When it comes to keeping acne, breakouts, and large pores at bay during the day, a non-comedogenic foundation is the way to go. Why? Because new formulas have been developed to avoid clogging your pores and preventing the cyclical drama of covering up your blemishes only to create new ones.
Non-comedogenic is a fancy way of saying the product shouldn’t block your pores. Many makeup and skincare ingredients can cause pore blockage, and while this isn’t always a problem for some skin types, those prone to breakouts and other skin issues likely need to avoid pore-blocking additives. Avoiding specific oils and pore-blockers while choosing products with skin healing and breakout-preventing ingredients like salicylic acid can help.
Keep scrolling for the Review2Coupon edit of the best non-comedogenic foundations.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Bare Minerals Loose Powder Mineral Foundation at Sephora
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Best Budget:
L’Oréal Paris True Match Foundation at Amazon
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Best Splurge:
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation at Amazon
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Best Luminous Finish:
NARS All Day Luminous Foundation at Sephora
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Best Natural Finish:
Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation at Ulta
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Best Longwear Formula:
Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Foundation at IHerb
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Best for Sensitive Skin:
Vichy Foundation at Vichyusa.com
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Best for Acne-Prone Skin:
Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation at Sephora
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In This Article
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Our Picks
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What to Look For in a Foundation
Best Overall:
Bare Minerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
4.9
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View On Sephora
View On Ulta
View On Bloomingdales
What We Like
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Easy to apply
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Highly natural looking
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Lasts all day
What We Don’t Like
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Pricey
Engineered to cling to oily skin without suffocating or clogging your pores, this oil-free foundation also contains antibacterial salicylic acid that may fight blemishes during your wear time.
Coverage: Moderate | Shade Range: 16, Fair to Deep | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Review2Coupon Clean: Yes
What to Look For in a Foundation
Avoid Some Oily Formulas
Some oily products can block pores, leading to breakouts and other skin issues. While some oils on their own are acne-friendly, many non-comedogenic products will be oil-free. Oils to avoid include coconut oil, palm, soybean, wheat germ, flaxseed, and ester oils, like myristyl myristate. Oils that are acceptable (or even beneficial) include rosehip oil, squalane, sunflower seed oil, hemp seed oil, grapeseed oil, and jojoba.
Products Without Comedogens
With non-comedogenic products, it’s more important to look for what they do not have that might block pores. While there is no standard list, studies have revealed the worst offenders. Some types of ingredients to avoid include isopropyl myristate and its derivatives, lanolins, and D&C red dyes. Choosing a product with minimal, natural ingredients can help reduce the likelihood of it causing your skin to react.
Healing Treatments
To get the most value from your non-comedogenic foundation, looking for blemish-busting and skin-healing ingredients. Ingredients to look for include salicylic acid, retinol, vitamin E, and squalane.
