“Ahhhh! I’m melting! I’m melting!”-The Wicked Witch of the West
Pouring more oil on top of an oil slick sounds pretty counterintuitive, doesn’t it? ‘2 oils don’t make a right…’ (pun, intended). When you suffer from oily skin it can be challenging to find makeup that doesn’t slide right off your face. Don’t give up! There is hope! There are some amazing makeup products out there whose sole purpose is to make you, my oily-faced friend, look your very best! We’ve put together a complete guide of the best makeup for oily skin.
The Best Of The Best Natural and Organic Makeup Brands For Oily Skin
There are some keywords that you should avoid when shopping for makeup products. The words; luminous, radiant, shine, shimmer, glow, and dewy-finish. Any product that contains any of these words shouldn’t be within a 5 mile radius of your face. When you have oily skin, you already have natural luminosity and shine. Adding more will draw attention to pores and fine lines, not to mention turn your face into a disco ball. There are some keywords that you should be looking for. Those words are; matte, satin, long-wearing, and oil-free.
Control Oily Skin With A Matte & Satin Finish
If something is described as being matte or having a satin finish, it means it’s dull and lacking shine. That might sound like something you don’t want. Who really wants to be ‘dull’? Well, you do. You already have the shine so by adding a lightweight matte or satin finish foundation, you will still have some shine but it will be less noticeable and your skin won’t look like it’s melting off your face. Plus you’re more likely to avoid an acne breakout. There is a very slight difference in matte and satin, with satin having a touch of sheen. Satin is still considered a good, safe choice for those with oily skin.
Bare Minerals Matte Foundation
Bare Minerals Matte Foundation is considered by many to be the Holy Grail of matte foundations. It offers great coverage with a natural, your-skin-but-better finish. The container is a “click, lock, go” sifter which keeps too much product from being poured out. The powder feels like silk and it’s easy to blend.
The lasting power averaged a good 6-8 hours before some forehead shine started demanding my attention. If you are interested in all-natural mineral makeup, make sure to check out the makeup brands on this post.
Long-Lasting & Oil-Free Makeup
Using a foundation that isn’t oil-free could create more problems for someone with oily skin; clogged pores, irritation, and blemishes. That’s why looking for those 2 magic words (“oil-free”) is so important.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation is oil-free and contains clay which is well-known for its oil absorbing properties! This foundation has a beautiful satin-matte finish and works great at diminishing the size of pores and evening out an uneven complexion. Very blendable and lightweight. It will stay exactly where you put it. Another plus, it comes in a large range of shades.
Aveda’s Inner Light Mineral Dual Foundation
Aveda’s Inner Light Mineral Dual Foundation is very lightweight, virtually translucent, and feels like air. It applies best with a makeup/blender sponge. This natural foundation sets pretty quickly so you should work pretty fast. The product leaves a satin finish and gives you an absolutely flawless, even complexion.
It has exceptional coverage and it made my face feel so soft I had to keep telling myself to stop touching my face! The staying power was around 8 hours and then it needed some re-touching around the t-zone.
Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation
Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation is a fine mineral powder that does a great job evening out your complexion and covering mild redness. This mattifying powders available in 9 shades and is buildable if you use multiple light layers. If you apply too thick of layers, the foundation might crease under your eyes. It has a flattering matte-satin finish.
Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Makeup
Physician’s Formula Organic Wear foundation is organic, cruelty free, free of synthetic fragrance, and also my least favorite foundation out of the 3. The coverage is good. It easily stays put for 8-12 hours without needing to touch up your face, however, it is super difficult to blend!
Fingertips, sponge, brush– all had the same end result. It’s a nice (i.e. slightly cakey) powder foundation (“fine milled powder from Italy”) that doesn’t settle into any creases or accentuate larger pores. You can usually find Physicians Formula at your local drugstore.
Botanic Age Defense Beautifully Marble Foundation
If you’re after a long-lasting foundation–this. is. it. It’s incredibly smooth and easy to apply, it just glide across your face. As of right now the color shade selection is limited but hopefully that will change as more and more people are becoming educated consumers and turning better solutions to their beauty needs.
For more organic foundations to test out, you’ll want to
Oil-Control Organic Makeup For Cheeks
Juice Beauty Glowing Organic Cheek Color
Juice Beauty has beautiful cheek colors in Fig and Pink. It is a loose powder with organic acai and goji berries. The colors are so subtle but still give you a noticeable flush, healthy appearance. This blush would be perfect for oily skin. With it being a mineral powder it would be additional support in keeping your face oil free and looking beautiful.
All About The Eyes – Best Oil Control Primer and Eyeshadow
Finding the right foundation isn’t the only challenge for those with oily skin. Eyeshadows can be too! If you have an oily face AND this extends to your eyelids—double whammy! Again, have no fear. There are excellent products to stop the eyeshadow from losing its pigmentation and seeping into your lids.
The All Natural Face Vegan Oily Lid Eyeshadow Primer
Inexpensive and it works! This beauty secret is becoming less of a secret, thanks to consumers flocking to try more natural products. Eyeshadow primer is a must-have if your eyelids are moderate-severe oily.
Not only does it keep your eyeshadow in place it also temporarily slightly tightens/firms your eyelids, seemingly ‘erasing crows feet/fine lines.
Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette
When I first saw this palette I immediately thought “take me on vacation!”. It has 12 gorgeous eye shadows that are matte. The colors would look amazing on almost any skin tone, from the very fair to dark. All the colors are matte and highly pigmented.
You could do a dark smokey eye to a daytime neutral ‘barely there’ look. You can have these shadows on all day and not see any creasing or fading until you wash your face at night (which I hope you do!). Having all these colors in one palette would make this ideal to bring on your next vacation.
Oil Control Organic Makeup For Lips
Ecco Bella Vitamin E Lip Smoothers
If your favorite lipstick and your favorite lip balm had a child, this would be it. Ecco Bella Vitamin E Lip Smoothers are packed full of beneficial, non-toxic ingredients and are very moisturizing with a slight kick of color. There are 4 shades with Sugar Plum and Spice being the 2 standouts that would look great with any skin tone. Check out some our other favorite Ecco Bella products
The Bottom Line For Finding The Best Organic Makeup For Oily Skin
I hope you see that there are many options available to you, and having oily-skin isn’t a curse–it’s a blessing! (..okay..maybe not that far!) Those that suffer from dry skin would love to have oily-skin for a day and vice versa. If cost is prohibiting you from being able to purchase products geared for your skin type, work with what you have and then slowly integrate products geared towards your skin condition. For example, if you already have a primer for your face, there is no reason why you can’t use it on your eyelids. Organizing your current makeup products can help you see what gaps you need to fill.
Also, if you don’t have mineral powder blush, try experimenting with berry colored eyeshadows and loose powder. For lips, mix up some lip balm and a rosy colored eyeshadow or actual fruit juice (i.e. raspberries, strawberries, etc.). If you are using foundation for normal to dry skin but you actually have oily skin–skip the foundation on your entire face. Just use a few dabs under your eyes and chin and then set with powder.