Does Makeup Cause Acne? 5 Interesting Facts To Know

September 1, 2023

With your skin, there’s no size fits all approach. Not all products will suit all skin types. Therefore, some makeup may cause acne for some skin types while it may work completely fine on other skin types.

If you have acne-prone skin and like to wear makeup, be wary of what products you apply to your skin as the wrong products can cause your acne-prone skin to get reactive and may worsen your skin’s condition. This includes acne breakouts, clogged pores, and skin irritation.

Does all makeup cause acne? The answer is no. But that also suggests that some makeup does cause acne.

does makeup cause acne — By Fabrikasimf (Unlimphotos)

When acne is caused due to makeup, it is known as Acne Cosmetica. Acne cosmetics can appear on several areas of your face but they are generally observed on your forehead, cheeks, and chin.

They may also appear around or on your lips. In that case, the fault lies with the lipstick one is using.

Table of Contents

1. How Makeup Can Worsen Acne

Certain ingredients in makeup products can indeed worsen acne. These ingredients are as follows:

1.1 Silicones

Silicones are a very common ingredient in makeup products. They provide a sense of softness to the skin but they cause harm to the skin. Silicon creates a thin layer on the skin which causes acne breakouts as they clog the pores.

1.2 Coconut oil

This is a common misconception that all oils are bad for acne-prone skin. But this is not the case. Some oils such as sesame oil can do wonders for the skin and help with your acne treatment.

But coconut oil does not belong in this group of oils. It is comedogenic and causes clogged pores.

1.3 Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

SLS is found in most kinds of detergents and facewashes. They bare the skin of all its natural oils, which cause harm to the skin and may trigger acne breakouts.

2. Makeup Tips For Acne-Prone Skin

Makeup can cause acne but the good news is that with the right steps and the right products, you can wear as much makeup as you like without the fear of it causing acne cosmetica.

The following are a few tips you can use to prevent new breakouts:

2.1 Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Bacteria, dirt, and oil are the major acne-causing culprits. This is why you should clean your makeup brushes at least twice a week.

If you wear makeup only on specific occasions, then wash them monthly. Not washing your makeup brushes will cause acne causing bacteria to grow on them.

Moreover, oil and dirt will accumulate on these makeup brushes, irritating sensitive skin and causing active acne.

2.2 Clean Your Skin Before Applying Makeup

Make sure to wash your face before wearing makeup. Otherwise, the oil and dirt present on your face will get trapped under your makeup. It may also react with the makeup and cause an acne breakout.

2.3 Choose Non-Comedogenic Makeup

Non-comedogenic makeup means makeup that has been specifically created to not clog pores when they are applied.

It is very important for a person who deals with acne cosmetica to wear non-comedogenic makeup products as clogged pores trigger acne breakouts.

2.4 Powder-based or liquid-based makeup?

Is it better to use powder makeup or liquid-based makeup for a person who suffers from acne cosmetics? The answer is of course powder makeup. Powder-based makeup feels light on the skin and even absorbs excess oil. Whereas liquid makeup is heavy on the skin. Heavy makeup will irritate the skin.

Since liquid-based makeup provides amazing coverage, you may not want to switch to powder-based makeup. If this is the case then do not forget to check the ingredients of the liquid foundation you’d be using. Make sure it has water as a more important constituent element as compared to oil.

3. Additional Tips to Minimize Makeup-Related Acne

3.1 Avoid Wearing Excess Makeup

Excess makeup can trap dirt and oil in your skin and irritate skin.

3.2 Use Oil-Free Makeup Remover

Excess oil is known to irritate the skin of acne patients. Therefore, make sure to steer clear of makeup removers that use an oil-based formula.

3.3 Salicylic Acid

Use salicylic acid-based products as it helps to fight acne and also unclog your pores.

3.4 Acne-Free Makeup

Deliberately choose makeup that is made for skin prone to acne. This is to make sure that your skin does not face irritation.

3.5 Give Your Skin “Makeup Breaks”

Take time off from wearing makeup. Refrain from applying makeup for a specific period to give your skin a break. Too frequent use of makeup will inevitably result in acne.

4. Can I Prevent Makeup-related Acne Breakouts?

You can very surely prevent acne breakouts related to makeup. You just need to be very careful about what you put on your skin and how often you put it.

Make sure to keep your makeup applicators and brushes clean and hygienic. Do not apply makeup on an unclean face.

You should avoid wearing makeup for an extended period. Never go to sleep with your makeup on. Else, it may cause serious harm to the skin and will cause excessive breakouts.

5. See Your Dermatologist for Professional Acne Treatments!

You should never hesitate to approach a medical professional to deal with your acne issues. Makeup-causing acne is a fairly common and treatable issue among people. But if left untreated, it may develop into something very serious.

If precautions, topical remedies, or over-the-counter medicines are not working for your acne, here are some of the professional acne treatment methods that you can avail: