Foundation for Acne Prone Skin

The key to a grease- and breakout-free face is to start with a foundation that’s specially formulated for your skin type. It should offer enough coverage to cover up imperfections, but it shouldn’t be so heavy that it leaves your skin looking and feeling congested.

One of the best ingredients to look for in your foundation is salicylic acid. It’s a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that’s oil-soluble, so it can actually help to unclog your pores. It’s gentle, yet effective and will help to temper an oily complexion in addition to clearing pores. Over time, salicylic acid reduces acne and helps keep skin clear by preventing new blemishes and pimples– now, that’s what we call a foundation with benefits!

If you are dealing with acne, chances are your skin probably skews on the oilier side. You should look for formulas that promise a matte finish because they’re likely oil-free and won’t contribute to new breakouts.

If you can’t figure out if the foundation you’re interested in is oil-free, non-comedogenic, or has salicylic acid in it, it’s best to play it safe and stick to lightweight liquid formulations such as BB Creams and Skin Tints that won’t be as congesting.

Available in 40 breathable and lightweight shades, this is the acne foundation formula of your dreams. It’s formulated especially for normal to oily skin and utilizes an exclusive matte foundation formulation that features micro-powders to control shine and blur pores. The result? A flawless finish that lasts all day, promising to minimize the appearance of pores. Not only is it non-comedogenic, but it’s dermatologist- and allergy-tested, too.

Looking for a foundation that lasts and lasts? Well, how does 30 hours sound? That’s how long our Super Stay® Lumi-Matte Foundation will last. Its transfer- water-, and sweat-proof formula feels as light as air and will give you a natural finish. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores.

While your instinct might be to reach for the high-coverage foundation if you have acne, makeup artists recommend dialing it down a notch. Our Dream BB Pure® BB® Cream is a skincare-makeup hybrid that gives a clean wash of even coverage to the skin while imparting a number of benefits. Bonus: it's got a healthy dose of salicylic acid to clear acne. It’ll also aid in minimizing the look of pores, reducing redness, and mattifying oily skin. It also hydrates and smooths, so skin isn’t left looking too dry, which is a concern when you’re applying treatments meant to dry out your spots. It's especially perfect for summertime when skin tends to get oilier and is more acne-prone!

Although it imparts a natural, radiant look as opposed to a matte one, this is actually a great formula all skin types, especially those with acne-free skin. Thanks to the brightening Vitamin C, this super lightweight skin tint will help clear and brighten any acne scars that me be lingering after past breakouts.

Sometimes, when we’re dealing with a breakout, we need a little coverage boost throughout the day and applying it with your fingers is not acne friendly. That’s why we love this multi-use stick, which can be used as a foundation, a contour or a highlighter for an effortless sculpted look. We recommend keeping one in our bag for on-the-go touch-ups along with a disposable makeup sponge, so we’re not introducing any new bacteria when we go in for our mid-day fix. This creamy foundation stick blends easily and lifts flawlessly, giving you medium-to-full coverage, is non-comedogenic, and is dermatologist-tested.

Formulated with unique silky matte powder spheres, you get an easy glide application and a flawless, soft-focus 16-hour matte finish. The formula is non-comedogenic and is great for all skin types, even sensitive skin. Its breathable feel and easy-to-apply formula is a longtime favorite of Maybelline customers, including those with oily and acneic skin.

First off, start with your concealer. But while many people think they should use a lighter shade to disguise the redness and inflammation of a breakout, it’s actually the opposite– doing that actually “highlights” the blemish. Instead, you want to use one that’s slightly darker to block out the color of the pimple. Next, use a lighter concealer or one that matches your skin tone to blend the two. For best practice, we recommend using a concealer brush to apply your concealer so that you can really target the spot that needs coverage. Once you’ve completed your touchups, apply your foundation with a damp makeup sponge and dab gently so you don’t disrupt your blemish coverage. Finish with a setting powder to lock everything in place.