Best BB Creams for Oily Skin: 2018 Reviews & Guide

Updated 5 years ago

Did you know that the first BB creams were created for patients recovering from laser surgery? First, they provide enough coverage to disguise blemishes. Second, they regenerate skin by adding moisture and fighting signs of aging. And third, they save time when you don’t want to apply all your typical makeup on a lazy day.

Top BB creams for oily skin

Some BB creams are very good at controlling shine, too. If you’re hoping to avoid blotting oil in the middle of the day, try one of these BB creams for oily skin.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur Makeup

One of the best BB creams for oily skin is La-Roche Posay’s Effaclar BB Blur. Not only does it hide pores and blemishes, but it also maintains a matte finish all day long. This impressive feat is due to two ingredients. The first is called Airlicium that soaks up to 150 times its weight in oil. And the second is Perlite that absorbs sweat to keep your makeup intact.

The BB Blur cream also protects against UV rays with SPF 20 from titanium dioxide. And there are no oils, parabens, or artificial fragrances in the formula

Garnier SkinActive BB Cream Oil-Free Face Moisturizer

Garnier’s SkinActive BB Cream does a lot more than an ordinary foundation does. For example, not only does it control shine, but it also shrinks pores and protects against sunburn. And even though it’s made for oily and combination skin, it hydrates for up to 24 hours after you apply it.

There are a few secret ingredients that give the SkinActive BB cream its power. For one, it contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid to keep skin soft and moisturized. And it prevents sun damage with SPF 15 from titanium dioxide and octinoxate. Finally, it makes use of wild berry extract and caffeine to keep skin looking young.

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Cream

The Physicians Formula Super BB Cream lacks a lot of the irritants commonly found in drugstore makeup. It does not contain parabens, gluten, artificial fragrances, or pore-clogging oils. Instead, it protects against dryness and sun damage while it evens out your complexion’s texture and color.

The list of ingredients reveals that it has a sunscreen based on minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Then it softens skin with Shea butter and protects against acne with willow bark extract. Finally, the formula also has dimethicone to soothe skin and reduce redness.

La Mav Organic BB Cream

La Mav Organic BB Cream comes from Down Under. This Australian product is popular around the world because it relies on natural ingredients that are nontoxic and very healthy for skin. Plus, its color adapts to your skin tone after you apply it.

The manufacturer especially recommends their cream for people suffering from acne, eczema, and rosacea no matter how dry or oily their skin is. The lightweight formula relies on aloe and natural oils like jojoba, avocado, and sweet almond to hydrate dull skin. And it also provides protection from the sun with titanium dioxide.

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream for Normal and Oily Skin

The No7 BB Cream hides imperfections with medium coverage and brings out the best in your complexion. And it offers SPF 15 to prevent damage from UV rays. But although it’s advertised for normal or oily skin, some users report that it doesn’t stay matte all day long.

Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow Beauty Balm, Universal Shade

The Marcelle Golden Glow Beauty Balm is free of fragrances, oils, and parabens. It comes in only one universal color that adapts to fair and medium skin tones. And it controls shine for hours. But if you prefer a satin finish, try the Marcelle Light to Medium Matte cream below.

Marcelle Light to Medium Matte

Like Marcelle Golden Glow BB Cream above, this one adjusts its color to match your skin tone. It also disguises uneven tone and texture to make your skin look its best. But the matte finish is even better at controlling oil all day long. There are no parabens, no oils, and no fragrances in this formula.

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

The Camera Ready BB Cream from Smashbox is all you need. If you have oily skin, they say you won’t even need a moisturizer underneath it. And you only need a pea-size amount to perfect your whole face.

The Camera Ready cream comes in five shades to help you find the right match for your skin. It provides SPF 35 broad-spectrum protection while it hydrates your face. And it also controls oil without looking dry and chalky.

Bobbi Brown BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35

Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream is the expert’s choice for controlling oil without making skin look dull and dry. It contains silica as its primary mattifying ingredient, and it keeps shine under control all day long.

But there are other components in the Bobbi Brown cream that make your skin look younger and healthier. For one, it supplies essential hydration to your face while it reduces redness and uneven skin pigmentation. And it shrinks pores and disguises fine lines, too. Finally, it comes in five shades that offer broad-spectrum UV protection.

COOLA Rosilliance SPF 30 BB+ Cream

Coola’s Rosilliance resists water for up to 80 minutes, and it has SPF 30, too. So this is the perfect BB cream to wear to the beach and the pool.

The rose stem cell complex takes care of your skin’s need to replenish its moisture, plus it reverses signs of aging. And 70% of the ingredients come from certified organic sources.

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45

The Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm exists because patients need a simple way to protect and camouflage their skin while they heal after a procedure. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin because it avoids many of the worst irritants. Plus, it hydrates and speeds up healing.

The SPF 45 sunscreen keeps skin from the negative effects of UV rays while the Bio-Peptide Complex reverses signs of aging. This complex of amino acids and adenosine helps restore collage, so your face looks firmer and younger. And the cream hydrates skin to slow down excess oil production, too.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions BB Cream

Clinique is a trusted name in skin care products, and their Anti-Blemish Solutions BB Cream is a favorite among many acne-prone users. The oil-free lightweight formula reduces shine without overly drying skin or clogging pores. And the cream also contains broad-spectrum sunscreen that lasts up to 12 hours.

Maybelline Makeup Dream Pure BB Cream

Several beauty sites recommend the Maybelline Makeup Dream Pure BB Cream because it’s inexpensive but effective. First, it contains 2% salicylic acid to clear up breakouts and prevent new blemishes. And second, it shrinks pores and reduces redness. Third, it contains oil-absorbing ingredients like Kaolin that give your face a satiny matte finish. Finally, it’s available in five shades to help you find the perfect match for your skin tone.

Rimmel Match Perfection BB Cream Foundation Matte

Rimmel Match Perfection BB Cream in a matte finish is a good choice for both oily and combination skin. It has light to medium coverage that disguises dark circles and blemishes. And it contains SPF 15, too.

L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

L’Oreal’s Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream is practically a CC cream in that it gets rid of redness and evens out your skin tone. Of course, it also hydrates and provides anti-aging benefits with Vitamins C and E. And you can use it alone or as a primer under foundation. The result is a transformed face, bright and ready for the day.

COVERGIRL Clean Matte BB Cream

COVERGIRL’s Clean Matte BB Cream is especially designed to reduce oil all day long. It also has enough coverage to fade away blemishes and uneven skin tone. But take note that several users have commented that it tends to oxidize orange.

K Beauty Skin Perfector – EverGlam BB Cream SPF 30

BB creams first gained popularity in Asia, so you can bet the EverGlam skin perfector has all the right stuff. Not only does it smooth over imperfections, but it also keeps oil under control all day long. Plus, it contains broad-spectrum UV protection.

Behind the scenes, the BB cream rejuvenates your skin with sugar beet root, algae, and purslane. These three natural extracts lift, nourish, and hydrate your face to make your skin look and feel younger. And there are no parabens in the formula.

Trouble Solution Miracle Matt BB Cream from Reskin

Korea’s own Miracle Matte BB Cream from Reskin is free from parabens, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, acrylamide, benzophenones, and GMO ingredients.  But it contains sunscreen as well as a host of skin-soothing ingredients. As a result, it controls oil and brightens skin while hydrating it, too.

Tips to keep oily skin under control

When you want to keep oily skin under control, you’ll probably need to do more than wear the right BB cream. In fact, before you apply makeup, there are a few things you can do to reduce how much shine you see during the day.

  1. Wash your face in the morning and use a cleanser that leaves your skin soft, not tight. You might find that face washes with salicylic acid contain the right mix to clean and shrink your pores without over-drying.
  2. Skip the toner because it might be aggravating the problem by increasing the flow of sebum.
  3. And don’t skip the moisturizer because it soothes skin. And happy skin is less likely to overproduce oil.
  4. Use a lightweight liquid BB cream or powdered foundation. Avoid oils and look for the promise of a matte finish.
  5. Be sure to remove your makeup at night so your skin can relax before sleep.
  6. Try a clay mask once or twice a week to remove impurities and keep pores clear.
  7. Apply a hydrating night cream to keep your skin looking young and prevent it from over-producing oil overnight.

Other tricks that reduce shine during a stressful day include using blotting paper and applying powder. On days when you want a flawless finish, put on primer, then makeup then set it all with powder. And on days when you can relax, enjoy a BB cream without all the extras.

Conclusion

Many different BB creams reduce shine and keep oily skin looking fresh all day long. Most promise a matte finish but still manage to hydrate your face while you wear them. And many provide essential protection against sun damage, too.

We’d like to know if you discovered your new favorite BB cream for oily skin here. Let us know how it’s working for you. And check back soon to see new reviews of the best skincare products on the market.