget to clean your face

An essential aspect of any skincare routine for oily skin is removing your makeup before going to bed. Our Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Tamarind and Purifying Micro-Pearls and Gentle Cleanser Toning Lotion with Iris (the best toner for oily skin) is the perfect addition to your post-makeup cleanse. Don’t forget to use a moisturizer for oily skin after you’ve cleansed your face to ensure that you wake up looking fresh, hydrated, and radiant.


Having oily skin doesn’t mean that your makeup has to be ruined halfway through the day! Are you ready to start with the best skincare routine for oily skin?

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