10 Best Hypoallergenic Foundations 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed
That is why it is vital to pick out a hypoallergenic foundation that you can put on your skin with confidence. Luckily, from liquid to mineral, light coverage to full coverage, there are many kinds of foundations suitable for sensitive skin available on Amazon, John Lewis, and Boots. So we are here to help you know how to find the perfect hypoallergenic foundation for you!
Quick List - Top Hypoallergenic Foundations
bareMinerals
A Cult-Favourite Mineral Powder Foundation For a No-Makeup Feel
A qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist. I provide professional makeup services for all occasions, whether it be for a bride on their wedding day or backstage at a photo shoot. I also enjoy teaching through hosting live talks on my social media, masterclass events, and 1-1 training. My favourite style of makeup is most definitely vibrant. I love a colourful eyeshadow palette... or 10!
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With Specialist Advice From Makeup Artist Claire Higgins
Claire is a qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist; she provides professional makeup services for all occasions from bridal to backstage at photo shoots. Claire also teaches masterclass events as well as 1-1 training, and when she gets the chance, enjoys sharing her expertise hosting live talks on her social media. She's a big fan of the vibrant style and loves a colourful palette... or 10!
Keep up-to-date with Claire through her Facebook and Instagram page where you can learn the latest tips and tricks when it comes to makeup application and also get inspired to try new looks!
So, What Does Hypoallergenic Mean?
To add to this ambiguity, there is no official test that brands must do to prove that their product is hypoallergenic: companies decide by themselves whether products are hypoallergenic or not. For this reason, it is up to you to look at the ingredients and confirm whether the product is suitable for your skin.
How to Choose a Hypoallergenic Foundation in the UK ― Buying Guide
So, you should look at the ingredients to check if a product is hypoallergenic or not. Yet even if you are told that, how do you know which products to look out for? That is where we come in. The following are our tips for finding the perfect hypoallergenic foundation that will (hopefully) not give you a reaction.
Learn the Names of Common Irritating Ingredients
Firstly, preservatives are often responsible for allergic reactions. The most common preservatives are parabens, so you should look for a foundation that says that it is paraben-free or has no parabens in the ingredients.
Fragrances should also be avoided. The problem with fragrances in products is that the contents of the fragrance do not have to be listed in the ingredients, so they often contain many hidden allergens. Other culprits for allergic reactions can include sodium laureth sulfate, various essential oils, mineral oil, liquid paraffin, alcohols, salicylic acid, silicones, menthol and the list goes on.
When checking products for known allergens, take note of the first few ingredients listed on the packaging; these tend to make up a larger percentage of what the product contains. If you’ve struggled to find the source of a reaction, take a look at the packaging on products that have caused irritation in the past.
Use this to compare these ingredients to the products that haven’t. Thrown out your packaging? Don’t worry. You can find this information listed on the product's website. This should give you a better indication of what your trigger may be.
Look at the SPF Ingredients: Mineral for No Irritation, Chemical for a Lightweight Consistency
Mineral SPF, also known as physical SPF, has titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as the active ingredients. These ingredients are less likely to irritate your skin so are great for sensitive-skinned people. However, you need to cover your face adequately to make sure that all your skin is protected.
Synthetic, or chemical, SPF includes the common ingredients oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate and octisalate. These tend to have thin, lightweight consistencies, but can occasionally irritate very sensitive skin. Not all sensitive skin reacts to chemical SPF ingredients, so if you prefer a lightweight feel it is worth trying foundations that include chemical SPFs.
Understandably when your skin’s prone to hypersensitivity, the process of trial and error can be a difficult and costly journey. Relatable? Then you may have already heard about mineral ingredients and the benefits they possess. Mineral sunscreens have a higher success rate of almost no irritation, but this doesn’t guarantee reactions won’t occur.
A top tip for testing any sunscreen or foundation is simply to perform a patch test by applying a small amount of product on your forearm a few days prior to using it all over.
Remember That Everyone’s Skin Is Different
Unfortunately, the only way to really discover which ingredients your skin reacts or does not react to is by trying out a range of products and using a trial and error approach. By comparing the ingredients of the products that your skin liked and disliked, you should be able to find out the culprit of your skin reaction.
Just because a product is successful for one, doesn’t mean it will be for another. Our skin will differ from others and can react in completely different ways. Stay in the know and carry out some research.
Request samples from a website or beauty counter before making purchases, perform a sensitivity test, delve into your least and most successful products and narrow down your triggers. Having extended knowledge and understanding of ingredients will support your decisions when finalising any future purchases.
10 Best Hypoallergenic Foundations in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clinique Even Better Makeup Foundation | | A Hypoallergenic Foundation That Will Improve Your Skin Tone | |
2 | bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation | | A Cult-Favourite Mineral Powder Foundation For a No-Makeup Feel | |
3 | NARS Sheer Glow Foundation | | A Liquid Foundation With Buildable Coverage and a Natural Result | |
4 | Clinique Superbalanced Makeup Foundation | | A Natural-Finish Foundation for Combination Skin | |
5 | Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup | | A Popular Super-Coverage Foundation That You Can Rely On | |
6 | Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation | | A High Coverage Foundation to Hide All Skin Problems | |
7 | Bell Hypoallergenic Mat & Soft Fluid | | A Matte-Finish Hypoallergenic Foundation at a Drugstore-Cost | |
8 | No7 Stay Perfect Foundation | | A Long-Lasting Liquid Foundation With a Natural Finish | |
9 | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Corrective Fluid Foundation | | ||
10 | Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation | | A Best-Selling Super Long Wear Liquid Foundation |
A Hypoallergenic Foundation That Will Improve Your Skin Tone
To add to this, there are 48 shades available, meaning there is a foundation shade to match the majority of skin tones. With no parabens or fragrance, this foundation is suitable for sensitive and allergy-prone skin as well as dry and oily skin types. We'd say a win-win.
bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation
A Cult-Favourite Mineral Powder Foundation For a No-Makeup Feel
If you want to try out a mineral powder foundation that will leave your skin healthy and happy, this is the way to go. Especially if you're new to using foundation, this is one of the most forgiving formulas to use.
A Liquid Foundation With Buildable Coverage and a Natural Result
Suitable for sensitive, dry, and oily skin, this foundation can be used to create a light coverage for good skin days or can be built up to create a heavier coverage in order to hide blemishes. However you apply it, this foundation is sure to leave your skin with a radiant glow.
A Natural-Finish Foundation for Combination Skin
Unfortunately, there are not that many shades compared to other hypoallergenic foundations. In addition, it only gives medium coverage, so it may not cover troubled skin sufficiently.
A Popular Super-Coverage Foundation That You Can Rely On
At over £30 it is on the pricey side, but worth it if you want reliable full coverage. Some have said that this foundation can be drying or hard to apply, so you may want to avoid it if you want an easy-to-use product or have particularly dry skin.
A High Coverage Foundation to Hide All Skin Problems
Unfortunately, some have complained that this product is too oily or gives breakouts, so you might want to avoid this foundation if you have oily or acne-prone skin. However, if you're on the drier side, this may be a good balancer for you, with claimed 16-hour coverage.
A Matte-Finish Hypoallergenic Foundation at a Drugstore-Cost
The consistency of this product is quite light, so some might find this does not cover their blemishes as much as they would like. In addition, it does contain the paraben methylparaben towards the bottom of the list; though even in small quantities, it might irritate super sensitive skin. Nevertheless, this is a brilliant product to try out if you want a budget hypoallergenic foundation.
A Long-Lasting Liquid Foundation With a Natural Finish
Although this foundation claims to be hypoallergenic, it does contain some parabens that might irritate hypersensitive skin. However, for its reasonable price point and staying power, we think it's worth a try.
La Roche-PosayToleriane Teint Corrective Fluid Foundation
This foundation from La Roche-Posay is specially formulated for sensitive and reactive skin; having been thoroughly dermatologically tested, it has the Seal of Approval from Allergy UK. With the brand's signature thermal spring water, it feels soothing to the skin and gives a semi-matte finish. It's buildable so can hide blemishes with high-coverage while not causing itchiness or redness.
Unfortunately, this foundation only has 6 shades so it may be hard for some to find a colour that suits them. But for a hypoallergenic and paraben-free product with a mineral SPF of 25, it's definitely worth using if you find your match!
A Best-Selling Super Long Wear Liquid Foundation
Although it has been tested successfully on sensitive skin, it contains alcohol denat which might irritate your skin. Considering the high price it may be a bit risky to try this product if your skin is extremely sensitive. However, if alcohol denat has not bothered your skin in the past and you want a long-wear foundation, give this one a go.
Tips for Using Foundation on Sensitive Skin
Before applying foundation, make sure that your skin is gently cleansed and moisturised in order to boost your skin’s defenses. If you prefer a light foundation coverage or your foundation contains no or little SPF, put on some sunscreen over your moisturiser to guarantee that your skin is protected. After your skin dries you might consider adding a primer in order to add extra moisture.
When you start using the foundation, make sure to apply gently in circular motions to avoid aggravating your skin. At the end of the day, always remove your foundation with a mild cleanser. Cream cleansers and cleansing waters are particularly good as they will remove all traces of makeup without drying out your skin.
Give Your Make Up Bag a Refresh With These Products
Looking for more foundations, powders, and concealers to add to your makeup bag? Look no further - we've already found some of the best products to buy online, so take a look!
Summary
Author: Brigid Bernard
Top 5 Hypoallergenic Foundations
No. 1: Clinique｜Even Better Makeup Foundation
No. 2: bareMinerals ｜Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation
No. 3: NARS｜Sheer Glow Foundation
No. 4: Clinique ｜Superbalanced Makeup Foundation
No. 5: Estée Lauder ｜Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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