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The Best Acne-Friendly Foundations That Promise A Great Skin Day
Natural-looking coverage, right this way.
Finding the best foundation for acne-prone skin can be tricky. The days of slapping on a heavy-duty, matte foundation to disguise spots and pimples are well and truly over as modern formulas take on a more skin-caring, natural-looking approach.
'My personal philosophy involves resisting the urge to apply a thick layer of blanket coverage so that you can enhance, and move focus to the skin in between your problem areas,' says A-list make-up artist Lisa Eldridge. 'This allows the beauty of your natural skin texture to shine through.' She starts by buffing in a light foundation in thin layers to even out the skin before deploying the 'pinpoint concealing' technique using a pigmented, long-lasting concealer only where needed.
What should we look for when picking the right foundation for acne-prone skin?
While it's tempting to go for a heavy duty formula, consultant dermatologist at Self London Dr. Anjali Mahto recommends opting for a lighter consistency to avoid clogging pores. 'Those containing zinc, silica or titanium can also be very useful as they help absorb excess oil, as well as helping to camouflage redness,' she says. Her go-tos for her own acne-prone complexion includes It Cosmetics CC Cream SPF50, Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser and Dior Forever Matte Foundation.
What's the best way to extend the longevity of foundation on acne-prone skin?
To avoid overloading your skin with product, take a careful approach with your skincare. 'Lighter textures are a good idea. For acne-prone skin, often your sunscreen is enough as a base for your foundation; a separate moisturiser isn’t usually required,' says Mahto. Nars lead artist Rachel Hardie agrees. She's a fan of water-based skincare for those prone to blemishes as 'hydration is key to balancing out the skin'.
She then goes in with a tiny amount of primer to ensure longevity and a polished finish without piling on the products. 'I love to cater to different areas of the face and multi prime. The Nars Radiance Primer SPF35 is an incredible brightening primer for lacklustre areas, then on an oily T-zone, I would suggest the Soft Matte Primer to absorb the shine,' says Hardie, who uses the primer to touch-up throughout the day. 'I pop a small amount on my palm, rub together then press over the skin.' Blotting papers is useful too, as it takes down the shine without requiring more product.
How should we apply foundation on acne-prone skin?
Proper application technique can help avoid further irritating your complexion (especially if you have sore, active acne). 'Lots of hand contact and rubbing in may aggravate the redness so apply both your skincare and foundation with a brush, smoothing light layers gently,' offers Eldridge. It goes without saying, but make sure you clean your brushes weekly to keep bacteria at bay.
From nourishing formulas with zit-zapping salicylic acid to the powder bases that leave skin looking luxuriously plush, read on for the ELLE Edit of the best foundations for acne-prone skin...
Shop the best foundation for acne-prone skin
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