13 Best Primers for Oily Skin to Mattify Shine (2024)

No7's powerhouse primer, a Good Housekeeping Seal star, is great for oily skin, but it has anti-aging benefits, too: Its hyaluronic acid spheres instantly soften wrinkles and blur imperfections. More than 70% of testers reported that it made their fine lines and pores look less visible in 10 minutes. "Love the texture and how easy it applies and sinks into my skin," a Walgreens reviewer writes. "It makes everything below my eyebrows look more smooth and a lot less shiny. The pores on and around my nose look less visible."

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Think of this affordable Maybelline lightweight lotion like Photoshop in a tube —a drop will prep and perfect skin. "This is a particularly great option for oily skin with problem pores because it helps to fill in the pores, allowing for smoother skin," Oquendo explains.

• Key ingredients: Glycerin
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Kaolin clay works to control oil and mattify in this E.L.F. Cosmetics drugstore pick, while tea tree oil helps clarify skin. "I have incredibly oily skin and I have tried everything from the drugstore to the 'high end' products and everything in between, and nothing has worked," says one reviewer, praising this primer as the only one that has ever mattified and smoothed their oily skin.

• Key ingredients: Kaolin clay, tea tree oil
• Size: 0.95 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Customers and makeup artists alike rave about this Tom Ford mattifying primer. With salicylic acid to promote exfoliation and natural ingredients like avocado and algae extract to minimize oil, this primer is both a primer and an extension of your skincare routine. It "helps to mattify the skin and perfect for those with oily T-zone," says makeup artist Tobi Henney.

• Key ingredients: Avocado and algae extract, salicylic acid
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

This luxurious Tatcha primer comes in a balm form, so it's easy to swipe on. "It is practically the only primer I have tried that doesn’t make my makeup run," says GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek. "It keeps foundation locked, minimizes the look of pores and keeps me matte all day long." Henney is also a fan of its ability to control shine and deliver a smooth, matte base. There is a learning curve with this one, though: Less is more, so just tap (don't rub) it into the T-zone area of your skin.

• Key ingredients: Fibroin, sericin, silk powder
• Size: 0.7 oz.
• Skin type: All

MAC is known for its long-lasting makeup formulas that perform all day (and into the night!), and this primer is no different. It mattifies skin and smooths pores for up to 12 hours of coverage. "It makes my foundation blend so easily, looks poreless, controls oil without drying out my combination skin," a reviewer says. "I honestly look airbrushed every time I wear it."

• Key ingredients: Lactobionic acid, algae extract, witch hazel
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

The mattifying version of Fenty's lauded Pro Filt'r primers lives up to its name: it keeps pores looking diffused and skin matte all day long. It "is perfect under a foundation to help keep the skin looking less shiny," says Henney. "I have combination skin," a reviewer adds. "I used it for the first time and I did not have any shine show through my make up for the entire day. I was very impressed. Usually I touchup three to five times per day but not today."

• Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, sodium hyaluronate
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

This water-based primer is lightweight and blends easily to mattify all skin tones. It's hydrating enough that it can be used on normal and combination skin types as well, not just oily. "This is my new holy grail primer," one reviewer says. "Especially if you have oily skin! Once you apply it you automatically see the filtered look."

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, bakuchiol, lentil extract
• Size: 1.35 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, combination, normal

Not only does this primer help keep skin matte and oil-free, but it also color-corrects redness, makes pores look invisible and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles before makeup. "This is a beautiful product and makes my make up look so smooth," a reviewer noted. "It makes my face feel smooth and very soft to the touch." It also contains mineral-based SPF 15 for added sun protection. (However, note that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using at least SPF 30).

• Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
• Size: 0.3 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Smashbox is known for its game-changing primers, and this mattifying primer lives up to the hype. The primer is really skincare and makeup in one: salicylic acid and witch hazel help fight breakouts while hyaluronic acid and antioxidants hydrate and nourish skin, all in addition to providing a matte base for makeup application.

• Key ingredients: Witch hazel, salicylic acid, zinc
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily

Made with micronized bamboo and black currant and raspberry extracts, this primer includes natural ingredients to help control shine and keep skin healthy. "This stuff helps keep my makeup on and in place all day and it helps keep my skin and makeup from getting oily," a reviewer notes. "I love applying it on its own for 'no makeup' days."

• Key ingredients: Micronized bamboo, black currant extracts, raspberry extracts
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: Acne-prone

Not only is this gentle Tarte gel primer mattifying, it's also waterproof, so no matter what, your makeup will stay in place. It's hydrating while also working to even out texture for the smoothest finish. "Game changer for incredibly sensitive and oily skin," raves on reviewer. "First primer I have ever tried that worked wonders — absolutely worth the price, and a little bit goes a long way."

• Key ingredients: Avocado, echinacea root, safflower seed
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, combination

This Estée Lauder primer keeps oil at bay while smoothing out mature skin and wrinkles for a flawless base, enhanced by antioxidants like green tea. "I find this primer looks a lot better under makeup than other mattifying primers I’ve tried," a reviewer reports.

• Key ingredients: Algae extract, green tea extract
• Size: 1 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, combination, normal

Yes. "Primers contain ingredients that can absorb sebum, preventing it from breaking up foundation and allowing your makeup to last longer," says Butler. "Primers can also blur the appearance of pores, giving your skin a smoother look."

However, it's important to consider your skincare routine as well to create a healthy, balanced base for the rest of your makeup. "Primers are problem solvers when it comes to skin," says Davis. "Think of primer as the last thing that is applied after skin care and the first product you apply before makeup."

✔️ Mattifying formulas: Look for key words like mattifying, oil-free, or pore-minimizing on product packaging. "Look for primers that claim to mattify and control shine. Primers that claim to blur pores are also desirable because oily skin can cause enlarged pores," says Butler.

✔️ Oily skin-friendly ingredients: Many primers for oily skin contain ingredients like silica, silicones, kaolin clay or modified plant starches. "Silica consists of tiny, sponge-like particles that can absorb the oil produced by skin," says Butler. Kaolin clay and modified plant starches work similarly to silica. "Silicones, which include cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone, work very well in oily skin primers because they create a very light, silky, and non-greasy feeling on skin," she adds. The right formula can really make the difference: "Primers that contain ingredients like witch hazel and salicylic acid are great to keep shine at bay, and overtime, can help to balance out skin and help with breakouts," adds Davis.

GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of makeup products including foundations, eyeshadows, mascaras, eyebrow pencils, concealers, bronzers, eyeliners and primers; she has oily skin herself which has led to years of personally testing primers for oily skin. For this article, she worked with Chiara Butler, the Health & Beauty Reviews Analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Katie Berohn, a former Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant who reported on GH Beauty Lab product testing, also contributed to this story.

We also tapped celebrity makeup artists Vincent Oquendo, Lori Taylor Davis and Tobi Henney for their expert commentary and recommendations.