Noncomedogenic Makeup That Won’t Break You Out

I’m excited to launch the first post in my new skincare series: Noncomedogenic Makeup That Won’t Break You Out! Makeup is often made of toxic ingredients, which can contribute to pimples and clogged pores, not to mention larger health issues including cancer, hormonal imbalances, and fertility issues (Source: Healthline). So, if you are struggling with your skin, it’s important to analyze the ingredients found in your makeup bag and make strategic, noncomedogenic changes. In the journey to clear my skin, makeup products were one major area of change. (I will get to the other changes I made later on in my skincare series, so stay tuned!)

In the meantime, explore my top, non-sponsored makeup picks for acne-prone skin — and skin in general — below. These selections are noncomedogenic, meaning they are unlikely to clog pores and trigger acne (Source: Healthline). They are based on my research into ingredients and my personal success with the products, which you can read more about below as well. (I’ve linked to key resources that helped me along the way, like YouTube videos and cosmetic ingredient databases, so that you can check them out too!)

None of the products in my skincare series are or will be sponsored, as I want you to be confident my recommendations are genuine. These are products that I have tested out myself and had success with for nearly a year before sharing them with you.

Disclaimer: I can’t guarantee that my top makeup picks for acne-prone will work for you, as everyone’s skin is different. I am not a skin expert or clinician. These are simply products that worked for me and that have some research behind them! I certainly hope they work out just as well for you and that I can serve as an honest resource for you. 🙂

My Top Noncomedogenic Makeup Picks for Acne-Prone Skin

Moving on to the top picks, bareMinerals is the star of the show! I first identified the foundation linked below as minimally toxic/acne-triggering through Carm Acne Skincare’s YouTube video “Esthetician’s Favorite Foundations for Acne | Noncomedogenic Makeup for Clear Skin,” which led me to research more bareMinerals products. (I figured if the brand has one good option, they likely have more.) It’s important to note that not all of bareMinerals products have acne-friendly ingredients; it’s crucial to look at each product’s ingredients individually if you look at any other options beyond what I’ve rounded up and tested below.

1. Foundation: bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 (noncomedogenic makeup)

Notes:

• Important: Make sure to get the specific type linked above – Original Loose Powder (not matte). There are newer variants of this product, such as bareMinerals Original Matte Loose Powder Foundation or the pressed versions. These other variants have different ingredients that are not as friendly to acne-prone skin and are more likely to break you out.

• If you’re a minimalist or don’t want to spend a ton of money, I would recommend just getting the foundation and concealer. On most days, I use a combo of just these two. bareMinerals is expensive, but it does last a long time because you only need a tiny bit of product.
  
• If loose powder foundation is new to you, watch this “Powder Foundation Do’s & Don’ts (from an Expert)” YouTube video by beauty guru Shelbey Wilson. You’ll be shocked at how great and natural the coverage is when it’s applied correctly and your skin is moisturized. I do recommend focusing on repairing your skin first before getting back into makeup, as makeup applies better when you have a healthy skin barrier. Focusing on repairing your skin first, and going makeup-free for a bit will also allow you to single out any triggers before you reintroduce makeup.
  
• Apply with a flat foundation brush, like this one: Sephora Collection Makeup Match Foundation Brush. You can use this same brush for bronzer and the mineral veil below too.

2. Concealer: bareMinerals Loose Powder Multi-tasking Concealer SPF 20 (noncomedogenic makeup)

• Apply with a small flat concealer brush to focus on key areas, such as dark spots or blemishes. I use one like this: Sephora Collection Makeup Match Concealer Brush.
  
• To me, the concealer is the second most important product out of these four. You can easily skip the bronzer and setting powder. However, it is kind of nice to have them if you’re dressing up and putting a little extra effort into your look.

3. Bronzer: bareMinerals Warmth All-Over Face Color Bronzer (noncomedogenic makeup)

• I like to use this as a way to contour my cheekbones and temples if I’m doing a full makeup look! The loose powder is super pigmented, so you only need a TINY little dot. It goes a long way.

4. Setting Powder: bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Illuminating Loose Setting Powder (noncomedogenic makeup)

• The mineral veil is ideal for summer, when your skin may get oily throughout the day. It helps reduce shine without adding too much cakiness and serves as a nice touch-up solution. I have the transparent illuminating version, which has a very subtle shimmer. It can also be used as a highlighter since it has an iridescent quality.

How to Research Makeup Ingredients and Why It’s Important

Now that I’ve shared my top noncomedogenic makeup picks, I wanted to dive a little deeper into how you can research makeup ingredients on your own, and why it’s important. It’s important to analyze each product based on its ingredients and the toxicity of those ingredients rather than solely going off of terms like “clean beauty,” “vegan,” “cruelty-free,” and “certified organic.” These marketing buzzwords can often mislead the customer into thinking the product is a better choice (Source: Healthline).

In my research, I stumbled upon and utilized a cosmetic ingredient database. You simply enter the name of a cosmetic and find a list of its ingredients. Next to this list, you’ll find a scale noting each ingredient’s level of toxicity and if that ingredient is acne-triggering. (Sometimes there are some gaps in what is listed, but it does a pretty good job!) Through this database, I learned all of the makeup I was using at the time was highly toxic AND acne-triggering. (No wonder why my skin was very angry with me!).

Anyways, my skin has responded extremely well to these four bareMinderals products! They are definitely worth a try if you are looking for makeup that won’t break you out. If you do try these out and find this post helped you, definitely let me know by tagging me in a post or story on Instagram. I would love to hear about it! If you’re not already following me on Instagram, you can follow me @dabbledaybook to stay up-to-date on new content. Continue to follow along to see what’s next in my skincare series!

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