I tossed my expensive makeup to get rid of my acne. Here are the noncomedogenic products I use now
Noncomedogenic makeup quick picks
Skin tint: Make Beauty Diffusion Dew Radiant Skin Tint
Highlighter: Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Bio-Radiant Gel-Powder Illuminating Highlighter
Setting powder: RMS Beauty Un Powder
Brow gel: Kimiko The Brow Sensei In my mid-twenties, I was hit with a wave of stubborn cystic acne that covered my face seemingly overnight. After trying countless products, the real shift came when I switched to Clearstem — a noncomedogenic (aka non-pore-clogging) skin care line designed to tackle breakouts and wrinkles. While my skin finally started to clear, I still couldn't shake some breakouts — until I realized my makeup products might be the culprit. It turns out even beauty products can clog pores!
So, I did something dramatic and expensive: I cross-checked my makeup ingredients using Clearstem's Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker, tossed everything I owned and started fresh. After lots of trial and error, I finally found the best noncomedogenic makeup, from Charlotte Tilbury to Rare Beauty and more.
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum
There's a reason this serum has 'glow' in its name. Worn with makeup or by itself, it leaves my skin looking lit from within, thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
Make Beauty Diffusion Dew Radiant Skin Tint
This lightweight foundation features skin-mimicking pigments that blur, smooth and brighten. It's sheer yet buildable, making it perfect for a second-skin or full-coverage glam look.
Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Cream Bronzer Stick
You may have seen this bronzing stick all over TikTok, and I can confirm it's worth the hype! It glides on effortlessly and melts into my skin for the most natural, sun-kissed glow.
Huda Beauty Easy Blur Primer
My colleague, associate testing writer Carolina Gazal, also has acne-prone skin and said she's "extremely careful when it comes to [her] makeup choices." She swears by this silicone-free, noncomedogenic primer. "I love this jelly-like, antioxidant-rich formula that blurs pores instantly," she said. "It's also made with glycerin to control oil, making foundation last longer without that dreaded T-zone shine."
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Bio-Radiant Gel-Powder Illuminating Highlighter
Leave it to Lady Gaga to create the best highlighter on the market. This pressed-powder formula is packed with glow-boosting ingredients that make my cheekbones truly shine.
Priia Lip Butter Balm
Summer Fridays, who? This under-$10, buildable vegan lip butter balm is infused with acne-safe botanicals and leaves my lips looking and feeling hydrated and plump.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Good news: Not all Charlotte Tilbury products include pore-clogging ingredients! That includes the brand's ultra-viral setting spray, which locks in makeup all day long.
RMS Beauty Un Powder
Formulated with silica, this nontoxic setting powder instantly absorbs oil and minimizes the appearance of pores. Best of all, it's never drying, so it's great for all skin types.
Kimiko The Brow Sensei
Not only does this clear gel style and keep my brows in place but it's made with growth- and hair-enhancing peptides. I swear, my brows have never looked fuller!
Olio E Osso Tinted Balm
Associate deals editor Elena Matarazzo said she stocks up on these sensitive skin-friendly multisticks for friends and family. They're made with natural oils and waxes but none that are flagged as pore cloggers. "The clear one is great for chapped hands, cheeks and other areas that need a bit of hydration, while the tinted version doubles as a lip balm and blush," she said. Know how pore cloggers work
Your first step to putting your best face forward? Staying up to date on what might actually be clogging your pores in the first place. Danielle Gronich, co-founder and CEO of Clearstem, suggests 'thinking of pore cloggers as ingredients that create a sticky, occlusive film on your skin. This film traps dead skin cells, oil and bacteria inside your pores, leading to congestion, blackheads, whiteheads and, ultimately, pimples.'
Look for the right products
When sourcing the right noncomedogenic products for your skin, it helps to know which ingredients are worth prioritizing. 'We want ingredients that are both skin-loving and noncomedogenic,' Gronich said. 'Look for hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, zinc oxide, green tea extract and kaolin clay.'
While sourcing the best noncomedogenic ingredients is a solid place to start, it's only part of the equation. Consider steering clear of what our experts deem pore-clogging ingredients as well. 'Some ingredients that may be considered pore clogging include cocoa butter, isopropyl myristate, coconut oil and ethylhexyl palmitate,' Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, said.
Learn more about your own skin
What works for one person's skin might yield a breakout in another, so it helps to track patterns in your own skin or book a consultation with a skin specialist or dermatologist to gain tangible insights into what might fare best for you. 'Just because ingredients may be pore clogging, it doesn't mean everyone who uses them will necessarily experience breakouts,' Garshick said.
The following FAQs have been answered by Dr. Marisa Garshick and Clearstem co-founder and CEO Danielle Gronich.
What is noncomedogenic makeup?
What is noncomedogenic makeup?
'Noncomedogenic makeup is formulated without the heavy, occlusive ingredients that are known to clog pores,' Gronich said. 'It allows your skin to 'breathe' and function properly, helping minimize the risk of breakouts. It's designed to be gentler and more compatible with acne-prone skin.'
However, Gronich also said that just because 'noncomedogenic' is on the label, that doesn't guarantee that a product is truly acne-safe. 'The term isn't tightly regulated, so some products may still contain ingredients that can clog pores — especially for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin,' she said. 'Always check the full ingredient list for pore cloggers. What works for one person may trigger breakouts in another, so being your own skin detective is key!'
How do I check for pore-clogging ingredients in makeup?
How do I check for pore-clogging ingredients in makeup?
'I always tell people to check the ingredient list,' Gronich said. 'We created an online resource, Clearstem's Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker, where you can input your products and see if they have pore cloggers.'
In addition to checking new products you want to try, Garshick said to check for pore-clogging ingredients every time you repurchase a product too. 'Brands can change their formulations for a variety of reasons at any time, so it's always best to double-check,' she said.
Besides impacting acne-prone skin, how else do pore-clogging ingredients negatively affect skin?
Besides impacting acne-prone skin, how else do pore-clogging ingredients negatively affect skin?
'In some cases, pore-clogging ingredients may lead to milia formation, even in those who are not acne-prone,' Garshick said. 'Some ingredients may also be irritating on the skin, which should be considered for those with sensitive skin.' The dermatologist also said that pore-clogging ingredients may even create a barrier on the skin, which can make other products less effective since they won't penetrate as well.
For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights.
Dr. Marisa Garshick, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York and New Jersey
Danielle Gronich, co-founder and CEO of Clearstem
Here at CNN Underscored, we make it our job to stay up to date on all the latest products, but we don't just find them; we also rigorously test products from hundreds of brands to make sure every product we recommend is worthy of your money. In addition to hands-on testing many of the products we feature, we also consult top experts to understand what qualities, benefits and possible downsides each item offers. We also seek out important considerations and advice from our experts to help give you the information you need to make smarter shopping decisions. For this article, our director of social, Stephanie Griffin, shared her favorite noncomedogenic makeup and tips for finding products that won't clog your pores.
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