11 of the Best Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin

For Buildable Coverage that Smooths and Soothes Acne-Prone Skin

One of Taylor’s go-tos is the Sisley Phyto Teint Perfection foundation “as it’s extremely soothing but also has the most amazing coverage, and is buildable without becoming patchy and caked.” Plus, it boasts a cocktail of hydrating and calming ingredients such as cucumber extract, green lentil extract and buckwheat extract. If you want a matte finish without your look falling flat or your skin feeling dry, then this is the one for you.

Best for Medium to Full Coverage on Acne-Prone Skin

A true classic in the full-coverage category, Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation is beloved for its staying power and skin-like finish. It blends seamlessly without budging, even on days when you’re running around the city. Non-acnegenic and oil-free, it keeps breakouts at bay while covering existing ones with ease – no creasing, caking, or mid-day meltdowns.

For a Soft Focus, Skin-Like Glow

Part skincare, part make-up, this hybrid base is perfect for days when you want your skin to look like skin. It’s infused with ingredients like biomimetic oat and Japanese lilyturf to help support your skin’s barrier, while light-reflecting technology subtly blurs blemishes and uneven texture. If you’re looking for a lit-from-within radiance, this is the foundation to add to basket.

Best for Lightweight Coverage on Acne-Prone Skin

Designed specifically for breakout-prone complexions, this oil-free foundation not only covers but calms your skin. Salicylic acid helps treat blemishes, while a featherlight formula evens skin tone without suffocating your pores. The result? Natural, breathable coverage that feels like you’re not even wearing make-up.

Best Foundation with Skincare Benefits

Think of this as a tinted veil of moisture with serious skincare credibility. Chantecaille’s oil-free gel foundation – an upgrade of its original beloved formula – is packed with a plant-based retinol alternative to ease the look of fine lines over time, hydrating spirodela polyrhiza extract and chaga mushroom extract to soothe irritated skin. It glides on like silk and is perfect for everyday wear.

Best Foundation Stick for Acne-Prone Skin

This cult-favourite foundation stick delivers creamy, high-performance coverage in one swipe. It’s texture is on the rich side, but you can rest easy because the formula is non-comedogenic and blends effortlessly into acne-prone skin without clogging your pores. You could get away without using a sponge, but for a second-skin finish, try the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Brush. Don’t feel like doing a full-face? Use it to spot-conceal and you’re good to go.

Best for Full Coverage on Acne-Prone Skin

Who better to turn to for a photo-ready finish than the glam brand Charlotte Tilbury? Infused with skincare actives like peptide-based Replexium® and menthol-containing AirCool™, this formula works overtime to smooth, hydrate and cool your skin while delivering serious full coverage. Bonus: it’s sweat-, humidity- and transfer-resistant, making it a must for long days or nights out on the town.

Best for a Natural Finish on Acne-Prone Skin

True to its name, this foundation gives a soft-focus blur that feels weightless on the skin. A lighter option than the famed #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Liquid Foundation, Easy Blur is formulated to balance oil without over-drying and provides medium, breathable coverage that won’t irritate sensitive or blemish-prone areas. Expect to see your natural skin shine through – just smoother, softer and more even.

Best Longwearing Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin

Come rain or shine, work or play, this foundation won’t budge. Designed to move with your skin, this foundation resists sweat and humidity, while delivering a breathable, second-skin finish – a winner if you live in a warm climate or are always on the go. Its silky texture and buildable medium coverage mean you can take it up a notch if needed, too.

Best for a Radiant Finish on Acne-Prone Skin

A red-carpet staple for good reason, Luminous Silk delivers that Hollywood glow without tipping into greasy territory. Its oil-free formula glides over bumps and blemishes, smoothing texture and evening tone without getting cakey. It’s one we return to – acne or no acne – time and time again.

Best Powder Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin

If you prefer the convenience and lightness of a powder, this finely milled foundation from Sensai ticks all the boxes and then some. Delivering a skin-refining finish, this powder doesn’t feel like a traditional powder. It sets without caking and controls shine without over-drying, making it a versatile choice for anyone with oily, acne-prone skin that’s sensitive to heavier textures.