So, you have acne. For some, this means a few stubborn pimples that won’t go away, but for others, more persistent breakouts or even cystic acne affects more than just your skin’s health. If you have acne, keep in mind that everyone gets breakouts, and there is no need always to cover your blemishes. In fact, consistently wearing makeup or products on your skin might actually be causing more breakouts. But if you wish to wear makeup, the best foundations for acne-prone skin can work for your skin and not against it, helping to hide blemishes and even treating your acne with the right ingredients.
Non-comedogenic products, or non-pore-clogging products, are often the best choice for people who deal with frequent breakouts, especially for products like foundation that sit on the skin for hours. Products marked as non-comedogenic will often avoid ingredients like oils so they don’t cause extra sebum and dirt to build up in the pores and trigger a breakout. We pulled from eight expert reviews to find the best foundations for acne-prone skin that were recommended most. If we missed one that you keep in your makeup bag, let us know in the comments!
The List: Best Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin, Ranked
1. Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
Though this foundation might be more of a luxury pick with its higher price point, it is one of the best picks for those who struggle with acne, with no excess oil in the formula and a flawless finish. Elle loves that this formula makes it easy to build up a natural radiance while still being lightweight and not cakey.
People tested 23 different foundation formulas and still loved this product the best. Why? It proves to be the best at providing a matte but glowy finish that masks extra oil, since acne-prone individuals tend to have oily skin. Testers found it applied flawlessly without any streaks regardless of what tool was used for application, and the formula was creamy and smooth.
With 40 different shades, you should be able to find a near-perfect match for your skin tone. A little product goes a long way, which might make up for the higher price point. Marie Claire mentions that Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, and Meghan Markle are all “obsessed with this foundation.”
2. Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup
One of the best acne-fighting ingredients is salicylic acid, and IPSY explains Clinique’s Acne Solutions foundation uses it to treat the skin while providing coverage at the same time. Salicylic acid works to reduce pimples, speed healing, and decrease inflammation by helping skin shed dead skin cells and unclog pores.
Good Housekeeping notes the foundation comes in over a dozen shades and offers a matte finish and medium coverage. The formula is lightweight, even for those who have oily skin and contains no ingredients that will clog pores or cause more breakouts. It’s great for neutralizing redness while providing coverage for existing blemishes.
Clinical trials of this foundation showed that testers had fewer visibly clogged pores within ten days of using this foundation, according to Well+Good. The product itself is also much more affordable than the Armani option mentioned above. Not a bad deal for a double duty product that not only conceals acne, but treats and prevents!
3. Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation
Maybelline’s Fit Me line has been a drugstore favorite for years, due to its affordability and inclusive shade range with over 40 shade options. Cosmetify says that although the brand might be reminiscent of your teenage years, you can’t go wrong with a foundation that blurs and improves the appearance of your skin without causing new breakouts.
Adore Beauty explains this foundation contains micro powders that absorb excess oil and also create a diffused, blurred look that evens out skin tone. The formula also contains magnesium sulphate, which helps with hydration and reducing inflammation. Dimethicone is another ingredient that smooths enlarged pores while forming a protective barrier on the skin to retain moisture.
Reviewers at Marie Claire are particularly in love with how wide the diverse the shade range is and how easy it is to find yours. The coverage is medium but buildable and goes on smooth without creasing or looking too dry. The Fit Me line is also fragrance free and non-comedogenic so it shouldn’t cause any allergies or new breakouts.
4. Neutrogena SkinClearing Liquid Makeup
Another great drugstore option with an affordable price, this Neutrogena foundation also won’t clog pores. Best Products says this foundation will give you a good amount of coverage but contains exfoliating salicylic acid, so your foundation won’t make your breakouts worse.
Women’s Wear Daily says to think of this foundation as an acne spot medicated treatment with the additional benefit of coverage. It’s perfect for the summer, with a lightweight formula that isn’t heavy or full of oil that will clog pores. The only downside about this foundation is that the shade range is limited, with only 14 options, so if you don’t find a good match it might be a good choice to mix two to make a custom shade.
Testers at Byrdie love the medium coverage this foundation offers because it can be built without looking cakey and has an in-between finish that isn’t too matte for textured skin or too dewy for those who skew oily. It blends easily and is pretty transfer resistant.
5. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
A CC cream is typically a step above BB creams and a step below typical foundations in coverage. They are meant to provide color correction and up to medium coverage with a very light formula. Well+Good says that this cream from IT cosmetics “is a powerhouse that conceals uneven skin tone, acne scars, redness, and large pores.”
Byrdie loves that even though the texture of the cream feels thick at first, it’s easy to blend and is hydrating, so you can wear it all day without getting cakey or streaky skin. Testers at the publication found that even just one pump provided enough coverage for the entire face, though they do recommend setting it with powder.
There are 22 shades included in this line, and the formula contains hydrating niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, which People magazine says makes it feel more like skincare than makeup. Though you should still layer sunscreen underneath it, it does come with SPF 50. The formula contains no oils or other ingredients that will cause new breakouts.
6. bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation
If you struggle with oily skin and don’t need heavy coverage, a powder foundation might benefit you. Women’s Wear Daily says this foundation is the easiest to apply. Just brush the pigment onto your face, buff it in, and the pigment will settle into your face for smooth, flawless coverage without clogging pores.
Cosmopolitan loves this option for a natural, luminous coverage that doesn’t look or feel like caking on makeup. The powder adheres to the skin’s natural oils and provides coverage without seeping into the pores, making it a great choice for those with acne-prone skin. The powder also has minimal ingredients, making it less likely to irritate skin or cause allergies.
The formula even offers minimal sun protection with SPF 15 and is cruelty-free, vegan, and free of parabens, gluten, talc, synthetic fragrances, PEGs, SLS, or tree nuts. According to IPSY, this foundation minimizes the look of pores and imperfections while reducing excess oil that causes shine and breakouts. Many reported their skin actually looked better over time when using this product.
7. HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation
This HAUS Labs foundation created by Lady Gaga’s brand is slightly pricier than the drugstore picks on our list but is loved by many for its sleek application and skin-loving ingredients. Elle says it’s a cult-favorite and feels more like a serum that can be blended easily with even just the fingers and gives you a smooth, photo-ready finish.
Best Products is impressed by the extensive shade range, which includes 51 shades that include almost every possible undertone and in-between, guaranteeing a perfect match. The foundation is medium coverage and is both hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, though those with oiler skin might need to powder a little more often.
The formula contains fermented arnica, which helps to soothe irritated or inflamed skin. Well+Good says this foundation also contains two complexes of antioxidants and medicinal herbs that help to promote healing and protect the skin against environmental stress and pollutants. Those with acne-prone skin don’t have to worry about this foundation causing new breakouts.
Sources:
- Elle
- People
- Marie Claire
- IPSY
- Good Housekeeping
- Well+Good
- Cosmetify
- Adore Beauty
- Best Products
- Women’s Wear Daily
- Byrdie
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.