If you’ve ever had a breakout, you know that acne scars can be harder to get rid of than actual pimples—they’re notorious for sticking around past their welcome and can oftentimes hinder your complexion with discoloration and a bumpy texture. Thankfully, makeup can help mask them, but not every product is up to the task.
When selecting a foundation to camouflage acne scars, it’s essential to consider the formula’s coverage and wear properties to ensure that the scar will successfully disappear under the product and stay that way throughout the day. It’s also important to look at the ingredients list to make sure that the formula is appropriate for your skin type.
Keep reading for the best foundations for acne scars available now.
Best Overall: Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation
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Courtesy of Ulta
In terms of covering acne scars, it doesn’t get any better than Dermablend. This creamy multitasking formula provides seamless coverage and leaves a natural-looking finish on the skin, helping to create an even complexion and hide any traces of dark spots, redness, or uneven texture. Also, if your skin tends to be dry, you’re in luck—the formula is designed to provide 24-hour hydration, ensuring that your skin is nourished and moisturized all day long. It’s also fortified with SPF 25 to protect you from sunburns and free radical damage, as well as prevent the sun from exacerbating your scars and dark spots.
Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 15 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget: Catrice Cosmetics HD Liquid Coverage Foundation
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Courtesy of Amazon
Looking for a foundation that’s a little bit more budget-friendly but doesn’t skimp on coverage? Catrice’s HD Liquid Coverage Foundation has you (literally) covered for 24 hours. Not only can you count on this foundation to blur imperfections, but you can also rely on it to stay in place and leave your skin with a natural soft-matte finish. Plus, this foundation comes with a unique dropper applicator that dispenses the perfect amount of product.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 26 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1.01 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Liquid Foundation
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Next time you’re browsing the makeup aisle of your local drugstore, make sure you give L’Oreal Paris’ True Match foundation a try. Formulated with a moisturizing blend of vitamins A, C, and E, the foundation keeps your skin hydrated while also providing lightweight medium coverage that evens out discoloration and brightens the skin. Translation: It gives you the same gorgeous glow as a high-end foundation—just without breaking the bank.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 45 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge: Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation
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In the mood to treat yourself? Reach for this Oxygenetix foundation. Designed to be a breathable alternative to cakey foundations, this formula caters to all skin types and concerns with its hydrating and nourishing blend of aloe vera and vitamin E. Where coverage is concerned, this formula is buildable, long-wearing, and conceals everything from acne scars and dark spots to redness and skin condition rosacea, making it ideal for anyone looking to even out their texture and tone.
Coverage: Sheer, buildable | Shade Range: 14 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Matte Finish: Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15
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Courtesy of Ulta
It’s no secret that clay boasts several acne-fighting and skin-purifying benefits. In this formula, the popular skincare ingredient is used to impart a smooth, matte finish on the skin, leaving your complexion noticeably more even and illuminated. Here, Amazonian clay is joined by vitamin E, which acts as a soothing emollient and also provides antioxidant protection for healthier skin in the long run. Together, these powerful ingredients deliver the coverage needed to hide acne scars, as well as other sources of discoloration like dark spots and redness.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 23 | Finish: Natural matte | Size: 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Dewy Finish: BECCA Skin Love Weightless Blur Foundation
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Courtesy of Sephora
This foundation is all you need to get your skin glowing—trust us. Its skincare-makeup hybrid formula is designed to diffuse the look of imperfections by acting like a soft-focus filter to even the complexion. It’s all thanks to the brand’s Glow Nectar Brightening Complex, which is infused with ginger to brighten the skin and a blend of cold-pressed avocado and melon for hydration. The result is the perfect no-makeup-makeup look that lasts all day.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 22 | Finish: Dewy | Size: 1.23 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Long-Wearing: MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation
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Courtesy of Ulta
Just as its name suggests, this foundation provides long-wear, medium-to-full coverage that doesn’t budge. Its transfer-resistant, waterproof formula can handle all the sweat and humidity you throw at it—plus, it promises to stay put for up to 36 hours, which is why it’s a favorite of some of the industry’s most trusted names.
Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 32 | Finish: Satin | Size: 0.85 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dry Skin: Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Cream Cover
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Courtesy of Danessa Myricks Beauty
Nothing is worse than a cakey foundation that clings to dry spots—which is why those with dry skin need to take a careful look at the ingredients list before choosing a foundation. This one is formulated with a skin-quenching blend of squalene vitamin E and offers medium-to-full coverage that perfectly masks blemishes, discoloration, and unwanted texture without feeling heavy or cakey.
Coverage: Sheer to buildable full | Shade Range: 23 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.53 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Oily Skin: Uoma Beauty Say What?! Foundation
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Oily skin types thrive with matte complexion formulas, but the finish has a tendency to leave the skin looking cakey and feeling overly dry. Enter: UOMA Beauty’s Say What?! Foundation. Formulated with oily and combination skin in mind, the award-winning foundation has a vibrant matte finish that features a blend of tomato extract (for added radiance) and berry extract (for hydration and antioxidant protection). Not only is this formula great from soaking up excess shine, but it also offers long-lasting, buildable coverage and comes in 51 shades.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 51 | Finish: Vibrant matte | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
What Our Testers Say
“No matter your skin tone or type, the Uoma Beauty foundation can give you the customizable matte finish you’ve been looking for, all while wearing nicely throughout the day.” — Celeste Polanco, Product Tester
Best for Combination Skin: Beauty Bakerie InstaBake Aqua Glass Foundation
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Courtesy of Ulta
Those with combination skin need a foundation with a versatile formula that also provides flawless long-wear coverage. Beauty Bakerie describes its InstaBake Aqua Glass Foundation as frosting for your skin, and we’re inclined to agree—the full-coverage formula applies smoothly and effortlessly for creamy, comfortable wear that leaves a dewy glow. Plus, it boasts color-correcting benefits and is available in 30 shades, which makes finding your match a breeze.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 25 | Finish: Dewy | Size: 0.9 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation
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Courtesy of Ulta
If you have acne-prone skin, reach for this oil-free foundation, which covers unwanted acne scars and spots without clogging pores. Featuring blurring micro-powders that refine pores and absorb shine, this formula works to even skin tone while delivering a smooth, flawless complexion. It’s buildable, long-wear formula perfectly hides discoloration and stays locked into place, so you don’t have to worry about reapplying throughout the day.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 40 | Finish: Matte | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Sensitive Skin: Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20
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Courtesy of Amazon
When you have sensitive skin and acne scars, the last thing you want is a foundation that irritates your skin. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about that with this foundation, which is hypoallergenic and packed with nourishing ingredients that help keep skin healthy and happy, like hyaluronic acid (for a hydrating boost) and as well as vitamins A, C, and E to keep the skin protected and radiant.
Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 18 | Finish: Satin | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Shade Range: PÜR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Foundation
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Courtesy of Ulta
Today, more and more brands are expanding the number of foundation shades they have on offer, but PÜR Cosmetics goes above and beyond. With 100 hues available, the brand makes shade matching easier than ever. Where coverage is concerned, this foundation-concealer hybrid is the best of both worlds—its formula is designed to harness the full-coverage, long-wear properties of foundation and the color-correcting, brightening goodness of concealer. It also features antioxidant-rich nutrients and even offers protection from daily blue light exposure, which has been found to cause signs of premature aging in the skin.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 100 | Finish: Natural matte | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best SPF: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
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Courtesy of Macy’s
When treating acne scars, it’s important to keep your skin protected from UV rays—which is where your sunscreen comes into play. IT Cosmetics’ CC+ Cream doubles as a broad-spectrum SPF 50 mineral sunscreen, but since it’s also a color-corrector, it evens out the complexion and masks any discoloration. It’s particularly great for acne scars because its hydrating ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and peptides) prevent caking and pilling around any uneven texture.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 12 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.406 fl. oz. or 1.08 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Creme: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
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Courtesy of Laura Mercier
This isn’t a foundation per se, but fans of this makeup artist-favorite concealer swear by its skin-perfecting abilities and say that it works better than any other foundation they’ve tried. The secret lies in the product’s dual-shade system, which is formulated to match your skin’s depth of color and undertone to deliver a custom blend that helps you achieve the perfect coverage. Using this innovative approach and a high-level of pigment, this formula completely covers any signs of discoloration or unwanted texture, camouflaging everything from acne scars and breakouts to dark circles and spots.
Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 8 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.207 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
