Acne-Safe & Acne-Scary Makeup Spotlight: MAC Makeup
Do any other millennials remember dying to get their makeup done at MAC as a tween? Is our favorite over-the-top makeup look from the 2000s making a comeback now that its inventory is in Sephora?
What if you have acne? Should you be using MAC? Was that one of the culprits for your high school pimples? The answers in this week's acne-safe or acne-scary makeup spotlight!
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.
Primer:
Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer – No way!
Studio Fix Mattifine 12hr Shine-Control Primer – Proceed with caution!
Strobe Cream | Moisturizer + Highlighter – No way!
Prep + Prime Fix+ Matte – No way!
Mineralize Timecheck Lotion – No way!
Prep + Prime Essential Oils Grapefruit & Chamomile – No way!
Prep + Prime Face Protect Lotion SPF 50 – Proceed with caution!
Prep + Prime Natural Radiance – Proceed with caution!
Foundation:
New Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation – No way!
Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Matte Foundation + Oil Control – Proceed with caution!
Strobe Dewy Skin Tint Moisturizer – No way!
Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation – Proceed with caution!
Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen – Proceed with caution!
Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder – Proceed with caution!
Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder (translucent) – Acne-safe!
Studio Radiance Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation – No way!
Studio Fix Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation – No way!
Full Coverage Foundation – No way!
M·A·C Studio Face and Body Foundation – No way!
Pro Palette Full Coverage Foundation – No way!
Concealer:
Studio Fix 36HR Smooth Angles Concealer – Proceed with caution!
Studio Fix 24HR Colour Corrector – No way!
Studio Radiance 24HR Luminous Lift Concealer – No way!
Pro Longwear Concealer – No way!
Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen – Proceed with caution!
Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette – No way!
Powder:
New Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation – No way!
Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder – Proceed with caution!
Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder (translucent) - Acne-safe!
Mineralize Skinfinish – No way!
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Face Powder – No way!
Blot Powder / Pressed – Proceed with caution!
Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter – Proceed with caution!
Blush:
Glow Play Cushiony Blush – No way!
Powder Blush – No way!
Strobe Beam Liquid Blush – No way!
Skinfinish Metallic Cream Blush – No way!
Mineralize Blush | Baked Powder Blush – No way!
Sheertone Shimmer Blush – No way!
Sheertone Powder Blush – No way!
Extra Dimension Blush | Long-wearing Blush – Proceed with caution!
Bronzer:
Strobe Beam Bronzelighter – No way!
Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Brozer – No way!
Skinfinish Sunstruck Radiant Bronzer – No way!
Highlighter:
Skinfinish Lightstruck Liquid Highlighter – No way!
Strobe Cream | Moisturizer + Highlighter – Proceed with caution!
Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter – Proceed with caution!
Mineralize Skinfinish – No way!
Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette – No way!
Cream Colour Base Highlighter – No way!
Setting Spray:
FIX+ Setting Spray – Acne-safe!
FIX+ Magic Radiance Setting Spray – Acne-safe!
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.