7 best non-comedogenic foundations to prevent clogged pores, as tested by our beauty editor

RRP: $69 | Coverage: Buildable, medium

Shades and inclusivity: 40, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Added extras: Micro-fil™ technology

You might not marry the word 'luminous' with an oily skin foundation, but thanks to the non-comedogenic emollient Isododecane—a texture-enhancing ingredient that yields a lightweight, matte finish—this buildable formula creates a satiny finish that never looks greasy or shiny.

Despite its very comfortable and slightly sheer consistency, this richly-pigmented, customizable fluid also manages to disguise pores, redness, or blemishes with just a single layer—which, impressively, I found stayed put even through a heatwave. Its satiny finish also means there's some flexibility when choosing a shade, as I found that several shades worked with my skin. It also bestows the subtlest of glows that's never too much, thanks to patented "micro-fill" technology, which combines light-reflecting particles with a transparent powder to create its signature healthy glowy-not-shiny finish.

As a fellow "oily-but-dehydrated" complexion, My Imperfect Life's beauty contributor Lucy Abbersteen also loves it for its camera-ready and flawlessly healthy look. It's a real all-rounder and one of the best foundations for combination skin that should work well for most skin types, be they dry or oily—so it's no wonder that it's also so many celebrities' foundation of choice.

See our full Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation review for a more in-depth analysis of this cult favorite base

RRP: $13.99 | Coverage: Buildable, medium

Shades and inclusivity: 40, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Added extras: Hyaluronic acid, Aloe vera extract, vitamin blend, SPF 17

It's easy to overlook bargain buys in favor of more luxurious-looking and -feeling products and assume the latter is the best for the job, especially when it comes to foundation that won't clog pores. But, as L’Oréal Paris hails from the same house as premium names like Yves Saint Laurent, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani, and IT Cosmetics, its formulas can rival some far more expensive products. At least, that’s certainly the case for this drugstore favorite, which glides smoothly onto the skin and lasts all day. Its coverage is easy to build and the infusion of hyaluronic acid leaves skin soft and prevents the formula from drying out.

I did find that this foundation gradually became a little shiny as the day went on, so it's worth noting that it may require touch-ups or setting with a little powder to help to keep it in place, especially if your skin is fairly oily. Be sure to color-match well, too, as the shades can come up slightly different once applied versus how they look in the bottle. Despite this, this option could easily disguise itself as a high-end buy, and its incredible value is what makes it one of the best non-comedogenic foundations in our eyes.

RRP: $37.50 | Coverage: Full

Shades and inclusivity: 30, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Added extras: SPF 20

Full coverage and non-comedogenic are two phrases that don't often go hand in hand, but this foundation manages to bridge the gap seamlessly. It's particularly great for both acne-prone and oily skin types who prefer to stick to thicker formulas that don't carry a risk of foundation pilling. I found that it disguised imperfections well while leaving a hint of the parts of your face that make you, "you", such as freckles or beauty spots—so it still has a lovely natural feel overall.

Gliding smoothly onto the skin it gives a hint of a glow—something you wouldn’t necessarily expect from such a high-coverage fluid. Its one drawback, however, is that it can develop a little bit of shine throughout the day on oilier skin, but that’s simply down to the dewy texture, which makes it flexible enough to use on a range of skin types. There's an easy fix to this, however: a dusting of my go-to Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder got rid of any unwanted shininess when using this non-comedogenic foundation on my oily skin.

RRP: $49 | Coverage: Medium to full weightless

Shades and inclusivity: 30, suitable for all skin types, especially normal to oily

Added extras: Water-resistant

A brand with a famous range of primers and setting powders, and founded by the iconic makeup artist of the same name, Laura Mercier is a name that knows how to ace a base. I love the substantial coverage it gives while simultaneously maintaining a lightweight feel—especially on my oily and combination skin. This is exactly why it made it into our edit of the best non-comedogenic foundations.

It keeps excess oil at bay throughout the day (tick) and the finish is matte but not cakey (double tick). The formula is also sweat, water, and transfer-resistant, so it didn’t leave marks on lighter clothing. I am also rather obsessed with the way that this non pore-clogging foundation manages to conceal larger pores like an IRL filter. It bestowed on my skin the kind of magic complexion that oily skin types have only ever dreamed of and previously thought impossible. Hats off to Ms. Mercier for this one.

RRP: $47 | Coverage: Sheer, buildable

Shades and inclusivity: 40, suitable for normal to dry skin types

Added extras: Vitamin C, antioxidants, turmeric extract

Is NARS non-comedogenic, you might wonder? Well, this foundation option certainly is. A skincare-makeup hybrid that most beauty fans will have tried at least once, Sheer Glow boasts a concoction of skin-loving ingredients while also doing the job of a silky-finish foundation. (It also features in our edit of the best foundations for acne-prone skin, it's that good). The sheer formula is more pigmented than you might expect, so it does a good job of blurring imperfections—and NARS' Complexion Brightening Formula leaves skin dewy and glowing with no greasy residue.

This foundation is also packed with hydration, so can develop some shine after a few hours of wear, but it works brilliantly on dry skin and leaves it with a particularly healthy finish. This cult favorite also has all the benefits of a respectable moisturizer along with the coverage of a solid foundation, ticking all my boxes and then some. Kudos!

RRP: $38 | Coverage: Medium

Shades and inclusivity: 50, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Added extras: Water-resistant, vegan-friendly

Thankfully, while there's still a long way to go to improve things, complexion makeup shade ranges are far more inclusive than before, and this sterling product is living proof of that. The vast range on offer with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation gives you a really strong chance of finding your perfect match. It has a finish that’s quite similar to our Giorgio Armani favorite above, and gives a glowy, shine-free finish and medium, buildable coverage. Not only that, it also has the kind of fresh effect that makes you look like you’ve just had a facial, and it won’t cling to any dry patches of skin.

My one and only gripe is that it did show signs of wear after a few hours, settling into pores and fine lines a little as well as yielding a small amount of shine. On that basis, for those with lots of very visible pores, it could be one to pair with a blurring primer, finishing powder or setting spray to balance the scales. But all in all, it's one of the best non-comedogenic foundations and well worth checking out.

RRP: $49 | Coverage: Full, buildable

Shades and inclusivity: 25, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Added extras: Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Perfect for those who are time-poor, or who regularly apply makeup on the move, is this number from luxury French name Lancôme. It only takes a matter of seconds to apply, gliding onto the skin and blending in seamlessly with a buffing brush or a sponge (do make sure you're washing your tools regularly with one of the best makeup brush cleaners). It gives skin just the right amount of coverage for a healthy complexion that doesn't look greasy, and disguises any imperfections with ease. 

However, I found that it didn't really provide skin with that airbrushed, matte finish that some of the other foundations gave. I also noticed that—on my oily skin at least—it tended to develop some shine throughout the day, and experienced the tiniest amount of flaking on dry patches within a few hours. But all in all, it's good for on-the-go application in the afternoon that will stay put until evening; you can also combine this non-comedogenic foundation with our genius makeup tricks and tips to get the most out of it.