14 Foundations That Treat Breakouts While They Hide Them
For those with acne-prone skin, foundation tends to pose a tricky dilemma. While it's a surefire product to help disguise breakouts, it's no secret certain formulas tend to clog pores, causing more blemishes and irritations over time.
Thankfully, this vicious cycle is easily avoidable if you opt for one of the many foundations formulated specifically to cater to this complex skin type. Made with non-comedogenic (aka non-pore-clogging) ingredients, these often oil-free formulas are just as effective at covering as any other type of foundation. And the best part is that they're made with specific ingredients known to help keep your skin healthy and clear—with or without makeup.
Ready to find your new favorite makeup base? We've highlighted 14 of the best foundations for acne-prone skin types below. Whether you're looking for sheer coverage, full coverage, or a natural or matte finish, there's a wide range of options here for all skin types and skin tones.
1. Overall Best Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
IT COSMETICS Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Full-Coverage Foundation with SPF 50+
Price: $$Coverage: FullFinish: NaturalShade Range: 12
There are so many benefits to this foundation that it's honestly hard to figure out where to start. The best-selling product acts as a full-coverage foundation, a hydrating anti-aging serum, and sunscreen all in one. Infused with top skincare ingredients like collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and vitamins, it effectively helps disguise and reduces the appearance of any acne scarring, wrinkles, fine lines, redness, or dark circles.
2. Best Multitasking Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
PÜR Love Your Selfie™ Foundation
Price: $$Coverage: FullFinish: MatteShade Range: 35
This versatile, full-coverage concealer-foundation hybrid features a key ingredient that benefits acne-prone skin types: lactic acid. This alpha-hydroxy acid can be particularly great if you struggle with blemishes, as it gently sloughs away any dead skin cells, keeping pores clear and the skin super smooth and glowy—all while you conceal all traces of breakouts. "This matched my skin perfectly, which I've never had happen," one Ipster writes. "I couldn't even tell I had a base on."
3. Best Liquid Foundation for Acne-Prone and Oily Skin:
TARTE Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15
Price: $$Coverage: FullFinish: MatteShade Range: 22
Dealing with acne-prone and oily skin? This double-whammy combination doesn't stand a chance against this best-selling formula. While Amazonian clay in this foundation balances the complexion and keeps excess oil production under control, pigments deliver creamy, buildable coverage that looks anything but cakey. It even features built-in SPF 15 to shield your skin from UVA and UVB rays. "I LOVE THIS," says Ipster gahc123. "It's so smooth and creamy, and I LOVE the clay texture!"
4. Best Foundation to Help Clear Breakouts:
BAREMINERALS Blemish Rescue™ Skin-Clearing Loose Powder Foundation
Price: $Coverage: FullFinish: MatteShade Range: 7
This matte finish mineral powder doesn't just disguise breakouts; it also actively helps to fight and prevent them, thanks to the inclusion of 0.5% salicylic acid. As this trusted BHA works its magic, oat proteins also come into play here, acting as an oil-free moisturizer. It's a full-coverage solution you can feel good about applying on days when your skin is acting up.
5. Best Longwear Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
ESTÉE LAUDER Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
Price: $$$Coverage: Buildable, Medium to FullFinish: MatteShade Range: 56
Got an all-day event coming up that you need complexion coverage for? This classic matte foundation lasts for up to 24 hours (!) without clogging pores. It's oil-free, dermatologist-tested, and even waterproof, which may be helpful if you're looking to sport it in hot or humid weather. This is primarily a medium-coverage foundation, but it's buildable and can be bumped up to full coverage with some additional blending.
6. Best Summer Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Price: $$$Coverage: LightFinish: DewyShade Range: 30
When it's hot out, a lightweight foundation formula is key. This tinted serum from ILIA manages to expertly conceal redness and breakouts with a clean set of ingredients (like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane) and sheer, mineral-based coverage, still allowing the skin to breathe. It also features SPF 40 to keep your skin protected from sun damage as an extra summer bonus.
7. Best Drugstore Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
NEUTROGENA SkinClearing Oil-Free Acne and Blemish Fighting Liquid Foundation
Price: $Coverage: MediumFinish: NaturalShade Range: 14
Suppose you're interested in a foundation formula that features salicylic acid (á la the BAREMINERALS option) but also tend to prefer liquid foundations over powder ones. In that case, this affordable option is sure to tick all your boxes. With a natural finish, it's the perfect pick for faking a no-makeup makeup look while also helping your skin look better whenever you choose to go totally makeup-free.
8. Best Natural-Finish Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
TOO FACED COSMETICS Born This Way Natural Finish Foundation
Price: $$Coverage: Medium to FullFinish: NaturalShade Range: 35
This oil-free formula offers buildable medium to full coverage with a finish so natural, you just might forget you have makeup on at all. It even features skin-loving ingredients like coconut water, alpine rose, and hyaluronic acid—all of which work together to hydrate, boost skin's radiance, and reduce the appearance of fine lines. "Makes my face look flawless," one Ipster writes.
9. Best Foundation for Visible Pores:
MILK MAKEUP Blur Liquid Matte Foundation
Price: $$Coverage: FullFinish: MatteShade Range: 15
There's not much you won't like about this clean foundation formula from Instagrammable beauty brand MILK MAKEUP. It's oil-free, silicone-free, and features high-tech blurring microspheres that diffuse light and disguise the appearance of large pores. But while it is a full-coverage formula, it'll never feel heavy. In fact, it's so lightweight you just might mistake the texture for that of your favorite lightweight serum.
10. Best Foundation for an Exact Shade Match:
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Price: $$Coverage: Medium to FullFinish: MatteShade Range: 50
With over 50 (yes, 50!) different shades to choose from, this oil-free foundation is proof that you really can have it all when it comes to foundation. While the pigments suit your skin tone just right, a soft matte finish leaves the skin looking effortlessly natural. This non-comedogenic best seller also comes equipped with unique climate-adaptive technology to keep it locked in place during any humid temps or sweaty moments.
11. Best Illuminating Foundation:
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Luminous Foundation
Price: $$Coverage: MediumFinish: LuminousShade Range: 36
If you have an oily skin type, most beauty pros will recommend a matte foundation to keep shine under control—but who says that these skin types are only ever interested in rocking a matte finish? If you want to find a way to achieve that coveted dewy glow without looking greasy, try this illuminating option. The full-coverage, non-comedogenic formula gives the skin a fresh, radiant look that isn't matte but isn't overly dewy. It's the perfect middle ground.
"I LOVE this foundation so much. Goes on so nicely, builds well and the shade is perfect," says Ipster MeganPro.
12. Best Foundation for Disguising Acne Scars:
CHARLOTTE TILBURY Magic Foundation
Price: $$$Coverage: Medium to FullFinish: Demi-MatteShade Range: 20
This full-coverage foundation features an ingredient blend that can do wonders to help resurface the complexion. Vitamin C comes into play to effectively brighten and reduce hyperpigmentation (e.g., any areas with scarring), while a potent blend of mushroom extracts refine the skin's texture. While these ingredients work in the background, dewy full-coverage pigments expertly blur, smooth, and illuminate the skin to deliver a noticeable glow.
13. Best Splurge Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
PAT MCGRATH LABS Sublime Perfection Foundation
Price: $$$Coverage: Sheer to MediumFinish: NaturalShade Range: 36
Leave it to mother Pat McGrath to create an IRL filter for your face available in a luxe little bottle. It doesn't boast tons of coverage, but can easily be built up to hide all traces of redness and blemishes while tricking the eye into thinking your skin is makeup-free. It's also lightweight, feels like nothing on your skin, and doesn't clog your pores.
14. Best Powder Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin:
KVD VEGAN BEAUTY Lock-It Powder Foundation
Price: $$Coverage: MediumFinish: MatteShade Range: 26
Perfect for hot, summer days, this powder foundation expertly masks redness and oil production. The coverage packs enough of a punch to cover active breakouts and minimize scarring, but it still manages to let your skin look like skin. Just a single swipe will banish pores and shine in a way that liquid foundations just can't. Tip: This formula is best for oily skin types, so dry-skin beauties, tread lightly.
Looking for the best product suggestions specifically for your skin type? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don't forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.
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