The best makeup products for sensitive skin, tried and tested

The transformational power of makeup cannot be understated.

It’s almost miraculous how a coat of concealer, a swipe of mascara or a dab of lipstick can change your mood and give you a much-needed confidence boost.

But when you have easily irritated skin, this is not always the case and in fact, the opposite can be true. Instead of your foundation leaving a healthy glow and an even skin tone in its wake, the formulas may cause a flare-up where not even the fullest coverage product can counteract the redness and inflammation that it causes.

To prevent this, paying close attention to the products you are slathering onto your face and, more specifically, their ingredients is important.

Which makeup is good for sensitive skin?

According to Dr Aiza Jamil consultant dermatologist at sk:n clinics, look out for mineral makeup. She explains, “Mineral-based makeup products typically contain fewer ingredients overall and are less likely to clog pores and trigger inflammatory reactions”.

She adds, “Mineral-based makeup is hypoallergenic and a good choice for patients with sensitive skin such as contact dermatitis and other forms of eczema, and rosacea. Also, look for non-comedogenic and fragrance-free products as they are less irritant for skin”.

What ingredients should you look out for and what should you avoid when you have sensitive skin?

When filling your makeup bag with your new hero products, Dr Jamil advises you to look for words like “hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested and nickel-controlled”. Patch testing is worthwhile, and the expert says to “Test makeup on your neck to screen for reactions”.

Synthetic fragrances are a common cause of irritation as well as components that have been dubbed as nasties by clean beauty enthusiasts which include parabens, phthalates, petroleum, alcohol and SLS among other toxins.

The derm suggests looking out for “products with moisturising, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active ingredients to soothe skin, plus UV and pollution protection”. Think nourishing skincare-like ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, jojoba oil, vitamin E and niacinamide as well as soothing components like aloe vera to lessen the likelihood of a flare-up.

How to remove makeup for sensitive skin?

To dissolve stubborn makeup, avoid harsh components or extensive rubbing. Dr Jamil recommends micellar water instead. She explains, “Micellar water is a great universal makeup remover that can tackle eye makeup, lipstick and more, plus it's gentle on sensitive skin. Use it on a cotton pad to sweep away makeup before you cleanse your face”.

But for those with dry, sensitive complexions, she recommends “creamy, oil-based makeup removers that will be gentler on skin”.

Shop the best makeup for sensitive skin below

bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15

Powder foundations are not always ideal for dry skin as they can settle unnaturally, creating an uneven and patchy appearance - but not the Original Loose Powder Foundation from bareMinerals. This product earned our vote as the Top Pick mineral foundation for a reason. It is a lightweight texture that is free from any nasties or fillers that may cause a reaction to sensitive skin types. It forms a buildable veil over the complexion that disguises pores and imperfections without clogging and leading to further breakouts. This is a flawless filter in powdered form.

Buy now £36.50, Boots

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

As with the entirety of the bareMinerals range, this formula is kept clean, minimal and mineral-based to lessen the chances of it causing irritation to the skin. It’s a broad spectrum SPF30 protective product but what makes it stand out from the crowd is the gel-cream texture that is enriched with hydrating heroes like hyaluronic acid and olive-derived squalane that make it immediately cooling and refreshing as soon as it touches the skin - unusual for a suncream. That’s only where the benefits begin. It is clinically proven to then boost hydration on a longer-term basis, giving you dewy and supple radiance for up to 12 hours and without clogging pores or triggering breakouts.

Buy now £19.00, Cult Beauty

TARTE Tartelette™ In Bloom Clay Palette Multi + Net

While Tarte flirted with UK stockists like QVC, it has found a home at Sephora and we are grateful to have easy access to its pigmented performing range that includes the eyeshadow offering. The brand excels in neutrals and the Tartelette is a case in point. The 12-stong pan deserves its place in your makeup collection with its bronze and rosy hues. The shade are enriched with Amazonian clay that safeguard the shades for maximum staying power and ensures it won’t settle into creases.

Buy now £42.00, Sephora

Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer

LA-born label Kosas was founded by makeup artist Sheena Yaitanes to create cosmetics products that are kind to the complexion at the same time. The concealer applies with a light coverage effect to ensure that this is your skin - just clearer, brighter and plumper.

The ingredient line-up of caffeine, pink algae, arnica, peptides and good ‘ol hyaluronic acid work overtime to improve the quality of your complexion at the same time as offering the pigment power you’d hope for.

The creamy texture melts into the skin - even dry - without creasing, flaking or caking with a barely-there feel. No wonder it’s already had the seal of approval from Hailey Bieber to achieve her everyday makeup look.

There are 39 shades.

Buy now £26.00, Cult Beauty

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30

Though on the pricier end of the spectrum, Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint is certainly worth the investment. Non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive skin, this brilliant serum has been enriched with a trio of brilliant ingredients: niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid.

For fuller coverage, the brand’s True Skin Serum Foundation comes in 30 shades and combines skin-loving niacinamide and allantoin, the latter of which makes it ideal for sensitive skin.

Buy now £48.00, Ilia

Erborian Super BB Concealer-Serum

Leave skin-stressing, dryness-causing concealers behind, there are new formulations on the market that treat our complexions while working their concealing magic. Korean label Erborian is beloved for its skin-makeup hybrids and the new Super BB Concealer-Serum may overtake its CC Crème as your new favourite product.

As the name suggests, it was designed to act as a serum, brimming with potent ingredients like niacinamide and white ginseng complex to brighten and smooth skin as it imparts the tint. Apply on blemishes or dark circles and it nourishes without settling into fine lines. There is also SPF 25 for built-in protection.

Buy now £35.00, lookfantastic

Erborian CC Red Correct 45ml

The Erborian CC cream has long been considered a cult product and a not-so-well-kept secret in beauty editors’ makeup bags the world over. As a CC cream, it’s a skincare and cosmetic hybrid that has radiance-giving effects.

This is the Red Correct iteration where just one shade adapts to all skin tones to colour correct and calm redness. It achieves this through Centella Asiatica which is also known as tiger grass extract, green pigments, the antioxidant vitamin E and hydrating glycerin. The formula melts into the skin and leaves a matte finish. Your complexion feels silky soft too.

The Korean label favours only essential ingredients without the inclusion of sulfates, parabens, or any other nasties.

Buy now £36.40, Amazon

Dr Jart+ BB Premium Beauty Balm SPF50

Just one pump of the Dr Jart+ newly launched BB cream is all you need for good coverage across the complexion. The brand, known for its innovative colour-correcting products, has knocked it out of the park with this latest formulation that puts niacinamide at the heart to give you a makeup-skincare hybrid product with buildable coverage. The creamy texture glides across the skin, evening out the complexion and leaving a flawless filter-like finish.

See our full review here

Buy now £29.60, Cult Beauty

Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara

Tower 28 is a clean makeup label that has landed on UK soil from LA. While the full collection is not yet available - and that includes this mascara - you can snap it up at Revolve and get in on the irritant and allergy-free action.

The brand was founded to bring playful, creative products to those who, like founder Amy Liu, suffer from sensitivities and eczema. As such, this mascara is a soothing, vegan, toxin and cruelty-free formula that is hypoallergenic and does not contain essential oils or synthetic fragrances.

It’s a volumising and lengthening eye product that gives smudge-free results, is water-resistant and is safe for contact lens wearers. Whether you’re looking for a natural beauty look and just apply a few coats or want bigger, bolder lashes, it’s buildable without clumping.

Buy now £20.00, Revolve

Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil in Black Honey

Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick was an instant TikTok sensation and over the last six months (and 700 million views later), one has sold every five minutes at Boots.

The label has revamped the formula, offering the universally-flattering adapting pop of colour that has earned its predecessor its popularity but in lip oil form so you get a nourishing coat of safflower and jojoba oil.

Buy now £23.50, Boots

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream

Best for: Colour-correcting foundation

Colour-correcting creams or CC creams (as they are better known) are designed to give you both all-over coverage and colour-correcting benefits to even out skin tone. And there’s a reason this much-loved formula is the number one bestselling CC cream in both the UK and the US.

It provides a full, natural-looking coverage that camouflages the look of dark circles, dark spots, redness and scarring as well as boosting radiance. What’s more, this is multitasking at its finest with skin-loving ingredients that help it act as a hydrating serum for the skin with the likes of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin E, as well as offering SPF50 for vital UV protection. Plus, it now comes in an extended shade range.

Buy now £30.40, lookfantastic

MERIT Beauty Shade Slick Gelées

Best for: juicy lips

Minimalistic makeup label MERIT made a splash on UK soil last month and is already expanding its collection. The Shade Slick Gelées is your first stop for juicy lips. The gloss brings a sheer finish without any of the stickiness typically associated with 90s iterations of this product type. Ingredients like squalane and quinoa seed oil show the brand’s skin-first approach and inject parched pouts with moisture while protecting against external aggressors that can disrupt the barrier function. There are four shades; Jeté, Le Deux, Maraschino and Mapleton which offer a very subtle wash of colour.

Buy now £26.00, MERIT Beauty

Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield Flex

Recommended by dermatologists, Colorescience specialises in mineral SPFs, skincare and makeup - and hybrids of all three. The Total Protection Face Shield Flex is one of the bestselling products in the collection and comes in three shades; Fair, Medium and Tan.

It is brimming with antioxidant broad-spectrum protection to shield the complexion from harmful UV rays, external aggressors, Blue Light and even infrared radiation with factor 50. The formula can be applied by all skin types thanks to the mineral composition that shouldn’t irritate those with sensitivities. The subtle wash of colour brings a natural glow and uniformity to uneven skin tones.

Buy now £38.00, Face the Future

Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR CC Cream Zinc SPF 30

This multitasking product is one of the heroes in the Juice Beauty offering and delivers 12 benefits in just one squeeze. First and foremost, it’s a colour-correcting formula that comes in eight colourways that require an understanding of undertones (and helpfully the brand decodes what that means in a clear graphic that encourages you to pay attention to your skin’s reaction after sun exposure).

Alongside evening out the complexion, the Stem Cellular can double up as sun protection, shielding against harmful rays with a reef-friendly mineral composition that is free from silicones or chemicals like oxybenzone. You will also find it leaves you with a healthy glow, minimises the appearance of fine lines, smoothes the skin and can replace your traditional base makeup. The composition contains no nasties like parabens or synthetic fragrances and uses only organic ingredients.

Buy now £32.00, Juice Beauty

Jane Iredale SPF 20 UVA/UVB PA++ Compact Powder Mineral Foundation

This pressed powder is what has earned Jane Iredale rave reviews from sensitive skin types. The clean makeup label creates the foundation using micronized minerals that call on nourishing and antioxidant-rich ingredients like pomegranate extract and pine bark extract to fortify the skin from environmental stressors. This is all while including SPF20, which is always welcomed but should be layered over a higher-factor suncream.

There are 12 shades which come as refills that easily slot in and out of the reusable compact to save on packaging waste. It acts as a weightless finish on the skin, perfecting the complexion with a barely-there feel.

Buy now £33.99, Amazon

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