MOISTURISERS
Everybody needs a good moisturiser! However oily your face is, or however dry- you must always use a moisturiser. With acne prone skin, your face will be oily combination majority of the time, so use a moisturiser that is oil free, lightweight and non-comedogenic (which means it will not clog your pores).
My favourites
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Moisturiser
Boots 50ml £4.99
Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF 50
Boots 30ml £15.00
The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream
The Body Shop 50ml £11.00
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
Kiehl's 50ml £24.00
PRIMERS
You want to use a primer that reduces the blemishes, redness and minimises the pores. Just like choosing a moisturiser, an oil-free primer will also enable your makeup to last longer. Smashbox have 9 different primers for every skin type. I haven't used them all but I have listed the ones I have used and loved below.
My favourites
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil-Free
John Lewis 50ml £29.00
Illamasqua Matt Primer SPF 20
Selfridges 30ml £24.00
Smashbox Colour Corrector Primer- Adjust
Boots 30ml £25.00
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer
Boots 30ml £28.00
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Boots 30ml £25.00
Too Faced Primed and Poreless
Boots 35ml £24.00
L'oreal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer
Boots 15ml £14.29
FOUNDATIONS
A lightweight, oil-free and hydrating foundation with a good coverage is what you need to cover those blemishes! You don't want to wear something too cakey! You need something that you can't feel when its on your face. Although SPF can make your face look grey with flash photography, it is one of the best ways you can protect your face from sun damage and early aging.
My favourites
Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup
Boots 30ml £24.50
Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation
Boots 30ml £28.00
Vichy Corrective Foundation SPF 20
Boots 30ml £16.00
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20
House of Fraser 50ml £34.00
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
Boots 30ml £10.99
CONCEALERS
Just like foundation, a lightweight concealor with a high coverage is what you need to cover up your acne. A long lasting, cream-based concealer is perfect for those blemishes. It can be quite hard to find the perfect colour concealer as all our blemishes and dark circles are different. But remember not to use too much, as it can crease- less is more!
My favourites
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Selfridges £22.00
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer SPF 10
Boots £21.50
Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer
Guru Makeup Emporium 15ml £22.95
Vichy Dermablend Corrective Stick
Boots £15.00
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
MAC £17.00
SETTING POWDER
I have always reached for translucent setting powders as they don't leave a cakey finish. With acne prone skin you will produce a lot of oil, its better to use matte/shine-free powders which you can apply as many times of the day needed.
My favourites
Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder
Boots £15.00
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Translucent Powder
John Lewis £29.00
No7 Perfect Light Translucent Pressed Powder
Boots £11.50
Make Up For Ever HD Pressed Powder
Guru Makeup Emporium £18.50
ELF High Definition Translucent Powder
ELF Website £6.95
AVOID
Ingredients such as isopropyl isostearate, myristyl myristate, lanolin oil and lauric acid, these will encourage breakouts, clog your pores and irritate your acne.
Heavy/thick creams, body butters (these are not for the face) & highly scented products.
LOOK FOR
Salicylic Acid: unclogs pores
Jojoba oil: spot treating and cleansing acne prone skin
Raw coconut oil: use an overnight moisturiser in problematic areas
Benzoyl Peroxide: kills unwanted bacteria
Tea Tree Oil: anti-bacterial properties