Best Foundation & Makeup Tips for Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you know the struggle—your makeup looks flawless in the morning, but by midday, shine starts creeping in, and your foundation starts slipping. The good news? With the right products and techniques, you can keep your skin looking fresh, matte, and radiant all day long.

Prep Your Skin with a Mattifying Primer

The secret to a long-lasting, matte makeup look starts before foundation. A good primer helps create a smooth base, controls excess oil, and blurs the appearance of pores. The Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring does all of that without feeling heavy or drying. It’s oil-free, lightweight, and perfect for keeping your foundation in place.

Choose the Right Foundation

Finding the perfect foundation for oily skin is a game-changer. The Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation gives you a soft matte finish that feels like second skin. It’s sweat and humidity resistant, meaning no midday meltdowns—just smooth, natural-looking coverage that lasts.

Artistry Tip: Use a damp beauty blender for a more natural finish or a foundation brush for fuller coverage.

Or Keep It Light with a Matte Tinted Moisturizer

For those no-makeup makeup days, or if you prefer something more breathable, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blurred Matte SPF 30 is your go-to. It gives just the right amount of coverage while controlling shine. Plus, it has microalgae to help balance oil production over time. Just apply with your fingers for a seamless, natural look.

Set It with Translucent Loose Setting Powder

A great setting powder is a must for oily skin. The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur locks in makeup, absorbs excess oil, and blurs imperfections without looking dry or cakey. It’s talc-free and weightless, so it never feels heavy. Simply press the powder into your skin using the Laura Mercier Velour Puff for longer-lasting results. If you're curious on the best way to apply setting powder, check our blog on the velour puff application for more insider tips.

Artistry Tip:

• Double set areas that need more blurring, like fine lines, large pores, and texture. 
• Spot set difficult-to-reach areas, like around nostrils, with a small flat tapered brush like Camouflage Powder Brush.

Stick to Matte Blush & Bronzers

If you have oily skin, shimmery or creamy blushes and bronzers can sometimes make you look even shinier. Instead, opt for matte formulas that add warmth and dimension without extra glow. 

The Laura Mercier Bronze Color Infusion is a sheer, buildable powder bronzer that blends seamlessly without adding extra shine. It gives you that naturally sun-kissed look without looking muddy or overdone. Apply lightly to the high points of your face—forehead, cheekbones, and jawline using the Angled Cheek Contour Brush for a natural warmth.

Blush: It's is a game-changer for bringing life to your complexion. But for oily skin, a matte or satin-finish powder blush is best. The Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion is long-wearing, weightless, and blends effortlessly for a soft-focus flush that stays put. Simply apply color on the apples of your cheeks and blend upward toward your temples using the Cheek Color Brush.

Avoid Creamy Highlighters

Highlighter doesn’t have to mean extra shine. The Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Highlighting Powder gives a customizable glow that starts subtle and builds to high-impact illumination. Unlike cream or liquid highlighters, which can sometimes emphasize oiliness, this powder formula melts seamlessly into the skin without looking greasy.

Midday Shine? Blot, Don’t Pile on More Powder

Even with the best mattifying products, a little shine might peek through by the afternoon. Instead of layering on more powder (which can start looking heavy), gently blot with a tissue or blotting paper. Then, if needed, lightly touch up with powder using a fluffy brush.