9 best mattifying foundations for oily skin

The reformulated Dior Forever foundation also comes in two finishes – matte and glow (in the same eight shades). Although both promise shine-free finish, we recommend those with oily skin to go for the matte version. It has absorbent spherical powders to absorb shine.

You can never leave out this oldie but goldie – the Double Wear foundation sets to a natural matte finish that doesn’t oxidise, and lasts for long hours on the skin. Minimal to no touch-ups required, too. 

This cream-to-powder foundation gives a flawless, non-greasy finish that stays put all day. We were bowled away by how this stayed intact and fresh-looking even after a 90-minute full-body massage session.

This liquid foundation is formulated with Alpine berry extract, Damask rose extract and hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated all day. And since hydrated skin is less likely to overproduce sebum, the foundation is suitable for people with oily and dehydrated skin.

Another breathable foundation, this new foundation from beauty giant L’Oreal Paris has oil absorbers that make it sweat- and water-resistant. The formula is also non-comedogenic so it doesn’t clog pores.

There are two types of finish for this compact foundation (Slender Matte and Slender Glow). Go for the former if you have oily-skin. The powder gives a lightweight, barely-there finish so it doesn’t suffocate skin. The formula also has nine botanical oils, including grapeseed oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil and shea butter to keep skin moisturised, and tea tree oil to combat blemishes.

Tested in Singapore’s weather (yes, the Japanese brand chose our sunny island of all places to test the durability of their foundation), this foundation has a breakthrough formula that forms a “net” on skin for a second-skin finish. It has oil absorbers (a sponge-like powder) that absorbs sebum and sweat so your foundation looks fresh and natural the entire day. Plus, its 24 shades are developed based on an extensive study of over 3,000 Asian women, from North to South Asia, so chances are, you’ll be able to find a shade that disappears into your skin for a truly natural look.

This whip-textured foundation has hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin and antioxidant-rich white birch extract to protect skin’s moisture barrier. It gives full coverage and is free from nasties such as mineral oil, sulphates, parabens and more, which means it’s less likely to clog up skin too.

This full-coverage powder foundation helps diminish the appearance of enlarged pores. Rice powder extract helps hide blemishes while kaolin (a mineral clay) imparts a matte finish without drying out skin.