The best foundations for acne-prone skin have to tick several boxes. Not only do they need to provide decent coverage without making your skin look cakey, they should absorb excess oil without drying out your skin and—most importantly—not worsen existing breakouts.
While intuition might tell you to reach for a higher-coverage foundation when your skin is acting up, unfortunately this can sometimes make the situation even angrier. It's therefore important to pay close attention to any chosen formula and ensure that it's filled with skin-loving ingredients and nothing heavy or pore-clogging.
As with all of the best foundations, formulas for acne-prone skin should leave your skin feeling and looking healthy. In the search for the most suitable beauty buys, we tested a bunch that claim to be good for acne-prone skin to see how well they live up perform. These options can provide you with that coverage you're craving, disguising angry redness, without aggravating your acne.
How we tested the best foundations for acne-prone skin
For most people who struggle with acne or blemish-prone skin, the best non-comedogenic foundations are the ideal match because they don't contain pore-clogging ingredients. If you're on a budget, plenty of drugstore options also perform well, provided they're suited to your skin type.
Below you'll find all of the acne-prone skin foundations I deem it worth knowing about, from luxury picks to dry skin saviors. When testing these, I tried each product at least twice for a full day and assessed the following factors.
- Formula
- Range and number of shades
- Price point
- Finish
- Ease of application
- How long it lasted on the skin
During the testing process, I tried a range of foundations including popular formulas that are well known for being specifically for acne-prone skin, newer products, and some underdogs that—although not necessarily marketed for acne-prone skin—are still very suitable.
My skin can be sensitive to some ingredients but it’s generally quite hardy, is a bit blemish-prone and falls on the slightly oily side.
In my personal opinion, the best foundation for acne-prone skin should first and foremost be non-comedogenic as standard, as this means the formula won’t further clog your pores. The finish, however, is entirely personal—historically they have fallen under the matte category, but there are now a few other options on the market for a more satin-y or radiant look.
The best foundations for acne-prone skin as reviewed by a beauty editor
Finding a formula that disguises acne without visibly drying out spots and that still feels lightweight and comfortable to wear isn't easy. But this makeup bag staple is the embodiment of creator François Nars' famous ethos that “makeup shouldn't cover your skin—it should enhance your natural beauty, not mask it”. Packed with skin-loving ingredients , it balances being gentle on problem areas while still making a difference. In fact, for a formula that’s billed as sheer, I found it actually boasts quite impressive pigment and coverage. This is a must for concealing any imperfections or scarring, as you won't need to apply a lot of product (and run the risk of foundation pilling). The hint of dew to the finish leaves skin looking fresh and glowy rather than dull and cakey.
If you're worried about dry skin causing acne, then the hydrating feel of this foundation should also tick your boxes, as this prevents the formula from drying around spots and blemishes. When it comes to those aforementioned skin-loving ingredients, antioxidants like vitamin C brighten and protect the skin from further damage from free radicals and environmental factors. The hero of the formula has to be turmeric, though, as—like vitamin C—it works to brighten the skin and help to fade acne scars (a visible result that can be seen from prolonged use, by the way), but its anti-inflammatory properties also calm acne flare-ups. Overall, this is a must-have skincare-makeup hybrid those who want decent coverage with a lightweight, silky feel.
A cult foundation from a cult brand: Clinique’s Anti-Blemish Solutions truly excelled itself in my tests and is a well-recognized favorite for many people with acne. Its lightweight, silky texture was easy to apply—I found it best applied with a damp make-up sponge—and although it dries down quickly, this was something that I soon got used to the more I used it.
Formulated with salicylic acid to help treat blemishes and breakouts, this foundation is also oil-free and works to neutralize any discoloration in the skin. Another thing I loved was its natural-looking finish; no matter how many layers I applied it didn’t look chalky. In other words, my skin stayed looking like skin, just like when you use one of the best BB creams, which in my book is vital.
This foundation is on the more expensive end of the scale, but when you take into account its claims and credibility, it’s definitely worth it. A favorite among celebrities, it's formulated specifically for acne-prone skin, and contains 2% salicylic acid (a spot-busting ingredient and a form of beta-hydroxy acid), a much higher level than most other foundations that contain it. It’s also enriched with soothing Aloe vera and vitamin E to target inflammation and calm redness. It also features SPF 30, meaning you get some of the benefits of the best sunscreens for face, though it's of course better for your skin to apply a separate formula. It's ultra lightweight, lasts all day, and has significant oil-controlling powers.
However, I do have to point out the extremely limited, incredibly pale selection of shades available here. If you can find your shade and afford this formula, it's one of the best foundations for acne prone skin, and a truly incredible discovery.
Those with acne-prone and oily complexions rejoiced when IT Cosmetics launched this oil-free, matte version of its cult CC cream, because it meant they could see what all the fuss was about, too. Despite the fact it does have heavy coverage and a matte finish, I love that it still looks relatively natural on the skin and doesn’t feel cakey or suffocating.
As well as disguising discoloration like redness with ease (the CC is a hit among those with rosacea), it also lives up to its claims of helping to reduce oiliness and shine throughout the day, plus it’s hydrating which is fairly unheard of, even when it comes to the best foundation for acne prone skin. The added SPF 40 is always a bonus that I'm fully on board with, and this is easily one of the best foundations for oily skin around.
