Robert Welsh has oily, dehydrated skin himself, so when he talks about what works for oily skin, he is speaking from personal experience. His approval rate across more than 20 products in this category is 78%, and most of his takes land firmly in the approved column. That said, he did skip a few, and his reasons are worth knowing.
What does Robert Welsh recommend for oily skin?
Almost everything he approves comes back to one thing: texture. He keeps returning to lightweight, fast-absorbing formulas that disappear into the skin instead of sitting on top. He praised the Laneige Balance Mode Shine Control Pore Minimizing Lightweight Moisturizer for being 'just above a serum' in weight and absorbing completely. He called the One/Size On Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray his favourite setting spray and the only one he found that actually works for him. Gel formulas get a special mention too. Reviewing the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint, he said gels tend to sit well on all skin textures and are not over-hydrating for oily skin. He also recommends layering smart rather than piling on coverage. His suggestion is that a fluid foundation like the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, built up where needed, means you can skip a coverage powder on top.
Robert Welsh's oily skin picks, in his words
"This moisturizer is from Laneige, from their shine control range, it's called the Balance Mode Shine Control Weightless Moisturizer. It's a very lightweight [...] fluid moisturizer, that fluid texture being just above a serum in terms of how much moisture it has, but it completely disappears and gets absorbed by the skin. If you're someone who loves to use a range of products, this one from Laneige is beautiful."
"One Size, On Til' Dawn. This is my favorite setting spray. It's the only one I found actually works for me."
"If you have any areas you know get especially oily, you can also go in with a thin layer of a loose translucent powder such as Maybelline Fit Me. I usually like to apply the powder step with either a damp sponge or a small setting brush."
"These are really super unique. I've never seen a brand do a formula like this. [...] The texture, it's like got a very unique bounce to it. It's like another gloss gel hybrid, but more jelly-like and firmer. It is really, really stunning. [...] That's a formula I have truly never seen anywhere but with Fwee."
"I really like the Maybelline Super Stay. It's called Super Stay. If you're using a lightweight product, make sure that it is a long lasting product. [...] For a reason, because it stays. Gives me the coverage I want. But it's super lightweight. I don't feel suffocated in the heat. It goes a long way."
"It really helps keep oil in check. So if you do have an oilier skin, this is going to be a great option for you. The finish is matte, full coverage, great for anyone with oily skin or combination skin or anybody who just wants shine control throughout the day. And I have to say, all the cushions do a really good job at sitting on top of texture. So if you do have textured skin, things like larger pores, perhaps fine lines, all these foundations do sit beautifully on top of them."
How many products has Robert Welsh reviewed for oily skin?
Robert Welsh has reviewed 23 products for oily skin, for an approval rate of 74%. 17 approved, 3 mixed, and 3 skipped.
What has Robert Welsh skipped for oily skin?
Robert Welsh skipped only a few products here, but each skip comes with a clear reason. The Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blur + Smooth Tint Stick went on shiny rather than blurred, and he said it made him look sweaty instead of matte. The Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Mousse Soft Blur Lip Cream got patchy when layered and had trouble gripping darker shades. He also passed on the Makeup Eraser Original MakeUp Eraser Cloth. He found it tough on the skin and said it does not remove makeup well.
"I personally do find them quite tough on the skin and I find they don't remove makeup [...] well. I don't think this is a brand that can give us anything else impressive, [...] I think they missed their calling to make proper makeup remover [...] products to pair with the cloth instead of telling people they don't need a makeup remover at all."
"But it's not the most forgiving to a drier lip, and trying to layer it with itself is quite difficult, it gets a little patchy in some areas. When I used a [...] darker shade that really stands out on the skin, there seemed to be a little bit of trouble with it either sitting down on the lip or gripping to the lip. I'm not a fan. That's going to be a dump for me, I'm afraid."
"When it was, like, instantly blurring, it was not. Actual lie. It went on my skin, kind of like, shiny, like a glowy foundation. The thing is, when you have a product that has a glow to it on the skin, it isn't blurring. You have to kind of like, it has to be smooth and matte to look blurred, right. I was obviously like, okay, that's not blurring my skin in any way at all. It's actually, if anything, it's making me look sweaty."
What should you take from Robert Welsh's picks?
Robert Welsh's record on oily skin is largely positive, and his through-line is clear: lightweight, matte-finish formulas win, and anything that adds shine tends to lose. The skips he logged are genuinely useful, especially his point that a product with a glow cannot also blur. Anyone with oily or oily-dehydrated skin will find his takes here practical and specific.
Watch Robert Welsh say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Makeup Eraser Original MakeUp Eraser ClothSkipped itWatch at 12:19
- Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Mousse Soft Blur Lip CreamSkipped itWatch at 15:35
- Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blur + Smooth Tint StickSkipped itWatch at 2:28
- Laneige Balance Mode Shine Control Pore Minimizing Lightweight MoisturizerRated itWatch at 7:06
- One/Size On Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting SprayRated itWatch at 13:51
- Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing PowderRated itWatch at 57:35
- Fwee Blur Pudding PotRated itWatch at 12:47
- Maybelline SuperStay Lumi Matte 30-Hour FoundationRated itWatch at 17:30
- Tirtir Mask Fit All Cover Cushion FoundationRated itWatch at 2:58
- Hung Vanngo Creamy Matte Lipstick in Shade 88Rated itWatch at 21:47
- One/Size Oil Sucker Liquid Blotting Powder SprayRated itWatch at 13:09
- Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse PrimerRated itWatch at 15:27
- Clio Kill Cover Foundation CushionRated itWatch at 16:15
- Milani Make It Last Matte Setting SprayRated itWatch at 16:06
- Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm PowderRated itWatch at 57:21
- Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting SprayRated itWatch at 14:56
- e.l.f. Matte Putty PrimerRated itWatch at 52:28
- Milani Conceal and Perfect Blur Out Skin Tint SticksRated itWatch at 13:03
- MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15Rated itWatch at 8:43
- Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless FoundationRated itWatch at 5:05
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Robert Welsh said across his videos about 23 products for oily skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products he approved. It is general information, not medical advice.