Best Foundation for Acne 2023
1. BEST OVERALL FOUNDATION FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation
Clinique has been around for decades and its line of foundations has only continued to improve. “Unlike many that just work by covering bumps and redness, this foundation contains salicylic acid, which can help treat acne while also providing the coverage,” says GH Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek.
Not only does this foundation, available in over a dozen shades, contain the holy grail acne-fighting skincare ingredient but it also feels lightweight on the skin.Wnek, who has acne-prone combination oily skin, reports a matte finish and medium coverage. While we wish more shades were available, a 4.5-star rating across 1,575 customer reviews on the Macy’s website makes this a popular foundation that won’t disappoint.
2. BEST VALUE FOUNDATION FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN
L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation
This drugstore find has 47 shades to choose from and an easy-to-use pump. It has medium coverage with a natural finish, leaving your skin looking fresh. Wnek says the formula is super lightweight and is a wonderful option for everyday wear.
It boasts a 4.5-star rating on Ulta and over 2,000 online customer reviews with one five-star review writing, “This is the first foundation I’ve actually liked. Coverage can be as light or heavy as you need it to be.” However, reviewers do note that the pump makes it hard to get all of the foundation out from the bottom, thus leaving behind some unused product. Still, the color range and price make it a stand-out pick.
3. BEST ACNE-PRONE FOUNDATION FOR REDNESS
Neutrogena Neutrogena Clear Coverage CC Cream
The word “cream” may have you skeptical of this pick, but let us explain. This CC cream is specially formulated with acne-prone skin in mind, containing niacinamide to help reduce inflammation and acne. One GH editor says, “It blurs my imperfections and doesn’t cause breakouts.”
The CC cream also has a good selection of shades and thousands of positive customer reviews online. One 5-star reviewer says, “Sooo good! You don’t need a lot of the product because it’s such a full coverage CC cream. Wears so good throughout the day and never makes me look super dry, oily or cakey. Will be repurchasing.”
4. BEST FOUNDATION FOR CYSTIC ACNE
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Foundation
The silky formula lives up to its name: it earned a top rating in our tests for gliding onto skin and feeling like, well, silk. Our professional makeup artist evaluators also noted that it has a smooth texture and is best for blending into skin.
Malzahn cites it as a favorite for dealing with acne, and 4.3K customer reviews on Sephora and numerous online customers call it a “must have” for its long-lasting formula and lightweight feel. Choose from a range of shades available in standard and mini sizes so you can travel with your fave foundation. It is definitely on the pricier end, so you could try out the mini size first, which costs $24 less.
5. BEST FULL-COVERAGE FOUNDATION FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN
CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
This GH seal-holding and GH Beauty Award-winning foundation has wowed GH beauty pros over the years and we continue to stand by its performance. It may not be the least expensive foundation in this list, but we think it’s a great value since it includes a primer, foundation and concealer all wrapped into one product. Our tests found the blendable full-coverage formula didn’t look heavy or cakey. It has over 5,000 Amazon reviews, with customers saying: “Literally the best drugstore foundation” and “It lasts all day….really!”
6. BEST FOUNDATION FOR ACNE SCARS
Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation
GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn recommends Ambient Soft Glow for covering up acne scars. “This foundation blurs every imperfection and pore on my face, including dark spots on my cheeks from acne scarring,” she says. She loves its natural air-brushed look and hundreds of online customer reviews report that the foundation blurs imperfections and lasts all day. We appreciate the range of shades you can choose from and pump for easy application. It is, however, one of the more expensive foundations in this list.
7. BEST FOUNDATION FOR DRY ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
GH Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin recommends this serum by Ilia for dry acne-prone skin. “I love this skincare-makeup hybrid for my dry, sensitive skin because of its dewy effect.” It has a lightweight formula and contains hyaluronic acid which will keep your skin nice and hydrated. Although advertised as a skin tint, Saguin says it has buildable and blendable coverage; “it’s super pigmented, so I like it for more medium coverage looks.” Saguin also appreciates the dropper which makes it easy to apply the foundation. It has SPF 40 so your skin will be protected against the sun as you go about your day, too.
8. BEST POWDER FOUNDATION WITH SALICYLIC ACID
Neutrogena SkinClearing Mineral Powder
While we haven’t tested this powder foundation in the Beauty Lab, it contains the acne-fighting powerhouse salicylic acid so you can not only cover breakouts but also treat them in the process. Neutrogena claims the formula won’t clog pores and is oil-absorbing for a shine-free finish. We wish the powder was available in more shades, but appreciate its affordable price point and inclusion of one of the only active ingredients that can help treat acne (even while you’re wearing makeup).
9. MOST POPULAR FOUNDATION FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
“If I could only use one foundation for the rest of my life, it would be this one,” says Wnek. And we agree, along with thousands of online customers. It’s available in a wide range of light, medium and deep shades that you can filter through online. Plus, it has a semi-matte finish and medium to full coverage that lasts all day, so you can cover everything from redness to dark spots. Apply this foundation and see nice even skin as a result. However, the bottle doesn’t have a pump which can make dispensing a tad annoying and potentially a little messy.
10. BEST TINTED MOISTURIZER FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer
Finding the right tinted moisturizer for acne-prone skin can be a tricky business, but we love this pick for a lighter, more casual everyday look. This formula by Tarte has oil-absorbing clay and retinol to address breakouts as well as extra pigment to cover current spots. One 5-star reviewer writes, “I am in awe with how this product just melts into my skin, moisturizes and controls my blemishes. My new favorite go-to when I get an impromptu video chat call!” However, customers with very dry skin found said the product sunk into fine lines and we wish there more shades to choose from.
11. BEST FOUNDATION FOR OILY ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation
A top-performer in Beauty Lab tests, this highly pigmented foundation has a matte finish ideal for oily skin types. Evaluators ranked it the easiest formula to use and dispense the correct amount. It has a super smooth texture and is formulated to be long-lasting. Some reviewers call it, “My all time favorite foundation” with one customer writing, “After using different brand foundations this is the one I love the most and has helped me with my oily skin.” We appreciate that it costs less than $50, which is not the cheapest foundation on the market but relatively inexpensive when it comes to makeup artist favorites.
12. BEST FOUNDATION FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN WITH A WIDE SHADE RANGE
Uoma beauty Say What?! Foundation
This pick has an impressive total of 51 shades to choose from, in a liquid, matte formula with adjustable coverage. It has a 4-star rating on Ulta with one customer writing, “It’s very easy to blend into the skin, and wears great across the day. My absolute favorite thing about it though is that it has the best shade range and undertone range I’ve experienced.” Other 5-star reviewers call it their favorite and go-to foundation, and Malzahn echoes this sentiment, calling it a favorite for covering acne breakouts. Some users did note that it can be rather watery, though.
