A matte foundation is arguably the most important tool in an oily-skinned persons kit.
The right formula will soak up oil and sweat, blur imperfections and stay locked into place for far longer than their luminous counterparts. Even if you don’t have oily skin, the longevity matte foundations offer makes them pretty enticing.
Because there’s no shortage of marvelous mattes, heres 16 of our all-time faves.
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Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup
Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup gives just the right amount of coverage, without feeling greasy or heavy on the skin. The flawless foundation stays matte all day, and it has been formulated specifically for oily skin types. The matte formula has been intensified with laminaria saccharina extract to help regulate sebum production, and willow bark extract absorbs oil to keep skin feeling fresh.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation is a full-coverage foundation that protects skin from oil and sweat while maintaining even coverage.
Rimmel London Lasting Matte Foundation
Rimmel London Lasting Matte Foundation feels light on the skin and offers long-lasting shine control leaving you looking flawless but not flat.
Maybelline New York FIT me! Matte + Poreless Foundation
Maybelline New York FIT me! Matte + Poreless Foundation mattifies the skin while controling shine and reducing the appearance of shine. Micro-powders in the formula absorb oil for an airbrushed finish all day long.
Models Prefer Liquid Foundation
Models Prefer Liquid Foundation is not only a total bargain at $10, the oil-free foundation is hydrating, full coverage and matte.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear offers 25 hours of high coverage without any need for touch ups. The finish is velvety and radiant without looking cakey or fake.
Yves Saint Laurent Encre De Peau All Hours Foundation
Yves Saint Laurent Encre De Peau All Hours Foundation has a waterproof, transfer-resistant finish that stays locked in place for 24-hours.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10 is a semi-matte foundation that remains flawless throughout the day without going patchy or smudging off.
Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation
Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation (mecca.com.au, $60) has a natural finish that offers a medium ‘your skin but better’ coverage.
bareMinerals barePRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation
bareMinerals barePRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (mecca.com.au, $52) is flawlessly full-coverage, with an oil-free formula that works wonders on oily skin.
Beautyblender Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation
Beautyblender Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation (sephora.com.au, $64) is a weightless, velvet-matte foundation that stays silky smooth for 24 hours of wear.
Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation
Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation (sephora.com.au, $70) contains ultra-refined pigments that conceal blemishes and blur imperfections, leaving skin with an airbrushed finish.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate
With Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate (sephora.com.au, $79) a little goes a long way. The highly-concentrated formula offers twice as much coverage as most other foundations, and that coverage lasts for 24-hours.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (sephora.com.au, $52) is an instagram filter in a bottle. The longwear foundation packs and punch, giving skin an instantly smooth, pore-reduced, shine-free finish that’s resistant to sweat and humidity.
Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation
Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (sephora.com.au, $67) blurs imperfections on the skin with it’s undetectable, medium coverage.
BECCA Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation
BECCA Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation (sephora.com.au, $64) is a 24-hours waterproof and transfer-resistant foundation with a breathable yet airbrushed finish.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup is one of my favourite foundations for my dry skin. The foundation doesn't need powder to set it, and it doesn't settle into larger pores and accentuate them, creating a horrible polka dots look. I apply the foundation with a blending sponge to minimise the cake-face appearance.
I have dry skin, and I prefer a dewy finish. I’ve never tried any of these.
Right now fave is Guerlain L'essentiel (packaging sucked me in and the ingredients). Do have oilier skin (t zone eek) and good skincare base plus this foundation…man, airbrushed look-perfection! Long lasting too
I really like all of these
I've still got a little bit of my EL one in that cute sample pot. Will be probably buying some after it's all gone. It's good stuff.
I have wanted to try that Marc Jacobs foundation for ages.
Mark Jacobs looks divine
I went to the spa yesterday and ive been classing my skin as normal/dry but they informed me its normal/oily….how could i not know this?…lol
Really good to know! I have a bottle at home as well but I don’t use it often.
How was it???
Me too, I always think that I’m dry combination but at the Clinique counter they told me I am oily combination but my skin peels and flakes if I don’t use a face oil and they told me to exfoliate but that meant my skin became raw and red.
I know best and you know best!
There are lots of choices up there!
This article was perfect for me, I’ve taken down so many suggestions! My favorite that I’ve tried from the list is the fenty foundation, a must have for anyone with oily skin.
Make up Forever is a foundation that suits my skin and look perfectly. Ive had quite a few makeup trials at Mecca and also Sephora and yet to find a foundation that compares.
I must sat there are a few showcased that do look inviting but as I'm on a budget I will stick with what works.
I can’t live without matte foundation
Some great picks here. I've never heard of the Beautyblender brand but the shade shown looks great for my skin tone.
I’ve used maybelline fit me foundation and I like it. Some good picks for matte foundation here.
My skin is normal/dry, but I do love matte foundation.
Not really into matte foundations at the moment, but I quite like the Maybelline FitMe foundation.
I usually prefer dewy but the Lancome is so good.
i have only ever used the maybelline fit me out of these foundations and it is absolutely incredible! im usually quite an oily person, but i only need this foundation throughout the day and hardly need to use any powder, only when i am using my bronzer!
My fave is Clinique even better glow foundation – not exactly matte but not oily or shiny either
The Fenty one was a let down so I'm sticking to my sheer to medium coverage rn. I don't really like the all matte look.
I wish I could use either of them, I have dry skin and matt foundations just don't seem to agree with me. I'm glad there are so many options for that matt finish that I can recommend to my friends who have oily skin
I haven't tried any of these, I don't have oily skin and prefer a fairly sheer foundation.
Although I have dry skin, at the moment in this hot and humid weather, some of the foundations in the article would possibly suit my skin
I have normal to dry skin. The Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation is super high coverage and I would only wear it for photos. Quite thick and dries very quickly when applying. Photographs well though, which is why i bought it. My favourite foundation which never lets me down is NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. I don't like to wear foundation regularly though; only for special occasions.
Clinique looks good, and I am keen to try try their new BB cream
No point even trying to wear makeup in summer for me. As soon as something goes onto my skin I sweat, and the makeup drips off with it—doesn’t matter how matte or even waterproof it is supposed to be.
I haven't used matte foundation for a very long time. Most of these foundations pictured are more like a satin or semi matte finish for me. A true matte foundation ia difficult to find. GA used to make a "matte silk" foundation. I think it is now called Lasting Silk, but not sure if the formulation is exactly the same
Received the Lancome one in a BH trial a while ago. Found it quite heavy and the coverage was a bit too much for me.
I don't have oily skin but do have the Lancome which is just a bit too thick for me so using a good primer helps. Lately I prefer Estee Lauder which gives a more natural looking finish.
I love matte foundations but have been noticing my skin is getting drier as I get older so I need more of a satin finish
Matte is definitely the way to go. I'd like to try Maybelline's NY Fit Me
I like the Lancôme, it leaves a lovely finish on my normal to dry skin.
I prefer a more dewy finish
Would love to try the YSL!!
I havent tried any of these.
Maybe I should try some of those.
Very much feeling the same!!
I’m definitely going to grab some samples of the Marc Jacobs and YSL foundation!
So many foundation brands. I want to try one by one.
A really great list of drugstore and high end – I really want to try the Maybelline and L'Oreal ones.
I found Loreal Infallible worked the best on my skin
A lot of people I've spoken to absolutely love the Estee Lauder. I know its crazy, but I actually haven't tried it myself. I've tried a sample of it in the wrong shade though, but it covered everything I wanted it to so well.
Born this was is a favourite of mine, but it's way more dewy than matte!
Could not stand fenty! Showed up lines I didn't know I even had :O
estee lauder's foundation is absolutely amazing, i love it!
Me too, so many recommendations!
I’ve never tried it but that’s interesting to know
Love a good matte foundation as I have an oily t zone! The Clinique one looks interesting