If you have oily skin, finding the right foundation is more complicated for summers, as we know that foundation may glide with sweat and make you look darker and too shiny. With oxidation, all of it is even worse. So, in this article, we have mentioned a list of the best non-oxidizing foundations that match your skin tone and stay their true colors all through the day. Read on and grab one for yourself!

What Is Oxidation?

Oxidation is a chemical reaction wherein atmospheric air causes a change in the element. As makeup is made up of minerals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, these ingredients can mix with oxygen in the air along with our skin’s natural chemistry and cause color changes. An easy-to-understand example is when apples turn brownish after being left out in the open for too long. Some foundation formulas can be victims of this, but there are some gems out there that are built with non-oxidizing ingredients and technologies. It is already difficult coming across a foundation that serves you but those of us with oily or dry skin know the struggle all too well. “Any skin type can one day find out that their foundation is oxidizing on skin. Sometimes, medications are at the root of it. So, try the foundations selected here because they’re created with formulations that will minimize oxidizing,” says Lorrie Pearson, a makeup artist. Whether you’re a luxury brand junkie or you can’t let go of your favorite drugstore brands, we’ve got you covered with a wide range.

Avoid An Orange Face With These Non-Oxidizing Foundations For Oily And Dry Skin

1. Best Shade Range: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup – 2C3 Fresco

For 24-hour confidence, we recommend you pick Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup which leaves a matte finish. Its oil-free formula is a gem for oily skin types and as it is also resistant to humidity and sweat, you’re in for flawless skin all day long. With more than 55 shades, you’re bound to find your match and the lightweight formula of this non-oxidizing foundation for oily skin flatters every skin tone. Not only does the foundation go on and blend easily, but it won’t settle into fine lines or creases. With a buildable medium-to-full coverage, you’ll barely need any touch-ups and can go about your day worry-free. If you want to know more about the results after using this foundation, take a look at this detailed video on YouTube by a makeup enthusiast. Pros

Transfer-resistant and waterproof Crease-proof and streak-proof Doesn’t cake up or leave streaks Non-comedogenic Dermatologist-tested Free of parabens, gluten, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, alcohol, and sulfates

Cons

Some may find the consistency too thick.

2. Best Lightweight: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup – 10 Classic Ivory

Neutrogena’s non-greasy and lightweight foundation allows your skin to breathe while also perfecting its lumosity. This sheer foundation is equipped with SPF 20 from titanium dioxide to safeguard your skin from the sun’s UV rays and keep the barrier strong. With a full coverage, the foundation is infused with vitamin E that heals skin, natural extracts of feverfew with calming properties, and soy that gives your skin a subtle lumosity. You can use this multitasking foundation that doesn’t oxidize daily as it will bring about skin-improving benefits owing to the rich antioxidant blend it contains. If you are still unsure about this foundation, you can take a look at this review on YouTube. Pros

Broad-spectrum SPF 20 Offers a lightweight and natural coverage Contains skin-nourishing ingredients Improves skin texture Gives a dewy finish Lightweight and silky formula

Cons

May not be ideal for those looking for full coverage

3. Best Dermatologist-Tested: NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation – Stromboli/Medium

The NARS non-oxidizing foundation will grace your skin with full coverage that looks natural. It stays put for up to 16 hours and its lightweight formula neutralizes any skin discolorations you may face. The ultra-pigmented and heavy-duty foundation builds and blends effortlessly for a seamless luminous matte finish. Resistant to humidity, water, and sweat, you’ll find that the oil-free formula suits all skin types and tones by delivering a semi-matte finish. This foundation from Nars can truly work wonders on your skin. You can take a look at this YouTuber’s review of the product if you require more information. Pros

Offers 16-hour wear Paraben-free Alcohol-free Fragrance-free Dermatologist-tested Evens out skin tone

Cons

Might not be crease-proof

4. Best Chemical-Free: Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation – Light Skin With Neutral Undertones

Cover FX’s Natural Finish Foundation has the second-skin feel to give you a natural-looking and flawless coverage. It stays loyal to you for up to 12 hours and packs a punch with some rich antioxidant action. For intense hydration, the water-based formula is enriched with emollients while vitamins C, E, and F moisturize skin and protect it from environmental stressors. Squalene present in this foundation won’t won’t oxidize; it seals in all the moisture to keep skin soft and supple. With soft-focus pigments, all your skin irregularities are blurred out and the dewy finish gives you instantly photo-ready skin. Pros

Buildable formula Offers medium to full coverage Vegan Cruelty-free Contains vitamins and antioxidants Doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates or other harsh chemicals

Cons

Might settle into fine lines

5. Best Non-Comedogenic: W3LL PEOPLE Narcissist Foundation Stick – Fair Golden 2

The W3LL PEOPLE’s Narcissist Foundation Stick comes to your rescue to improve overall skin tone and offer you flawless coverage. The creamy formula hydrates skin and delivers soft-focus pigments to blur out skin inconsistencies. With plant-based antioxidants, the full coverage non-oxidizing foundation glides on easily and blends well without greasing or streaking. To moisturize skin, you’ll find oils like safflower, castor, soybean, vitamin E, along with aloe extracts which have healing properties. A satin finish with just the right amount of shimmer graces your face for a busy day. And if you need sudden touch-ups, the stick comes in handy for a mess-proof application and an instant healthy glow. Pros

Made without toxic chemicals Vegan Gluten-free Cruelty-free Non-comedogenic Ideal for on-the-go application

Cons

Might have a sticky consistency

6. Best Oil-Free: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear

The Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear is a long-lasting foundation that offers 24-hours comfortable wear. The foundation is formulated with eternal soft polymers that give it an ultra-smooth texture. The NAI pigments are specially coated pigments that maintain a consistent pH level with the skin. Perlite and silica absorb the excess oil from the skin, leaving behind a shine-free, velvety matte complexion. Pros

Oil-free Fragrance-free Fresh color all day long Lightweight SPF 15 Transfer-resistant Humidity-resistant Non-comedogenic Dermatologically tested Suitable for sensitive skin Multiple color range

Cons None

7. Best Long-Wearing: Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation – Shade 2

A powder foundation with a matte finish is oily skin’s best friend and brownie points if it doesn’t oxidize! We’re talking about Smashbox’s Photo Filter Powder Foundation which has a weightless formula without any oil which helps mattify your skin and blot it. This longwear 2-in1 foundation and setting powder offers buildable coverage so that you can customize your finish. Using Light Filter Technology, the powder blurs out skin imperfections and adds a natural radiance that stays for up to 8 hours. You don’t have to worry about creasing, caking, or settling with Smashbox’s best foundation which does not oxidize. Pros

Offers sheer-to-medium buildable coverage Doubles as a setting powder Oil-free formula Doesn’t cake or crease Offers a matte finish Blurs skin imperfections

Cons

Might not be transfer-proof

8. Best Mineral Based: J.CAT Beauty Golden Soleil Baked Bronzer

The J.CAT BEAUTY Golden Soleil Baked Bronzer has an ultra-smooth formula. It provides a natural bronze to your cheeks and a sun-kissed glow to your skin. The bronzer powder is mineral-based that has a sleek, luminous finish. You can blend it seamlessly with any powder brush. The bronzer is lightweight and sets easily on the skin. The presence of mica as one of the key ingredients makes your skin look more like a sun-kissed tint and not just shiny. For better glowy skin, apply the bronzer to the areas where the sun hits naturally, like the face, shoulders, arms, etc. Pros

Non-dusty Non-drying Transfer-resistant Sulfate-free Paraben-free True color

Cons

Can contain allergens

9. Best With Natural Ingredients: Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation

The Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation has a creamy and luxurious texture that gives medium to full coverage. The formula is infused with vitamins A and E, along with a unique plant-based hydration system that keeps your skin supple, resilient, and non-greasy. In addition, the foundation is formulated with naturally derived ingredients like sesame seed, aloe leaf, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, avocado fruit extract, shea butter, etc., to even out skin tone and give it a silky natural finish. You can use this foundation daily to conceal mild imperfections on your skin. Pros

Vegan and cruelty-free Gluten-free Non-toxic Suitable on all skin types Varied shades Oil-free Non-GMO

Cons None

10. Best Non-Comedogenic: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing Photo Edition Foundation – Beige Ivory

Topping our list of high-end foundations that don’t oxidize, Laura Mercier’s formula also tops in the pigment and performance categories. The 12-hour wear formula won’t cause you any discomfort and it hides all your skin woes while also moisturizing it. With a medium-to-full coverage that ends in a luminous finish, you’ll find that this foundation also smooths and evens out skin texture for a flawless makeup base. The formula wears like a second-skin and is a dream to blend, and the credits go to its color-true pigments! Pros

Non-comedogenic Dermatologist-tested Oil-free Hydrates skin Richly pigmented Smooths skin texture

Cons

Might not be transfer-proof

11. Best Dewy Finish: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 – Warm Sand

The best non-oxidizing foundation definitely needs a boost of SPF, which is why Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation reigns supreme. The water-based and oil-free formula has a feather-light feel on the skin and gives an enviable dewy finish. A multitasking product, you’ll find this Bobbi Brown foundation covers up lines, spots, and redness while also delivering broad-spectrum UV protection for longwear. Its active ingredient, that is, glycerin seals in the skin’s moisture to make it appear soft and plump with maximum hydration. This light-to-medium buildable formula is a must-have in your vanity if your skin is in the normal-to-dry range. Pros

Retains skin’s moisture Conceals imperfections Buildable formula Offers light to medium coverage Water-based Oil-free

Cons

Might cake up

12. Best For Acne-Prone Skin: Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup – Sand

If you struggle with oily or blemish-prone skin, Clinique’s Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup can be your savior. The weightless formula glides on easily for a smooth and moderate coverage. You’ll be delighted to know that the oil-free formula also helps prevent breakouts owing to the salicylic acid and this is especially helpful for acne-prone skin types. It also does a great job of concealing your skin’s irregularities and neutralizing redness. We think this is a stellar non-oxidizing foundation for combination skin as well, because it gives a natural-looking finish without looking cakey. Pros

Non-irritating formula Suited to oily, combination, and acne-prone skin Neutralizes redness Lightweight Has soothing effects Prevents breakouts and blemishes

Cons

Might not offer long-lasting wear

13. Best Matte Finish: CoverFX Pressed Mineral Foundation – Light To Medium Light Skin With Neutral Undertones

Enjoy gorgeous buildable coverage with CoverFX’s Pressed Mineral Foundation which feels feather-light. Owing to the inclusion of kaolin clay, the matte finish allows for a shine control— we know this is what everyone with oily skin craves! With the help of phytosphingosine, your skin barrier is strengthened with the redness being calmed. The formula covers up your skin’s discoloration and shrinks pore size to gift you an even-looking complexion. This way, you can even skip concealer on some days for a lightweight and natural look. Pros

Matte finish Reduces pore size Evens out skin tone Absorbs oil Lightweight formula Vegan and cruelty-free

Cons

Might not be suitable for those with wrinkles

Now that we’ve gone over the 13 best non-oxidizing foundations for oily and dry skin types, let’s take a look at how you can choose the best one for yourself.

How To Choose A Non-Oxidizing Foundation

Skin tone and undertone

A crucial factor that goes into purchasing a foundation is to ensure that it matches your skin tone exactly. This helps achieve a seamless finish that doesn’t look patchy or caked-on. You can test samples on your wrist or your neck and then make your choice. Sometimes, a blend of 2 shades can help you get the right shade. These days, brands also offer technology on their official websites wherein you can pick your exact shade of foundation from a variety of shades. With regards to undertones, yellow undertones are usually warm, cool ones have blues, purples or reds, and neutral undertones are a combination of both warm and cool hues.

Coverage

Sheer coverage formulas are ideal for those who don’t have too many imperfections to cover up, thus looking for a natural finish suited to daily wear. But if you’re on the hunt for a foundation that evens out skin tone and texture while concealing skin irregularities, full or heavy coverage would be the right option. Medium or moderate coverage is a good pick for skin that has mild hyperpigmentation and flaws. The best thing would be to opt for a foundation that offers buildable coverage so that you have the liberty to customize it by wearing it sheer on some days and full on others depending on the state of your skin.

Skin type

Oily and combination skin types would fare well with ingredients like clay, tea tree, aloe vera, and salicylic acid as they absorb oil and control sebum production so keep an eye out for ‘oil-free foundations’. This is also a great benefit if you have acne-prone skin as these elements can prevent future breakouts or blemishes with a soothing effect. Dry skin, on the other hand, needs hydrating ingredients like shea butter, essential oil blends, and hyaluronic acid. You can also use tinted moisturizers beforehand and then follow up with foundation for a natural look. For sensitive skin types, steer clear of mineral oils, preservatives, and other harsh chemicals that might be irritating to the skin barrier. Stick to a cleaner formula if your skin flares up easily.

Finish

Opt for a foundation that has a matte finish for extremely oily skin as this can help tone down on the grease. If your skin is only mildly oily, a semi-matte formula will also do. Luminous and radiant finishes add a natural glow to dry skin and make it look hydrated.

Formula

Foundations that come in a liquid formula have richer pigments and longer staying power due to their thicker consistencies. They help hydrate dry skin and opting for a lightweight formula will help avoid creasing and allow skin to breathe. If you want a liquid foundation for oily skin, ensure to opt for a non-comedogenic formula and lighter foundations in general. Powder foundations are a great addition to your makeup routine if you have oily skin. They have a velvety-smooth texture that offers a sheer-to-medium coverage and the powders absorb excess oil from the skin for a mattifying effect. Combination skin types can use a mix of both liquids and powders and use the latter to set the entire look. It is necessary to understand why our makeup oxidizes so that we can take precautions and keep it intact for a longer time.

What Causes Foundation To Oxidize?

Oxidation is basically a chemical reaction that takes place when a chemical reacts with a molecule, losing its electrons. This can in turn increase its oxidation number which, for foundations, causes a change in the shade. Minerals used in makeup are prone to oxidation. Your foundation will go on as you want it to initially but throughout the day, it might turn a shade or 2 darker, or even orange. Since our skin has varying levels of acids, these can combine with the oils our skin produces and initiate a chemical reaction. Other factors that can contribute to this could be your specific skin texture, how clean it is, and even the atmospheric air can mix with your foundation and darken it. It’s a fact well-known that a foundation can be the key that makes your makeup— or breaks it. If this base isn’t right, everything else you layer atop it can come off a little bland and do the opposite of enhancing your features. Among our requirements for the ideal foundation, a non-oxidizing feature is as necessary as a flawless coverage. No one wants to be caught in the middle of an important presentation with an orange face! You may have tossed out quite a few foundation bottles because the formula just didn’t work with your skin. To prevent instances like these, we hope our list of the 13 best non-oxidizing foundations for oily and dry skin types keep you covered, quite literally!

Why Trust Stylecraze

Chaitra Krishnan is an avid writer and enjoys writing about products that can enhance people’s lives by making them look and feel their best. In this post, she talks about the best non-oxidizing foundations for oily and dry skin types. While curating this list of some of the best foundations, she performed in-depth research into each product’s features, benefits, and user feedback. How to avoid oxidizing makeup? To prevent your makeup from oxidizing, ensure to use a primer first. You can also opt for makeup that has a sheer and lightweight formula, and finishing powders can help add a protective layer to safeguard makeup from oxidizing. Why does my foundation keep oxidizing? Things that can lead to foundation oxidizing include your skin’s texture, the natural oils it produces, and its cleanliness. A foundation can also react with atmospheric air and end up oxidizing on your skin. How can I stop my foundation from oxidizing? • Use a silicon-based primer. It will create a barrier between the skin’s natural oil and the oils of the foundation, thus preventing oxidation. • Apply a finishing powder after using the foundation to create a barrier between your skin and the environment. This will delay oxidation. Do foundations with SPF oxidize? Yes. Foundations with SPF oxidize. SPF contains ingredients like titanium and zinc that cause the pigments to oxidize faster. So, it is recommended to apply a powder over your base makeup to delay the process of oxidation. How long does it take for the foundation to oxidize on the skin? Usually, your foundation will start oxidizing between one and three hours after wearing the makeup. But, at times, your makeup may not oxidize if you have used proper products before or after using the foundation.

Best Foundations For Combination Skin Best Foundations For Acne-Prone Skin Best Non-Comedogenic Foundations For Acne-Prone Skin Best Foundations For Acne Scars And Large Pores Best Foundations For Dark Skin Tones