Best overall
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
8.6Excellent
The cult 2% salicylic acid leave-on exfoliant: reliably unclogs pores and smooths texture, with irritation the main risk.
Toner5$37.00
Clarify · Oil & Pores
Oil control
11 products we review are built for oil control — 27% of them complexion. The ingredients doing most of the work: hyaluronic acid, glycerin and salicylic acid. Most are made for oily skin, combination skin and normal skin.
Breakouts, blackheads, oil and pores — the clear-skin department, minus the stripping.
Top rated
The oil control podium.
The ingredients behind it
Key actives in the products that deliver oil control — tap one for what it does and how strong the evidence is.
Often paired with
Benefits that tend to come along for the ride.
11 products
Every oil control pick.
11 products
Community favorite
Laura Mercier
Translucent Loose Setting Powder
8.3Great
The benchmark loose setting powder: finely milled, truly translucent and long-wearing, though it contains talc and costs $43.
Powder4$43.00
Best value
Maybelline New York
Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
8.2Great
A $11.99 oil-free matte foundation in 40 shades that remains a go-to drugstore pick for normal to oily skin.
Foundation4$11.99
Best value Trending
Beauty of Joseon
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
8.0Great
A cushiony propolis-and-niacinamide serum with a low price and a devoted following for glow, calm and smoother-looking pores.
Serum5$17.00
Best value Trending
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
7.9Good
A $6 cult niacinamide serum that helps many oily, blemish-prone users with shine and pores, though a vocal minority reports breakouts.
Serum5$6.00
Best value Trending
Batiste
Dry Shampoo Original
7.7Good
The classic aerosol dry shampoo: rice starch soaks up oil fast for very little money, with a soapy citrus scent and possible residue.
Dry shampoo4$12.99
Viral Trending
Anua
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
7.7Good
The viral heartleaf cleansing oil: a light, rinse-clean first cleanse for makeup and sebum, but fragranced and breakout-prone for some.
Cleansing oil4$22.00
Estée Lauder
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
7.6Good
The long-wear matte icon, reformulated in 2026 with 36-hour claims and skin-balancing actives; longtime fans are split on the change.
Foundation5$52.00
OUAI
Detox Clarifying Hair Shampoo
7.5Good
A heavily fragranced weekly clarifier with apple cider vinegar that strips buildup well but costs more than most rivals.
Shampoo5$34.00
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
7.5Good
A hydrating, low-strength PHA + BHA toner that smooths and refines pores gently, at a premium price for its acid dose.
Toner5$36.00
Trending Trending
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Water Gel
7.2Good
A cooling, weightless hyaluronic acid water gel made for normal to oily skin, though it contains fragrance and Blue 1 dye.
Gel5$29.99