​Ultimate Guide to Makeup for Acne and Sensitive Skin

Preventing and Treating Acne

Whether you're 13 or 30, acne can be persistent. If you want to choose makeup products to help prevent acne, here are a few precautions to take.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but you need to make sure you're not disrupting your skin's barrier with your choice in primers and foundations - you want to focus on not drying your skin out. If the skin is too dry, the skin's barrier can become compromised which in turn can allow bacteria to cause breakouts. So, avoid alcohol-based foundations, unless you've got a really good primer.

And speaking of primers - you can buy medicated primers, and salicylic acid can be great for acne-prone skin that's not sensitive. However! As it is an active ingredient, you need to remember to wear your sunscreen and bear in mind which other active ingredients you've already applied that week... sound complicated? If you're not sure if it's for you or not, you can always get in touch with our trained skin specialists with information about your skin routine via this skincare recommendation form.

When it comes to choosing makeup brands, consider mineral-based cosmetics. Powders are great for absorbing oil without clogging pores. Whilst looking for makeup labelled 'noncomedogenic' can be a good thing, it’s not a guarantee. There’s no legal or technical definition, so cheap brands often throw the phrase around.

So, while there are a few things to keep in mind, there are definitely some really great solutions to makeup for sensitive and acne-prone skin types! Whether you like your foundation base minimal or you love fuller coverage, there really is something for everyone.