December 2007
Dear Paula,
I have a graduate degree in Neuroscience and a keen interest in skin care and cosmetics. I would first like to thank you for your excellent, honest, research-based product reviews as well as your superior-quality product selection, which my family and I use and love. I have combination skin that can get sensitive and flaky, and I have had difficulties with acne since I was a teenager (I am now 25). I am still having trouble finding a foundation that provides adequate (light-medium) coverage that also looks good (natural, blends well, does not settle), lasts the day, and, most importantly, does not aggravate my acne. I am rather baffled as to what exactly to look for in a foundation formulation. I'm sure that my problem is a fairly common one, and I was hoping that you would be able to clarify what it is that women with acne-prone skin should be looking for and avoiding when it comes to foundation, and whether you can recommend any specific products.

Fran, via email search

Dear Fran,

Thank you for the positive feedback! You know, one of the reasons I suspect there are so many foundations on the market (and several new ones launching every month) is the wide range of personal preferences women have when it comes to this basic makeup need. Your requirements (and frustrations) are shared by many, and cosmetics chemists the world over are aware of it and are continually striving to create foundations that meet these criteria.
Getting the coverage you need while at the same time maintaining a natural look is relatively easy using today's best foundations. Just keep in mind that natural-looking is a relative term, because even the best foundations can still look like makeup. You probably understand that you won't necessarily be fooling anyone into thinking you're bare-faced while covering imperfections or evening out your skin tone. Finding a foundation that doesn't settle into lines is trickier, but application technique can help a lot. Using a sponge and buffing off the excess makes a difference, and setting this with a thin layer of sheer, silky powder can work wonders. Also, it can help to use only the lightest layer of moisturizer possible under your makeup, because less slip under the foundation helps keep it in place. So for your skin type, a well-formulated toner (loaded with antioxidants, skin-identical ingredients, and cell-communicating ingredients) can help a great deal.
Finding a foundation that doesn't aggravate acne isn't easy because what makes you break out may not be the same thing that makes someone else break out. It really comes down to trial and error. You may find several foundations that meet all of your other requirements, yet eventually make your acne worse. That's the agony and ecstasy. Therefore, the following foundations I am recommending are provided with the caution that there is no way to know for sure if they will exacerbate your tendency to break out. They are, however, all fragrance- and irritant-free and as such are better suited for your sensitive skin, and they all contain sunscreen so you don't need to wear an extra layer under your foundation:

• L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup SPF 17
• Paula's Choice Best Face Forward Foundation SPF 15
• Almay Nearly Naked Liquid Makeup SPF 15
• Revlon ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex for Normal to Dry Skin SPF 15 (even though it is labeled for normal to dry skin, it is best for combination or oily skin types).