I Spent Years Using the Wrong Concealer for My Oily Skin – Here’s My Mistake

Best concealer for oily skin

I’ve learned a lot about skin care and makeup during my time as a beauty editor, but I’ve also made some important discoveries about my own skin and how it reacts to different products. Growing up, my skin was always very oily, and I spent years battling harsh scrubs and dry acne medications. Now, I find that my skin is dehydrated but still oily on the surface, which makes buying makeup like foundations and concealers tricky.

I finally learned that matte products don’t work well for me – they make my skin more dehydrated and look more prone to flaking. Then I turned to moisturizing formulas that still don’t cause acne, and that seemed to solve the problem. If you have a similar problem, read on. I spoke with a dermatologist to learn more about oily skin and how to choose the right concealer. Read on for the best options for oily skin types.

Dermatologist’s Advice for Oily Skin

It may be obvious, but I’ll say it anyway: letting oily skin dry out is not the answer. It’s also important to understand the difference between dry, dehydrated and oily skin. Personally, I struggle with dehydrated skin that still becomes oily on the surface, so it’s hard to find the right concealer for my skin. Board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi sheds light on the issue.

“Dry skin produces less sebum, which is an oily substance produced by our sebaceous glands,” she says. “Our skin needs the lipids in the oil to defend against external irritants, support the moisture barrier, and retain moisture. Dryness is defined as a skin type, while dehydration is considered a skin condition or a state in which skin cells lack sufficient moisture rather than oil. Oily skin types will naturally produce more oil than dry skin types. It is important to also note that oil production is largely influenced by our body’s hormonal climate. Skin dehydration is mainly due to external factors that cause a decrease in moisture within the skin, such as dry weather. Now, if the skin is overly stripped by too many exfoliants or harsh cleansers, or if the skin is irritated, then it may signal the oil glands to speed up oil production to compensate.”

There are several factors that determine your skin’s level of oil production. According to Shirazi, the main factors are genetics, stress and hormones. But like I said above, over scrubbing or drying off isn’t the answer either. “If you over-clean or over-scrub your skin, it will compensate by increasing oil production,” Shirazi says. “It’s best to use light moisturizers, water-based makeup removers and gentle cleansers to maintain a strong skin barrier.”

Finding the best concealer for oily skin depends on the above factors. It took me a while to realize that I needed a moisturizing, non-comedogenic formula, not a matte formula. If you still struggle with dehydrated but still oily skin on the surface, you may want to try one of the moisturizing formulas below. shirazi recommends looking for moisturizing formulas that contain humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Most importantly, look for a label that says “does not cause acne”. For some moisturizing and matte concealer options, keep scrolling down.

Best Moisturizing Concealers for Oily Skin

AMI COLÉ
Skin-Enhancing Concealer

I recently started using this Ami Colé concealer and I love its silky and easy to blend texture. Best of all, it doesn’t dry out my skin. Nourishing ingredients such as baobab seed extract, hibiscus extract and pumpkin seed extract keep my eye area perfectly balanced.

SAIE BEAUTY
Hydrabeam Brightening + Hydrating Creamy Under Eye Concealer

Saie Beauty’s Hydrabeam is enriched with ingredients that help skin retain moisture, such as squalane, glycerin and cucumber extract.

MILK MAKEUP
Future Fluid All Over Medium Coverage Hydrating Concealer

Milk Makeup’s Future Fluid is a favorite among makeup artists and works on both dry and oily skin. It contains hyaluronic acid, caffeine, aloe vera and arnica, as well as ingredients that support and protect the skin barrier. I love that it moisturizes after a few hours without leaving a greasy film on my skin.

ARMANI BEAUTY
Luminous Silk Face and Under-Eye Concealer

I really like the Luminous Silk foundation and the concealer for oily or acne-prone skin. Both formulas provide moisturization while being completely free of pore-clogging oils.

MAYBELLINE
Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer

Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind is a drugstore fan favorite because it’s anti-wrinkle, moisturizing, and completely non-comedogenic.

ROSE INC.
Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer

Enriched with moisturizing squalane and protective vitamin E, this product from Rose Inc. is another great option for those who have dehydrated skin but still have an oily surface. It is layerable and creamy, while not causing acne.

DIOR
Backstage Concealer

Dior Backstage Concealer provides a radiant finish and may not be suitable for people with oily skin. But I find it works well on my dehydrated skin that tends to get oily on the surface. The formula is smooth, moisturizing, and contains caffeine to refresh the under-eye area.

Best Matte Concealer for Oily Skin

TARTE
Shape Tape Full Coverage Concealer

Although this formula is technically labeled as a matte, I find it to be very moisturizing. It never dries out my under-eye area like some matte formulas do, never creases or flakes, and doesn’t turn into an oil slick after a few hours. It is by far the most used concealer in my makeup bag and a favorite among makeup artists.

“My favorite concealer for oily skin is Tarte’s Shape Tape Concealer because it stays in place all day long,” says celebrity makeup artist Sara Talias. “With oily skin, the product tends to slide and break down, but Tarte Shape Tape’s longevity is perfect for oily skin. To make concealer last longer on oily skin, always use loose powder,” she advises.

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop 24HR Full Coverage Matte Concealer

This Nyx formula is a true matte product that works great for those who prefer a waterproof, full-coverage formula.

E.L.F. COSMETICS
16HR Camo Concealer

Priced at $7 from Elf’s drugstore, this matte finish is a fan favorite. Its formula is thick and pigmented, making it ideal for touch-ups, concealers and finishing touches.

FENTY BEAUTY
Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer

Fenty Beauty’s concealers and foundations are a favorite among fans of oily skin. The formula is lightweight and breathable, but leaves a soft matte finish that won’t crease or flake.

NARS
Soft Matte Concealer

This soft matte concealer from Nars is very popular and often sells out. It provides full coverage, is oil-free and is perfect for those extra oily days.

MAKE UP FOR EVER
Matte Velvet Skin High Coverage Multi-Use Concealer

I love that this Make Up For Ever option leaves a natural matte finish – it never looks too caked on and is completely breathable.

TOM FORD
Traceless Soft Matte Concealer

This is more of a medium coverage option that does a great job of blurring imperfections. It’s also infused with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to nourish and moisturize skin while maintaining a matte finish.