Recently, I had a tragic experience with a foundation I was using.

Let me fill you in on my struggle with acne. (Skip this paragraph if you don’t care) I started getting acne before I ever wore makeup. My parents made me go to the dermatologist in only sixth grade because they saw that I was already getting moderate acne at such a young age and they didn’t want it to get worse and cause scarring. At the time I was super nervous to go to the doctor and embarrassed about the whole situation. I am now very grateful that my parents made me go to the doctor back then because I’ve been able to keep my acne primarily in check. Although it has been a constant battle. I have been on the high risk acne medicine, Isotretinoin (Previously known as Accutane) two different occasions. Most people can use this acne medicine for 4- 6 months and never have acne again. I was part of the 2% that was not so lucky, although it has helped me more than any other medicine. My skin was clear for about a year after using it. I will probably have to go on the medicine for a third time because over the past year I have started slowly getting my oily skin back and my familiar breakouts.

I have had some of my worst breakouts in my life this past year. Horrible cystic acne, on and off. I realized one of the big culprits.

Dun..Dun..Dunnnn:

MAYBELLINE Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation

I started using this foundation because I wanted a more affordable everyday foundation than what I normally used which is Estee Lauder Double Wear. I had heard really great things about this foundation in the beauty community and I liked the coverage and matte finish it gave me. Right when I started using it I noticed worse than normal breakouts. I figured it was a coincidence or my skin needed to get used to the makeup. After I ran out of the foundation my skin cleared up. I again thought it was a coincidence and was because I wasn’t as stressed, so I decided to repurchase. A couple weeks into using it, I had the worst breakout of my life. Cystic, painful acne all around my mouth. I decided to look up reviews about this makeup. What I found was horrifying… Tons of stories of people that never had acne until they used this product. Check out some of those reviews here: https://bit.ly/2GmyquJ. I felt like I immediately needed to warn people about this foundation on my Instagram story. I received over 20 messages from girls that also had a similar experience. (Does this mean it will break you out? Maybe not, but if you are someone with sensitive skin, I would be careful using it.) I then was on the journey to look for a new drugstore foundation that wouldn’t break me out. I started looking into what pore clogging ingredients to stay away from. This foundation has several PEG ingredients, which can clog pores. When doing my research about other ingredients, looking for a new foundation became very overwhelming. (List of ingredients to stay away from is at the bottom of this blog) Most of the great coverage foundations recommended in the beauty community were full of pore clogging ingredients. I decided to do a lot of research to find the best foundations for your skin that are also known for great coverage in the beauty community because most people with acne prone skin don’t want to give up the great coverage of a foundation.

Here are some tips for makeup application when you have acne prone skin:

#1

Look for a foundation with water as the main ingredient. Water is obviously not going to break you out, so if you find a foundation that makes your skin look great and water is the main ingredient then you’ve found a winner!

#2

Find a foundation with a pump. A pump foundation keep your foundation from being exposed to the air, which can cause bacteria and change the formula of the foundation.

#3

Some people are sensitive to SPF foundations because of an ingredient called oxybenzone. If you find you are allergic to oxybenzone, find a sun protectant that uses zinc oxide or or octinoxate instead.

#4

Clean your beauty blenders, brushes and sponges!

#5

Be careful of silicones, talc, and sulfate ingredients. Some people’s skin does not react well with those ingredients. Test things out and see what works best for your skin.

The Five Best Drugstore Foundations for Acne Prone Skin

#1 Almay Truly Lasting Color Foundation 

It’s been awhile since I’ve used this foundation, but I remember really liking it because it’s non-comedogenic. I used it for a long time. Contains vitamin E which can help fight acne. If you’re sensitive to makeup with SPF then I would not advise using.

#2 Neutrogena® Skin Clearing Liquid Makeup

I have personally used this foundation as well and liked it. It has Salicylic Acid to help fight acne, so I would only use this product if you have oily skin. Non-comedogenic and oil-free.

#3 Revlon Color Stay Foundation

I recently started using this foundation after finding out about Maybelline Fit Me. My acne has cleared up a bit. It definitely doesn’t last as long as my Estee Lauder Double Wear, but I am liking the formula.

#4 Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

I haven’t used this foundation yet, but I had a couple friends who have acne-prone skin recommend it to me and it has great reviews.

#5 Loreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation 

I also have not tried this foundation and was recommended it. Dimethicone is the second ingredient listed, so be careful if you are sensitive to silicones.

The Five Best High End Foundations for Acne Prone Skin

#1 Too Faced Born This Way Foundation 

This foundation has a lot of street cred. Two acne-prone Youtubers said this foundation is a holy grail for them. I personally think it is a little too oily for my skin and some do say it breaks them out because of their skin is sensitive to coconut water. If you love coconut-infused products, you will probably love this foundation and it’s vegan!

#2 Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

This is my holy grail foundation. Many full coverage foundations make people break out, but this one has great ingredients.

#3 Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation 

A little pricey, but Koh Gen Do always uses great products for your skin.

#4 Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free

This vegan foundation is known for it’s amazing ingredients and with helping with breakouts.

#5 Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation 

If you want a glowy foundation, this one may be for you. It’s very hydrating and is also vegan.

The primary causes of acne are

• Excess oil production
• Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
• Bacteria
• Excess activity of a type of hormone (androgens)

So most likely, your foundation is not the only reason you have acne, but some foundation ingredients can make your skin breakout worse. Everyone’s skin is different. A foundation that works great for one person may break someone else out, so keep this in mind when testing out my recommended foundations. The list of ingredients to be careful using is below. I hope this blog helps! I wish you all clear skin. 🙂

High- higher chance of clogging pores. Medium- medium chance of clogging pores. Mainly be aware of the top five ingredients in your foundation.

High	Acetylated Lanolin
High	Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
High	Algae Extract
High	Algin
Medium	Almond Oil
Medium	Apricot Kernel Oil
Medium	Arachidic Acid
Medium	Ascorbyl Palmitate
Medium	Avocado Oil
Medium	Azulene
Medium	Behenic acid
Medium	Benzaldehyde
Medium	Benzoic Acid
Medium	BHA
High	Bismuth oxychloride may cause cystic acne
High	Butyl Stearate
Medium	Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Medium	Cajeput Oil
Medium	Camphor
Medium	Capric Acid
Medium	Caprylic acid
High	Carrageenans
Medium	Cetearyl Alcohol
High	Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
Medium	Cetyl Alcohol
Medium	Chamomile
High	Coal tar
High	Cocoa Butter
High	Coconut Butter
High	Coconut Oil
High	Colloidal Sulfur
High	Corn Oil
High	Cotton Aws Oil
High	Cotton Seed Oil
High	Crisco
High	D & C Red # 17
Medium	D & C Red # 19
High	D & C Red # 21
High	D & C Red # 3
High	D & C Red # 30
High	D & C Red # 36
Medium	D & C Red #27
Medium	D & C Red #40
High	Decyl Oleate
High	Dioctyl Succinate
High	Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate
High	Ethoxylated Lanolin
High	Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Medium	Evening Primrose Oil
High	Glyceryl Stearate SE -MUST have SE after the stearate
High	Glyceryl-3-Disostearate-(MUST have a “3” with it)
Medium	Grape Seed Oil (extract is OK)
High	Hexadecyl Alcohol
Medium	Hexylene Glycol
High	Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
High	Isocetyl Stearate
High	Isodecyl Oleate
High	isoproply linoleate
High	Isopropyl Isosterate
High	Isopropyl lanolate
High	Isopropyl Myristate
High	Isopropyl Palmitate
High	isostearic acid
High	isostearyl acid
High	Isostearyl Isostearate
High	Isostearyl Neopentanoate
High	lanolic acid
High	Laureth 23
High	Laureth 4
High	Lauric Acid
High	Linseed oil
High	Mink Oil
High	Myreth 3 myrstate
High	Myristic Acid
High	Myristyl Lactate
High	Myristyl Myristate
High	Octyl Palmitate
High	Octyl Stearate
Medium	Octyldodecanol
High	Oleic Acid
Medium	Oleth-10
High	Oleth-3
High	Oleyl Alcohol
Medium	Olive Oil (but Olive Oil Extract is OK)
Medium	Palmitic Acid
Medium	Peach Kernel Oil
Medium	Peanut Oil
Medium	PEG 100 Distearate
Medium	PEG 150 Distearate
High	PEG 16 Lanolin
High	PEG 200 Dilaurate
Medium	Peg 75 lanolin
High	PEG 8 Stearate
Medium	Pentarythrital Tetra Isostearate
Medium	PG Dipelargonate
Medium	PG Dipelargonate
High	PG Monostearate
High	Polyglyceryl-3-Disostearate (the “3” must be present)
High	Potassium Chloride
High	PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
High	Propylene Glycol Monostearate
High	Red Algae
Medium	Sandalwood Seed Oil
Medium	Sesame Oil
High	Shark Liver Oil
High	Salt – Table Salt or Sodium Chloride
High	Sodium Laureth Sulfate
High	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-leaves a film on skin-clogs pores
High	Solulan 16
High	Sorbitan Oleate
High	Sorbitan Sesquinoleate
High	Soybean Oil
High	Steareth 10
Medium	Steareth 2
Medium	Steareth 20
Medium	Stearic Acid
High	Stearic Acid Tea
Medium	Stearyl Alcohol
High	Stearyl Heptanoate
High	Sulfated Castor Oil
High	Sulfated Jojoba Oil (Jojoba beads are OK)
High	Syearyl Heptanoate
Medium	Tocopherol (Tocopherol Acetate is OK)
Medium	Triethanolamine
Medium	Vitamin A Palmitate-(ONLY this form of Vitamin A)
High	Wheat Germ Glyceride
High	Wheat Germ Oil
High	Xylene