Oily Skin? These 8 Foundations Won't Clog Your Pores

By
Amy Lewis
Byrdie writer Amy Lewis headshot
Amy Lewis
Amy is a freelance journalist who specializes in beauty, fashion, wellness, and lifestyle. She has written for Byrdie, Who What Wear, and Stylist.
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Updated on Sep 30, 2021
Medically reviewed by
Marisa Garshick, MD
Marisa Garshick
Medically reviewed by Marisa Garshick, MD
Dr. Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist whose specialties include general medical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology.
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When it comes to keeping acne, breakouts, and large pores at bay during the day, a non-comedogenic foundation is the way to go. Why? Because new formulas have been developed to avoid clogging your pores and preventing the cyclical drama of covering up your blemishes only to create new ones.

Non-comedogenic is a fancy way of saying the product shouldn't block your pores. Many makeup and skincare ingredients can cause pore blockage, and while this isn't always a problem for some skin types, those prone to breakouts and other skin issues likely need to avoid pore-blocking additives. Avoiding specific oils and pore-blockers while choosing products with skin healing and breakout-preventing ingredients like salicylic acid can help.

Keep scrolling for the Byrdie edit of the best non-comedogenic foundations.

Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Bare Minerals Loose Powder Mineral Foundation at Sephora
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Best Budget:
L'Oréal Paris True Match Foundation at Amazon
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Best Splurge:
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation at Amazon
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Best Luminous Finish:
NARS All Day Luminous Foundation at Sephora
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Best Natural Finish:
Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation at Ulta
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Best Longwear Formula:
Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Foundation at IHerb
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Best for Sensitive Skin:
Vichy Foundation at Vichyusa.com
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Best for Acne-Prone Skin:
Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation at Sephora
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In This Article

Best Overall: Bare Minerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

4.9
Bare Minerals Original Foundation

Courtesy of Ulta
View On Sephora View On Ulta

This award-winning mineral foundation has a legion of loyal fans for a reason. bareMinerals' no-nasties formula is light on your skin, but it can be built up for coverage, while the ingredients are so pure you can sleep in it without waking up to zits galore. (We always recommend washing your face before bed, though.)

The 11 Best Mineral Foundations For Every Skin Type

Best Budget: L'Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Liquid Foundation

4.9
L'Oreal Paris Makeup True Match
View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

For a velvety finish, this lightweight L'Oreal foundation is a winner. With 23 shades in the range, it likely won't be a struggle to find your match. With a formula that blends into the skin effortlessly withoutclogging pores, it's not hard to see why this foundation is a long-time favorite.

Best Splurge: Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation

View On Amazon View On Dermstore

Thanks to its patented formula, breathable coverage is the main aim of this cosmeceutical foundation. The ingredients all support regenerating cell production and boosting the healing process, meaning you'll be helping to treat your breakouts while camouflaging. Who doesn't love a multitasker?

Best Luminous Finish: NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

 Courtesy of Sephora
View On Sephora View On Ulta

Long-wear foundations are often the main culprits for clogging skin, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this 16-hour foundation from NARS. The formula may be lightweight, but the pigment payoff is vast, meaning great coverage without pore-clogging or caking.

The 14 Best Long-Wear Foundations That Are Good for the Skin

Best Natural Finish: Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation

Natural Finish Foundation G20 1 oz/ 30 mL
View On Ulta

Key Ingredients

Mineral oil is a colorless and odorless petrolatum derivative; when used in cosmetics, it's highly refined and purified and does not contain the contaminants that unrefined petroleum has been known for. While mineral oil is thought to worsen breakouts and is often not recommended for acne-prone skin, one study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that mineral oil in skincare is not considered comedogenic.

A two-in-one concealer and foundation, this formula makes light work of covering redness, dark circles, uneven skin tone, and even tattoos. As is the Cover FX way, it's also free from parabens, fragrance, mineral oil, and talc, and it comes in an impressive shade range.

Best Longwear Formula: Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation

3.5
Becca

 Sephora
View On IHerb
This Best-Selling Foundation Is My New Go-To for Full Coverage

If you love a creamy consistency, this full-coverage foundation from Becca is for you. With its breathable formula, this Complexion Créme covers redness and imperfections without suffocating pores.

What Our Testers Say

"It covered my hyperpigmentation well and blended seamlessly with my neck and chest." — Khera Alexander, Product Tester

Best for Sensitive Skin: Vichy Dermafinish Corrective Fluid Foundation

Vichy Dermafinish Corrective Fluid Foundation
View On Vichyusa.com

Formulated to heal and conceal spots, blemishes, and acne, this full-coverage foundation also goes to work on redness, rosacea, and acne scarring. Sensitive skin? This may be the one for you.

Found: Makeup Products That Won't Irritate Sensitive Skin

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation

Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup

 Courtesy of Ulta
View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Bloomingdales

Engineered to cling to oily skin without suffocating or clogging your pores, this oil-free foundation also contains antibacterial salicylic acid that may fight blemishes during your wear time.

What to Look For in a Foundation

Avoid Some Oily Formulas

Some oily products can block pores, leading to breakouts and other skin issues. While some oils on their own are acne-friendly, many non-comedogenic products will be oil-free. Oils to avoid include coconut oil, palm, soybean, wheat germ, flaxseed, and ester oils, like myristyl myristate. Oils that are acceptable (or even beneficial) include rosehip oil, squalane, sunflower seed oil, hemp seed oil, grapeseed oil, and jojoba.

Products Without Comedogens

With non-comedogenic products, it's more important to look for what they do not have that might block pores. While there is no standard list, studies have revealed the worst offenders. Some types of ingredients to avoid include isopropyl myristate and its derivatives, lanolins, and D&C red dyes. Choosing a product with minimal, natural ingredients can help reduce the likelihood of it causing your skin to react.

Healing Treatments

To get the most value from your non-comedogenic foundation, looking for blemish-busting and skin-healing ingredients. Ingredients to look for include salicylic acid, retinol, vitamin E, and squalane.

FAQ
  • How Do I Know if My Foundation is Non-Comedogenic

    Most non-comedogenic foundations will be labeled as such. When it isn't clearly marked on the product, scanning its ingredients list for pore-clogging ingredients, like the ones listed above, can help. Also, consider bringing any makeup in question to your next dermatologist appointment—your doctor can help identify anything that could be clogging your pores or causing any additional skin issues.

  • What is non-comedogenic makeup?

    Non-comedogenic makeup swaps traditional makeup ingredients for lighter, less oily alternatives that’ll be less likely to sit in your pores and cause blockages. However, one word of caution: much like the term hypoallergenic, there's currently no approved industry regulation of non-comedogenic standards (meaning no official test or checklist a product needs to meet before it can sport the label).

  • What are comedones?

    Comedones are clogged pores that can be either open—aka a blackhead—when the oil and bacteria clogging the pore has become oxidized by the air and changes color, or closed—aka a whitehead—which is buried just underneath the skin.

  • What are emollients?

    Emollients are softening and moisture-locking agents, like butters, oils, esters, lipids, and fatty acids. The word is also used to describe a category of products that contain these ingredients, like lotions, creams, and ointments.

Keep Your Pores Clog-free With the Best Non-comedogenic Moisturizers
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. Cosmetic Dermatology. Mineral Makeup and Its Role With Acne and Rosacea. August 2009.

  2. Suh D, Oh H, Lee SJ, Kim HJ, Ryu HJ. Relationship between acne and the use of cosmetics: Results of a questionnaire study in 539 Korean individuals. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(7):2172-2178.

  3. Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K. Moisturizers for acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(5):36-44.

  4. Ghani H, Rahman R, Liu K, Cubelli S. An investigation of makeup ingredients and their effects on acne cosmetica with dermatologic practice recommendations. SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine. 2021;5(5):474-481.

  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Cosmetic Labeling Claims. August 24, 2020.

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