8 Best Non-Comedogenic Concealers UK 2023 | Bare Minerals, NARS and More

Salycilic acid, otherwise known as beta-hydroxy acid or BHA, has a molecular makeup that's oil soluble. This helps it to penetrate deep down into the pores, without clogging them. Once there, it is then able to loosen the bonds between skin cells, acting as a mild exfoliant and a real a blessing for those with acne-prone skin.

Other ingredients which may help a non-comedogenic concealer provide extra benefits for your skin include aloe vera, which is anti-inflammatory and soothes redness and irritation, and tea tree oil, which is anti-bacterial and can calm inflamed pores. Camomile and calendula both have antiseptic properties which help them reduce the spread of acne and encourage existing marks to fade.

If your concealer has a high alcohol content it's likely to be very drying for skin. Once skin becomes dried out, it goes into sebum-producing overdrive. This leads to excess oil and, ultimately, clogged-up pores! Talc is another drying ingredient to watch out for, which can have a negative impact on cell renewal and the overall appearance of your skin.

Silica is found in many products, and is a naturally occurring mineral. Silica's potential benefits for oily skin is that it's absorbent and prevents light reflection, giving a matte look. However, this tricky mineral is also an abrasive, which can irritate sensitive skin and exacerbate dryness.

On the other hand, a moisturising concealer that's heavy in oils can also lead to blocked pores. Avoid concealers with a very thick consistency and ones with a high oil content, as these can build up on your skin and result in worsening any acne you  already have.

Some people’s skin will become irritated by concealers containing silicones. These are ingredients ending in -cone, -conol, -silane or -siloxane. While silicones give concealers their smooth finish, it’s worth being aware that aggravated pores can often become inflamed and infected, causing the very blemishes you were hoping to avoid.

Another ingredient which can cause irritation, particularly for sensitive skin, is bismuth oxychloride. A compound of metal, chlorine and oxygen, it creates a silky texture and luminous glow. However, some skin types can have a bad reaction to this ingredient, resulting in tiny sore bumps and even cystic acne. 

We recommend that you always check the packaging and proceed with serious caution if you’re trying a concealer containing these ingredients for the first time.

When you pick a non-comedogenic concealer, ideally you want to look for one with a relatively short ingredients list. The fewer ingredients you put onto your skin, the less chance you have of blocking or irritating pores and the better overall appearance you will achieve with your make-up.

At the same time, it's almost impossible to find a concealer with a so-called ‘perfect’ ingredients list. A key thing to remember when comparing formulations is that the higher an ingredient appears on the list, the more of it there will be in your product. 

So, if you see comedogenic ingredients appearing within the first 10 or 12 ingredients, the product will have a fairly high concentration. However, if they are further towards the end, you can usually rest assured that there is a nearly negligible quantity in your concealer.

Possibly your best bet when it comes to finding a non-comedogenic option is a mineral powder concealer. Powders may initially appear to be too translucent or fine to cover dark circles and blemishes, but mineral versions can be gently built up to create full coverage without suffocating your pores.

Best of all, the ingredients lists for mineral concealers will often have as few as four or five ingredients. So you can limit the amount of potentially clogging ingredients you put on your skin.