Wearing makeup when you have acne can be a double-edged sword. You want to even your skin tone and feel more confident, but not cause more breakouts in the process. Instead of suffocating your pores with heavy products, here’s a list of holy-grail-status makeup that’s all non-comedogenic. But first, let’s start with some tips:
Skin prep skin prep skin prep.
A good makeup day begins with clean, hydrated skin. Do your normal routine for consistency and to provide a layer between the makeup and your pores. (I don’t care how non-comedogenic something is, there’s always going to be a block in my mind where makeup isn’t necessarily good for your skin.)
Wear a full-face only when necessary.
This depends heavily on personal preference and your daily life, but I recommend staying away from daily makeup if you can help it. I wear concealer, brow gel, and mascara maybe four days out of the week, but reserve an overall makeup base for special occasions or when I want to look extra put-together (maybe twice per month). Foundation only comes out for things like weddings or when lots of photos are going to be happening. This allows my skin to breathe.
When you do wear makeup, make sure to double cleanse to remove.
Use an oil cleanser for a full 60 seconds, then follow that up with something water-based to break everything down and thoroughly clean your skin.
Now onto the routine…
Fenty Beauty Hydra Vizor Tinted Moisturizer
Not going to lie, this was sent to me in PR, and I originally wrote it off because I didn’t think there would be any way I could use it. A tinted moisturizer that I could use on my heavily acne-prone skin seemed way too good to be true, especially since it has sunscreen. At the time I first tried this, chemical sunscreens were breaking me out in blotchy red patches. Then I actually read the packaging and learned the sunscreen included is mineral (!!!). Zinc oxide, to be exact (an ingredient my skin responds insanely well to). After trying it for the first time and seeing how easy it was to blend, how well it evened my skin tone, and how natural it looked, I was hooked. My bottle is now down to the last few pumps. On tinted moisturizer days, I skip primer and go straight into this.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer
When I do wear foundation, I make sure to use primer. This is $10, truly helps your makeup last (and look great!), and it’s fully non-comedogenic. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation
It’s worth all the hype and then some. I’ve never tried a foundation that you could not feel on your skin at all, which is insane given the coverage this provides. I truly love everything about it and need to call out the inclusion of light neutral shades. This is the best foundation I’ve ever used, and I need everyone to try it.
Kosas Revealer Concealer
I love the super-creamy texture of this and am into the coverage without it being too thick or cakey. Please do note, though, that while this claims to be non-comedogenic, it does have a few pore cloggers. This usually means it’s undergone third-party comedogenic testing, so I’m choosing to trust it. I haven’t had any issues with breakouts while using it, but do keep in mind I don’t use it daily, and I keep it mainly under my eyes.
Glossier Cloud Paint
I had no idea this was non-comedogenic until I started writing this! Imo, this is one of the best blushes ever because of the blendability, color selection, and it being a great bang for your buck since one tube lasts so long.
Haus Labs Gel-Powder Illuminating Highlighter
If you’re more of a powder blush girl (or even if you’re not, but you’re curious about trying one), this is incredible. Yes, it’s technically a highlight, but the effect on lighter skin tones is more like a blush. It has a beautiful luminosity without being shimmery or sparkly. They have typical highlight shades as well. Truly underrated.
Glossier Gel Cream Bronzer
My favorite bronzers (either Goop or RMS) have pore-cloggers, but since I wear them so infrequently, I don’t have any issues. (This goes back to tip #2!) If you’re a daily makeup person, though, Glossier’s bronzer is going to be one of the best options for the same reasons that Cloud Paint is one of the best blushes. I love the neutral shade options.
Violette_FR Boum-Boum Milk
While not technically a setting spray (and I wouldn’t expect it to hold down your makeup for hours), this works to hydrate and melt everything together. Once in a blue moon, when I use foundation that I need to stay, I will use the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting Spray. It does have pore cloggers, but again, it doesn’t bother me since I’m not using it daily.
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