8 Brands of Non-Toxic Acne-Safe Foundation & Concealer
Get an even complexion without toxic chemicals or pore clogging ingredients. If you’re looking for non-toxic foundation and concealer that’s also non-comedogenic, I’ve found 8 brands that deliver a smooth, even complexion and won’t cause your skin to break out.
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If you’re looking to even out your complexion and cover any dark or red spots, both foundation and concealer should definitely be in your makeup bag. However, not all brands of foundation and concealer are created equal. Most brands contain harmful chemicals that can disrupt your hormone signaling and cause other adverse health effects from chronic exposure.
Here are some of the ingredients to avoid in conventional foundation and concealer
Talc– Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used in cosmetics to help regulate oil, prevent makeup caking and soften the product. Talc is mined from the earth and is often found near asbestos, which is a carcinogenic compound. Talc use in the pelvic region increases risk of endometrial cancer among postmenopausal women.
Synthetic fragrances– “fragrance” or “parfum” is an umbrella term for hundreds of chemicals that brands aren’t required to disclose. Fragrance formulas are protected under federal law’s classification of trade secrets, which allows companies to leave the exact fragrance “blend” undisclosed.
BHT– Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHT) is a preservative derived from petroleum and found in some beauty and skincare formulations. BHT is a respiratory irritant and is considered toxic or harmful to human organ systems.
Phthalates– Phthalates are used in fragrance to help a scent stick to skin and linger. Phthalates are well known endocrine disruptors—they have been implicated in early puberty in adolescents and reduced sperm count in men.
Ethoxylated ingredients like polyethylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate, phenoxyethanol and cocamidopropyl betaine. Ethoxylated ingredients can be contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane and residual ethylene oxide (which is also carcinogenic).
Lake Dyes– Lake dyes are petroleum derived and may be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are carcinogenic.
Titanium Dioxide In Loose Mineral Face Makeup
All of the loose mineral makeup that I listed below contains titanium dioxide. There is a risk of inhaling any fine powder that you are applying. There is conflicting evidence from occupational studies (people who work around Titanium dioxide and are exposed to it daily) about Titanium dioxide inhalation in respect to health risks. I would recommend holding your breath when you apply any loose powder to reduce your exposure.
How To Apply Foundation
Applying foundation to your face can help you achieve a smooth, even complexion. Here’s the best way to apply it:
1 | Prep Your Skin
Cleanse: Start off on the right foot with a clean face. Use a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type. Try one of these non-toxic face cleansers.
Moisturize: Apply a moisturizer to hydrate your skin. This will help the foundation to go on more smoothly. If you have oily skin, use a moisturizer that does not contain pore clogging ingredients. Try one of these non-toxic moisturizers for your face.
Primer (Optional): Apply a primer if you want your makeup to last longer. Primer can also minimize pores and create a smoother surface. Try this Cover FX Blurring Primer. It’s non-toxic and acne-safe.
2 | Choose the Right Foundation
Types of Foundation: liquid, cream, powder, and stick forms. Liquid is suitable for most skin types and provides buildable coverage. Cream foundation is best for dry skin, offering a dewy finish. Powder foundation is good for oily skin and provides a matte finish. Stick foundation is convenient for touch-ups and travel.
Shade: Match the foundation to your skin tone. Test it on your jawline in natural light to find the closest match.
3 | Application Tools
Brush: Use a flat or stippling brush to provide full coverage and a smooth finish.
Sponge: Use a damp makeup sponge for even blending. This gives you a more natural finish.
Your Fingers: Perfect for quick application and blending, especially with liquid or cream foundations.
4 | Apply the Foundation
Start in the Center: Apply foundation to the center of your face (forehead, nose, and chin) and blend outwards.
Blend: Blend the foundation into your skin using your favorite blending tool. Make sure there are no harsh lines, especially around the jawline and hairline.
Build Coverage: Some areas may need more coverage. Lightly apply an additional layer in areas where needed.
5 | Conceal (Optional)
Apply concealer: Apply concealer to areas that need extra coverage like under the eyes, blemishes, dark spots or redness. Blend well with a small brush, your finger or the edge of a sponge.
6 | Set the Foundation
Powder (Optional): Set your foundation with a translucent powder to reduce shine and help your makeup last longer. Use a fluffy brush, tap off any excess powder and apply with light strokes. Try Lily Lolo Finishing Powder. It’s non-toxic and won’t clog your pores.
7 | Apply The Rest Of Your Makeup
Now it’s time to apply the rest of your makeup like blush, bronzer, eye makeup, and lipstick.
8 | Setting Spray (Optional)
Use a setting spray to lock your makeup in place for longer wear. Try W3LL People Dew Your Makeup Mist 3-in-1 Setting Spray. It’s non-toxic and won’t clog your pores.
Foundation Tips
- Blend your foundation well to avoid a cakey appearance. You may need to move your face at different angles while looking in the mirror to make sure it’s well blended. You can also experiment with different lighting.
- Apply your foundation with a light hand and build up coverage gradually.
- Choose foundation with SPF for added sun protection during the day.
Want more non-toxic acne-safe makeup and skincare? Starting with skincare, try my acne-reducing tips and non-toxic skincare that won’t clog your pores. Beyond skincare, you may need non-toxic acne-safe bronzer and non-toxic acne-safe blush. Don’t forget non-toxic acne-safe sunscreen!
By choosing non-toxic products, you’re supporting brands that prioritize consumer health and environmental responsibility, encouraging more ethical practices in the industry. Get your makeup bag ready for the best non-toxic acne-safe foundation and concealer that I’ve listed below.
Non-Toxic & Acne-Safe Foundation
Saie Super Glowy Skin Tint Foundation
Cost | $40 in 36 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | This lightweight skin tint foundation provides skincare benefits, medium coverage and a luminous, second-skin finish. Supercharged ingredients include Hyaluronic Acid and Rice Bran Peptides for visibly plumper, more hydrated, and brighter skin. So weightless and breathable that you’ll forget you’re wearing foundation at all.
Shop | Saie Super Glowy Skin Tint Foundation
Vooqo Liquid Foundation SPF25+
Cost | $34 in 6 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | This lightweight multitasking foundation is designed to deliver flawless coverage and nourishing hydration in one, enhanced with Black Cumin Oil and Willowbark Extract to help heal skin while delivering instant medium coverage and an SPF of 25+ in a single dot — that lasts up to 24 hours without clogging pores.
Shop | Vooqo Liquid Foundation SPF25+
Vooqo Powder Foundation
Cost | $45 in 15 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | This lightweight, non-pore clogging, oil-free, all-natural powder foundation delivers flawless coverage without caking or setting up fine lines. It looks like a powder, feels like a cream, and buffs on like silk, giving skin a natural luminosity while feeling as if you are not wearing any makeup at all, with a natural SPF of 30+. Vooqo uses non-nano Titanium dioxide.
Shop | Vooqo Powder Foundation
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation
Cost | $32 in 43 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Provides buildable coverage in 45 award winning shades . Satin Matte Foundation stays put all day and feels luxuriously weightless. Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation is hypoallergenic, enhances your complexion, and evens your skin tone.
Shop | Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation
Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation
Cost | $22 in 19 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Smooth and silky, this mineral foundation gives you a flawless airbrushed complexion that’s never cakey and powdery. Its high refractive index and light reflecting mica helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines instantly.
Shop | Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation
Youthforia Date Night Skin Tint Foundation
Cost | $48 in 18 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | This silicone-free, weightless, light to medium coverage serum foundation is packed with 68% skincare actives that melt into skin for glass skin finish, while controlling sebum for effortless, long-lasting wear.
Shop | Youthforia Date Night Skin Tint Foundation
Toups & Co Mineral Makeup
Cost | $37 in 10 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Embrace a flawless finish and cover blemishes with this non-toxic Mineral Makeup. Created with mica, non-nano oxides, zinc, and magnesium, you’ve finally met a makeup that’s actually good for your skin.
Shop | Toups & Co Mineral Makeup
Mineral Essence Powder Foundation
Cost | $29 in 6 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Made of 100% pure micronized minerals and free of additives, oils, talc, harsh chemicals, preservatives and are free of irritating Bismuth Oxychloride. Coverage is flawless, even on problem skin. Soft, creamy pure minerals give your skin a naturally luminous, radiant look, and the featherweight formula glides on so smoothly.
Shop | Mineral Essence Powder Foundation
Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation
Cost | $42 in 11 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients from the Clearstem pore clogging checker. The Acne Clinic NYC checker has flagged coco-caprylate/caprate, but I did some further research that shows this is a low comedogenic ingredient.
Highlights | This non-greasy, buildable foundation has a natural finish and is long-lasting. Free from impurities, won’t clog your pores and is great for sensitive skin.
Shop | Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation
Fitglow Beauty Foundation
Cost | $55 in 18 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients from the The Acne Clinic NYC pore clogging checker. The Clearstem checker has flagged jojoba oil, but I did some further research that shows this is a low comedogenic ingredient.
Highlights | Herbal and organic plant-infused photo filtering foundation delivers natural Antioxidants to care for skin all day while creating a healthy-looking, flawless finish.
Shop | Fitglow Beauty Foundation
Non-Toxic & Acne-Safe Concealer & Corrector
Saie Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
Cost | $28 in 25 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Slip Tint Concealer has medium coverage that undetectably conceals imperfections, from redness to dark circles, and wears for up to 12 hours. Its lightweight, cream formula melts into skin for the freshest, most natural-radiant finish.
Shop | Saie Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
Vooqo Spot Concealer
Cost | $45 in 11 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | This organic spot concealer cream with buildable coverage and anti-aging properties instantly conceals blemishes, scars and dark spots with an invisible, flawless finish. The flawless formula adapts to all movements of the face for optimum comfort all day long while the soft focus pigments blur out blemishes and soften the appearance of wrinkles for a youthful-looking, even complexion.
Shop | Vooqo Powder Foundation
Vooqo Under Eye Concealer
Cost | $39 in 6 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Formulated to light up your eyes, this light and creamy organic under-eye concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, plus breakthrough anti-aging organic ingredients making it perfect for use on the under-eye area to keep it hydrated and soft.
Shop | Vooqo Powder Foundation
Lily Lolo Mineral Concealer
Cost | $18 in 2 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | This mineral concealer provides light to medium coverage to hide blemishes and dark circles and creates a natural, matte look that blends seamlessly with your skin. This formula is GMO Free and made with natural ingredients that are free of harmful chemicals.
Shop | Lily Lolo Mineral Concealer
Lily Lolo Loose Powder Corrector
Cost | $18 in 2 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients
Highlights | Lily Lolo Loose Powder Corrector has 2 variants: Lily Lolo Blush Away Cover Up is a matte green concealer which helps to disguise the redness of rosacea, sunburn and spots. The matte, yellow concealer is used to disguise dark under eye circles.
Shop | Lily Lolo Loose Powder Corrector
Ere Perez Lychee Creme Corrector
Cost | $35 in 6 shades
Pore Clogging Checker | contains no pore clogging ingredients from the Clearstem pore clogging checker. The Acne Clinic NYC checker has flagged coco-caprylate/caprate, but I did some further research that shows this is a low comedogenic ingredient.
Highlights | Wake up your makeup with this ultra creamy, creaseless liquid corrector to brighten and illuminate your complexion.
Shop | Ere Perez Lychee Creme Corrector
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Non-Comedogenic Foundation?
Non-comedogenic means that it won’t clog your pores. If you have acne, blackheads, or are prone to clogged pores, using beauty and skincare products that are non-comedogenic may help reduce the number of breakouts you get. The comedogenic scale uses a rating from 0 to 5, with 0 to 2 considered non-comedogenic.
I only chose foundation with non-comedogenic ingredients, and used 2 different pore clogging checkers to validate the ingredients: The pore clogging checker from the Acne Clinic NYC and the Clearstem Pore Clogging Checker.
Acne-safe non-toxic foundation is just one of many beauty products that you should check for harmful chemicals and pore clogging ingredients- make sure you’re using non-toxic acne-safe skincare and non-toxic acne-safe sunscreen. Non-toxic skincare for post-acne red spots is just what you need if you have acne-scarring. If you’re looking for a sun-kissed glow, try non-toxic blush for acne-prone skin and non-toxic bronzer for acne-prone skin.
More Non-Toxic Acne-Safe Inspiration
