Here’s Why Makeup Might Be Breaking You Out — and What to Do About It

My skin has been all over the place for years — some seasons I find myself really dry and others times my skin is shinier than patent leather. I’ve also struggled with moderate acne, and it always seems like the moment I change up my makeup routine, my skin automatically reacts in a defensive inflammatory manner. Although I love my face products dearly, I’ll be the first to admit that they might be responsible — and Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, happens to agree.

“Heavy liquid foundation makeups are a common culprit for acne breakouts,” he says. “If you notice a pimple the day after wearing your makeup, the foundation may be to blame.” This is not to say that foundation and makeup is the sole cause of breaking out, as the severity of acne has mostly to do with the combination of genetics and environment. “For some people, it takes very little to block the pores and develop acne,” Dr. Zeichner says. “And for others, the face almost never breaks out.” Point blank: everyone’s skin is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

What is universal is the fact that skin changes as we age. “For this reason you may notice that you are breaking out when you never did before or products that cause no problems when you were younger are now leading to acne breakouts,” says Dr. Zeichner. If makeup is breaking you out, you want to make sure you are doing a lot of heavy lifting in your skin preparation before stippling on that foundation.

“To avoid breaking out from your makeup, make sure to prep the skin using a salicylic acid base cleanser to remove excess oil, dirt, and dead cells from the surface,” Dr. Zeichner suggests. It’s also important to use makeup that is labeled as noncomedogenic. “This means that they have been studied and shown not to cause acne breakouts,” he adds. Mineral-based makeup or powder foundations are a great alternative — they are lightweight and sit on the surface of the skin.

The last two steps Dr. Zeichner urges to take? Making sure all makeup brushes and sponges are clean and that you wash your face before going to bed. Old makeup, oil and dirt are your enemies here, he asserts, so that’s why it’s important to take these measures on a daily basis. “In some cases, bacteria may even grow on the brushes if they are dirty,” says Dr. Zeichner. “And going to sleep with a full face of makeup on can both transfer it to the pillow and can rub against your face increasing your risk of a breakout.”