Aisling McDermott on Beauty: The five best foundations for oily skin

Women with oily skin have never had it better when it comes to foundations. The new formulas are light, often feel weightless on the skin and, although they are incredibly fluid, they still provide very good coverage and can last all day without re-application. My oily-skinned testers have been on a mission to find the best on the market. Our criteria: bases that keep oiliness in check for as long as possible and leave skin feeling comfortable and looking natural.

1 Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide

If your skin is oily, acne-prone and blemished, you will love this foundation. It is very matte and will put up a fight against dreaded shine. It manages to blend very easily, and the choice of more than 20 shades means there will be one to suit your skin colour. The coverage will last all day without any need for powder. Just make sure to give it a good shake before each use as some of the ingredients can settle.

2 Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse

In a blind testing, I challenge anyone to detect that this foundation costs less than €8, as it performs just as well as many of its higher-priced counterparts. Only a tiny amount is needed to cover a full face. It masks blemishes without looking heavy and lasts all day with a dab of blotting paper or powder. Catrice All Matt Plus is another good budget buy.

3 Clarins Ever Matte Foundation

This foundation is almost universally loved by oily-skinned women because it suits almost everyone, regardless of age. It provides all-day coverage with a comfortable non-shine finish that does not look overly matte. Make sure to exfoliate well to stop the formula from clinging to any flaky or dry patches.

4 Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

Water-based foundations are ideal for oily skin as they do not weigh it down or add additional shine. Although this one has “luminous” in the title, do not worry: it will not add shimmer. Instead, this means that the coverage is not a flat matte, and you will find that, although the formulation is extremely liquid, it only takes a scant half pump to cover your whole face and to cancel out any redness and blemishes.

5 YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

Another foundation that seem so thin that you think it cannot make any difference. You would be wrong as oily and combination skin will be mattified, the look of pores will be diminished and skin tone evened. For even longer shine control if your skin is very oily, try Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24 Hour.

• amcdermott@irishtimes.com
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