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When you have acne-prone skin, the best non-comedogenic makeup should be top of mind to avoid further breakouts. I’m militant about my product selection in the pursuit for clearer skin—every cleanser, serum, and SPF formulation is vetted and patch-tested before earning a place in my routine. But it wasn’t until a recent facial with celebrity aesthetician Sofie Pavitt that I realized my carefully curated complexion might still be under siege—this time, by my own makeup products.
Celebrity makeup artist Andrea Ventura agrees. “It’s critical to avoid pore-clogging makeup especially if you have sensitive skin, oily skin, or acne-prone skin. For those with any of these skin types, using makeup with comedogenic ingredients ultimately traps bacteria and oil in pores, is clogging your pores, leading to more breakouts,” Ventura tells Vogue.
Vogue’s Non-Comedogenic Makeup Picks
- Best Lightweight Tint: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint, $70
- Best Cream Blush: Rhode Pocket Blush, $24
- Best Concealer: Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen, $68
- Best Pressed Powder: Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder, $75
- Best Foundation: Saie Glowy Super Skin Tint Foundation, $40
- Best Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Makeup Setting Spray, $38
- Best Color Corrector: Tom Ford Beauty Shade and Illuminate Radiance Enhancer, $95
In This Story
Rather than cross my fingers whenever I try a new powder blush or foundation, I decided to take control. Call it my beauty bag reckoning—a spring clean guided by acne-safe ingredient lists, and comedogenicity ratings. Inspired by Pavitt’s advice of avoiding all comedogenics while on a skin-clearing protocol, I took to scanning every label with the scrutiny of a chemist, purging anything that didn’t pass the acne-safe test. “Why risk it? Minimize the risk of pore-clogging from triggers, and your skin will clear faster,” Pavitt previously told Vogue, and the same concept can be applied to cosmetics.
One word of warning: while many brands claim their products are non-comedogenic, don’t take the label at face value. I’ve made a habit (or perhaps, obsession) of pasting ingredient lists into Sofie Pavitt’s pore-clogging checker—and let’s just say it’s exposed more than a few imposters. The result? A tighter, more intentional edit of color cosmetics. The clean-out focused strictly on complexion products—foundation, concealer, powders—while eyes, lips, and brows got a free pass as the lesser of acne-prone areas.
Another bonus point? “Non-comedogenic makeup tends to be lightweight, thanks to avoiding pore-clogging ingredients like heavy oils,” adds Lizzo’s makeup artist Alexx Mayo. You might think non-comedogenic makeup lives in a clinical corner of the beauty world, but it’s surprisingly mainstream. From clean-girl staples like Saie (a go-to for Mayo) to timeless icons from Chanel Beauty, truly acne-safe options are easier to find than you’d expect.
Below, find the 10 non-comedogenic products that made the cut—each tested through months of trial, error, and close-up mirror moments (a gift from my face to yours).
Best Foundation: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation Hydration and Longwear
- Why We Love It: Most certainly a Vogue favorite foundation, I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was oil-free and completely safe from pore clogging ingredients. Ideal for daily wear, this foundation boasts a weightless feel and radiant finish for natural glowing skin that melts into skin without accentuating pores. “This is the most skin-like [full coverage] foundation that I’ve ever used,” Chanel makeup artist and groomer Tasha Reiko Brown previously told Vogue. “I apply this product onto every face I encounter for a satin-skin finish, as the texture and tone truly mimic that of skin.” Designed for long-lasting hydration and long-wear results, the formula is made 40% water, with moisturizing agents, antioxidants, and light-reflecting pigments to create an even complexion, without inciting any new blemishes.
- Key Ingredients: Water, light-reflecting pigments, glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil
- Shades: 39
- Finish: Radiant
- Size: 1 fl oz
Best Color Corrector: Tom Ford Beauty Shade and Illuminate Radiance Enhancer
- Why We Love It: A skincare-meets-makeup essential, this Tom Ford beauty pick color-corrects with a peachy undertone (bye, dark circles!). It also adds a subtle radiance—all in a featherlight formula that won’t clog pores. Glycerin and passionflower seed oil hydrate and soften, while antioxidant-rich ginger root and vitamin E help energize and protect the skin. Meanwhile, Lavender oil adds a soothing touch. While you can wear it solo, I prefer to layer a swipe under my concealer for added coverage.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, ginger root extract, lavender oil, passionflower seed oil, tocopheryl acetate
- Shades: 2
- Size: 5.4 ml
Best Blush Stick: Rhode Pocket Blush
- Why We Love It: We can thank Vogue’s summer cover star Hailey Bieber for Rhode’s viral cream blush stick. You’ll nary meet a Vogue editor who doesn’t absolutely love this product—my favorite shade is Sleepy Girl, a dark mauve that adds a healthy flush on my skin. Yes, it’s worth every bit of hype, packed with nourishing ingredients like peptides and tamanu oil, all while being dermatologist tested and fragrance-free. When swiped on, it glides effortlessly and melts into skin—no pro makeup artist skills necessary here for seamless blending. Best of all, thanks to the ultra creamy and hydrating texture, it can be reapplied throughout the day without disrupting makeup underneath—just pop it in your bag, to swipe, tap, and go from anywhere. All nine shades are universally flattering, providing a soft, radiant flush that lasts all day, offering a perfect balance of vibrancy and subtlety.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, tamanu oil
- Finish: Dewy
- Shades: 9
- Size: 0.18 oz.
Best Concealer: Victoria Beckham Beauty Concealer Pen
- Why We Love It: When Victoria Beckham Beauty and Augstinus Bader teamed up for the ultimate makeup skincare hybrid, the result was a concealer pen that does more than just cover up. The buildable coverage concealer also treats under eye skin with Bader’s patented TFC8—a blend of vitamins, lipids, and peptides rich with anti-aging properties to spur skin renewal and improve the look of fine lines by plumping skin with hydration. The applicator is the perfect size to reach small areas and a little goes a long way for a natural finish. Since there’s no fear of this formula clogging pores, I also use this concealer pen to spot cover any blemishes or rosacea speckles.
- Key Ingredients: TFC8 complex, acetyl hexapeptide-8, polyglutamic acid, squalane, rosa damascena flower water, hydrolyzed rice protein
- Shades: 16
- Size: 15 mL
Best Contour: Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick
- Why We Love It: Westman Atelier’s contour stick boasts an easily blendable, creamy texture in cool tones—which is perfect for emulating the natural shadow of bone structure. (I like to opt for the shade Biscuit for its ashy undertones which complement my skin nicely.) Plus, the formula is 100% clean—it’s packed with nourishing botanical oils and powerful antioxidants—with mattifying kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and ensure long-wear results without slippage or patchy fading.
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, raspberry leaf stem cell extract, kaolin clay, vitamin C, vitamin E
- Shades: 3
- Size: .09oz
Best Luminizer: Saie Glowy Super Gel
- Why We Love It: I likely use no beauty product more frequently than Saie’s glowy super gel—and no, I won’t stop singing its praises, either. This lightweight gel provides the look of bare skin, with a natural airbrush glow thanks to reflective minerals like mica and titanium dioxide. Plus, this beauty pick isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s another skincare-makeup hybrid, built similarly to a brightening serum with vitamin C, soothing papaya seed oil, and squalane oil. “It feels like a boost of hydration to the skin—it s so cooling and refreshing. An instant pick me up!” makeup artist Stevie Adams, the director of education at Saie previously told Vogue. “I love using it for a midday makeup refresh, applied to the cheekbones for a quick reset.” You can also wear it mixed into foundation or alone for a subtle improvement on your skin—either way, a whisper of hydrated radiance is achieved in seconds.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, papaya seed oil, squalane
- Shades: 4
- Size: 1 oz
Best Primer: Prada Beauty Refine Blurring Extending Primer
- Why We Love It: Is anyone else an oil-slick face? Prada Beauty’s primer instantly creates a shine-free complexion with blurred pores. With a blend of liquid exfoliants, this primer helps control excess oil in your T-zone (which, when left unchecked, creates a mangifying effect on pores). Meanwhile, panthenol locks in moisture for a supple feel, without unsightly dry patches. For optimal results, always wait 2-3 minutes for the product to fully dry before moving on in your makeup regimen.
- Key Ingredients: Panthenol, liquid exfoliants (AHA, BHA, LHA acids)
- Shades: 1
- Finish: Soft matte
- Size: 1 oz
Best Dewy Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Makeup Setting Spray
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- Why We Love It: Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray has been a constant in my beauty bag since college—and finding it was non-comedogenic was a relief because I was most certainly not ready to break up with it. This cult-favorite is beloved for its long-wear—it creates a non-sticky film that acts as a shield on the skin, keeping your make-up in place for up to 16 hours. Prime, set, or refresh throughout the day in just a few spritzes (or, if you’re like me, drench your face with it).
- Key Ingredients: Film-former polymers, Japanese green tea, aromatic resin
- Shades: N/A
- Finish: Dewy
- Size: 1 oz, 3.3 oz
Best Setting Powder: Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder
- Why We Love It: More than just a talc-free setting powder that keeps makeup in place and oil at bay, this Westman Atelier pick features the brand’s Skin Defense Shield Complex composed of vitamin C, probiotics, and quinoa seed extract. The result? Pores look minimized, skin has a soft matte finish with a translucent shield against free radicals. I pack on this powder on my T-zone to preserve my makeup look without any fear of inciting further pimples.
- Key Ingredients: Quinoa seed extract, vitamin C, probiotic, zinc, Mica, jojoba seed oil, cocoa seed extract
- Shades: 3
- Size: 0.17 oz.
Best Highlighter: RMS ReDimension Hydra Dew Luminizer
- Why We Love It: My go-to highlighter for an added bit of shimmer comes from clean beauty brand RMS. Its innovative gel-to-powder formula delivers a weightless, buildable glow that flatters all skin tones. Infused with wildcrafted buriti and organic jojoba oils, it nourishes the skin while imparting a radiant finish. Whether applied to the high points of the face or dusted all over, it leaves a dewy, lit-from-within effect that endures throughout the day.
- Key Ingredients: Wildcrafted buriti oil, organic jojoba oil, mica, squalane
- Shades: 1
- Finish: Radiant
- Size: 0.25 oz
Everything You Need To Know
What is non-comedogenic makeup?
“Non-comedogenic makeup is specifically formulate to exclude common ingredients that clog pores, lessening the risk of breakouts,” says Ventura. While the term perhaps sounds a bit clinical, the TL;DR is that comedogenic ingredients, in small or large quantities, are no friend to acne-prone skin types.
Common Comedogenic Ingredients to Avoid
On the list of skincare offenders for acne-prone complexions, esthetician Sofie Pavitt calls out shea butter and anything derived from coconut—including coconut alkanes—as top culprits. Experts also warn against ingredients like stearic acid and limonene, which are known to clog pores. Rich, heavy oils such as marula oil can similarly wreak havoc on sensitive skin. Ventura echoes these concerns and adds a few more red-flag ingredients to the list. “Sensitive and acne-prone skin should avoid—contrary to common belief, alcohol does not remove oil, but rather tricks the skin into thinking it needs to overproduce oil. This leads to excess sebum production, and in time can clog pores,” she explains.
Meet The Experts
- Stevie Adams is a professional makeup artist and the director of education at Saie.
- Alexx Mayo is a celebrity makeup artist behind most of Lizzo s most memorable looks.
- Sofie Pavitt is a New York–based skin-care expert and licensed esthetician specializing in problematic skin. Known as the acne whisperer, Pavitt recently founded her own product line, Sofie Pavitt Face.
- Tasha Reiko Brown is a Chanel makeup artist and groomer whose clients include Gabrielle Union, Michael B. Jordan, and Alicia Keys.
- Andrea Ventura is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York with over nine years of experience. Ventura’s roster includes Saweetie, Natti Natasha, Ming Lee Simmons, and more.
