After battling with acne-prone skin for years, I know that finding the best foundation for acne-prone skin can feel like an ongoing battle. There is the fear of trying something new that ends up making your skin worse or splashing out on an expensive foundation to find that it doesn't cover spots or blemishes like it promised it would. That's why we decided to put all the best foundations for acne prone skin to the test, to see if they really live up to their claims, and if they're worth trying.
Acne is very common, so most major foundation brands will have a formula geared towards people with this particular skin concern. If you suffer from acne, it's important to look beyond the best foundations and seek out formulas that have been created with acne-prone skin in mind. You need to look for a base that's going to care for your skin while also providing the level of coverage you desire.
So what factors should be considered when looking for a foundation for acne-prone skin? "You want to look for a formula that is buildable, so you can layer in areas of redness and inflammation," explains Dr Sonia Khorand, GP & Expert Dermatologist for Hero Cosmetics. Dr Khorand also suggests looking "for non-comedogenic ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, salicylic acid, squalene and oil absorbing powders."
You'll want to steer clear of oily and pore-clogging ingredients like "coconut oil, cocoa butter, mica, silica and talc," explains the dermatologist. To help you find the best foundation for acne-prone skin, we've tried and tested the latest formulas containing these key ingredients as well as a few cult classics. These are the ones we think are genuinely worth your money.
The best foundation for acne-prone skin, tried and tested by our beauty experts
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RRP: £44.99 Shades: 51 Finish: Natural, luminious
Haus Labs is relatively new to the UK market, but this foundation has already won many awards. The patent-pending fermented arnica infusion makes it one of the best foundations for acne-prone skin, as the formula has been specifically created to reduce redness and even skin tone. Using a blend of herbs to promote calming and healing in the skin. With a buildable medium coverage, blemishes are covered instantly upon application, and despite its impressive coverage, it still feels breathable. As well as having over twenty skin-loving ingredients infused, it boasts a clean formula and luminous finish and stays put all day without slipping. The ingredients list is worth noting, as it includes an antioxidant complex that offers protection from environmental stress and promotes anti-aging. On top of that, it has one of the most impressive shade ranges we've ever seen; with 51 shades available, you will certainly be able to find an exact match that suits you. Using colour theory to separate shades into six different undertones makes purchasing the correct shade online the easiest it's ever been. Although this is a great foundation overall, it is fantastic for anyone suffering from acne as it's non-toxic, non-comedogenic and dermatologically tested.
Buy if: You want a medium coverage foundation that works to calm skin inflammation and redness and will have your exact shade match
Avoid if: You like a super sheer, barely there coverage
RRP: £41 Shades: 5 Finish: Natural, velvety
BB creams have made a comeback in recent years because of their ability to nourish the skin and provide barely-there coverage. They're the perfect addition to your makeup collection if you tend to opt for a less is more approach. This BB cream from Korean skincare brand Erborian is described as 'half-skincare, half makeup'. We loved how easy it was to apply, it has a light texture that instantly concealed our imperfections. It also felt really comfortable and gave our skin a natural look whilst evening it out. The skincare element of the cream combines two K-beauty ingredients (white Ginseng and Ginseng flower), which left our skin smooth and moisturised. We loved how it cared for our skin without hiding it while still covering redness. This hasn't been formulated with oily skin in mind, so we did have to use our blotting powder a couple of times during the day, but it wasn't anything too significant and still kept our blemishes covered. If you're looking for one of the best lightweight foundations that's also suitable for acne-prone skin, you can't go wrong with this one.
Buy if: You're looking for something lightweight and breathable
Avoid if: You may have to avoid this one if you want an exact skin match, as the shade range is quite limited
RRP: £46 Shades: 26 Finish: Natural, radiant
Wanting a foundation that keeps acne at bay doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to have a lit-from-within glow. This silky, lightweight, award-winning foundation delivers glowing skin in an instant. It's oil-free, so it won't clog pores, and it contains Micro-fil technology, which brightens the skin. We loved how lightweight the foundation was and how easy it was to apply. It did provide a brightening effect while also improving our skin's texture. We also noticed that it minimised the appearance of our acne. Our skin was hydrated all day long, which wasn't that much of a surprise because the formula is infused with glycerin. After a full day's wear, it wasn't cakey and it didn't highlight our dry areas which we loved. Very impressive considering that some foundations that have been formulated with oily skin in mind tend to dry up in less shiny areas. We recommend applying it with a blending brush for a seamless, skin-like finish and adding more layers where needed.
Buy if: A radiant finish is a non-negotiable for you. Or if you have dry but acne-prone skin. We wouldn't usually recommend a luminous foundation for acne prone skin, but this one can stay matte if you use a finishing powder and doesn't give a greasy looking finish
Avoid if: You have super oily skin and like to keep it super matte.
RRP: £34 Shades: 32 Finish: Natural, radiant
This formula is ideal for acne-prone skin because it's been infused with apple extract, which is rich in Vitamin C and promotes healthy, radiant skin. We found this foundation to have a very lightweight feel - throughout the application process, we didn't feel like we had any makeup on. It provides a full-coverage look that will have everyone asking what foundation you are wearing. It also does a fantastic job of covering blemishes and acne scars - you might need to apply a bit more if you have hyperpigmentation. This foundation has been formulated with oily/combination skin types in mind and we could tell. It minimised the appearance of our pores and no touch-ups were required throughout the day. To quote the brand, we've never seen full natural coverage like this. We did get full coverage in one swipe, however, we couldn't agree on it being formulated with oily skin in mind. When we tested it, it made our skin look super oily, so we had to put quite a significant amount of finishing powder on to keep it in place and make sure to top it up during the day, but the full coverage made up for it.
Buy if: You want a very full coverage foundation that will cover redness and blemishes in one layer and using minimal product
Avoid if: You don't like any shine to your skin as this is skincare focused it will make oily skin even more oily.
RRP: £25 Shades: 30 Finish: Matte
When you have acne-prone skin, you want to fill it with goodness, and this Sculpted by Aimee formula does just that. The mineral foundation boasts SPF 50 coverage, protects agaisnt UVB and UVA rays and is infused with hyaluronic acid for all day hydration. Formulated with normal to oily skin types in mind, the foundation is oil-free and talc-free, avoiding the ingredients acne sufferers want to skip out on. If you always go for fuller coverage, then you can layer this to build it up and it will still keep the satin finish. Because it's made from 100% mineral ingredients, it won't do any harm to your skin.
Buy if: A medium to full coverage with a satin matte finish is at the top of your wishlist, with a formula that won't worsen your skin.
Avoid if: You want a dewy finish
RRP: £44.50 Shades: 40 Finish: Soft matte
A classic for a reason, the BareMinerals original foundation was one of the first clean makeup formulas. It's made with five vegan, clean ingredients and is one of the best powder foundations of all time. Made from minerals and without talc, this formula is incredibly lightweight despite being a powder. It offers customisable coverage that you can layer to create a full, naturally luminous finish (which stays pretty matte all day) or keep it sheer by picking up less powder on the brush. It promises not to cause breakouts or clog pores, and promote clearer skin over time. Freelance beauty writer, Dionne Brighton, has been using it for ten years now and swears by it. It lasts all day (and night) long, and gives a skin like finish that always gets compliments.
Buy if: You have oily skin and want a matte finish that looks like your skin but better, while still covering blemishes and red marks
Avoid if: You don't like powder formulas and prefer to use a liquid
RRP: £19.90 Shades: 10 Finish: Natural, glowy
If redness is your main concern, you will want to know about this colour-correcting foundation. It promises to reduce redness while remaining lightweight on the skin and offering medium coverage. We love this formula as it's infused with Lumene's signature Nordic ingredients. Nordic lingonberry helps to even skin tone and gives the formula a silky smooth feel. It offers a naturally glowy finish, with added SPF20, plus UVA and UVB protection. CC creams usually have a poor shade range, but we were impressed with the ten shades and how much coverage came from such a small amount of product.
Buy if: You're struggling with redness and want lightweight, medium-coverage
Avoid if: You like a fuller coverage foundation
RRP: £66 Shades: 14 Finish: Natural, luminous
This is one of the more expensive foundations on this list, but as it's specifically designed for tackling blemishes, we'd say its worth it. Made with the brand's patented Ceravitae Complex, which increases oxygen uptake in the skin, it's one of the most breathable foundations we've tried. It's been formulated with acne-prone, sensitive skin in mind and made to work to conceal and clear skin simultaneously. Formulated with the essential ingredients dermatologists say to look out for, including 2% Salicylic acid (which helps to unblock pores), Aloe Vera and vitamin E. Together, these ingredients work to reduce inflammation and redness while allowing the skin to still shine through. You can build up coverage with this with more layers, but if you like heavy, full coverage, you may want to skip this one. Our favourite part is the added SPF30 and how long this foundation lasts, even on the oiliest skin.
Buy if: You're looking for a formula that will treat acne and blemishes whilst letting your skin shine through
Avoid if: You want a foundation that offers full coverage rather than skincare benefits.
RRP: £62 Shades: 20 Finish: Natural, radiant
Founded by Anne Hathaway and Nicole Kidman's go-to makeup artist, Gucci Westman, the Westman Atelier foundation is one of the best cream foundations. It just so happens to work wonders for acne-prone skin, too. The cream formula is filled with antioxidants and other actives that reduce redness and soothe skin. When testing, we found that it melted into our skin and gave a gorgeous, natural, but radiant finish. This is an excellent choice for acne-prone skin because it avoids the acne-exacerbating ingredients dermatologists suggest avoiding. So, this clean product has no talc, silicones, or parabens. Westman also suggests avoiding a silicon-based primer and using your best face moisturiser as a primer instead. We found this worked wonderfully and could blend the foundation out with our fingers for an even coverage that lasted for hours without top ups throughout the day, but because of the sleek packaging, we usually keep this one in our bags anyway.
Buy if: You always use clean formulas and love a cream foundation
Avoid if: You prefer powder or liquid formulas
How to choose the best foundation for acne-prone skin
So what makes a great foundation for acne-prone skin? According to dermatologist Salome Dharamshi, you should look for products that “will give you good coverage while not clogging pores and providing other skincare benefits.”
Skincare expert Fiona Brackenbury, explains that foundations that have been formulated with carefully selected skincare ingredients are best. “Some ingredients to look out for are charcoal (for clarifying), hyaluronic acid (for hydration), niacinamide (to support the skin barrier and help combat breakouts) and salicylic acid (to unclog pores),” she explains.
Oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas are highly recommended for acne-prone skin. “Choosing a foundation that is non-comedogenic will allow the foundation to rest on the skin’s surface. If you have oily skin and you want lighter coverage, powder foundation could be a good option,” says Ada Ooi, celebrity facialist. A lot of people with oily skin tend to stay away from products with hydration or moisture-boosting properties so their complexion can stay matte but this is actually the worst thing to do. “When acne-prone skin lacks hydration, this can cause aggravation as well as add stress and inflammation to already struggling skin,” says Brackenbury. For those who have acne-prone skin that is also dry, a non-comedogenic formula could further dry the skin out. If the formula is too drying, it can cause flakiness, breakouts, and an uneven finish. “Sticking to a slightly dewy foundation could actually work best,” advises Ooi.
Although acne is common, everyone’s issues are different, so if you find that your skin tends to get irritated easily, you might want to opt for formulas that have been infused with skincare ingredients. “Antioxidants like Vitamin C are good to look out for as they have a brightening effect, which can work well if you have scarring or hyperpigmentation,” explains Ooi.
“They also protect the skin from environmental pollutants and free radicals. Anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric or niacinamide can have a calming effect and help to soothe the skin."
How we tested the best foundations for acne-prone skin
To whittle down our edit of the best foundations for acne-prone skin, we tried dozens of formulas spanning every price point - from the best drugstore foundations to top-rated luxury picks. We applied each one in the morning and wore it for a full day, without touch-ups, to see how well it performed. To score highly, the foundation had to cater to acne-prone skin by concealing or preventing breakouts, while delivering on staying power.
We also paid close attention to how long each foundation lasted and whether it improved our skin or caused further breakouts. The way our skin felt with the foundation was another big deciding factor: every product on this edit nourished and protected our skin. Finally, we judged each foundation based on ease of use and of course, the all-important finished look.
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