Best Foundation for Acne Prone Skin
Though we wish you could snap your fingers right now and achieve perfect skin, the next best thing is finding flawless coverage that:
A) does not make your acne worse and
B) feels great on your skin!
One of the many bummers about having acne-prone skin is that even when you don’t actually have that many pimples, you often still have the reminder of past breakouts in the form of red marks. These red marks can be extremely tricky to cover since they usually require a much more pigmented concealer than the rest of your skin does. Wouldn’t it be great if you could find a foundation that not only provided enough coverage to act like a concealer, but also felt lightweight and avoided that horrible caked-on look? Well, you’re in luck because we have not only discovered one foundation that will do this, but we have found 10! Finding your perfect foundation is especially tricky when you have troublesome skin, but we hope that this list can help make your search a lot easier!
1Estee Lauder Maximum Cover Camouflage SPF 15
This is an incredible full coverage foundation that conceals any type of imperfection flawlessly while lasting all day. This foundation is even waterproof! The coverage is so amazing that you don’t even need a concealer. Just apply the foundation as usual and pat a small amount of extra foundation on blemishes or scars. This foundation is also a great investment because you need a small amount to achieve full coverage. In fact, one tube can last you over a year even with everyday use! The only downside about this foundation is that the available colors are limited so you may need to combine two shades in order to match your skin.
2Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15
The Amazonian Clay foundation is awesome for acne prone skin because it is made with natural ingredients that will never clog your pores and these ingredients also work to nourish your skin. The formula is thick when it comes out of the tube, but it feels incredibly lightweight on your skin, and if you take a few minutes to blend well, it won’t even look like you’re wearing makeup!
3Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Free Prone Foundation
Acne prone skin is often oily as well, so foundations that are formulated to minimize oil are usually a safe bet. This mattifying foundation matcher lasts all day and works to prevent shine while leaving a natural, healthy glow. On days when you need less coverage, you can also mix this foundation with your favorite moisturizer to create your very own tinted moisturizer!
4Kat Von D Lock It Free Prone Foundation
Kat Von D’s Lock It Foundation provides incredible coverage that is so pigmented it can even disguise tattoos! This formula lasts 24 hours and is full of natural polymers that absorb the oil that your skin produces throughout the day. Even though this foundation leaves you with a lovely matte finish, it is also formulated with emollients that ensure your skin stays hydrated and smooth!
5BareMinerals Matte Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
This foundation is exceptional, especially when you consider the fact that it is made entirely out of natural mineral powder! Whether you have active acne breakouts or are dealing with scarring, the bareMinerals Matte Foundation has got you covered, literally! Although some people find that a liquid foundation is easier to apply than powder, the advantage of this formula is that it is so good for your skin that you can even sleep in it without worrying that the makeup will cause you to breakout!
6Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Liquid Custom Finish Foundation SPF 15
Amazing Cosmetics is a favorite brand amongst professional makeup artists and for a good reason! The coverage provided by their highly pigmented foundation is truly amazing, and you need to use a subtle amount of product to achieve flawless coverage. On that point, when you use this product, be very careful to use only as much as you need because if you use too much of this foundation, it is prone to looking oily.
7Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup
This is a fabulous foundation for acne prone skin because the formula contains ingredients that actively treat your breakouts. The coverage is buildable, which means that if you need a bit of extra help concealing your skin on some days, you can just add more foundation until you achieve your desired level of coverage. Another great thing about this foundation is that it neutralizes redness, so you won’t need to use as much foundation to even out your skin tone.
8Cover Fx Total Cover Cream Foundation
Cover Fx provides some of the best coverage available. This particular product is remarkable in that it is both a concealer and a foundation, so all you need to do is buff a bit of extra product onto the spots that need more coverage. Compared to many foundations, Cover Fx Total Cover Cream is available in a pretty wide range of shades so it shouldn’t be too hard to find your perfect match!
9Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Effect Makeup
Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Effect Foundation is definitely one of our favorite drugstore foundations. It provides pretty decent coverage, although if you have a serious breakout you may need to enlist the help of an additional concealer. The most impressive thing about this foundation is the finish that it leaves on your skin. Sometimes acne prone skin can look a little bit dull as a result of acne-fighting medication, so this foundation is fantastic if you need to restore a bit of glow to your skin. Your skin will look luminous in person, and particularly gorgeous in photographs!
10CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
This foundation is awesome because it’s not just a foundation; it’s a primer, concealer, and foundation all in one! The only downside to this product is that it can turn a little bit orange at the end of the day if you have very oily skin. However, if you have normal or combination skin, the product should give you good coverage all day long! All in all, it’s a great product and one of the best foundation for oily acne prone skin.
Finding your perfect foundation can take a lot of time, and it is definitely more challenging when you have acne prone skin. Depending on your skin type, different formulas may work a lot better for you than others. The products on this list all provide amazing coverage and include some of the best drugstore foundation for acne prone skin in the market today, but try to get samples of the foundations you want to try before buying the full size. A foundation that works amazingly well for one girl can have a disappointing performance on another girl, so be prepared for the possibility of a trial and error period!
We hope you’ve found your next foundation in this list of the best makeup for acne prone skin!
