Stubborn skin breakouts and dry spots can take a toll on your daily beauty routine, making it a challenge to find makeup products that provide good coverage without causing irritation. If you would like to achieve the “no-makeup look” and keep pesky blemishes at bay, you might want to consider using makeup that’s safe for oily and acne-prone skin. Makeup products formulated especially for oily and acne-prone skin can help prevent skin irritation and conceal breakouts. According to Jessica Weiser, MD, a board certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York City, it’s important to use the right makeup that won’t irritate your skin and contains ingredients that can help alleviate acne issues. “Makeup sits on the surface of the skin for hours at a time, and the correct formulation is crucial to preventing excessive occlusion of the skin’s surface,” says Dr. Weiser. “Some makeup products include acne-fighting ingredient, such as antimicrobial peptides, vitamin A derivatives, and rosewater, that can relieve the primary factors associated with acne: bacteria, congestion, and inflammation.”
Non-comedogenic or oil-free label Before choosing makeup for acne-prone or oily skin, you might want to read the label first. The American Academy of Dermatology advises that you find makeup products that have “oil-free,” and “non-comedogenic” on their packaging to avoid clogged pores and skin irritation.Important Ingredients Some makeup products for oily and acne-prone skin are formulated with ingredients such as salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, minerals, and sulfur that can help minimize stubborn breakouts and skin irritation. “Salicylic acid has keratolytic properties (meaning it breaks up the dead skin cells in the pores) to declog pores, and hyaluronic acid can help moisturize the skin,” says Julia Tzu, MD, founder and medical director of Wall Street Dermatology in New York City. “Minerals (such as titanium dioxide) have SPF properties that block UV radiation, [while] sulfur is anti-inflammatory in nature and helpful for people with acne.”Ingredients to Avoid Some popular makeup products can irritate oily and acne-prone skin. Weiser recommends avoiding certain makeup ingredients, such as cetearyl alcohol and silicone derivatives, that can trigger acne issues. “Many of the additive ingredients used in traditional makeup can cause significant congestion and clogging of pores. Certain types of alcohols in makeup such as cetearyl alcohol and oleyl alcohol (these are actually emollients and not drying like rubbing alcohol) are occlusive,” says Weiser. “Additionally ingredients such as lanolin, silicone derivatives (like dimethicone and siloxanes), and petroleum [or] petrolatum are highly problematic for acne-prone skin.”Precautions While considering makeup for oily and acne-prone skin, it’s also helpful to reassess your skincare regimen with your dermatologist, according to Yunyoung Claire Chang, MD, a board certified dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City. “I see a lot of patients who have acne resistant to standard treatments. When asked to bring in all their products they use, I often find that patients are using the wrong regular skincare products or makeup,” says Dr. Chang. ”It’s important to consult your dermatologist to ensure every product or ingredient that touches the skin is safe and not triggering your acne.”
Plus, Dr. Tzu advises that you check active makeup ingredients, such as salicylic acid, to make sure they don’t interact with your acne medications. “It’s important that if you are on an anti-acne medical regimen, the active ingredients from the makeup do not interact or further irritate the skin that is already being treated with medications,” says Tzu. “If a patient is already on an irritating regimen of topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, the patient should not be using makeup containing salicylic acid, which would worsen any baseline irritation.” If you decide that you need to revamp your beauty routine, here are our top makeup picks for oily and acne-prone skin.
Neutrogena SkinClearing Complexion Perfector
See price on Neutrogena
Laura Mercier Blemish-less Foundation Primer
See price on Jet.com
GLAMGLOW GlowPowder Hyaluronic Acid-Infused Glow Palette
See price on GLAMGLOW
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
See price on Walmart
Cover FX Mattifying Primer With Anti-Acne Treatment
See price on Cover FX
Shiseido Oil-Free Bronzer
See price on Walmart See price on Walmart
