Best Foundation For Acne Prone Skin (Tried & Tested!)

Here are my picks for the best foundations for acne prone skin. I look for oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas, which have a satin, matte finish. I’m particular about the foundation’s finish looking natural and feeling light and breathable on the face. Added bonus: all the foundation picks below have very inclusive shade ranges.

Table of Contents

Skin Prep Before Foundation

Before jumping into the foundations, I think it’s important to talk about what to use below the foundation to help it look flawless on the skin. Remember these tips:

Don’t skip your skincare routine. Do it all and be sure to apply moisturizer to hydrate and plump up the skin
Use SPF during the day
Use a primer, only if you really need it (more on this below)
Apply foundation with a brush or damp sponge, working in thin layers

Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone Skin

Best Sunscreens For Acne-Prone Skin With No White Cast

Daytime makeup primer tip for acne prone skin

I think the best primer for acne prone skin is to simply use a sunscreen with a mattifying finish like the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen or Biore UV Watery Essence. The reason being is that using a primer on top of other skin care products can make the skin feel heavy and run the risk of clogging pores, resulting in breakouts and excessive oiliness. For daily use, a good sunscreen with a matte finish will work great. For longer events and functions, I like to use a setting spray like the Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray over my makeup and this holds the makeup in place for hours.

Best Primer For Acne Prone Skin

However, if you have texture, pitted scar marks, or acne blemishes, then I recommend using a makeup primer like the Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer or e.l.f Poreless / Matte Putty Primer to even out the skin texture for makeup to look much smoother.

If you don’t have texture, then use a setting spray like the MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Fix+ Setting Spray or Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray as a lightweight primer to help makeup last longer.

What To Look For In A Foundation For Acne Prone Skin?

Oil-free and non-comedogenic formula
Doesn’t have any heavy ingredients like mineral oils, jojoba oil, petrolatum, lanolin etc
Doesn’t have SPF in it
Has water listed as one of the first ingredients
Has a satin matte / semi matte finish
Has a medium to full coverage
Has long wear time — minimum 12 hours
Feels light and breathable on the skin

Best Foundation For Acne Prone Skin

Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Hydra Foundation

Price: US $39

Shade range: 30 shades

My shade: 3.02 Medium With Neutral Undertone or 3.15 – Medium With Neutral Undertone

Coverage: Medium, buildable to full

The Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Hydra Foundation is incredible. It has liquid formula and a very natural, lightweight finish on the skin. What makes this foundation extra special is that it offers very good medium to full coverage, but it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin at all. It makes the skin look healthy and skin-like. The Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Hydra Foundation is extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time and doesn’t fade, if set with loose powder (and setting spray for more stay power).

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

Price: US $49

Shade range: 34 shades

My shades: Vanuatu, Barcelona, Valencia

Coverage: Full

If you’re looking for a foundation with staying power, full coverage, and comfortable finish, then the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is the foundation for you. It has a mousse-like texture and blends into the skin quite easily. The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is ideal for night-time, parties and events when you don’t want makeup to budge at all. The beauty of this foundation is that even though it has a full coverage, the skin still looks quite natural and radiant, as the product claims.

Makeup Forever HD Skin

Price: US $43

Shade range: 40 shades

My shade: 2Y32 – Warm Sand

Coverage: Medium to Full

The Makeup Forever HD Skin is one of my favorite foundations for acne prone skin. It’s designed for normal to oily skin types, so the formula suits acne prone skin too. It has a slightly runny formula and leaves a beautiful natural silky matte finish on the skin. What makes this foundation stand out is the soft blur effect it has on the face. It looks great in photos and is a great option, if you’re looking for a long-lasting foundation for events and parties. A little note: the undertones tend to lean slightly yellow, which is great, if you have medium to deep skin with yellow undertones.

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Best Foundation For Acne Prone Skin (Tried & Tested!)

Skin Prep Before Foundation