Does Makeup Make Acne Worse?

April 02, 2021
Posted by Emily Linehan
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If you are acne-prone, your makeup could be the hidden culprit that is preventing you from having the clear skin you dream of. Did you know there are hundreds of ingredients commonly used in makeup that actually cause acne? These hidden triggers as known as comedogenic ingredients which means that they contribute to the formation of clogged pores (which is the root cause of acne).

While I always encourage you to become your own "Acne Detective" and cross-check our Pore Clogging Ingredient List, let’s be honest.... Finding safe makeup for acne-prone skin is time-consuming and frustrating!

To ensure your makeup is 100% acne-safe, I’ve done the detective work on your behalf! Here is my continuously updated acne-safe recommendations:

EMME DIANE ACNE SAFE MAKEUP LIST

But My Make-Up Already Says Its Non-Comedogenic...

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 makeup that is labeled "non-comedogenic", 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!