The 7 Best Foundations To Cover Acne!

If you have acne or acne-prone skin, you know how hard it can be to find a foundation that covers up imperfections without clogging your pores. Foundations can help to even your skin tone, reduce the appearance of acne or acne scars and give our face a blank canvas for the rest of our makeup.

Unfortunately, some foundations can break us out, especially those of us with sensitive or acne-prone skin. This doesn’t mean that you have to stop wearing foundation altogether. There are certain foundations that are acne-prone skin approved as well as high coverage enough to cover your blemishes.

There are certain things to look for in foundations that can tell you whether or not it’ll work for your acne-prone skin. Oil-free foundations are great because they reduce the possibility of your foundation clogging up your pores. 

There are also foundations that include some great skincare ingredients that will soothe and help treat your acne underneath such as niacinamide, squalene, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and much more. These are just some things to consider when shopping for a foundation.

That being said, we already did the research, so you don’t have to. We have 7 best foundations for acne-prone skin that won’t cake or stick to your acne and won’t break you out after every wear!

Our top 3 picks

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
The Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation is a great foundation whether you have acne or not. It comes in a wide variety of 40 shades to cater to almost every skin tone.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation
This Ilia Skin Tint is a blend of skincare and makeup. It includes awesome ingredients such as niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to help your acne from the inside out.
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup is a skin-clearing, salicylic acid formula that will cover, clear, and prevent blemishes.
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation
We know that so far we’ve only mentioned higher-end, expensive foundations. That’s because most times money really does get you a better product.
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
We’ve talked about the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation before, so you know it’s one of our favorites.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation
We have just got to say that 55 shades in a foundation collection are what we love to see! Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation really wants everyone to be able to wear this awesome product and they’re doing it right.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
The NARS Sheer Glow Foundation delivers a light to medium coverage that can be built up to fuller coverage.

Our Top 7 Picks!

1. Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

The Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation is a great foundation whether you have acne or not. It comes in a wide variety of 40 shades to cater to almost every skin tone.

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It has a natural finish with a medium, but buildable coverage. It’s sweat-resistant and waterproof, ensuring that you get to wear your face all day without smears and smudges. It’s a liquid formula so it melts easier into the skin rather than sitting on top of it.

It’s lightweight, mattifying and won’t attach itself onto dry skin and blemishes in an unappealing way, but rather smooth out your lumps and bumps.

This foundation will give you a natural, skin-like finish. It also has some non-acne-related pros such as being a vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free formula that comes in recyclable packaging!

2. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

This Ilia Skin Tint is a blend of skincare and makeup. It includes awesome ingredients such as niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to help your acne from the inside out.

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It’s also an oil-free and fragrance-free formula that reduces the chances of breakouts and irritation caused by harsh or pore-clogging ingredients. It does have light coverage, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In 2022, we are very acne accepting so even those with imperfect skin can rock a skin tint for a minimal, barely-there makeup look.

It also has mineral SPF in the formula to shield your skin from the harsh UV rays we encounter on a daily basis. This Allure Best of Beauty award winner is definitely a great everyday option.

3. Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation

Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup is a skin-clearing, salicylic acid formula that will cover, clear, and prevent blemishes.

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It’s oil-free with a matte dry-down to help control the appearance of excess oil on the skin. It has medium but buildable coverage that will neutralize redness and cover any unwanted bumps.

It helps to treat any existing breakouts, while also preventing new ones with their medicated, skincare-like formula. It is dermatologist tested and approved as well as being paraben-free. The salicylic acid will help clear any dead skin cells that are clogging your pores as well as chemically exfoliate your skin for a smooth, clear surface.

This foundation will give you a natural, fresh face without worrying about your skin underneath. The only downside to this product is the shade range. There isn’t a wide selection of shades so it may not be suitable for all skin tones.

4. L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation

We know that so far we’ve only mentioned higher-end, expensive foundations. That’s because most times money really does get you a better product.

Read more

But, this isn’t always the case. In fact, one of our top picks for an affordable, acne-approved foundation is the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation. It comes in a decent range of 22 shades that cover a good amount of medium-deep skin tones.

It’s a 24-hour matte finish that won’t attach itself to dry skin and blemishes. It’s full coverage so it will cover any redness and imperfection you may be insecure about.

This matte foundation is also an oil-free, lightweight foundation that is sweat-resistant and transfer-proof so you don’t have to worry about re-applying or touching it up.

Where to buy

5. Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation

We’ve talked about the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation before, so you know it’s one of our favorites.

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Not only does it have a gorgeous range of shades with cool, warm, and neutral undertones but the finish is what we love most. It has a natural, radiant finish that keeps a skin-like texture.

Many acne-approved foundations are matte to help with oil control, but this foundation is radiant and beautifully glowy. It’s a liquid, oil-free formula that won’t block your pores and create new acne.

The medium coverage can be built up to full coverage easily and without getting cakey. The best thing about this foundation is how it blends out. It melts into the skin, blending out like a dream.

6. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation

We have just got to say that 55 shades in a foundation collection are what we love to see! Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation really wants everyone to be able to wear this awesome product and they’re doing it right.

Read more

In 2022, we’re hoping to see more of this type of inclusivity in cosmetics brands. As for the wear, this oil-free, fragrance-free, liquid foundation has a matte dry down to help with oily skin. It’s a 24-hour, long-wearing formula that is lightweight upon application and stays lightweight throughout the day.

It’s an Allure Best of Beauty award winner for a reason! This foundation works as a concealer as well and will last through heat, humidity, and those busy days when you don’t have time for touch-ups.

Despite being a full coverage foundation, it’s also extremely comfortable on the skin so you don’t feel like you’re wearing makeup at all!

7. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

The NARS Sheer Glow Foundation delivers a light to medium coverage that can be built up to fuller coverage.

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It's great for all skin types. Although, you can wear it sheer for a natural, minimal makeup look. You shouldn’t feel like you have to cover your acne, so if you’re trying to embrace your natural skin, this foundation will let you do just that.

It’s loaded with skincare benefits that will leave your skin feeling hydrated, softer, and smoother. It’s non-comedogenic as well (so it doesn't clog pores) as dermatologist tested and approved. It includes hydrating ingredients such as turmeric extract, vitamin C, and glycerin to help give you a skincare-makeup hybrid.

It dries down to a natural finish so that your skin still looks like your skin, just a little bit better! It will help your skin from the inside out, giving you the confidence to rock your acne rather than cover it.

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