It’s a vicious cycle. You have an acne flare-up, and you want to cover it up, so you apply your arsenal of camouflaging base products – but then these pore-clogging formulas only serve to exacerbate the issue. It feels like a lose-lose situation.
Determining whether a foundation will cause you to break out is – unfortunately - a matter of biology. It tends to be dependent on the person and is often a matter of trial and error. However, you can dive deep into the composition of the product in question and look out for ingredients that are known stressors to avoid as well as skincare-like nourishing components that are better suited to your skin type. Oily skin doesn’t require matte foundations.
The important thing is to make sure you sample your new foundation without altering other elements in your skincare routine so you can determine without a shadow of a doubt that it is the one causing your breakout – and do so over a month so that you consider hormonal factors like your period too.
We reached out to Tori Arthur, makeup artist and founder of Tori Arthur Makeup to find out more.
What does non-comedogenic mean?
“Non-comedogenic basically means a product won’t clog your pores”, she explains. “It’s designed to sit on the skin without causing congestion, which helps prevent breakouts and blackheads. For acne or oily skin, using non-comedogenic products can make a huge difference”.
Who are non-comedogenic foundations best for?
According to Arthur, “Anyone who has regular breakouts, or skin congestion should make sure their everyday skin foundation is non-comedogenic. Oily and acne-prone skin types benefit the most, but honestly, even if you have normal or combination skin it’s a good idea - no one wants their foundation to make their skin worse”.
What ingredients should you avoid in your foundation?
The expert advises “Try to avoid heavy, pore-blocking ingredients like mineral oil and coconut oil as they can lead to breakouts. Some thick silicone-based formulas can also be problematic for congested skin. If you’re prone to sensitivity, stay away from alcohol and fragrance, as they can cause redness and irritation”.
What should you avoid?
“Aside from pore-clogging ingredients, be careful with foundations that are too thick or overly mattifying, they can suffocate the skin and actually make it produce more oil”, she says. “If you’re acne-prone, heavy creams and stick foundations aren’t usually the best option”.
Any recommendations?
“I love Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place, which has amazing coverage, is oil-free, and lasts forever and the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation. It’s also oil-free and designed to be breathable. Making it a good option for acne-prone skin”.
Discover our edit of the best non-comedogenic foundation for acne-prone skin below
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup
Many people opt to forgo foundation entirely during the summer months in favour of lightweight formulas like tinted moisturisers, BB or CC creams but if you’re not ready to give up the full coverage as the base of your makeup routine, you need something that will feel light but will look flawless well into the night. Enter Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place foundation.
The coverage is medium to full and it offers a mattified finish that should help with excess shine, oil and sebum. It has only SPF10 protection though, so wear a face SPF underneath. It is, however, water, heat, humidity and swear-resistant to stay fresh throughout your summer plans. There are 52 shades to choose from.
Buy now £31.60, Amazon
NARS Cosmetics Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
This product has long been a workhorse in makeup bags the world over - whether in professional kits or in the rotation of casual wearers. The foundation comes in an impressive 34-shade range, securing its status as a cult classic. It has the ability to even out and smooth the complexion, while also providing an illuminating effect. The coverage is medium-to-full and it can be used by all skin types where it is created to stand the test of time. You have the cocktail of raspberry, apple and watermelon extracts to thank for that nourishing feel.
Buy now £41.00, Cult Beauty
Chanel Les Beiges Eau de Teint
This Eau de Teint from Chanel is more a tinted serum than a tinted moisturiser but we are completely obsessed. The formula is made up of a watery liquid with innovative microfluid technology in the form of pigments that melt into your skin. Pump the formula onto the back of your hand and use the brush included to combine the two parts together.
When applied on the skin, it feels like an instant hit of hydration, while the micro-droplets leave a sheer and glowy finish. The buildable product can be applied to all skin types, even sensitive skin for a pampering feeling that leaves skin looking dewy. There are six shades.
Buy now £55.00, John Lewis
Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation
Packed with a menu of some of skincare’s most rosacea-friendly ingredients, this fluid foundation is rich in the likes of hydrating squalane and hyaluronic acid, strengthening and anti-inflammatory peptides and niacinamide, plus brightening caffeine.
Boasting a staying power of eight hours, the medium coverage creates a satin, second-skin effect that neutralises redness and discolouration as well as helping to hide the appearance of pores and blemishes. The super-fine, powder crystals included also ensure the finish has dimension even though it isn’t dewy.
Buy now £35.00, Cult Beauty
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
This is one of the best foundations on the market. It’s a favourite among professional makeup artists for the way it glides onto the skin and leaves a natural-looking finish.
The Armani foundation is formulated with a trademarked Micro-fil technology that was created to give a sculpted and brightened appearance. The coverage is medium and buildable but it works wonders in blurring and covering blemishes with all-day wear. The latter is in part due to the oil-free formula as well as the inclusion of glycerin, chosen for its hydrating properties.
Buy now £47.00, Sephora
Erborian BB Cream with Ginseng - SPF 20
Formulated to blend into the skin with ease while practically airbrushing away uneven skin tones and dark circles, the Erborian BB Cream is nothing short of a miracle. It exemplifies the all-natural make-up look while delivering just enough coverage to obscure problem areas without feeling overwhelming.
Buy now £38.00, lookfantastic
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation
Celebrity-backed makeup brands are two a penny these days but Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty proves it’s worth the hype. The serum-like solution is made to be used sparingly - the brand suggests a single dab to cover the entire face - containing nourishing ingredients like white water lily, lotus and gardenia to aid breathability.
Buy now £29.00, Space NK
bareMinerals BAREPRO 16hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
For complexions that need to tackle breakthrough shine during the day as well as counteracting redness from rosacea, this talc-free pressed powder is ideal. The finish is matte without being dehydrating or cakey, it will give up to 24-hours of effective oil control and is sweat and transfer-resistant too.
Used dry for a light layer of colour or wet to add more intense coverage (making it brilliantly versatile), the texture feels silky and quickly evens out skin tone to ensure the complexion has a fresh, refined and unified look.
Buy now £26.00, bareMinerals
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF50
A cult classic for a reason, the IT Cosmetics full-coverage CC cream is infused with SPF 50 to protect against blue light and sun damage. Collagen, peptides and hyaluronic acid ensure a plump, healthy-looking finish, while the colour-correcting pigments create a flawless complexion. Antioxidants help fight free radicals, preventing premature ageing.
The long-wearing, hydrating formula doesn’t crease or settle, making it ideal for all-day wear. Whether used as a foundation replacement or a tinted SPF, it delivers skincare benefits with every application, leaving skin smooth, even and well-protected.
Buy now £36.50, Cult Beauty
Sculpted by Aimee Satin Silk Longwear Foundation
With 30 skin tones in Sculpted by Aimee's Satin Silk foundation range, most should be able to find one that fits. The long-wear formula is light and buildable, promising, in Aimee's words, to "give you full coverage throughout the day." Customers have found it lasts for up to 11 hours, even without a setting spray - though to use one would see it stay put for even longer.
Also see Aimee's Satin Skin foundation which comes in dewy and matte finishes, both housed in a 32ml tube that makes carrying it around in your bridal clutch all the easier.
Buy now £28.00, Sculpted by Aimee
Jones Road What The Foundation Tinted Moisture Balm
Legendary makeup artist Bobbi Brown has yet to steer us wrong with her Jones Road collection where each new launch is a testament to her expertise. What The Foundation proves this.
It’s a glowy complexion saviour with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate contained within the formula for a second-skin feel. This is taken one step further thanks to the vitamin E and glycerin. The light-medium coverage is easily blended into the complexion to leave it fresh and hydrated, all while offering an even tone. There are 16 shades.
Buy now £44.00, Jones Road
