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The Dos and Don’ts of Foundation for Oily and Combination Skin
Is your foundation slipping, sliding and separating due to excess oil? Discover how to help foundation stay all day with my guide to foundation for oily and combination skin.
- 6th August 2024
- By Charlotte Tilbury
14 minute read
Darlings, when you are applying foundation for oily skin it’s so important to choose a formula that will work for your oily skin type. Foundation for oily skin will always look better when you are using formulas and techniques that work for skin that produces excess oil. In this makeup guide, I’m sharing tips and tricks on foundation for oily and combination skin to help your complexion look its best! Think smooth, flawless-looking skin that lasts all day without creasing, separating, and unwanted shine!
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Why does my foundation makeup look oily?
Oily and combination skin types produce excess oil which can give skin a sweaty, shiny, or even greasy appearance. Excess oils are secreted from facial pores and can cause problems when applying foundation; they tend to seep through throughout the day which in turn creates unwanted shine on top of your foundation. Too much oil on the skin can alter the appearance of your foundation – especially in more porous areas of the face like the T-zone and around the nose – and so this is something to bear in mind when choosing a foundation for oily skin.
Common concerns when applying foundation for oily skin
1. Foundation slipping, sliding and rolling
By nature, excess oil creates a slippery barrier between your skin and your foundation which can result in the product sliding around on the face and struggling to set down. When foundation application is disrupted by oils, this can cause your makeup base to look patchy and uneven rather than smooth and flawless.
2. Unwanted shine
Oils look shiny on the skin and have a heavy, back-from-the-gym appearance as opposed to the soft, healthy-looking glow that you get from skincare. Shine can look unflattering; emphasise the appearance of pores and skin texture; and can alter the appearance of your foundations to look heavy and less natural.
3. Poor longevity
Excess oil can cause foundation to breakdown on the face which can impede its longevity. The oils produced by our skin can melt and dissolve even some long-wearing foundations which results in separating and patchiness on the face; a shorter wear time; and more time spent touching up your makeup.
Common concerns when applying foundation for combination skin
1. Emphasising dry patches
Combination skin can experience both oily and dry patches which can cause difficulty when applying foundation. If you are reaching for a matte-finish foundation to combat excess oil, this can be at odds with any dryness on the face and may accentuate the appearance of dry patches if the formula is not hydrating enough.
2. Unwanted shine
Much like oily skin, combination skin is prone to excess oil and unwanted shine. Combination skin often produces excess oil in the T-zone – the centre of the forehead, on the nose, and around the mouth – which can lead to these areas looking shiny and accentuating the appearance of pores.
3. Uneven appearance
As combination skin is prone to different parts of the face experiencing different skin concerns, it can be tricky to get an even foundation application. Some foundations are perfect for helping to remedy skin dryness but don’t hold up on oily skin and vice versa. As a result, foundation may wear differently in some parts of the face.
Dos and don’ts when choosing the best for combination and oily skin
DOs
1. DO choose a hydrating foundation
Even oily skin types need hydration! Dehydration can occur on all skin types including oily and combination skin, so it’s important to choose a hydrating foundation formula that adds moisture back to the skin and won’t emphasise the look of dry patches or produce signs of dehydration like dehydration lines or skin dullness.
2. DO make sure your foundation is oil-free
A good way to minimise the amount of oil on your face is to choose skincare and makeup products that are oil-free. An oil-free foundation won’t add extra oil to an oily complexion which helps to avoid compounding more oils on top of the ones that oily and combination skin naturally produces an excess of.
3. DO choose a foundation with a matte finish
While glowy finishes can look beautiful on oily and combination skin, a matte foundation will be the better choice if you are concerned about applying foundation for oily skin. Matte finishes generally have less slip and set down to secure greater longevity on oil-prone skin. They also help to mattify the appearance of shine caused by excess oil while helping skin to look smooth, blurred, and poreless. I recommend a hydrating, natural-matte foundation like AIRbrush Flawless Foundation that hydrates and mattifies without looking heavy or drying.
4. DO reach for longwearing + self-setting foundations
If you want foundation to last all day on oily skin, be sure to choose a long-lasting foundation that will wear effortlessly without breaking down or separating. Excess oils can break down foundation and cause it to melt and slide around the face, so longevity is key when applying foundation for oily skin. Longwear foundations and self-setting foundations like AIRbrush Flawless Foundation are perfect for oily and combination skin that needs reassurance that foundation will stay all day and look flawless despite excess oil.
5. DO choose a buildable foundation
It’s a misconception that oily skin types can’t wear light-coverage foundations – the secret is to choose a buildable formula that layers nicely with powder and allows you to create a custom skin finish that fits your skin wish. Applying less foundation can help oily skin to look its best as there is less product for oils to disrupt! Focus a lightweight, buildable foundation like Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick in areas where you require coverage, then layer longwearing concealer and makeup setting powder to make foundation last longer and look flawless.
DON’Ts
1. DON”T choose an oil-based foundation
Always check whether the foundation you are using is oil-based, darlings. Oil-based foundation on oily skin is oil + oil! Adding more oil onto your complexion with foundation will increase the amount of oily residue on your skin and can create an even shinier, oilier skin finish. There are plenty of water-based foundations on the market that bypass this extra oil – I recommend Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation for a super-smooth, natural-looking finish, or AIRbrush Flawless Foundation for a natural-matte, full-coverage effect!
2. DON”T choose foundations with ultra-dewy finishes
Dewy-finish foundations can look gorgeous on oily and combination skin and when paired with long-lasting complexion makeup like setting powder and setting spray they can have an impressive wear time too. However, the nature of a dewy foundation is to look almost wet on the skin which can create an oil slick look on oily skin. They also have more slip than matte foundation which can make them more inclined to slip and slide around an oily complexion. To get a dewy look on oily skin, I recommend a natural-looking, light-coverage dewy foundation like Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick that’s powdered down with AIRbrush Flawless Finish and set in place with AIRbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
3. DON”T skip makeup powder
Powder is a must-have for oily and combination skin types! Your foundation will always look smoother and last longer when you have set it into place with face powder, especially if you are prone to excess oil. Powder is a beauty trick for minimising unwanted shine; blurring the look of pores; and setting makeup into place – just tap a light veil of AIRbrush Flawless Finish onto your face with my Powder & Sculpt Brush to help secure a flawless foundation look for oily and combination skin.
Tilbury Tip: If you want certain areas of your face to look more dewy, try focusing powder only in the areas where you feel you need it such as under the eyes, around the mouth, and in the T-zone.
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AIRbrush Flawless Foundation
Full coverage. Natural-matte finish. 44 shades.
Weightless, stay-all-day liquid foundation with a hydrating matte finish and 16 hour wear.
Longwear, self-setting formula for long-lasting flawless, poreless-looking skin.
Sweatproof, humidity-proof, waterproof, and transfer-resistant!
AIRbrush Flawless Foundation is an airbrush-effect foundation that sets down and stays all day for full, flawless-looking coverage. It gives your complexion a magical, matte finish that looks natural, feels weightless, and blurs the appearance of larger-looking pores which oily and combination skin are prone to. Choose AIRbrush Flawless Foundation as a long-lasting foundation with a superpowered wear time that will weather the effects of excess oil on the skin.
Get the AIRbrush look: Apply AIRbrush Flawless Foundation with my Magic Complexion Brush and it will set itself to secure instant full coverage. Follow up with AIRbrush Flawless Finish pressed powder and AIRbrush Flawless Setting Spray to give your makeup the ultimate AIRbrush EFFECT!
Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation
Medium coverage. Natural finish. 30 shades.
Smooth, buildable liquid foundation with a healthy-looking glow and 16 hour wear.
Infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening rose complex to improve the look of skin with every wear.
Skin feels 2X MORE hydrated!*
Beautiful Skin is a medium-buildable foundation with gorgeous luminosity that gives your complexion the appearance of your best skin day, every day. Choose Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation for a customisable, natural-looking foundation look that hydrates and perfects the look of oily and combination skin.
Get the Beautiful Skin look: Smooth Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation onto skin with my Magic Complexion Brush, then apply Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer to lift, brighten, and perfect the look of your complexion. Set with AIRbrush Flawless Finish and AIRbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick
Light coverage. Dewy finish. 20 shades.
Ultra-lightweight stick foundation with a second-skin glow finish.
Clinically proven to strengthen your skin barrier with a barrier-defence matrix of hyaluronic acid, Daikon raddish seed oil and vitamin E.
96% saw the LOOK of PORES was REDUCED!**
Unreal Skin is a non-comedogenic stick foundation that feels so lightweight on the skin – it’s the ultimate ‘no foundation’ foundation! Choose Unreal Skin for a barely there foundation look that makes oily skin not shine, but GLOW!
Get the Unreal Skin look: Swipe stick foundation onto your face and blend with your fingers, then tap AIRbrush Flawless Finish under the eyes and onto the T-zone and set with AIRbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
What foundations do makeup artists use for oily skin?
Darlings, each of my foundations have been used on red-carpets and runways, at events and award shows, and on sets and shoots around the world! Any of my foundations can be used on oily skin to create a gorgeous, natural-looking base. My Pro Artists love to use Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick to create glowy, light-coverage makeup that illuminates the look of oily skin; Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation to create a luminous, skin-like base that can be effortlessly built up; and AIRbrush Flawless Finish for dreamy full coverage and longevity.
STEP 1: Skincare routine for oily skin
Before you apply foundation onto any skin type, it’s important to prep skin for makeup using a supercharged skincare routine that addresses any specific skin concerns such as excess oil production. For oily and combination skin, using a hydrating cleanser like Charlotte’s Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser will help to wash away excess sebum; pore-refining products such as my Glow Toner and Goddess Skin Clay Mask will help to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores; and choosing an ultra-lightweight gel moisturiser like Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream will moisturise skin without feeling heavy or clogging pores.
STEP 2: prime with a blurring makeup primer
Did you know that you can use Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray as a refreshing face primer, darlings? My high-performance setting spray is infused with aromatic resin which helps to keep pores clear, as well as soothing aloe vera that helps keep the skin feeling smooth and supple. Misting setting spray onto the face before makeup helps to prime oily skin while blurring the look of pores for that airbrushed, flawless-looking canvas for makeup!
Tilbury Tip: I like to apply Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF50 to hydrate oily skin while providing UVA/UVB defence and a pore-blurring effect before adding a spritzing of AIRbrush Flawless Setting Spray over the top.
STEP 3: APPLY MY BEST FOUNDATION FOR OILY SKIN
With my Hollywood Complexion Brush, apply your chosen foundation to create a flawless foundation look for oily and combination skin. For an even application, I recommend applying foundation to the centre of your face and blending outwards towards the ears, neck, and hairline. Use your brush to blend out any streaking or brush strokes until your foundation looks smooth and even.
Learn more about your perfect foundation for oily and combination skin in my guide to foundation finishes.
Tilbury Tip: To add coverage under the eyes, apply Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer to brighten and perfect the look of your eye area and blend upwards for a lift effect.
STEP 4: SET MAKEUP WITH POWDER
Adding a veil of pressed powder to your foundation will help it to look smoother and more blurring, as well as increasing its longevity on oily and combination skin. Powder also helps to remove any unwanted shine and softly mattifies skin to minimise the appearance of pores. With my Powder & Sculpt Brush, apply AIRbrush Flawless Finish pressed powder in any areas that are prone to producing excess oils and creasing such as the T-zone, on the cheeks, under the eyes and around the mouth.
Tilbury Tip: Powder is the number one way to stay on top of your oils throughout the day! Pop a travel-sized version into your bag for easy, on-the-go touch ups!
STEP 5: Lock makeup down with setting spray
After you’ve applied my magical makeup for the lips, cheeks and eyes, it’s time to lock in your look with another round of Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray! My AIRbrush family is a perfect match for oily and combination skin as it’s designed to create long-lasting makeup looks that appear smooth and matte. AIRbrush Flawless Setting Spray is my ultimate AIRBRUSH fix! Formulated to set makeup in place for up to 16 HOURS*, my iconic setting spray is the final seal of approval for locking foundation in place whatever your skin type! Mist setting spray over the top of your foundation and powder to give oily and combination skin a smoothing, pore-blurring effect and increase the longevity of your makeup! The weightless formula creates a fine film over your makeup that helps to increase its wear time, and it also helps powder products to mesh into the skin for the most airbrushed, flawless-looking finish!
Tilbury Tip: Reapply Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray throughout the day as the ultimate makeup refresher!
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Foundation for Oily Skin: More FAQs
Is oil-free foundation better for oily skin?
Yes – I always recommend that anyone with oily or combination skin steers clear of oil-based beauty products. Products that are formulated with large amounts of oil will only increase the amount of excess oil that sits on the skin, so I suggest reaching for products that are formulated with little or no oil such as oil-free foundation to help reduce the levels appearance of oil on your face.
Is matte or dewy foundation better for oily skin?
Matte foundation – you can make any foundation work for your oily or combination skin, darlings, but some will need to work harder than others. Generally, I find a matte foundation to be easier to work with on oily skin. A smooth, matte finish is perfect for blurring the appearance of pores and mattifying shine, and is likely to have a longer wear time than dewy and glow-finish foundations that may struggle to hold up when exposed to excess oil.
How do you get makeup to stay on oily skin?
The secret to flawless-looking foundation for oily skin is threefold: skin prep, a long-lasting foundation, and high-performance setting powder and setting spray. When skin is prepped correctly with skincare products that help to balance reduce the appearance of and control oil production, makeup glides on more smoothly and has a better chance at lasting longer. Choosing a foundation for oily skin that ticks all the boxes like being hydrating, mattifying, and long-lasting will also improve the longevity of your makeup look. All you need now is a setting powder and setting spray combination that can lock in your look for long-lasting makeup magic!
What primer is best for oily skin?
Blurring, mattifying, and pore-filling primers are the best primer options for oily skin. Applying a primer on oily skin can help to create a silky-smooth base for foundation to layer onto, as well as forming a barrier between skin and makeup to help with oil control.
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Author Details
Charlotte Tilbury
Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.
