As someone who has been struggling with different variations and severities of acne since college, finding a foundation that sits well on my textured skin, that doesn't clog my pores, or break me out has been a constant struggle. What makes it especially difficult, is that "non-comedogenic" (or non pore-clogging) has become a trend in the beauty industry. Cosmetic companies are mislabeling products that contain comedogenic ingredients as a marketing ploy to sell to a specific demographic of customers - however this is causing more harm than good. For a while I would buy foundations that were labeled "non-comedogenic" without looking at the ingredients, because at that time I trusted these companies, and I wasn't educated on what ingredients were comedogenic. I was also brainwashed for years that oil is bad for acne prone skin - and this just isn't the case. Some oils are bad for acne prone skin, and even skin that isn't acne prone. And some oil is actually incredibly beneficial, especially in cases where the acne is caused by an overproduction of oil due to dehydration, and stripped skin. I know I'm not the only one dealing with this, and since I've spent hours upon hours researching the comedogenic scale, familiarizing myself with cosmetic ingredients, what they are, and where they sit on the scale, I thought it would be helpful to share with all of you!
So let start with a few definitions and a brief overview of the comedogenic scale:
Com*e*do*gen*ic: (adj.)
especially of a cosmetic of skin care product - tending to clog pores and encourage the formation of blackheads.
Non*Com*e*do*gen*ic: (adj.)
denoting a skin-care product or cosmetic that is specially formulated so as to not cause blocked pores.
The comedogenic scale is simply a ranking system used to categorize ingredient's comedogenicity (or ability or clog pores/cause breakouts). The scale ranges from:
0 - completely non-comedogenic
1 - scantily comedogenic
2 - slightly comedogenic
3 - moderately comedogenic
4 - comedogenic
5 - severely comedogenic
With this having been said, typically it is safe to say that individuals who are acne prone should steer completely clear of any ingredients over a level "3", and use "3" ingredients sparingly. It is best to try to only use products with a "0", or "1" ranking, however most people won't see much affect from using products containing ingredients ranked "2".
If you are unsure what an ingredients comedogenic ranking is, you can look it up. cosdna.com is a great resource to research a products ingredients list, and it even tells you which ingredients cause acne, and their comedogenic rating. If you would like a full list of ingredients to avoid if you're acne prone, feel free to reach out directly and I can send you along a list.
Because this post is a long one, I'm only going to feature FOUNDATIONS this time around. If there is a lot of good feedback, I'll create a later post with powders/blushes/bronzers/skincare/etc.
I'm going to split the foundations up into 3 categories: Drugstore, High end, and Luxury.
Drugstore:
e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation: Ulta Beauty $6.00
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation: Walmart $11.99
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
Nyx Total Control Drop Foundation: Ulta Beauty $14.00
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
High End:
Sephora Collection Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation: Sephora $23.00
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation: Sephora $47.00
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation: Sephora $35.00
this product contains one ingredient ranking a "2" on the comedogenic scale.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: Sephora $46.00
this product contains one ingredient ranking a "2" on the comedogenic scale.
Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation: Sephora $42.00
this product contains one ingredient ranking a "2" on the comedogenic scale.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream: Sephora $39.00
this product contains several ingredients ranking a "2" on the comedogenic scale.
Luxury:
Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick: Nordstrom $88
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
Giorgio Armani Beauty Maestro Fusion Makeup: Sephora $64
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.
Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation: Sephora $56.00
this product does not contain any ingredients ranking above a "1" on the comedogenic scale.