Does Makeup Cause Acne?
Honestly, “Does makeup cause acne?” is a question I’ve been pondering for years. What I’ve learned about my own skin is that stress is what mostly causes my hormonal acne. However, there have been many a foundation or other makeup product that leave me with pimples or generally irritated skin.
If you, too, have been wondering, “Does makeup cause acne?” I’m here to explain it all. We’ll go over what acne is and what causes it, does wearing makeup cause acne, how it can cause acne, and what’s the best makeup for acne-prone skin.
Does Makeup Cause Acne? It’s Complicated
I do believe that some makeup can cause acne. While I don’t think makeup can cause deep, cystic hormonal acne, I do think that it can cause small whiteheads, blackheads, and general irritation. That being said, there are a ton of other factors that might be contributing to your acne other than makeup that you should probably investigate first. This can include stress, your diet, your sleep, your skin care routine, some medications, and hormonal changes.
What Is Acne And What Are The Causes?
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. It can show up as whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, or nodules. Plus, it can appear on the face, chest, back, and shoulders. And while it’s most commonly associated with teenagers, acne can affect people of all ages.
Here’s the thing about acne that a lot of people don’t realize: it’s multifactorial, meaning there’s rarely just one single cause. Hormones are one of the biggest culprits. Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can trigger excess oil production, which leads to clogged pores and breakouts. This is why so many people experience acne around their period, during pregnancy, or going through perimenopause.
Genetics can also play a huge role. If your parents struggled with acne, there’s a good chance you might too, regardless of how on top of it you are with your acne treatments and skincare routine.
Beyond hormones and genetics, things like stress, diet, and skincare habits can all contribute to acne as well. For me personally, stress has been the biggest trigger for my hormonal acne on my chin. Stress triggers the release of cortisol, which can increase oil production and inflammation in the skin.
Some people find that certain foods (like dairy, high-glycemic foods, or excess sugar) can aggravate their breakouts, though this varies a lot from person to person. And when it comes to skincare habits, things like over-cleansing, using the wrong products for your skin type, or not removing your makeup properly can all worsen acne.
So where does makeup fit into all of this? Makeup can be a contributing factor for some people, but it is rarely the sole cause of acne. If you’re already prone to breakouts due to hormones, genetics, or other factors, certain makeup products can aggravate things. But that doesn’t mean that makeup itself is always the enemy. It’s really about what’s in your products and how you’re using them, which we’re going to get into below.
Does Wearing Makeup Cause Acne?
The short answer is: not necessarily. Wearing makeup does not automatically cause acne, but it can absolutely contribute to breakouts under certain conditions. And understanding the difference is really important, especially if you’re someone who loves makeup but also struggles with your skin.
The biggest factor here is the formula of the products you’re using. Some makeup products contain ingredients that can clog pores (also known as comedogenic ingredients). These include certain oils, waxes, and silicones that sit on top of the skin and trap oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells underneath. If you’re already acne-prone, layering these kinds of products on your skin day after day without properly cleansing them off can definitely contribute to breakouts over time.
That said, the beauty industry has come a long way. A lot of modern makeup formulas are specifically designed to be lightweight, breathable, and non-comedogenic. Meaning, they’re much less likely to clog pores or cause issues. There are so many foundations, concealers, and setting products out there now that are formulated with acne-prone skin in mind. Some even contain skin-beneficial ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, or hyaluronic acid that can actually support your skin while you wear them.
The other big piece of the puzzle is how you’re applying and removing your makeup. Even the most non-comedogenic formula in the world can cause breakouts if you’re not cleansing your skin properly at the end of the day, sleeping in your makeup, or applying products with dirty brushes and sponges. So before you blame your foundation for your breakouts, it’s worth taking a look at your overall routine and habits too. Because more often than not, it’s the full picture that matters, not just the makeup itself.
How Makeup Causes Acne
Clogs pores from heavy or comedogenic ingredients
This is probably one of the biggest ways that makeup can cause acne. Unfortunately, there are so many ingredients out there that are comedogenic and can clog your pores. And a lot of them can be found in makeup products. Also, if your makeup is thick and too heavy, your skin isn’t able to breathe and you might find that you break out more.
Bacteria buildup from dirty brushes or sponges
This is another big culprit that affects so many people—I am often a victim as well. Mainly because I don’t wash my makeup brushes nearly as much as I should. Thankfully, I do have a million and one makeup brushes that I rotate through, so I’m using each brush less often because I always have another clean-ish one to use, but I definitely should be cleaning my brushes more.
Bacteria can easily build up on brushes that haven’t been washed if they’ve been used a bunch of times already—and that bacteria can spread all over your face. It’s gross to think about, I know. Additionally, sponges that absorb foundation and such and are never washed can easily cause you to break out as well. So make sure you are cleaning your brushes at least once every two weeks. I like to use the EcoTools Makeup Brush Cleansing Pad + Deep Clean Shampoo Bundle.
Poor makeup removal leaving residue on skin
I find that I don’t experience this often, but some folks do tend to not wash their makeup off well enough, leaving a residue on their skin that can cause them to break out. Always make sure that you are fully cleansing your skin every night to remove all your makeup. If you need to, start double cleansing with an oil cleanser first, and then a foaming cleanser afterward to make sure you are really getting it all off.
Layering too many products, trapping oil and debris
I feel like this happens often with so many folks. Too much stuff on your face can really prevent your skin from breathing, which can clog your pores. If you find that you are breaking out more often when you wear makeup, try to pare it down as much as you can. For example, skip the primer and setting spray and only apply foundation instead.
How To Wear Makeup And Not Get Acne
Start with clean, moisturized skin
This is probably the most important step. If I wake up one day, don’t wash my face, then apply makeup, it’s pretty rare that I don’t get a pimple or two. That being said, I rarely ever do this because I don’t want to break out. Make sure you are starting with a clean, moisturized face before applying your makeup. If you want some recommendations for what to use, check out my guide on skincare for dry acne prone skin.
Use non-comedogenic and oil-free products
This is another important one. You need to make sure you’re looking for a label that says “non-comedogenic” and “oil-free” when picking out your makeup products. Oil in makeup can oftentimes cause acne.
Use a pore-clogging ingredients checker
If you have acne, I can bet that you’ve probably heard of Sofie Pavitt, The Acne Whisperer in NYC. She has an amazing line of acne-safe skincare products (which I use all the time). She also has this tool you can use on her website to check if the skincare or makeup products you’re using could be pore-clogging and lead to acne. Here is the link to the ingredients checker. All you have to do is copy and paste the ingredients list from the product you are researching (make sure that each ingredient is separated by a comma) and then it will show you which ingredients it has that might be pore-clogging. I use this tool at least once per week.
Apply thin layers instead of heavy coverage
Like I mentioned previously, you need to let your skin breathe. And that includes applying less than you think you might need. If you are insecure about current acne on your face, I would apply a non-comedogenic concealer on top of the acne, and then apply a thin layer of acne-safe foundation on top.
Clean brushes and tools weekly
Again, if you can, I would clean your makeup brushes as often as you can—weekly would be ideal, but every two weeks feels more realistic.
Remove your makeup thoroughly every night
Thoroughly wash your face before going to bed! Use makeup wipes during nights when you just can’t seem to make it to the sink. But try to wash your face thoroughly with a facial cleanser every night.
Avoid touching your face throughout the day
If you already struggle with acne, I know this one can be hard. The less you touch your face, the faster your acne will heal. Also, there are so many oils on your fingers that can easily be transferred to your skin, which can, in turn, clog your pores and cause acne.
What Is The Best Makeup For Acne-Prone Skin?
Because I’ve been a beauty editor/writer for 10+ years, I’d like to think that I know a thing or two when it comes to the best makeup for acne-prone skin. Especially because I’ve been struggling with acne since I was 15. Below are the makeup products (mostly foundations) I have found that are acne-safe and don’t break me out or cause irritation on my sensitive skin.
Ciele Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum Foundation
This is an amazing foundation that is not only super acne-safe, but it also contains SPF 50+ to help protect your skin as well. I use this foundation about 80% of the time recently. I like that it has medium coverage and a natural finish. For this pick, I do find that less is more. I like to apply just a bit at the beginning and then build it up.
Ciele also has a ton of other products that I like to use that are acne-safe as well. These include the Conceal & Protect SPF 50+ Spot Concealer For Dark Spots, Blush & Protect SPF 50+ Liquid Cheek Blush Paint, Prime Protect Spf 30, Glow & PROTECT SPF 50+ Liquid Highlighter, Sculpt & Protect SPF 30+ Bronzing Contour Stick, and the Filter & Protect SPF 30+ Finishing & Setting Powder.
Gee Beauty Prime Skin Skin-Tint
This is another acne-safe makeup product I use often—the brand calls it a primer and “skin-tint” in one. The formula feels insanely lightweight on my skin, and that’s because it is—it’s super sheer and I think that the term “skin-tint” fits well with this formula. I would probably call this more of a tinted moisturizer than a foundation. Personally, I like foundations that have lighter coverage, so this one is always a winner for me. If I want a bit more coverage, I usually just go over my acne or pigmented skin with concealer, and then apply this skin tint on top.
Two things I don’t love about this one, though: It’s expensive, and the color range is lacking. I usually have to mix shades “Prime 1” and “Prime 2” together to get my exact shade. In the summer, when my face is a bit tanner, I can usually get away with only using “Prime 2.” And as for the price? They are $58 each, but if you’re anything like me, you will spend all the monies to try to treat and prevent acne from popping up on your skin. So for me, it’s worth it.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation
I’ve been using the Alima Pure Foundation since the dawn of time. I used to struggle with hormonal acne a lot in college. This loose powder foundation is basically the only foundation that didn’t irritate my skin or make my breakout worse. It’s one of the few foundations that I’ve been able to count on for years, knowing that it won’t cause any more flare ups. Another thing I love about this foundation is that it’s always been able to sit nicely on my acne in ways that liquid foundation cannot.
If you’ve struggled with acne, you know that you can often get pimples that are crusty and not smooth. I like that this powder can seep into the “crustiness” of a pimple without bringing more attention to it. I also love that it comes in a decent amount of shades, and I find that each container lasts me a while. It’s also really buildable and stays on my face all day. Because I don’t struggle with acne as much these days, I tend to gravitate more towards the Ciele and Gee Beauty liquid foundations. But when I’m having a really bad acne day, I always reach for this foundation.
Check out some of my best non toxic makeup picks if you’re looking for more makeup recommendations from yours truly!
