The Best Concealers for Acne, According to Experts

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The Best Concealers for Acne, According to Experts

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Acne is, among other colorful adjectives, frustrating. While covering up the redness and blemishes with a heavy concealer seems like an easy, albeit temporary, fix, certain formulas can actually be doing more harm than good beneath the surface, and can end up setting us back on our clear-skin journeys. To find out which concealers are safe—and in certain cases, encouraged—to be used on blemish-prone skin, we turned to the experts to find out the best concealers for acne.

Featured Experts

Julie Russak, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
Lee Ann Klausner, MD is a facial plastic surgeon based in New York City
Shereene Idriss, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City

Ingredients to Look For

When shopping for the best concealers for acne, be sure to scan the ingredient lists for some key ingredients. Lucky for us, more and more concealers spiked with potent skin-care ingredients are hitting shelves, and some of them are even tailored to help spot treat blemishes.

New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD recommends acne-prone patients to look for a concealer containing salicylic acid, a proven anti-inflammatory that works to clear up congested pores. New York dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD says to keep an eye out for oil-absorbing ingredients when shopping for a concealer, including zinc oxide, kaolin clay, sulfur or a gentle AHA/BHA complex.

Ingredients to Avoid

When scanning a concealer’s ingredient list, Dr. Russak says to stay away from formulas that contain mica, silicones and oils, as these may exasperate existing issues. More ingredients to scan for and avoid, according to Dr. Idriss: "Fatty alcohols such as cetyl acetate and Cetearyl alcohol, and certain oils like coconut oil, and lanolin."

Expert-Approved Picks

Here are the top concealers for acne that our experts swear by:

Slide 1
New York facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann Klausner, MD gives her stamp of approval to this concealer palette, which she says "helps to cover a variety of colors that may be seen with acne and acne blemishes."

Slide 2
Dr. Russak says she uses this iconic shake-then-apply treatment herself. It absorbs oil instantly and creates a confident, super-soft finish.

Slide 3
Free from oils, fragrance and pore-clogging additives, this multitasking concealer-foundation hybrid checks all of the boxes for the girl on the go.

Slide 4
For a natural-meets-matte finish that lasts all day and night—we’re talking up to 15 hours—this oil-free, noncomedogenic formula delivers every time without exacerbating active breakouts.

Slide 5
Free of oils, fragrance and pore-clogging additives, this multitasking concealer-foundation hybrid checks all of the boxes for the girl on the go.

Slide 6
Powered by vitamin C, licorice root and niacinamide, this brightening concealer tackles stubborn discoloration, too.

Slide 7
New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD recommends acne-prone patients to look for a concealer containing salicylic acid, a proven anti-inflammatory that works to clear up congested pores.

Slide 8
For a natural-meets-matte finish that lasts all day and night—we’re talking up to 15 hours—this oil-free, noncomedogenic formula delivers every time without exacerbating active breakouts.

Slide 9
Your skin deserves a concealer that does more than just cover. Powered by vitamin C, licorice root and niacinamide, this brightening concealer tackles stubborn discoloration, too.

Slide 10
For a natural-meets-matte finish that lasts all day and night—we’re talking up to 15 hours—this oil-free, noncomedogenic formula delivers every time without exacerbating active breakouts.

Conclusion

The best concealers for acne are those that not only cover up blemishes, but also work to address the underlying issues that cause them. By choosing concealers that contain acne-fighting ingredients and avoiding those that can exacerbate acne, you can say goodbye to pesky pimples and hello to a clearer, more confident you.

FAQs

Q: What ingredients should I look for in a concealer for acne?
A: Look for concealers containing salicylic acid, kaolin clay, sulfur, and AHA/BHA complexes.

Q: What ingredients should I avoid in a concealer for acne?
A: Avoid concealers containing mica, silicones, oils, fatty alcohols, coconut oil, and lanolin.

Q: How do I choose the right concealer for my skin type?
A: Consider your skin type and concerns when choosing a concealer. If you have oily skin, look for oil-free and noncomedogenic formulas. If you have dry skin, look for moisturizing and hydrating formulas.

Q: Can I use concealer on my entire face, or should I only use it on blemishes?
A: You can use concealer on your entire face, but be sure to choose a formula that is suitable for your skin type and concerns.