The best non-comedogenic foundations should give you great levels of coverage and photogenic skin, without leaving it shiny and spotty—given that non-comedogenic beauty products are meant to avoid clogging your pores.
Non-comedogenic beauty products—e.g the best foundations for acne prone skin—are important, because we all know that using regular foundation on oily and acne-prone skin can feel like a vicious cycle; the more we use it, the more it aggravates our skin, but the more we break out, the more we need to cover up.
To bring you the products that work the best, we tested quite a few bottles of non-comedogenic foundations. During our research, we found that Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk ticked all the boxes, with its shine-free, natural-looking glow and buildable coverage. Or, if you’re looking for something more full-coverage, then the Yves Saint Laurent All Hours will give you a substantial-finish without the heaviness that usually comes with thick formulas. You'll find options for all skincare concerns below, with our honest reviews of the best non-comedogenic foundations out there.
How to choose the best non-comedogenic foundation for you
When choosing the best non-comedogenic foundation for you, the main thing to look at is the ingredients list.
More sheer water-based formulas will leave you with a natural look rather than the dreaded caked-on effect. And of course, those who are plagued with oily skin will benefit from anything that boasts a matte finish.
- Sensitive skin types should choose oil-free formulas—"For people with sensitive, problematic, or reactive skin, it is worth opting for oil-free formulas and stay away from full-coverage, long-wear formulas," advises aesthetic doctor Dr. Maryam Zamani. "Always consider skin type, skin concerns, the season, skin tone match, and desired coverage." Dr. Parisha Acharya, Aesthetic Doctor at London Marylebone’s Waterhouse Young clinic, adds, "Your ideal foundation should be lightweight, water, gel, or aloe-vera based. Bonus points if it contains salicylic acid for acne-prone individuals. Look for terms like hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic but remember these terms are not necessarily regulated so still be vigilant of the ingredient list."
- Acne-prone skin types should choose non-drying formulas—If you're an acne-sufferer who needs a higher coverage, try and look for something that is non-drying so it won’t catch on your blemishes and start flaking off throughout the day.
- Combination skin types should opt for hydrating formulas—Things start getting a little trickier when you have both oily and dehydrated skin, so in that case, it’s best to look out for anything containing hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and any emollients, which will pack hydration into your skin without clogging up pores with something heavier.
So, after getting to grips with what non-comedogenic actually means, and whether to go non-comedogenic foundation vs oil-free foundation, we tested foundations for all the above skincare concerns, to provide honest and impartial views on your next makeup bag purchase.
The best non-comedogenic foundation as chosen by our expert
Those with oilier skin may be put off just by the name, but don't be! This buildable formula gives a satiny finish without leaving any grease or shine in its wake. And the best thing about this customizable fluid that manages to hide any sign of pores, redness, or blemishes despite its sheer-esque consistency? The subtle glow that’ll leave you looking like you’ve actually managed to fit some—SPF friendly, of course—poolside sun in. This is a real all-rounder that should work well for most skin types, be it dry or oily.
Read our full Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation review to see how this foundation changed one writer's life
Full coverage and non-comedogenic don't often go together, but this foundation seems to tick both boxes with aplomb. This is great for those acne-prone and oily skin types who want to stick with their thick formulas. It will fully hide any imperfections, while even leaving a tiny hint of the best bits of your skin (i.e. freckles and beauty spots) so it’s doesn’t look like you’ve just caked on face paint.
It brushes on smoothly and gives a flushed glow, which is something you wouldn’t expect from a high-coverage fluid. It can develop a little bit of shine throughout the day on oilier skin types, but that’s simply due to the dewy texture that makes it suitable for a wider range of skin types.
Maybe it's the magpies in us but we often overlook more reasonably-priced options for more premium options—but with L’Oréal Paris hailing from the same house as more luxury brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Lancôme, Armani, and IT Cosmetics, its formulas are on par with some of the most expensive on the market. And that’s certainly the case for this buildable staple that glides on smoothly and lasts all day. Its coverage is easily buildable and the infusion of hyaluronic acid leaves skin soft and stops the formula from drying out on the skin.
It did come up a bit shiny as the day went on so could maybe do with a little dab or a touch of powder on top—and be sure to color-match thoroughly, as the shades can come up slightly different to what you might expect. Overall though, this option could easily disguise itself as a high-end pick, making it easily one of our best non-comedogenic foundations.
Known for their incredible Pure Canvas range of primers and their famous loose setting powder, this is one brand that knows how to ace a base. And we love the substantial but lightweight coverage this beauty gives—especially to oily and combination skin types, which is one it's one of our best non-comedogenic foundations.
It keeps oil at bay throughout the day, and the finish is matte without being cakey. The formula is also sweat, water, and transfer-resistant, meaning it didn’t leave any pesky orange marks all over our white T-shirts. We are also kind of obsessed with how it conceals large pores, getting to work quicker than Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak. It bestows the wearer with the kind of magic oily skin types never thought they’d get...
A skincare-makeup hybrid that most beauty fans will have tried at least once, Sheer Glow boasts a concoction of skin-loving ingredients while doing its job as a silky foundation. The sheer formula is more pigmented than you might expect, so does a good job at blurring imperfections, while the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula leaves skin dewy and glowing without any greasy residue.
It’s packed with hydration so it can develop some shine after a few hours, but it’ll definitely leave dry skin with a healthy finish. This cult favorite has all the benefits of a respectable moisturizer along with the coverage of a pretty solid foundation.
As society learns and progresses, face makeup is thankfully getting more and more inclusive—and this sterling product is proof of that. With a finish that’s actually remarkably similar to our Giorgio Armani favorite, it gives a glowy shine-free, medium coverage look that can be layered for more coverage. And, the vast range of shades allows you to really personalize the color that you’re getting.
It has the kind of fresh finish that leaves you looking like you’ve just had a facial, and won’t flake into any dry patches of the face. Our one and only niggle was that it did start to show signs of wear after a few hours, settling into pores and fine lines and sporting a bit of shine, so perhaps one to pair with a finishing powder or setting spray.
Perfect if you're time-poor or just like (or have to!) applying your make-up on the move. It takes just seconds to apply, gliding onto the skin and then blending in seamlessly with a buffing brush or blending sponge.
It gives just the right amount of coverage for a healthy flush, without looking too greasy and covers up imperfections nicely. It doesn’t have the airbrushed matte glow of others we’ve seen and can develop some shine throughout the day while also minimally flaking on dry patches after a few hours, but good for any on-the-go afternoons as it stays put until evening.
