The Best Makeup for Acne
Acne sufferers know just how hard it can be to locate makeup for acne prone skin that won’t give them yet more pimples. If you have tried any product that says it is safe for acne prone skin then you know that these can still make you break out. Any product can cause a reaction or acne breakout in a single person, even if the majority of other people are fine, so you will need to be ready to experiment with different products.
As a starting point, it is helpful to know which products are most likely to be safe for your particular skin type. There are certain types of makeup and skin care that you should definitely avoid, and others that are more likely to work well for you. Be prepared for some trial and error on your part before you find your best makeup match.
Firstly, you need to know what to avoid. Be careful of products that contain the following:
- oily or greasy textures
- products with a strong perfume or fragrance
- anything with sodium lauryl sulfate or isopropyl isostearate on the ingredient list
- makeup with bismuth oxychloride
Look for this wording on any product label:
- non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging)
- fragrance-free (as opposed to unscented, which may still contain fragrances)
- hypoallergenic (for sensitive skin)
- non-acnegenic (does not cause acne)
There are a few different types of makeup for acne prone skin that are very popular. A large number of people prefer mineral makeup. You may have already heard of bare minerals or bare essentials, from the most famous of mineral makeup lines – Bare Escentuals. Dermatologists often recommend mineral makeup for acne prone skin, since the few ingredients it contains do not tend to irritate acne. With mineral makeup, you will use a method in which you swirl a special brush in the mineral powder, tap off the excess, and buff it onto your skin until the right coverage is achieved. Use a mineral veil or finishing powder after applying the rest of your makeup and it will last all day and control any excess oil.
Makeup that is made specifically for acne often has salicylic acid as an active ingredient. Acne makeup is usually labeled as specifically for acne and may use the words ’skin-clearing’. The ingredient salicylic acid is commonly used since it is an exfoliant chemical which helps prevent clogged pores. Other ingredients used in acne makeup include sulfur and tea tree oil, which help combat bacteria that cause pimples. These skin clearing acne makeup products may help people with mild acne, but are unlikely to do much for those with moderate to severe cases. In fact, if you are already using another acne treatment, acne makeup with additional treatment ingredients can be too drying.
The flawless effect achieved by professional makeup artists is often a result of the use of airbrush makeup. It is relatively simple to use the airbrush makeup system machine as you spray a mist of makeup onto your skin. The reason that airbrush makeup is safe for acne prone skin is that it lightly coats the whole skin, rather than being smoothed over and into the pores. The airbrush makeup machine itself will be your first investment, although it is expensive. The makeup used in the airbrush makeup machines is priced similarly to other good quality foundations.
Any foundation or concealer that is oil-free and non-comedogenic is always a good option. The majority of makeup comes in the form of liquid, powder, cream-to-powder, stick, or compact. Consider how oily or dry your skin is and how much coverage you need when you choose which formula of makeup to buy. A hydrating makeup is a possibility for dry skin so long as it will not clog your pores. For oily skin, try one that is oil-absorbing and carry around some oil blotting papers that are sold by many makeup companies.
Think about how important the quality of the makeup is compared to the price, how much you are willing to spend, and the color selection.. However, don’t choose the cheapest makeup just because you want to save money. When it comes to foundation and concealer, in particular, it is better to spend a little more money to get a good quality product that matches you skin tone well and gives the right amount of coverage to conceal your acne. Some items available in discount stores and pharmacies are good enough quality that you don’t need to spend extra, such as eye shadow, eye liner and lipstick. Regardless of what you spend or the type of product you get, the best makeup for acne prone skin is one that looks natural, conceals your acne, and doesn’t makeup you break out.
