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Non-Comedogenic Makeup Picks to Give Your Sensitive Skin a Break

Risk-free glam that you and your skin will enjoy.

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Our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, loves playing around with makeup, but sometimes, a face full of glam causes acne, which is never the vibe any of us want. And if you have sensitive skin, certain ingredients can cause flare-ups and create an even worse situation. Well, you can leave those issues in the past with non-comedogenic makeup.

Saunders consulted skincare experts for their guidance to help you discover the best non-comedogenic makeup available. We also researched 18 picks aligned with their advice, including products in her beauty bag.

Best Non-Comedogenic Makeup

What Is Non-Comedogenic Makeup?

Non-comedogenic makeup products do not contain pore-clogging ingredients and are safe to use without fear of possible breakouts or congested pores, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Diana Madfes, M.D. They allow your skin to breathe and don’t cause excess oil, adds cosmetic chemistry and esthetician Elina Fedotova of Elina Organics Spas. “It does not create a greenhouse effect by clogging the pores with synthetic, petroleum-based ingredients and heavy oils. In other words, it is light, breathable, and usually a water-based formulation," she says.

What to Consider

Anyone can use non-comedogenic makeup, but those with acne, combination, or oily skin will likely experience its main benefits — meaning fewer breakouts and congested pores. To help you shop smartly, we found a few of the most common ingredients that you’ll likely stumble upon while looking for non-comedogenic makeup.

👍 Best Non-Comedogenic Ingredients

  • Zinc oxide: According to Fedotova, most non-comedogenic makeup contains zinc oxide as the main pigment. "Zinc oxide helps to kill pathogens and has a soothing and calming effect on the skin, as well as reduces breakouts and absorbs excess oil," she says.
  • Titanium Dioxide: Madfes is a fan of titanium dioxide, a sunblocking ingredient that is safe to use on delicate skin, doesn’t leave behind a dreaded white cast, and helps block both UVA and UVB sun rays. (UVA rays cause signs of aging, while UVB rays are known for causing sunburns.)
  • Salicylic acid: It removes excess oil, unclogs pores, and exfoliates your skin, revealing a brighter, more even-toned complexion.

👎Worst Non-Comedogenic Ingredients

If you're looking to go down the non-comedogenic route with your makeup, Fedotova suggests steering clear of heavy moisturizing ingredients.

  • Heavy oils like mineral and avocado oils are great for hydrating dry skin (especially in the winter), but acne-prone, combination, and oily skin types will likely experience acne from using products containing these ingredients.
  • Ingredients that end in "cone", such as dimethicone, an occlusive silicone-based ingredient found in everything from primers and creams to hair products.
  • Petroleum jelly is a mix of mineral oils and waxes that help seal moisture into your skin, which will contest your pores.

How We Selected

Now that you've had the crash course on these gentle cosmetics, check out 18 of our favorite non-comedogenic makeup picks aligned with their skincare advice. Saunders considered everything from the ingredient label and formulation to shade variety and online ratings to ensure every single one of these items is worth the hype. Additionally, some of these makeup products are favorites of Saunders and other Best Products staffers, so you can rest assured they're actually on point. What could be better?

1
Best Overall

Beautiful Skin Foundation

Best Tested
Beautiful Skin Foundation
$49 at Sephora$49 at Nordstrom$49 at Bloomingdale's
Pros
  • Longwearing
  • Infused with skincare-grade ingredients
  • Created by a celebrity makeup artist
  • Trusted by celebs like Jessica Chastain for the red carpet
Cons
  • Not ideal for oily skin types living in hot, humid areas

Saunders is kicking off this list strong with one of her favorite foundations: Beautiful Skin by celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. The liquid foundation is ideal for dry, combination, and normal skin types looking for a radiant glow to last up to 16 hours.

The buildable medium coverage foundation helps brighten dull skin, blur the look of pores, and smooth imperfections. It is also chockfull of impressive ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing and plumping agent. The presence of a rose complex brightens a tired complexion, while bix-activ minimizes unnecessary shine.

"Although I have oily skin, I like wearing this non-comedogenic foundation in the late fall and winter months to ensure I restore some hydration to my parched skin," notes Saunders. "It applies wonderfully with all types of tools, including my favorite makeup brushes, beautyblender, and fingers."

More: Beauty Editor-Approved Skincare Gifts

2
Best Shade Variety

Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation

Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation
Pros
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Clean at Sephora-approved formula
Cons
  • Oily skin types might have to powder frequently

If you or your bestie know the struggle of finding a foundation that actually matches your complexion, then I have the foundation for you. Lady Gaga advocates for equality for all, so it's unsurprising that her makeup line offers a foundation in an impressive 51 shades. From melanin-rich complexions to ultra-fair, everyone is sure to find their ideal match.

The medium-coverage liquid foundation uses clean ingredients like fermented arnica to minimize redness and protect from environmental stress. There are also two proprietary complexes of medicinal herbs and antioxidants for calmer skin that are protected against environmental pollution.

3
Best for a Red Carpet Glow

Luminous Silk Foundation

Best Tested
Luminous Silk Foundation
Pros
  • Easy to apply with your fingers, brushes, or sponges
  • Great for beginners or novices alike
Cons
  • Most expensive option

Yes, $64 is a lot of money to invest in a foundation, but Armani Beauty's most iconic makeup product is seriously worth your money. It's incredibly lightweight, blends like a dream, and offers light-to-medium buildable coverage. When you wear Luminous Silk Foundation, your dull complexion will become extremely glowy and healthy-looking. It also doesn't cake, settle in fine lines, or oxidize.

“My biggest skincare vice is falling asleep with makeup on my face,” admits Saunders. “When I do this, most foundations will cause my pores to become visibly congested, and I’ll no doubt experience acne. Luminous Silk Foundation, on the other hand, has never once caused my oily skin to break out.”

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4
Best for Light Coverage

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation
Pros
  • Clean, natural ingredients
  • Award-winner
Cons
  • There's 30 shades, but many of the deeper shades lean warm

Looking to even out your skin tone? Then, this lightweight, tint-in-serum is perfect for you: It instantly absorbs into skin to give your complexion a smoother, even tone while a blend of hydrating hyaluronic acid, plant-based squalane, and niacinamide plump and moisturizes for a more youthful appearance. “These ingredients are safe for all skin types,” notes Madfes.

Plus, it contains broad-spectrum SPF 40 to guard your precious pores from harmful UVA/UVB rays.

5
Best Face Primer

Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer

Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
Pros
  • Contains salicylic acid
  • Red clover flower extract acts as a pore minimizer
Cons
  • Skip if you have dry skin

Under every great foundation is an even greater primer, which is why we're obsessed with this one from Dr. Brandt Skincare. This pick acts as a two-in-one pore refiner and makeup primer to minimize the look of pores while mattifying the skin for a clear and even canvas for your foundation.

Not wearing any complexion makeup for the day? Feel free to swipe this salicylic acid-infused formula on by itself for an oil-free, matte finish to your complexion.

6
Best Serum Foundation

Glowy Super Skin

Glowy Super Skin
Pros
  • Very lightweight feel
  • Buildable medium coverage
Cons
  • Too radiant for oily skin

Embrace lightweight, non-comedogenic makeup with help from Saie, a Clean at Sephora-approved brand. Boasting a unique serum-like formulation, Glowy Super Skin blends with just your fingers. It also provides a medium-buildable coverage with a luminous finish.

Its hero ingredient is a hydrobounce complex that moisturizes, brightens, and plumps tired skin. There's also sugar-derived squalane for lasting hydration and polyglutamic acid for an additional plumping effect.

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7
Best Powder Foundation

Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder

Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder
Pros
  • Mattifies shine and reduces the look of pores
  • Lightweight and breathable
Cons
  • Packaging could be sturdier

We love this powder foundation from Maybelline for a variety of reasons. First off, its mild formula provides an even finish to your skin without the weight and thick feel of a liquid foundation ... all without causing breakouts. Second, the price tag is under $1o — how could you beat that?

8
Best Setting Powder

Face Powder

Amazon’s Choice
Face Powder
Pros
  • Lightweight, long-lasting coverage
  • Over 112,000 Amazon reviews
Cons
  • No dark colors, but there's a colorless translucent option

If you don't want your makeup to crease or smudge off, using a setting powder is non-negotiable.

Thankfully, this under-$20 pick will get you and your makeup under control. Its non-comedogenic formula can work as a final finish to setting your makeup, or you can even use it on its own as a lightweight foundation. The results: a smoother, softer finish to your skin, sans the dreaded flash-back.

9
Best for Buildable Coverage

Born This Way Foundation

Born This Way Foundation
Pros
  • Lasts for up to 12 hours
  • Oil-free
Cons
  • Oily skin types should only use the matte version

This foundation will give you all of the coverage you need without clogging your pores. Its oil-free, buildable formula allows you to use as little or as much foundation as you need without making your skin feel irritated or suffocated.

Plus, this foundation comes in 34 shades to choose from, so you'll be able to find your match in no time.

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10
Best for Nourishing Dry Skin

Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation

On Sale
Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation
Now 33% Off
Pros
  • 100% vegan foundation
  • All day healthy glow
Cons
  • Very sheer coverage

Opt for this affordable, non-comedogenic foundation from CoverGirl on days when you want light coverage. The 100% vegan formula is made with nourishing, good-for-you skincare ingredients like hydrating coconut milk and soothing aloe vera extract. It also has a creamy texture and doesn't cake when you build up the coverage.

11
Best for Sensitive Skin

Acne Control Foundation

Best Tested
Acne Control Foundation
Pros
  • Great whipped texture spreads easily with just your fingers
  • Safe for post-surgery use
Cons
  • Not enough variety of deeper shades

Saunders loves a budget foundation just as much as the next person, but sometimes, you gotta invest in luxury makeup. Oxygenetix's unique foundation is infused with aloe vera, which helps calm inflammation and redness, while salicylic acid decongests your pores. It's also formulated with ceravitae complex, which helps your skin absorb more oxygen, as well as promotes skin cell production and healing.

This foundation is well-loved by makeup artists and celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, who mixes the shades Honey and Almond to get her perfect color match. "I swear that this is one of the things that helped really get my skin together,” Kardashian said in her Vogue Beauty Secrets video.

12
Best Mineral Foundation

Original Foundation SPF 15

Original Foundation SPF 15
Pros
  • Lightweight, buildable coverage is good for everyday wear
  • Can also be used as a setting powder over liquid or cream foundation for additional coverage
Cons
  • Skip if you need medium or full coverage

When it comes to clean, irritant-free beauty, bareMinerals is the O.G.

This foundation has been a bestseller for years, with its gentle, easy-to-use formula that's created with just five vegan mineral ingredients. You won't find any unnecessary additives, binders, fillers, or talc in this foundation — just clean complexion coverage that stands the test of time.

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13
Best for the Body

Quick-Fix Body Foundation

Quick-Fix Body Foundation
Pros
  • Provides maximum coverage
  • Even camouflages post-laser or -surgical cosmetic concerns
Cons
  • Too thick to use across on your face

Let's be real here — body acne happens, and it's a real pain to deal with. So, while you're waiting for your bacne flare-up to calm down, feel free to cover up any unsightly zits and hyperpigmentation with this body foundation stick.

Its full-coverage formula can even out unsightly varicose or spider veins, stretch marks, scars, bruises, and burns without clogging pores or causing irritation. This thick formula can even conceal tattoos!

14
Best for Acne

SkinClearing Oil-Free Liquid Foundation

Amazon’s Choice
SkinClearing Oil-Free Liquid Foundation
Pros
  • Contains 0.5% salicylic acid to treat acne without dehydrating the skin
  • Natural finish
Cons
  • The shade diversity is abysmal

Who said you have to shell out tons of money for a good foundation? This one from Neutrogena is probably one of the best formulas we've ever come by, and it costs around $10!

This liquid foundation gives you a full-coverage finish but won't clog your pores, thanks to the addition of exfoliating salicylic acid. We swear your pores will feel and look invisible after using this drugstore favorite.

15
Best Tinted Moisturizer

Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

 Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
Pros
  • Cult-favorite item
  • Available in standard and mini sizes
Cons
  • Includes SPF coverage, but it's still under the suggested min of SPF 30

Why use foundation and moisturizer when you can get both jobs done with one product? This oil-free, tinted moisturizer comes in 20 different shades to choose from and blends seamlessly into skin. The results? Lightweight, breathable coverage without any breakouts.

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16
Best of Clean Beauty

Babassu Foundcealer Foundation

Babassu Foundcealer Foundation
Pros
  • Includes SPF
  • Hydrating for the skin, but has a lightweight feel
Cons
  • Skip if you don't like a dewy finish

Looking for a clean, green beauty routine? Then add this vegan, hypoallergenic foundation to your roster. Its customizable finish allows you to use as much or as little as you’d like, and it’s also rich in skincare saviors like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.

No color-changing oxidization, fine lines, or “cake face” from this foundation — just clear complexions and a featherweight feel.

17
Best Bronzer

Murumuru Butter Bronzer

Murumuru Butter Bronzer
Pros
  • Silky soft feel
  • Hypoallergenic formula
Cons
  • Not enough deeper tones for melanin-rich complexions

The name says it all: This buttery bronzer has been a fan favorite of both drugstore beauty obsessives and luxury mavens alike, thanks to its rich, velvety formula. Its pigment won't cause any harm to your delicate complexion — just expect chiseled cheekbones and faux post-vacay warmth on your skin.

18
Best Concealer

Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer

Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer
Pros
  • Oil-free
  • Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested
Cons
  • Some reviewers with dry skin find it's a little heavier than they like

OK, you have your foundation, but what about your concealer? If you're trying to make the full switch into the world of non-comedogenic makeup, then this concealer is an essential.

Its buildable formula comes in 19 shades to choose from, and its oil-free formula works to mattify skin for a grease-free look. It’s also infused with natural minerals and emollients to condition skin, so it never creases or feels dry.

Headshot of Nicole Saunders
Nicole Saunders
Beauty Editor

Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.

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