Does Makeup Make Acne Worse?

If you are acne-prone, your makeup could be the hidden trigger preventing you from having the clear skin you dream of.

And, let’s be real. Finding safe makeup for acne-prone skin is time-consuming and frustrating. Especially when you still breakout!

Can I Trust Non-Comedogenic Makeups? 

If you have spent a good deal of time looking for makeup that doesn’t trigger breakouts, you may already be checking labels for the term “non-comedogenic”. 

“Non-comedogenic” is a marketing term used in the beauty industry to indicate that a product doesn’t contain pore-clogging ingredients. 

So if you’re looking for acne-safe makeup, you just need to buy non-comedogenic makeup… right? Actually, that’s not the case. 

Unfortunately for acne sufferers, the non-comedogenic claim isn’t regulated. That means companies can claim to have safe makeup for acne-prone skin… even when it contains pore-clogging ingredients!

Avoid Pore-Clogging Ingredients in Makeup

Along with avoiding pore-clogging ingredients in your skincare products, it’s equally important to avoid all pore-clogging ingredients in your foundation, primer, powders, concealers, blushes, bronzers, finishing powders, setting sprays, and makeup removing wipes.

Anything that touches your face should be free of pore-clogging ingredients. 

I know, easier said than done. 

Most makeups (foundation, powders, concealers, finishing powders, bronzers, blushes) have pore-clogging ingredients in them. Sometimes they’re even hidden under other names or proprietary names for their ingredients. 

Makeup companies are also notorious for changing the formulation of a product without announcing the change. You might be using makeup that is acne-safe one day, and the next time you buy it, you breakout!

To ensure your makeup is acne-safe, I’ve done some investigating on your behalf. 

Check out my continuously updated Emme Diane Acne Safe Makeup List here.