7 acne-friendly foundations that will disguise breakouts without making them worse
Think coverage without congestion
If thinking of applying foundation to acne-prone skin makes you wince, you’re not alone. It sounds like a stressful thing to do, we know. But some days simply call for a bit of coverage that makes you feel more confident in your skin.
So how do you wear foundation without making the issue way, way worse? By choosing smartly, and adhering to a lengthy laundry list of features that’ll counteract acne instead of further flaring it up.
Typically, you'll probably want to reach for a mattifying long-wear base (with medium to full coverage) that will effectively disguise any breakouts, but still, you don't want anything too heavy.
We suggest committing the term ‘non-comedogenic’ to memory - it’s basically a fancy way of saying the foundation won’t get trapped in your pores and cause added congestion. Oh, and don't forget: buzzwords like 'oil-free' and 'colour corrective' will also be winners, as will the inclusions of acne-aiding ingredients like salicylic acid and tea tree oil.
Sounds like a lot to factor in, right? Well, that's why we’ve tracked down the best foundations for acne-prone skin for you. Here are the acne-friendly foundation formulas that'll deliver the specific kind of coverage you need...
Main image credit: @taylor_hill
Want a cleanser to also suit blemish-prone skin? Here are our favourite acne-aiding cleansers...
Delaney began her career in the Australian beauty media industry in 2015, landing amidst the glossy world of women’s lifestyle magazines (or more literally, in their beauty cupboards). Since then, she has gone on to write across a multitude of beloved Australian media brands, including OK!, NW, InStyle, and Harper’s BAZAAR. She’s covered every side of beauty content, from directing beauty editorial shoots to rounding up the best glossy serums for golden hour skin. Having spent nearly a decade immersed in the beauty realm, Delaney’s knowledge of beauty is as extensive as her collection of tinted lip oils (read: extremely extensive). Delaney is currently the Digital Managing Editor of BEAUTYcrew, and her beauty wisdom also appears across beautyheaven, ELLE and Marie Claire. She enjoys channelling her personal hobby (testing beauty products) into her professional work (talking about testing beauty products), and considers perfecting the art of a cat eye in a moving car her life’s greatest accomplishment.
