Acne-Safe & Acne-Scary Makeup Spotlight: Tom Ford Beauty
Tom Ford is synonymous with luxury – but is it synonymous with acne-safe? Let’s take a closer look after we remind you how we judge our acne-safe makeup guides.
How we judge our acne-safe makeup guides
Our acne-safe ratings are based on a combination of ingredient research, published comedogenicity data, and real-world clinical experience. We carefully review each formulation and weigh the potential risks and benefits – so you don’t have to.
Comedogenicity is science-based, but it isn’t an exact science. Everyone’s skin behaves differently. Some ingredients that clog pores for one person may be perfectly fine for another, and occasionally a formula that looks “safe on paper” can still cause congestion in real life.
Makeup is inherently a higher risk category for acne-prone skin – but that doesn’t mean it has to be off-limits. Our goal is to make navigating makeup simpler, smarter, and a lot less stressful.
What our ratings mean
“Acne-safe!”
These are products we’d feel comfortable trying ourselves on acne-prone skin. They typically contain zero to one low-risk red flags and are the options we’d encourage you to start with if you’re shopping for something new.
“Proceed with caution!”
These products aren’t automatic no’s – but they deserve a slower approach. They may contain a few low-risk red flags or one moderate concern. If you already own them, you don’t necessarily need to toss them – just pay attention to how your skin responds.
“No way!”
These are best avoided if you’re acne-prone. The formulation contains multiple or higher-risk pore-clogging ingredients, making breakouts much more likely.
A quick (but important) disclaimer
These ratings are about acne – not “clean beauty,” not brand endorsement, and not a guarantee. They’re simply our best professional assessment of how likely a product is to contribute to clogged pores. From there, we rely heavily on client feedback and lived experience to help guide personalized recommendations – because your skin always gets the final vote.
Primer:
Traceless Soft Matte Primer – Acne-safe!
Foundation:
Architecture Soft Matte Blurring Foundation – Acne-safe!
Architecture Radiance Hydrating Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ – No way!
Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50 – No way!
Concealer:
Traceless Soft Matte Concealer – Proceed with caution!
Shade and Illuminate Concealer – Proceed with caution!
Shade and Illuminate Radiance Enhancer – Acne-safe!
Powder:
Architecture Soft Matte Blurring Powder – No way!
Blush:
Soleil Neige Crème Blush – No way!
Bronzer:
Soleil Glow Bronzer – No way!
Shade and Illuminate Contour Duo – No way!
Highlighter:
Vanilla Sex Glow Highlighter – Acne-safe!
Soleil Neige Après Glow – Acne-safe!
Shade and Illuminate Highlighting Duo – No way!
Shade and Illuminate Contour Duo – No way!