13 best foundations for oily skin and large pores, tested and reviewed by us

Smooth coverage: check. Redness reducing: check. Hydrating: check. This foundation ticks all the boxes. Created with fermented arnica, the clever formula delivers ultra comfortable, longwear performance without compromising your skin. Available in a huge range of shades, it's packed with pigment to provide an even finish that feels weightless while blurring skin.

This has been a favourite of mine for the past year. I rely on it for giving my skin a natural, luminous finish on any occasion: be it for an everyday look or a full glam moment. I love the buildable coverage, the glowy finish and the fact that it doesn't slip around on my face throughout the day.

Designed to plump and hydrate your complexion, this light-as-air foundation blurs imperfections while delivering a healthy glow. It's also infused with hyaluronic acid and peptides to promote soft and supple skin texture.

If you're looking for a brightening foundation that looks natural and undetectable on skin, this is it. Choose from 20 shades.

Because this half skincare, half makeup BB cream is so kind to skin, this is the foundation I reach for if my complexion is feeling especially irritated. It really does camouflage and clear imperfections and the lightweight formula also helps to hydrate skin - win win!

If you want a lightweight, full-coverage foundation with a comfortable finish, then I can't rate this enough. The smoothing formula hydrates my skin, but still lasts all day.

This buildable foundation gives just the right amount of coverage - not too heavy, but more than a tinted moisturiser - and has the added benefit of a breathable formula. It melts into the skin like butter - without looking cakey or heavy - and blends out beautifully with a sponge or make-up brush.

I adore this foundation. When I'm after a quick, glowy base this is what I reach for. A small amount covers every acne scar, patch of redness and dark circle, and it's the perfect foundation if I know that I'm going to be out all day.

I was impressed that this hydrating CC cream competed with - and even outperformed - many standard foundations that I've tried, creating flawless full-coverage with a comfortable finish. I was surprised that it applies quite sheer at first but becomes more matte as it melds into the skin.

It's a newer version of the brand's original Your Skin But Better CC+ formula and contains charcoal, hyaluronic acid, tea tree extract and colloidal clay (which helps to suck out excess oil). While diehard fans of the original formulation might be resistant to the matte finish, on the whole, it's a great everyday option for those with oily skin.

I am obsessed with this foundation for oily skin. It's got everything I want: a lightweight formula that mattifies without feeling heavy. It's so breathable and just lets your skin look flawless without clogging pores. The pro-ceramide and vitamin B3 in it are like a little skincare bonus that smooths everything out and keeps it feeling fresh.

All in all, this just proves my theory that Trinny Woodall can do no wrong when it comes to makeup. This foundation gives perfect medium coverage, and the texture is so fine - it doesn’t sink into fine lines or feel cakey at all. It’s like your skin, but better. If you're looking for a foundation that gives you a natural, polished finish while keeping oil in check, this is definitely worth trying.

Okay, let me just say - this foundation has some serious skincare power packed into it. I’m talking about a ceramide-peptide complex that actually helps firm and strengthen the skin barrier, which is pretty impressive for a makeup product. It's also those skincare ingredients included in the formula that help to give this foundation the incredible luminous finish it delivers. It's not the usual shiny glow, but more like a natural, lit-from-within kind of radiance.

For a matte foundation, it really surprised me. It controls oil where you need it, but it doesn’t make your skin look flat or dry - it just keeps everything balanced. Now, it’s probably not my go-to for covering my acne scars since it’s not quite full enough, but for days when I need something quick, easy, and still gorgeous, I’ll definitely be reaching for this. It’s a no-brainer for when I’m on the go.

I love how this foundation makes my skin look - I get so many compliments every time I wear it. It’s like my secret weapon for that flawless, blurred skin look. You can apply it with your fingers, but if you have oily skin, using a brush really helps you build up that perfect coverage without it getting greasy or sliding around.

The texture is dreamy - so smooth and silky, it just glides on like butter. Plus, it really does last, it stays put for hours. If you hit the gym you might need a few powder touch-ups, but it’s definitely one of the more long-lasting formulas I’ve tried.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation is great for oily skin as it's designed to stay all day (or night) and includes ActiveForce+ Technology that synchronises with skin and helps to resist heat, humidity, oil and motion. The semi-matte, long-wearing formula protects skin from the environment while imparting a flawless finish.

It delivers a lightweight coverage to leave skin looking and feeling fresh, minimise the appearance of uneven skin tone and protect against UVA and UVB, along with an array of hydrating and protective skincare ingredients to provide moisture and prevent damage. It lasts through tube commutes, walks in the rain and dinners out, without even a hint of oiliness coming to the surface.

This soft matte foundation is long-lasting and feels lightweight on the skin. It seamlessly blends into the skin in seconds, whether you apply it with a sponge, brush or fingers. The formula is buildable, buttery smooth and never clogs my pores while also providing a good amount of coverage. It's a great middle-of-the-road option that's not overly dewy but not completely matte either.

On my skin, it yields a satin-y finish that I can wear during the day to quickly even out my complexion or build up at night for full coverage. The best part? It's made using good-for-you ingredients like oil-absorbing silica, soothing sugar kelp, and hydrating hyaluronic acid, so it's great for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A foundation that you can achieve light to medium coverage with but also build up for more intense opacity is a makeup bag staple, and I love this one from Pat McGrath. I really liked the light texture and how it felt on my skin, especially after the full day of wearing it.

Overall, I was really impressed with this product. The only thing I could fault is the texture which was a little too runny for my liking, but overall my blemishes were far less noticeable once I had built it up a little (concealed about 80% of the way).

The Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick is a multi-tasking foundation stick that melts into the skin, yet it provides buildable coverage that's lightweight and hydrating. It's designed to provide all-day moisture for all skin types, but without any acne-triggering ingredients.

I loved the easy application - it goes on like a concealer and blends easily into breathable, luminous coverage that plays well with other makeup. I also loved how portable it was, making touch-ups convenient if needed.

A little goes a very long way with this creamy texture, which helps control excess oil with a flawless, matte finish. I absolutely love this foundation for my full glam looks. It holds up so well that I can go the whole day without having to touch it up.

The long-wearing full coverage helps to improve skin texture while reducing the appearance of pores. I also like that it doesn't make my skin look oily despite how nourishing and hydrating it feels. It is amazing, especially on my oily, acne-prone skin.