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What kind of makeup can you wear when it might be the reason you have pimples?
It seems like a vicious cycle, doesn’t it?
You’re trying to improve your skin’s appearance, but you’re only making it worse.
That’s when you need the best foundation and concealer for acne-prone skin.
They won’t cause breakouts because they won’t clog pores and are made for sensitive complexions.
Let us discuss what is the best foundation for acne-prone skin.
Contents
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
The best makeup for acne-prone skin recommended by dermatologists is Neutrogena’s SkinClearing lineup.
The reason is that it contains salicylic acid, which is an acne medication.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s hypoallergenic.
Clinical trials showed that 100% of the women who wore it had healthier skin.
The salicylic acid is delivered into the pores by something called MicroClear Technology. This cuts through oil to make sure the ingredients arrive where they’re needed.
The liquid foundation also reduces shine throughout the day. We feel this is the best foundation for acne-prone skin.
It’s available in twelve shades. You can also go for the Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup, which is a great choice.
Pair this concealer with the foundation above.
Not only does it cover up blemishes, but blemish rescue skin-clearing foundation also helps eliminate them. The blemish rescue skin-clearing foundation also contains salicylic acid to unclog pores and heal inflammation.
This blemish rescue skin-clearing foundation comes in four shades.
Here’s the best powder foundation for acne-prone skin.
Like the liquid foundation and concealer, it has salicylic acid. This ingredient helps unclog pores and clear up breakouts.
It also absorbs excess oil.
The powder is available in eight shades for most skin tones.
Almay’s foundation is available in fourteen shades with a matte finish.
This matte foundation starts with medium coverage, but you can layer it if needed. It shouldn’t cake.
To protect sensitive skin, it’s free of artificial fragrances and oils. A makeup artist would surely recommend this product.
It also contains a salicylic acid in the maximum over-the-counter dose available. It also helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and dark spots and gives you natural coverage and has great staying power.
This concealer from Almay is available in more shades than Neutrogena’s is. The six colors range from light to dark.
Like the foundation, it’s fragrance-free. Moreover, there are no animal derivatives in it.
Alongside salicylic acid, it has chamomile and aloe to soothe the skin.
The e.l.f. foundation fights blemishes with salicylic acid, too.
But it kicks it up a notch with witch hazel, tea tree oil, and camphor. These tighten the pores and fight infection and redness.
There’s also aloe to cool things down.
We feel this is the best foundation for acne-prone skin. You can also go for the Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup, which is a great choice. A makeup artist would surely recommend this product.
Makeup from this company is free of phthalates and parabens, plus it’s 100% vegan.
If you are looking for a foundation for oily skin you can go for Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation.
Although Dermablend’s concealer isn’t marketed as an anti-acne product, it’s non-acnegenic.
Not only has it been tested against common allergens, but it’s also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.
But what you really want to know is how well does it hide blemishes?
Very well, indeed. This is one of the best concealers you can buy. Most makeup artists recommend this product.
It offers full coverage for up to sixteen hours. It doesn’t smudge or transfer if you set it with powder.
Even though it’s packed with pigment, it never looks caked-on and also controls oil production and reduce the need for touch-ups.
Covergirl makes more than one type of foundation that suits acne-prone skin.
For example, this one is perfect for oily skin. It sets matte and keeps shine under control for hours. You might need a little powder in your T-zone, and that’s all.
The creamy (water-based) texture is effortless to apply and blend.
Then, one of the best drugstore foundations for acne-prone skin is also made by Covergirl.
It doesn’t have artificial fragrances or oils in it.
We feel this lightweight foundation is the best foundation for acne-prone skin with a lightweight formula. Keep in mind lightweight does not mean light coverage.
Furthermore, dermatologists have tested it to make it safe for sensitive skin and also controls oil production and reduce the need for touch-ups.
The only downside is that it’s lightweight to medium coverage. If you are looking for an oil-free product Laura Mercier should be on top of your mind as this helps smooth your skin without clogging pores and is also best for dry skin.
If you are looking for an oil-absorbing foundation for oily skin you can go for Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation.
Are you worried about salicylic acid drying out your skin?
Then try the bareMinerals Blemish Rescue skin-clearing loose powder foundation. It has just 0.5% salicylic acid in it. That’s a low concentration.
It’s just enough to keep the pores clear without irritating them and it also comes with an oil-free formula.
Next, the mineral-rich complex also provides moisture. It sounds unlikely given that it’s a powder, not a liquid, but part of the secret is oat protein.
The natural-looking matte finish can last all day, according to happy users.
We feel this full-coverage formula is the perfect foundation for acne-prone skin.
If you are looking for an airbrush foundation you can go for the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation.
The bareMinerals tinted gel is like a BB cream. It’s a lightweight tinted moisturizer with sunscreen.
If you don’t feel like putting on all your makeup, but still want to perk up your appearance, try it.
This mineral foundation doesn’t have any anti-acne medicine in it.
But it has a mineral-based sunscreen to avoid triggering breakouts.
Plus, it’s free of talc, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.
Physicians Formula designs all their products to be hypoallergenic for sensitive skin.
They avoid over one hundred and fifty harsh ingredients common to other cosmetics.
That’s why people with acne-prone skin like this CC cream.
It filters out UV rays to prevent sunburn and premature aging. At the same time, it lessens redness and brightens skin tone.
How about a foundation with better coverage than a CC cream?
The only downside is that it contains a chemical sunscreen filter called octinoxate. That’s considered to be of medium concern by the EWG.
On the upside, the makeup is long-wearing and buildable. It has a satin finish.
While you wear it, vitamins and hyaluronic acid promote healthy skin.
We feel this is the best foundation for acne-prone skin. This one provides breathable, buildable coverage with a natural matte finish.
Clinique is a trusted brand in cosmetics. It’s not unusual for dermatologists to recommend it to their patients.
Fans of this foundation say that it helps clear up acne without causing flakiness or redness.
It is great to control excess oil and pore-clogging with zinc oxide and kaolin clay.
The non-oily texture blends easily and provides medium to full coverage.
This shine-free product covers your pimples without looking cakey and it doesn’t clog your pores.
If you are looking for an oil-free product Laura Mercier should be on top of your mind.
Sometimes all you need is a little cover-up. That’s when the It Cosmetics concealer comes in handy.
But the full coverage liquid doesn’t just make acne-prone skin look blemish-free.
It’s a drying lotion, too.
It is great to absorb excess oil with zinc oxide and kaolin clay.
At the same time, sulfur and tea tree oil kill acne bacteria. Then witch hazel shrinks enlarged pores.
Lastly, a fruit acid complex exfoliates dead skin.
All of this and it doesn’t even cake or crease, either. The non-oily texture blends easily and provides medium to full coverage.
Also Read: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation vs CC Cream: Ultimate Comparison
I know, it’s a tinted sunscreen, not a foundation. But you can’t tell me that you don’t appreciate lightweight makeup once in a while.
After all, this is a real timesaver with three functions. It protects against damage from the sun, it hydrates, and it enhances the complexion.
This is a product made for sensitive skin, whether it’s naturally dry or oily. It feels silky and breathable.
Not only does it prevent triggering acne, but it also protects rosacea-prone skin as well.
The sunscreen consists of zinc oxide and octinoxate, which means it filters both kinds of harmful UV rays.
It also has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin E. These diminish inflammation and redness, restore moisture, and slow down premature aging.
The Effaclar BB cream is a tinted mineral sunscreen. It’s oil-free.
It doesn’t have parabens or perfumes, either, and is also oil-free.
The biggest con is that there are only two shades for light or medium tones.
Jolie’s powder foundation is fortified with minerals and antioxidants.
These powder foundations are velvety soft and set to a matte finish that reduces oiliness. This option gives a naturally dewy finish.
One of its highlights is that it contains “micro-diffusers.” These reflective particles disguise large pores and blemishes.
Even the sunscreen is mineral-based and is oil-free.
We feel this oil-free product is the perfect foundation for acne-prone skin.
You can also go for the Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Fluid Powder Foundation SPF 20, which is a great choice.
BaeBlue recommends this liquid foundation for people with acne, acne scars, rosacea, dark circles, uneven skin tone, freckles, or sunspots.
This oil-free foundation is available in sixteen color-adjusting shades.
You can build it without worrying about creasing and caking.
The vegan formula is certified organic and free of artificial colors, preservatives, and fragrances. Even the packaging is eco-friendly.
Catrice’s liquid foundation comes in twenty-four shades, so it’s easy to find one to match any skin tone.
It’s high-coverage, hence the “HD” in the name.
Users say that this oil-free foundation keeps shine to a minimum for hours.
The liquid dropper makes the application so much less messy than other methods. And the formula is cruelty-free and vegan.
There are no parabens in the bottle and is oil-free. We feel this is one of the best foundations for acne-prone skin.
You can also go for the Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Fluid Powder Foundation SPF 20, which is a great choice.
Maybelline’s BB cream features 2% salicylic acid to actively fight acne. There’s no oil in it, and it’s non-comedogenic.
But those aren’t the only benefits.
It also adjusts to skin tone and hides redness. It makes pores much less noticeable.
If you are looking for a hydrating foundation you can go for the Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Soft Matte foundation.
PUR’s tinted moisturizer is gluten-free even if you have severe sensitivity or dermatitis herpetiformis.
The formula is vegan and cruelty-free. Plus, the container is BPA-free.
The mineral pigments brighten skin tone while the formula moisturizes and soothes the skin. This is a smart choice if you have dry skin with flaky cheeks when you wear other types of foundation.
Women with mature skin who are still battling acne will appreciate this powder foundation.
It’s rich in antioxidants from pine bark and pomegranate. These minimize and reverse damage caused by the sun and the environment.
Then, the mineral sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection. Some shades offer as high as SPF 20.
The matte and naturally sheer coverage comes in a wide variety of shades from bisque and amber to cocoa and warm brown.
ISDIN is a high-end brand sold in European pharmacies.
Their full-coverage foundation lasts up to twelve hours to cover up scars, tattoos, and blemishes.
It’s so good that it’s won awards and is suitable for the majority of skin types.
It sets to a velvety finish, but it’s only available in three shades. These include sand, bronze, and caramel. We feel this is one of the best foundations for acne-prone skin.
If you are looking for a foundation for normal skin you can go for this Makeup for EVER Ultra HD Liquid Foundation.
Fans of Mary Kay’s foundation tend to have combination or oily skin. That’s because this product absorbs excess oil to keep the skin looking fresh and clean.
This dermatologist-tested foundation also hides pores and fights the aging process and gives a natural finish, also it does stay in place all day long. This option gives a naturally dewy finish.
The formula is designed for sensitive skin. We feel this is one of the best foundations for acne-prone skin.
Someone wanted to know if Tarte’s foundation was good for acne-prone skin.
Although it’s not made especially for the skin type, it’s free of problematic ingredients like mineral oil, phthalates, and parabens. It doesn’t have gluten, either.
It offers full coverage for up to twelve hours. It also includes broad-spectrum UV protection. This oil-free foundation also contains acne-fighting ingredients.
You can build it to hide imperfections without worrying about it creasing, too. We feel this is one of the best foundations for acne-prone skin and also gives you a natural finish.
You can also go for the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation, which is a great choice and is suitable for the majority of skin types.
The American Academy of Dermatology explains that some types of makeup can cause acne.
The effects aren’t immediate. Pimples may take a few days or a few months before they appear. You might not even realize that it’s your makeup causing the problem.
To avoid this problem from the outset, you need to be picky about the foundation and concealer you wear.
When you shop, choose oil-free products. Most are labeled with the term “non-comedogenic.”
If you have dry skin, you can look dewy fresh with a water-based foundation. Some hydrate with hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
Also, dimethicone is handy because it reduces redness and smooths uneven texture.
Meanwhile, powdered foundations are ideal for combination and oily skin. Ingredients like silica and zinc oxide reduce shine and disguise redness without causing blemishes.
In any case, be careful when you purchase a foundation with sunscreen. Some chemical filters might irritate sensitive skin. Go for mineral-based products instead.
Now, let me show you foundations and concealers that are safe for acne-prone skin.
Don’t be afraid to wear makeup even if you have acne-prone skin.
Look for products that are oil-free and non-acnegenic. In other words, they don’t clog pores or trigger reactions.
Some foundations and concealers go the extra mile to fight acne. They include salicylic acid and other ingredients that fight blemishes.
If you found makeup today that has helped your skin improve, tell us about it in the comments below.
Sources:
1. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/causes/makeup
2. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-skin-care-makeup#1
3. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/704203-octinoxate/
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