The best long-lasting makeup for oily skin, by product type and routine
By Ulta Beauty · September 2026
All products featured are available at Ulta Beauty. Ulta Beauty Advisors select products independently. Prices and availability are subject to change.
The best long-lasting makeup for oily skin starts with an oil-control primer, moves through a matte-finish foundation and crease-proof concealer, and locks everything in place with a loose setting powder and a finishing spray. On oily skin, each step in the routine has a specific job: primer gives foundation something to grip so it does not slide; setting powder absorbs oil as it surfaces through the day; setting spray fuses all the layers together so oil cannot break them apart. Skip any step and the whole routine suffers. The seven products below build a complete routine from first step to last, selected for their track record on oily, combination, and shine-prone complexions. Each one earns its place because it addresses a specific failure point that oily skin creates.
e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer
Oil-Control Primer | $11.00
Shop e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer at Ulta →
On oily skin, primer is not optional. Foundation applied directly over bare skin sits on top of surface oil and begins to slide within hours. The e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer creates a smooth, oil-absorbing base that gives foundation something to grip.
The texture is the key to how this primer works: it applies almost like a light clay, slightly tacky without feeling heavy, and dries to a blurred matte finish that softens the appearance of pores. Apply with clean fingers, pressing into the skin rather than dragging, and let it set for two minutes before moving to foundation. Foundation and concealer applied over it have a grippy, oil-absorbing surface to adhere to, which extends their wear compared to applying over bare skin.
Key specs: Squalane · Oil-Control · Pore-Minimizing · Matte Finish · Fragrance-Free · Vegan · Cruelty-Free
Application Tip: Press the primer into the skin with clean fingers rather than dragging across the surface.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation
Full Coverage Longwear Matte Foundation | $52.00
Shop Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation at Ulta →
For oily skin, a foundation's finish and staying power matter more than coverage level alone. A high-coverage formula with a dewy or satin finish will look shiny and heavy within hours on oily skin; a formula with a true matte finish will hold far longer under the same conditions. The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation delivers full, buildable coverage and dries to a flat matte finish that holds its position under heat and humidity.
The formula is oil-free and sets to a genuine matte rather than a satin, so it does not read as shiny under warm or bright light. The shade range is organized by depth and undertone using Cool, Neutral, and Warm designations, which makes finding the correct match more precise than unstructured shade naming allows. Layered over the e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, it holds longer than it does applied directly over bare skin.
Key specs: Oil-Free · Full Coverage · Matte Finish · Longwear · Shade Range Organized by Undertone · Humidity-Resistant · Heat-Stable
Application Tip: Apply with a damp beauty sponge using a pressing and rolling motion rather than dragging. Pressing pushes the formula into skin instead of pulling it across the surface, which produces a smoother matte finish and more even wear. Work one section at a time and let each area begin to set before moving on.
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
Full Coverage Matte Concealer | $32.00
Shop Tarte Shape Tape Concealer at Ulta →
Concealer tends to fail on oily skin in one of two ways: it creases into fine lines around the eyes, or it breaks down and turns shiny where oil from surrounding skin works its way underneath it. Tarte Shape Tape resists both. The high-pigment formula has a matte, slightly tacky texture that sets quickly and holds through the day without creasing or oxidizing noticeably.
It provides enough coverage to layer without looking caked, which matters for under-eye work on oily skin where heavy application settles into texture. The coverage is also strong enough to serve as a blemish and redness concealer. The flat-end applicator brush built into the wand offers enough precision for under-eye application and enough control for targeted spot coverage.
Key specs: Full Coverage · Matte Finish · Built-In Applicator Brush · Long-Wearing · Cruelty-Free
Application Tip: Apply the concealer, then press loose setting powder directly on top while it is still slightly tacky. That window before it fully dries is when powder bonds best to the formula, and it extends wear compared to powdering after the concealer has set.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Translucent Loose Setting Powder | $43.00
Shop Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder at Ulta →
Setting powder is the most underestimated step in a long-lasting makeup routine for oily skin. Without it, foundation and concealer sit on the skin's surface as a thin film that oil pushes through within hours. With it, both products are set into the powder matrix, held in place, and protected from oil breakthrough for longer.
The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder uses an ultra-fine talc-based formula that sets makeup without adding opacity or a powdery finish. It absorbs oil throughout the day without causing dryness or a cakey appearance, and it works across all skin tones without casting. Apply all over the face with a fluffy powder brush, then concentrate additional powder into the T-zone using a slightly denser brush to press it in. It is also the standard product used for baking: applying a heavier layer under the eyes and letting it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before brushing away the excess locks concealer in place for the day.
Key specs: Ultra-Fine Translucent Formula · Oil-Absorbing · Talc-Based · Works on All Skin Tones · Loose Powder Format
Baking Guide: Apply a concentrated amount of this powder under the eyes with a damp beauty sponge while the concealer is still slightly tacky. Let it sit for 5 minutes while you complete the rest of your face. Brush the excess away with a fluffy brush. The concealer underneath will be locked and will not crease or shift.
NARS Blush
Pressed Powder Blush | $36.00
Shop NARS Blush at Ulta →
Blush on oily skin needs to be a powder formula. Cream and liquid blushes are formulated to melt into the skin's surface, which works well on dry or normal skin but causes them to slide, migrate, and fade quickly on oily complexions. Powder blush applied over setting powder grips the matte base and holds its position through the day in a way that cream formulas do not on oily skin.
NARS Blush is a finely milled pressed powder blush with dense pigment that builds from sheer to saturated depending on the amount applied. The formula does not sit powdery or chalky on the skin's surface, and it performs well on a set, powdered base through extended wear. The shade range covers natural nudes to vivid corals, with the brand's Orgasm shade offering a peachy-pink with fine golden shimmer that reads well across a range of skin tones. Apply with a tapered blush brush in a sweeping motion from the apple of the cheek toward the temple.
Key specs: Pressed Powder · Buildable Coverage · Finely Milled · 30+ Shades · Long-Wearing on Oily Skin
Shade Selection Tip: For oily skin that tends to look flat or dull by midday, a warm peach or coral shade reads as fresh color rather than a surface overlay. Cool pink shades can lose saturation under strong light as the day progresses.
Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof Lengthening Mascara | $30.00
Shop Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara at Ulta →
On oily skin, standard mascara often does not hold through a full day. Oil migrates up to the eye area, breaks down the mascara formula, and causes smudging and flaking hours before the day ends. For oily skin, waterproof mascara is the more reliable choice. The Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof formula lengthens and fans lashes without clumping or flaking, and maintains its shape through humidity, heat, and oil from eyelid skin.
The 360-degree rose-shaped brush deposits formula evenly from root to tip in one coat and grips fine or straight lashes effectively. The tubing-style waterproof formula coats each individual lash in a flexible polymer tube rather than layering product on the surface, which is what makes it resistant to oil and humidity throughout the day. It removes cleanly with an oil-based cleanser or dedicated eye makeup remover, which matters because waterproof formulas that require hard rubbing to remove can cause lash damage and breakage over time.
Key specs: Waterproof · Tubing Formula · 360-Degree Brush · Lengthening · Smudge-Proof · Oil-Resistant
Removal Tip: Soak a cotton pad in an oil-based cleanser or dedicated eye makeup remover, hold it over the lash line for 20 seconds, then gently wipe without rubbing. The tubing formula slides off cleanly when given enough time to dissolve.
Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray
Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray | $34.00
Shop Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray at Ulta →
Setting spray is the final step, and on oily skin it is one of the most impactful. Setting powder absorbs oil and locks in the foundation layer; setting spray does something different. It fuses all the layers of makeup together into a cohesive, skin-like finish that resists movement, friction, and the oil that works through even the most carefully powdered routine.
The Urban Decay All Nighter uses what the brand calls Temperature Control Technology, a combination of humectants and film-forming agents that the brand states respond to body heat by tightening the makeup film against skin. Urban Decay rates this spray for up to 16 hours of wear.
Key specs: Temperature Control Technology · 16-Hour Wear Claim · Oil-Control · Transfer-Proof · Smudge-Proof · Alcohol-Free
Application Tip: Hold the bottle 8 to 10 inches from the face and apply two to three sprays in an X then a T pattern. Apply while the face is relaxed rather than with a tight expression for more even coverage. Wait 30 seconds before touching the skin.
How to layer these products for maximum wear on oily skin
The order matters as much as the products. Use the sequence below for the longest-lasting results.
Start on clean, moisturized skin: Apply an oil-free gel moisturizer and let it absorb fully before applying primer. Skin with a stable moisture balance provides a more consistent base for primer and foundation than skin that has been stripped of hydration.
Apply primer all over: Press the e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer into the skin with clean fingers, working from the center of the face outward. Let it sit for two minutes before moving to foundation.
Apply foundation in sections: The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation sets firmly, so work through the T-zone first, then the cheeks, blending each section before moving to the next so the finish sets evenly.
Conceal, then set immediately: Apply Shape Tape under the eyes and on any blemishes, then press loose setting powder on top while the concealer is still slightly tacky. Do not wait for the concealer to dry before powdering.
Set the full face with powder: Sweep the Laura Mercier powder all over with a fluffy brush, then press additional powder into the T-zone with a denser brush to reinforce the areas most prone to oil breakthrough.
Apply powder blush: Cream products at this stage will disturb the set powder base. Stay with powder formulas only.
Apply waterproof mascara last among eye products: Let it dry fully before the next step.
Finish with setting spray: Two to three sprays in an X and T pattern. Do not touch the face for 30 seconds while it dries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best foundation for very oily skin?
The best foundations for very oily skin are oil-free formulas with a true matte finish. Look for "oil-free," "oil-control," or "longwear matte" on the label. The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation is a strong option, with a shade range organized by undertone, full coverage, and a flat matte finish that holds under heat and humidity. It performs best when layered over an oil-control primer and under a setting powder. A setting spray used as the final step extends wear further than any single product alone.
Does setting spray actually help oily skin?
Yes, and it addresses a different problem than setting powder. Setting powder absorbs surface oil; setting spray creates a film over all the makeup layers that slows oil from moving through them from underneath. On oily skin, using both gives the best results because they work on different parts of the problem. Setting powder handles oil at the surface; setting spray holds the foundation and concealer layer below it in place. Used together, they extend wear compared to either product alone.
What makeup steps should you never skip with oily skin?
Primer, setting powder, and setting spray are the three steps with the most impact on wear time for oily skin. Foundation on its own cannot hold without primer underneath it. Setting powder locks foundation and concealer in place and absorbs oil as it surfaces. Setting spray holds the full makeup stack together through heat, humidity, and a long day. Skipping any one of the three shortens the life of the entire routine.
Should you use powder or cream blush when you have oily skin?
Powder blush holds better on oily skin. Cream and liquid blushes are designed to sink into the skin's surface, which causes them to slide, fade, and disappear on oily complexions within a few hours. Powder blush applied over a set, powdered face grips the matte surface and holds its position through the day. Apply after setting the face with powder for the best adhesion and wear.
Why does makeup look oily or shiny after just a few hours?
Makeup breaking down on oily skin is almost always a routine problem rather than a product problem. The most common causes are skipping primer (which means foundation has no grippy base), skipping setting powder (which allows oil to move through foundation freely), and not finishing with a setting spray (which leaves all the layers exposed to oil breakthrough). In warm weather or on very oily skin, blotting papers used mid-day absorb surface oil without disturbing makeup underneath. Press gently and lift rather than rubbing.
Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a guarantee of results. Consult a dermatologist or skin care professional for personalized guidance.
Related Content: Makeup for Mature Skin, At Home Lash Extensions, How to Know Your Foundation Undertones, How to Prevent Concealer From Creasing, Makeup Routine for Beginners, Cushion Foundations
Discover more: Beauty Education guides and Makeup buying guides