Best Foundations for Acne Scars

Active acne can be a confidence killer; however, even after this inflammatory condition finally clears, you are left to deal with, often permanent, scarring that sticks around as a bitter reminder of your battle.

While some acne scars, like hyperpigmentation or post-inflammatory redness, improve over time, others, known as pitted or atrophic acne scarring, can linger for years and permanently stay on the skin.

However, the good news is that with the help of foundations specifically designed to target acne scars, you can cover up these blemishes and achieve a more even complexion.

But there are many options on the market when it comes to foundations, and not all of these are made the same.

Which is why, when looking for foundations that cover acne scars, you want to opt for something that is full coverage without being too heavy on the skin.

This kind of texture will let you work with the foundation with ease and do a great job covering every blemish and imperfection you want to see erased.

Therefore, to save you from scrolling through the many options on the market, I have rounded up the ten best foundations for acne scars.

Here are my top choices:

Best Overall Foundation for Acne Scars – Bobbi Brown – Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF 15

Best Foundation for Acne Scars on a Budget (for the money) – Maybelline – Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation

Best Foundation for Large Pores and Acne Scars – Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation

Best Foundation for Dry Skin with Acne Scars – Pat McGrath – Sublime Perfection Foundation

Best Foundation for Oily Skin with Acne Scars (Oil-Free Foundation) – MAC – Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation

Best Foundation for Combination Skin with Acne Scars – Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops

Best Matte Foundation for Acne Scars – Lancôme – Teint Idole Ultra-Long Wear Matte Foundation

Best Drugstore Foundation for Acne Scars – Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

Best Waterproof Foundation for Acne Scars – Dior – BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation

Best Foundation With SPF for Acne Scars – Shiseido – Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30

How I Chose Each Foundation

I’ve tried dozens of foundations over the years in the quest for something that will give me full coverage without a cakey finish, and these are my absolute favorites.

Every one of these foundations does a fantastic job covering acne scars while still looking natural on the skin.

I also made sure to include foundations that work well for different skin types, so whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, you should be able to find a foundation on this list that works for you.

I also included foundations that work well for different types of acne scarring, so whether you are dealing with hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory redness, or atrophic acne scarring, this list has you covered.

And finally, I also included foundations with different finishes, so if you prefer a matte finish or something with a little bit of glow, there’s an option for you.

Regardless of your preference, I’m confident that you’ll find a foundation on this list that will help you achieve the flawless complexion you’ve been dreaming of.

Happy foundation shopping!

The Bobbi Brown’s Skin Long-Wear Weightless foundation comes in 42 shades, and the shade range is quite impressive, particularly due to the variety of neutral tones, which isn’t often the case, even with some popular brands.

What impresses me most about the Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation is the excellent full-coverage base that doesn’t irritate my skin, clog my pores, or streak during application.

It also covers the textured acne scars on my cheeks perfectly, and while I can still notice the uneven areas while looking in my pocket mirror, this is absolutely not noticeable when I see myself in a mirror that’s further away or in photos.

The foundation is also formulated with marine sugar cane and mineral powders, as well as a touch of mica that combats shine but leaves a slight luminosity that makes everything more even and flawless.

Additionally, the foundation also contains vitamin E and shea butter to add hydration, making it great for those whose skin is on the drier side.

Lastly, since the Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation is full coverage, you only need a little bit of product for the entire face. Packing on more product won’t make the formula look caked up, but it’s unnecessary if you are going for a light, day look.

Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation Pros:

• Great shade range (42 shades.)
• Long-wear and full coverage.
• Natural matte finish.
• Great for uneven texture and acne scarring.
• Suitable for both oily and dry skin.

Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation Cons:

• None.

You might’ve heard about the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation being the budget-friendly holy grail for everyone with oily and acne-prone, and I am here to confirm that.

This foundation has a great reputation and has been around for quite some time. It has a creamy, soft texture and slightly runny consistency that spreads on the skin with ease and doesn’t leave streaks or uneven patches behind.

It’s also full coverage, so you only need very little product to even out the skin tone, but you can go for a heavier look without fearing that it would look cakey because the foundation is buildable, so you can achieve the look you prefer.

The full coverage is also excellent for covering textured acne scars, blemishes, and discoloration such as hyperpigmentation and red acne scars.

Also worth noting, the Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation comes in 40 shades, which is an excellent variety for all skin tones, including olives, which are notoriously tricky to find without mixing a couple of different products.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation Pros:

• Long wear and matte finish.
• Great shade range (40 shades.)
• Ultra-smooth formula that evens out skin tone and texture.
• Excellent for oily skin.
• Best budget-friendly option for covering hyperpigmentation and red acne scars.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation Cons:

• Contains alcohol.
• Has a faint scent.

Dermablend’s Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation is advertised as medium coverage; however, having used it, I would say that it’s more full coverage than medium, so if you are going for a lighter look, you’d definitely want to use a tiny bit of product.

Lastly, the foundation has a natural matte finish, which makes it excellent for oily skin types as well as dry skin types who are dealing with enlarged pores.

It’s also excellent for cold weather as it won’t leave those weird, dry streaks that become more prominent when the skin is more dehydrated during winter.

The only downside to the Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation is that it has a short shelf life of 12-18 months, compared to standard foundations that last up to 24 months.

Therefore, if you are not using makeup often, this foundation might not be the best fit for you.

Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation Pros:

• Matte finish and full coverage.
• Excellent for covering uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation left from acne.
• Great for oily and dry skin.

Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation Cons:

• Short shelf life.
• Lacking shade range variety (14 shades only.)

The Sublime Perfection Foundation has the sort of finish that looks supple, dewy, bouncy, and fresh, yet still manages not so much to hide but rather blur imperfections and create a perfect natural-but-better canvas.

However, if you have areas that need a little more than just a thin layer of evenness, the Sublime Perfection Foundation has your back.

The difference between this foundation and every other foundation that’s buildable is that Pat’s Sublime Perfection adds freshness and increases its sheen as the coverage builds, instead of making your skin look flat, as most other buildable foundations do.

Lastly, in true Pat McGrath’s inclusive fashion, the Sublime Perfection Foundation comes in 36 shades that cover various undertones so that no one feels left out.

Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation Pros:

• Sheer to medium coverage.
• Excellent for dry skin.
• Great shade variety (36 shades.)

Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation Cons:

• Not suitable for oily skin.
• Pricey.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation is the standard product in every makeup artist’s kit.

This is because the foundation can be used in many ways to provide sheer, medium, and full coverage, as well as a matte or dewy finish, depending on the application and the base that you are using.

For example, the coverage will be on the medium to sheer side if you are using a beauty blender, while you can definitely build up to full coverage if you use a blending brush as an application tool.

Additionally, while the foundation dries into a natural matte, which is preferred by someone with oily skin, it can provide a beautiful dewy finish if someone with dry skin uses a heavy-duty moisturizer underneath.

Furthermore, the Studio Fix Fluid Foundation has a creamy consistency that gives an even layer of coverage without needing a ton of product, so if you are going for a natural day look, you definitely don’t need much.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation Pros:

• Excellent coverage and natural matte finish.
• Ideal for oily skin but also good for dry skin.
• Creamy consistency.
• Great for covering acne scarring.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation Cons:

• None.

Those with combination skin know how challenging it can be to find the perfect foundation that doesn’t make the oily parts of your face more prominent and doesn’t crack in the dry areas.

This is why the best foundation for combination skin that’s dealing with acne scars is one with a lightweight, liquid formula that will look seamless and uniform without weird patches in different areas of the face.

A great option for this is the Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops, a lightweight and blendable formula with a fully customizable coverage and finish.

Due to the lightweight consistency, the foundation is an excellent choice for those who are dealing with excessively oily and dry skin in different parts of the face, as well as textured acne scarring besides redness and hyperpigmentation.

Lastly, the Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops come in a range of 20 shades, especially focusing on neutral undertones as a great way to improve the appearance of red acne scars.

Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops Pros:

• Lightweight formula.
• Full coverage.
• Natural matte finish.
• Excellent for all skin types.
• Best for red and pigmented acne scarring.

Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops Cons:

• Not easily available for users outside the US.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra-Long Wear Matte Foundation is the ideal Foundation for long events. While you definitely shouldn’t wear makeup for hours on end, it’s good to know that you can rely on a product, especially throughout a long day out.

The foundation comes in 50 shades, which is an excellent variety and has a matte finish that doesn’t feel powdery or dry, so besides being most suitable for oily skin types, those on the drier side will certainly like this finish, too.

It’s also super-full coverage right from the start, so you don’t need to use a lot of product to get the desired results, especially if you are aiming for a lighter finish.

The full coverage is also excellent for covering textured, pitted, or even raised acne scars because it provides an excellent and even layer of smoothness and a more uniform complexion.

Lastly, the Teint Idole Foundation also has a slight SPF of 15, which means it gives a little bit of protection, but the SPF is also great for providing a very subtle glow and preventing flashbacks in pictures or daylight.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra-Long Wear Matte Foundation Pros:

• Matte finish.
• Ultra-long wear.
• Suitable for both oily and dry skin.
• Safe for acne-prone skin.
• Excellent for covering textured, pitted, and raised acne scars.
• Excellent shade variety (50 shades.)

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra-Long Wear Matte Foundation Cons:

• Some might find it expensive.

Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer has been a long-term favorite in the beauty community.

The foundation has a semi-runny consistency which is something between liquid and thick cream. Once applied and blended in, the texture is quite creamy, but it still manages to spread on the skin like a dream and blend seamlessly.

Additionally, sitting somewhere between a matte and dewy finish, the Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer is definitely one that needs to be set with a powder, especially if your skin is on the oilier side.

That said, even though the consistency is on the thicker and heavier side, this foundation + concealer combo doesn’t show its weight as it sits on the skin flawlessly, without looking cakey or feeling suffocating.

It’s also suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin dealing with pesky acne scars.

Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer Pros:

• Thick and creamy consistency that feels lightweight on the skin.
• Medium-to-full coverage.
• Excellent for covering acne scars.
• Great for all skin types.

Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer Cons:

• None.

Dior’s Backstage Face & Body Foundation has a lightweight, slightly runny consistency but applies super easily and spreads on the skin like a dream.

Additionally, it’s not one of those fast-drying foundations where you’d need to be super fast when working it into the skin, and you can take your time with this one as it sets slowly but builds very nicely where needed.

However, my favorite thing about the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation is that it resists high temperatures and humid environments exceptionally well, so if you are looking for a sweat and waterproof foundation to have your back during summer days, this is definitely the one.

Lastly, the medium-to-full coverage is excellent for covering all sorts of acne scars, including pigmented, atrophic, and textured scarring.

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation Pros:

• Lightweight texture and long wear.
• Excellent shade range (40 shades.)
• Customizable coverage & finish.
• Blends effortlessly.

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation Cons:

• Some users have complained that it’s heavily fragranced.
• Contains alcohol.

The Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30 is the best foundation for anyone who is looking for one product that does it all.

The foundation has a lot of technology invested in its development, and one of the most interesting features is that it’s a “self-refreshing” formula that refreshes itself throughout the day to provide long wear and all-day hydration.

The self-refreshing formula also keeps the makeup looking flawless despite natural factors that usually break it down, such as sweat, oil, and facial movement.

The Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation also adapts itself to your skin tone without oxidizing or changing color throughout the day.

It’s also available in 30 shades with a great variety of neutrals, cool and warm undertones.

Lastly, the Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation also has an SPF of 30, which is quite high for a foundation, considering that most other brands only offer an SPF of 15, which is the standard.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation Pros:

• Self-refreshing formula to keep makeup looking fresh all day long.
• Natural, radiant finish.
• Medium-to-full coverage.
• Excellent for covering acne scars and discoloration.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation Cons:

• Pricey.

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