13 Best BB Creams for Acne-Prone Skin (2021 Reviews)

Maybelline is generally considered one of the most trustworthy brands in the beauty world. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to see their BB cream right at the top of my list as one of the best BB creams for acne-prone skin.

The multifunctional, 8-in-1 beauty balm is oil-free, non-comedogenic, and gentle enough not to cause irritation or clog your pores. Even more so, it contains 2-percent salicylic acid, which is a vital ingredient for fighting acne and preventing breakouts.

So, not only does this BB cream help hydrate your skin and reduce the appearance of pores and imperfections but acts as your acne-fighting ally, too!

The light coverage and a matte finish will give you a healthy-looking, refreshed complexion with each application, but the best part is that daily use can clear your skin!

I’m a bit of a skeptic regarding claims of “blur effects” in beauty and makeup products – but I’m happy to admit that this oil-free La Roche-Posay BB cream proved me wrong.

It’s specially formulated for oily skin, and since it’s fragrance- and paraben-free, as well as non-comedogenic, it’s perfectly suitable for easily irritated acne-prone skin.

The mousse-like consistency won’t clog your pores while delivering an almost instant improvement in the appearance of blemishes and pores.

The hard-working formula is an excellent choice for sticky summer months when excess sebum seems to be at its worst since it contains airlicium – a cutting-edge skin-smoothing ingredient that absorbs a staggering 150 times its weight in oil.

If that’s not enough to keep shine under control and ensure a matte finish, I’m not sure what is.

Clinique is a well-known brand – and a highly-rated one – and while this it’s relatively pricey, it’s also a multifunctional formula specifically developed to target oily and acne-prone skin. And yes, it’s worth every penny!

This one-step wonder delivers a flawless, matte finish, protects your skin from UV damage with the SPF 40 sun protection, and provides enough coverage to hide imperfections, and minimize pores and redness, while also retaining a lightweight feel.

The oil-free, long-lasting formula ensures a smooth, beautiful finish for up to 12 hours, without feeling chalky or drying out your skin, as some other makeup products with a matte finish do. Most importantly, though, it won’t clog your pores.

Whether you have hormonal breakouts or adult acne, this is one of the best BB creams for concealing – and healing – your problematic skin!

Another BB cream that’s highly suitable for acne-prone skin is the Pore Clearing Petit BB cream coming from one of Korea’s top beauty brands, Holika Holika.

There’s something very different about this multifunctional BB cream, though:

It doesn’t take care of your complexion by merely covering up imperfections, blemishes, and spots; it fights the root cause of these skin problems, instead. Each application takes you one step closer to radiant, supple, and clear complexion.

The secret is in the tea tree oil extract, which has anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory, and is your biggest ally in fighting off acne. At the same time, the addition of the sebum-control powder helps keep excess oil under control, leaving you with a semi-matte, silky-smooth finish.

Plus, it prevents UV damage with the SPF 30 sun protection!

This BB cream formula is fine-tuned to be suitable for all skin types and everyday use, free of harsh chemicals, and packed with essential skin-nourishing ingredients, including chamomile and other herbal extracts that soothe the skin and create a radiant complexion.

Oh, and it’s vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, too!

It glides on your skin much like tinted moisturizers do, and blends easily, while also offering additional skin-perfecting benefits, including anti-aging, coverage, and SPF 30 sun protection. As for the finish, the Purlisse BB cream seems to be where matte meets dewy.

The inclusive, eight-shade range took me by surprise. BB creams typically come with limited shade ranges, so Purlisse certainly takes the cake there.

In short, if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, this one’s got you with its natural, hypoallergenic formula and nourishing ingredients.

The Bella Terra’s 1.69 ounces of pure skin-perfecting wonder – and if you’re willing to pay a bit more, I’m sure that you’re going to love it, too.

This mineral-based, hypoallergenic BB cream is formulated without any harsh chemicals or fragrances that would aggravate your skin or clog your pores, which makes it suitable for all skin types – including sensitive, acne-prone skin.

It’s a skin moisturizer and a concealer, with added anti-aging ingredients, all in one. Even more so, it helps you get a handle on skin problems such as rosacea, dry patches, excess sebum, acne scars, and breakouts.

It conceals while it heals!

The best part is that this lightweight formula lets your skin shine through, while still concealing blemishes and imperfections, leaving you with a natural, radiant complexion and a nearly-matte, satin finish.

If you have acne-prone skin, the chances are that your appearance would benefit from a bit more color-correcting properties than a typical BB cream can offer. That brings me to my next choice – the Supergoop! Daily Correct CC cream.

The brand’s more known for sunscreen and skincare products, but this CC cream did deliver on its promise to change the way we all think about sunscreen, acting as a concealer, foundation, and sunscreen, all in one:

The formula boasts 100-percent mineral sun protection with an SPF 35, which will protect your skin from UV rays.

At the same time, though, it doesn't skimp out on color-correction, coverage, or nourishing ingredients, including apple extract, vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate, and Omega-3 and Omega-6.

They all work together to reduce hyperpigmentation and keep your skin smooth and hydrated.

SKIN79 is a Korean brand that seems to have a product for every skin type – and skin care concern – in the book. And for those who have oily or acne-prone skin, this triple-function Pink BB could be the answer.

The “triple-action” part comes from the fact that this BB cream combines anti-aging and skin-whitening ingredients with the SPF 30 UV protection.

The long-lasting formula is lightweight and creamy, which ensures effortless application and absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving you with natural-looking, light coverage.

It brightens the appearance of dull skin, reduces oiliness, and ensures a matte finish. 

Also, can we all take a moment to admire the lovely packaging of the SKIN79 BB cream? It’s not only cute but handy – a whole lot more hygienic, too.

“Hypoallergenic. Dermatologist approved. Gluten-free.” You couldn’t miss the main selling points of this BB cream, even if you tried. It’s a revolutionary formula made with 100-percent natural, organic, skin-nourishing ingredients – and it’s proud of it!

A bit of coconut water here, a few botanical extracts there, and you get a hydrating, nourishing cream packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for radiant and healthy-looking skin.

Also, I love the light coconut scent – it’s a beautiful, subtle touch that instantly makes me think of warm, summer nights!

The texture of the cream is thick and creamy, but surprisingly enough, it still applies and spreads quickly and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, leaving a dewy, rather than matte, finish. I did notice that it works much better on well-hydrated skin, though.

The COVERGIRL Clean Matte BB cream was specifically created for oily, acne-prone skin, with a formulation that evens out skin tone, masks blemishes, blends smoothly, and delivers a matte, shine-free finish.

The formula is smooth and has a creamy, but not overly runny consistency. Furthermore, it’s water-based and oil-free, lightweight, and surprisingly breathable, which ensures two things:

First off, it doesn’t feel “heavy” on the skin, and since it’s non-comedogenic, it won’t clog your pores. Secondly, it leaves your skin with a light-as-air feel and a clean, natural look.

The coverage is light, but it’s more than enough to even out your skin tone, conceal imperfections, and keep shine under control without drying out your skin. The best part is that it’s buildable, depending on how much – or how little – you need.

Radiant, nourished, and oil-free – that would be the best way to describe the effect that this 5-in-1 Garnier SkinActive BB cream will have on your skin. And I’m not just saying that either – this formula targets oily and combination, as well as acne-prone skin specifically.

But in a typical Garnier manner, the focus is on more than hiding imperfections and achieving a flawless complexion; nourishing and helping the skin is what matters most.

That’s why this BB cream is packed with beneficial ingredients, including mineral perlite and antioxidants, and sun protection – albeit limited to SPF 15.

The multi-functionality here is outstanding, as it combines five skin-perfecting benefits in one oil-free BB cream formula:

It ensures 24-hour hydration, minimizes your pores, evens out your skin tone, offers sun protection, and, most importantly, keeps your complexion shine-free.

Another multifunctional, all-in-one BB cream formula that might be worth considering if you have acne-prone skin turned out to be a highly popular Korean BB cream for oily skin, too.

Yes, I’m talking about EVERGLAM’s K-Beauty Skin Perfector BB cream.

It offers a combination of hydration, nourishment, shine control, and skin tone enhancing, acting as a concealer, moisturizer, and SPF 30 sunscreen, all in one. If you’re going for a flawless but natural look, this wonder cream is the way to go.

The lightweight formula blends quickly, and has a soft, non-oily consistency, and provides enough coverage to conceal imperfections, reduce redness, and minimize pores for a refreshed, silky-smooth complexion.

Plus, it has a rejuvenating, anti-aging effect that improves your skin’s elasticity and firmness thanks to the addition of botanical extracts.

Sometimes, it’s worth paying a bit more, even more so when it means that you’re getting one of the best Korean beauty balms for acne-prone skin on the market.

It’s a specialty product that offers much of the same multi-functionality that’s seen in other BB creams, combining skincare and makeup in one easy-to-apply beauty balm.

Peppermint, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, jasmine, and hibiscus are all found in this BB cream as ingredients that calm irritation and keep oiliness under control.

The coverage is medium at best, but it still manages to blur out large pores – especially the stubborn ones around your nose – and leave you with a moisturized, matte finish.

Also, I’m happy to report that, besides hiding imperfections and blemishes, it also protects your skin from sun damage with an SPF 30 broad-spectrum protection.