The 10 Best Foundations For Acne-Prone Skin To Buy In 2024

Updated on August 18, 2024

The foundation plays a vital role in the overall appearance of your skin. Applying foundation on acne-prone skin helps cover up acne pimples and breakouts. This gives you even smoother skin and increases your self-esteem. Using the wrong foundation can, however, worsen your acne. The wrong formulas of foundation with heavy oils can clog and block your pores leading to an accumulation of bacteria that promote inflammation and cause breakouts. Using a foundation formulated for acne-prone skin can help you fight acne. These formulas are oil-free and non-comedogenic. This means that they will not clog your pores and lead to more breakouts. They also contain acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid that help remove excess oil, clear dead skin cells, and keep your pores clear to keep acne at bay. Here is a list of the best foundations for acne-prone skin that will not aggravate your skin issues.

Editor’s Choices

10 Best Foundations For Acne-Prone Skin

1. Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Liquid Foundation (Best For Shine Controlling)

This is a skin-clearing acne-fighting liquid foundation that is formulated for acne-prone skin. It is formulated with salicylic acid, an ingredient known to provide fast acne relief and help fight acne breakouts. 

It provides natural and breathable coverage and helps to control shine. This liquid foundation uses micro clear technology that treats blemishes and helps prevent emerging acne breakouts from giving you clearer skin. This formula is oil-free and non-greasy. It will not clog your pores.

Key Features:

• Oil-free non-greasy foundation
• Formulated with salicylic acid to treat acne
• Provides a naturally breathable coverage that does not clog your pores
• Prevents emerging acne breakouts
• Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free

2. Almay Clear Complexion Makeup Foundation (Best Dermatologist Tested)

This is a lightweight foundation formulated for acne-prone and combination skin. It is made with salicylic acid that helps to conceal blemishes, control shine, minimize large pores, and suppress acne breakouts. 

It not only conceals acne but also helps in clearing, healing, and preventing future breakouts. It offers a soft matte finish with medium buildable coverage that does not cake. The formula is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free, which makes it suitable for sensitive acne-prone skin.

Key Features:

• Available in 14 shades
• Heals acne blemishes and prevents future breakouts
• Lightweight non-comedogenic formula
• It offers a medium buildable coverage
• Minimizes large pores

Read More – Best Primer For Large Pores

3. New Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup (Best Fresh Porcelain)

This is a non-irritating liquid foundation formulated with medicated ingredients to help treat existing breakouts and keep them from coming back. It is 100% fragrance-free and oil-free, meaning that it will not irritate your skin or clog your pores.

 It helps to conceal blemishes, neutralize redness, and even your skin tone. This lightweight foundation feels and looks natural on your face. It is long-wearing and available in 16 different shades to choose from.

Key Features:

• Treats acne and controls shine
• Lightweight and oil-free formula
• Non-irritating formula with a natural coverage
• Blends away blemishes and neutralizes redness

4. L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation (Best Lightweight)

This is a lightweight creamy foundation that offers a matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours. It hides all imperfections to give you a smooth clear complexion. It offers medium to full coverage concealing acne breakouts and controlling shine. 

The foundation is oil-free and will not clog your pores to cause more breakouts. It is available in 22 different shades to suit different skin tones. It is gentle on sensitive skin and provides coverage without irritating your skin.

Key Features:

• Conceals blemishes and dark spots
• Lightweight formula
• Long-wearing for 24hours
• Provides a demi-matte finish
• Offers medium coverage
• Available in 22 shades

5. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup (Best Fragrance Free)

If you are looking for a foundation that feels lightweight and comfortable, Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup is your go-to foundation. It is a long-wearing formula with 15 hours of staying power. It lasts through heat, humidity, and vigorous activity.

 It stays intact and does not change its color, smudge, or run down on clothes. It is oil-free and does not feel heavy on your skin. It offers a semi-matte finish that lasts all day without touch-ups.

Key Features:

• Long-wearing formula with a 15-hour staying power
• Oil-free and fragrance-free formula
• It offers medium to full, buildable coverage
• Lightweight semi-matte finish

6. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation (Best Oil Free)

This is a lightweight foundation that offers light to medium coverage. It is one of the best formulas for acne-prone skin. It helps to refine your pores for a natural-looking matte finish. It is formulated with micro-powders that help absorb excess oil to leave you with a gorgeously matte finish. 

It is available in 40 shades for everyone to find their fit. This non-comedogenic formula is suitable for normal, oily, and acne-prone skin. It does not clog your pores to cause more breakouts.

Key Features:

• Available in 40 shades
• Provides medium buildable coverage
• Refines and blurs pores
• Controls oil and shine

7. BareMinerals Blemish Remedy Foundation (Best For Hydrating)

This is a loose powder foundation that is 100% vegan. It is a weightless mineral formula that helps to control oil and shine. It is made with six ingredients that will not clog your pores or cause breakouts. 

The formula offers buildable coverage that has a silky matte finish. It covers all blemishes and acne breakouts to give you a smooth finish. The foundation is available in a range of 30 shades to suit a variety of skin tones. This foundation offers a broad spectrum SPF15 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Key Features:

• Lightweight formula
• Available in 30 shades
• It offers buildable coverage
• Oil-free formula

8. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Foundation Makeup (Best Natural Beige)

This is an oil-free foundation for oily and acne-prone skin. It is a lightweight liquid matte foundation that is designed to control oil and shine. It offers medium buildable coverage that offers a naturally flawless, smooth look concealing all blemishes and acne breakouts. 

This foundation protects your skin from harmful sun rays with a broad spectrum of SPF15. The foundation wears for up to 24 hours. It is available in 43 shades for everyone to find their fit.

Key Features:

• It offers medium and buildable coverage
• Lightweight oil-free formula
• Wears up to 24 hours
• Protects your skin from harmful sun rays with SPF15
• Available in 43 shades

9. e.l.f.  Acne-Fighting Foundation (Best Reduces Redness)

This is a lightweight formula that provides full coverage to help even your skin tone. It covers acne breakouts while reducing redness and working to help clear your skin.

The foundation is infused with salicylic acid, tea tree, camphor, and soothing aloe to treat cane and fight blemishes. This acne-fighting foundation restores uneven skin tone and reduces acne redness. It comes with a broad spectrum SPF25 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Key Features:

• Lightweight formula that provides full coverage
• Infused with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing aloe
• Available in a range of shades
• Evens skin tone and reduces acne redness

10. Clinique by Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup (Best Controls Oil)

Clinique by Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup treats acne and controls oil.  This oil-free formula is lightweight and feels natural on your face. It is formulated with salicylic acid that treats existing breakouts and prevents future breakouts from forming.

 It is a long-wearing formula that lasts for up to 12 hours without the need for any touch-ups. A little goes a long way, and it will cover all your skin imperfections to give you a flawless finish. It is available in 16 shades to suit a variety of skin tones.

Key Features:

• Long-wearing formula
• Available in a variety of shades
• It does not clog your pores
• Lightweight oil-free formula

How To Choose The Best Foundation For Acne-Prone Skin?

Check for acne-fighting Ingredients

When looking for the best foundation for acne-prone skin, you need to go for a formula with acne-fighting ingredients. And foundation with salicylic acid is good for acne-prone skin.

This is a medicated ingredient that helps in treating acne and preventing future breakouts. Salicylic acid will help remove excess oil, exfoliate dead skin cells, and clear your pores to prevent bacteria from forming, which causes acne.

Non-comedogenic

With acne-prone skin, you should use non-comedogenic foundation formulas. These are non-pore-clogging foundations that will not clog your pores and lead to more breakouts. Also, look for a lightweight formula that does not feel heavy on your skin. Go for an oil-free foundation that will not clog and block your pores or leave a greasy residue behind.

Alcohol-free

Alcohol can harm your skin’s protective barrier, which worsens oily skin by exacerbating acne. Avoid foundations that have alcohol as one of their ingredients. Read the label of ingredients used to ensure the foundation does not have alcohol and harsh chemicals like parabens, fragrances, and sulfates.

Texture

The foundation can either be powder or liquid. Powder foundation is less likely to clog your pores and helps in absorbing excess oil on your skin. If you opt to use liquid foundations, go for oil-free formulas that offer a dewy finish.

SPF

Look for a foundation that protects your skin from harmful UV sun rays. With a foundation with a broad spectrum of SPF, you don’t need to use your sunscreen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is foundation good for acne-prone skin?

Using the wrong foundation can worsen acne or cause new breakouts. Only use foundations that are formulated for acne-prone skin. They contain acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid that help to treat acne.

Is liquid or powder foundation good for acne-prone skin?

Powder foundations are the best for acne-prone skin. They are weightless and have oil-absorbing properties which help to control shine. They are also less likely to clog your pores to cause more breakouts. Liquid foundation is also good for acne-prone skin, but it has to be oil and fragrance-free.

Which foundation is good for acne-prone skin?

Any foundation with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid is good for acne-prone skin. It helps to treat acne and prevent future breakouts.

Conclusion

Even with acne-prone skin, you can still get good coverage without worsening the acne condition. Foundations for acne-prone skin have acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid that help treat acne and prevent future breakouts. Our top pick is Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Liquid Foundation from our list of the best foundations for acne-prone skin. It has ingredients that help to clear pores and fight acne breakouts. Use this foundation to get a natural and breathable coverage that is shine-free.