14 Best Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin

These foundations won’t cause any breakouts. 

In a world of foundations causing breakouts, buying one seems like a gamble if you suffer from acne-prone skin.

Coverage is crucial and creamy skin is critical. Well, good news, you can have your cake and eat it too. There’s more than one foundation out there, made especially for you.

It won’t contribute to oil production, clog your pores, or irritate your skin.

The trick is to find a matte option that will provide the promised coverage.

To give your face a real treat, check our reviews for the Best Charcoal Masks to also help with a clearer complexion and the Best Facial Steamers, which are fast becoming a vital part of any professional facial treatment which you can do at home. They are the ultimate skin decongestant tool.

Best Foundations For Acne-Prone Skin

We’ve conducted hours of research to find the 14 best foundations for acne-prone skin. 

Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation

Refresh and soothe combination skin with this oil-free gel foundation, offering buildable coverage.

The Chantecaille Future Skin foundation has a refreshing, lightweight gel texture that infuses the skin with water.

Perfect for oily and combination skin types, it’s formulated with aloe, chamomile, and arnica, which all work to calm irritation and soothe sensitive skin, while rosemary, green tea, and rice bran boost the immune system and help to prevent oxidation.

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Liquid Foundation

A foundation that perseveres through whatever the day brings your way.

Oil-free and watertight, the MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation repels moisture from the face to last up to 24 hours.

It blends seamlessly into your complexion as a foundation or concealer with full weightless coverage and a satin finish. Available in a range of shades.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk 

Create and layer your look with an oil-free, ultra-fine hydrating foundation formula to maintain a glowing complexion.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk is award-winning. For a good reason – the oil-free, hydrating fluid employs Micro-fil™ technology to deliver a silky smooth, seamless application that blurs imperfections and hydrates skin for a natural-looking, all-day glow.

Whether you require its flawless finish for a once-in-a-lifetime bridal look or simply a refreshed everyday appearance, the 40-shade range makes it easier to find your perfect match.

Inika Loose Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 25

The all-natural Inika Loose Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 25 is every makeup artist’s favorite go-to.

It’s weightless and delivers a natural finish without causing any breakouts or irritation.

The lightweight powder easily buffs and seamlessly builds up to the desired coverage, taking you from brunch with your family to your best friend’s wedding.

It’s Vegan and infused with cruelty-free ingredients. Available in a range of shades.

The SPF protection is all thanks to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10

There’s no need for touch-ups with this long-lasting, cult-favorite formula.

Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup has become an icon in the realm of beauty.

With its long-wearing formula, full coverage, and SPF 10 protection, it’s no wonder why when it keeps your skin looking like your own but better. Available in a range of shades.

Expect to find it in the make-up bag of every beauty lover – yours too, discover its ability to resist sweat and humidity, control oil all day, and smooth over fine lines and pores. 

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

A base that dials up the glow.

The NARS Sheer Glow Foundation will be the first potion you reach for on days that call for a naturally glowy, radiant complexion.

The nourishing formula effortlessly glides over the skin, providing an easily buildable light-to-medium finish that brightens and improves the skin’s texture in tandem – talk about a win-win situation. Available in a range of shades.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup

Blend this oil-free liquid foundation over blemishes to perfect and prevent.

Make-up and skincare come together with Clinique’s Anti-Blemish Solutions collection, which presents the Liquid Makeup foundation.

Made specifically for oily and blemish-prone skin, its oil-free formula delivers cleansing treatment benefits while preventing future breakouts.

Provides a weightless veil of medium coverage that will mask the appearance of existing spots and redness.

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick

A flawless base that gives nothing away, with sheer, buildable coverage and a smooth finish.

Update your make-up bag with this Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick. Offering a flawless canvas, its state-of-the-art formulation diminishes imperfections leaving a soft matte finish.

This long-lasting, easy-to-use beauty staple hydrates and evens skin tone while the brand’s infusing complex smooths and renews skin.

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Liquid Makeup

We all want a light, breathable foundation, and Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Liquid Makeup is just that.

It’s naturally infused with an oil-free aloe base to feel like ‘skin on skin.’

It’s recently been reformulated with niacinamide to even skin tone and smooth texture and allantoin to soothe skin.

This miracle works to bring balance where there’s imbalance. Available in a range of shades.

Swap this from your regular foundation when you have a breakout. 

Smashbox Studio 24-Hour Hydra Foundation

Unlike other long-wear foundations, this small wonder from Smashbox won’t sap your skin after a full day of wear.

The lightweight liquid formula packs a punch with just one key ingredient, hyaluronic acid, which has hyper-hydrating properties.

It seamlessly moiturizes dry patches without causing oil overproduction.

The semi-matte finish is suitable for all skin types and seamlessly blends on textured skin.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation

The eminent best-seller Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation delivers full coverage and is available in an extensive shade range.

The expertly formulated lightweight liquid foundation is entrenched with tropical papaya and topical glycerin.

It features flawless buildable coverage, water resistance, and shine control. Available in a range of shades.

PUR 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Longwear Foundation & Concealer 

Nourish your skin with the high-coverage PUR 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Longwear Foundation & Concealer.

It’s one of the best contouring foundations that functions as a foundation and a concealer.

This overachiever foundation is made for makeup beginners and pros alike.

It features a dual applicator component for you to either pump out the product onto your hands or use a beauty blender or brush if you have more time to perfect your makeup.

The second applicator is the doe-foot wand that’s easy to apply directly, straight to your skin when you’re in a hurry. Available in different shades.

It’s enriched with UV-protecting ingredients such as skin-brightening vitamin B, anti-inflammatory caffeine, and anti-aging lingonberry extract.

It’s a must-have solution for those who struggle with rosacea-related redness problems. 

Cruelty Free, Paraben Free, Vegan , Gluten Free.

Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation

The ultra-lightweight Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation feels like a second skin. Weightless yet provides great coverage.

It’s non-comedogenic and instantly leaves a glowy, dewy, airbrushed finished look once it dries down. Available in a range of shades.

BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Another organic alternative is the earthy best-seller BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15.

It’s very light, gentle, and made with solely five key ingredients.

The infallible powder formula delivers a delightfully luminous finish all while, at the same time, it controls oil overproduction. Available in a good shade range

Continue using it and watch your skin transform over time.

It’s infused with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to protect the skin’s barrier. 

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Final Verdict
Our best overall is the iconic oil-free Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk created with innovative Micro-fil™ technology that provides the best full coverage. For a more affordable pick is the legendary oil-free Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Liquid Makeup that has niacinamide that smooths out skin texture and evens out skin tone. Whatever you pick from our curated list it will restore your skin’s natural balance