Introducing Clear Coverage: A New Approach to Makeup for Acne-Prone Skin

Makeup carries that vital mix of self-indulgence, self-care and self-expression. Whatever look you conjure up before heading out, you help frame the day exactly as you want it and show the world who you are. But regardless of which shades you reach for, healthy skin fits any look—and when you're confronted by blemishes, creating a clear base to work from is easier said than done.

Neutrogena^® set out to confront breakouts with an inclusive line of products that goes beyond concealing to reveal skin at its best.

Neutrogena^® always starts with a why. Each product stems from a problem: What concern are people facing that Neutrogena^® can help solve? It was that thinking that led to the creation of the Clear Coverage line.

"Clear Coverage is a makeup line I've personally been passionate about from both a makeup perspective and skincare perspective," says Neutrogena^® Brand Manager Stacey Williams. "Neutrogena^® is a skincare-first brand. Our brand delivers makeup fueled by skincare, and in this case specifically a product line that was developed with dermatologists."

The line took its cues from the experts. A panel of dermatologists identified critical skin-nourishing ingredients like niacinamide and sidelined parabens and sulfates to ensure the makeup is as gentle as it is versatile.

"Parabens, phthalates and sulfates are all ingredients that consumers are typically aware of and have questions about regarding safety," says Williams.

That's why Neutrogena^® is committed to formulating products without parabens and sulfates. Parabens are used as artificial preservatives to extend the shelf life of cosmetic products. The Clear Coverage line also steers clear of oil and fragrances, so the formulation remains gentle for acne-prone skin.

Clear Coverage delivers on the Neutrogena^® mission to ensure beautiful skin that lives beyond the moment. Makeup shouldn't just conceal the skin — it should work with the skin's natural properties. Neutrogena^® created Clear Coverage to target the skin of those most likely to develop acne-prone skin, Gen Z and millennials, and make it easy to cover breakouts and support healthy looking skin at the same time.

"These consumers don't look for their makeup to treat their acne; they're looking for their makeup to give them benefits — whether it's mattifying, shine control, full coverage, a lightweight feel, or noncomedogenic, all while being gentle to their skin," says Williams.

Covering up acne shouldn't come at the expense of a natural-feeling base. Clear Coverage keeps skin looking and feeling fresh with makeup that's gentle.

"This line is prestige-inspired, and developed with the help of dermatologists," says Williams.

The Clear Coverage line features three core products, all of which are designed with acne-prone skin in mind. They are formulated with niacinamide (vitamin B3) and are free from oil, fragrance, parabens, SLS/SLES sulfates and phthalates.

• Clear Coverage Color Correcting Concealers: A trio of shades work together to create an even base for makeup. A green concealer helps reduce redness while two peach concealers target discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and skin imperfections. A lighter peach works on lighter to medium skin tones, and the deeper peach is ideal for medium to deep skin tones.
• Clear Coverage Flawless Matte CC Cream: This full-coverage formula is lightweight, buildable and color-correcting to help conceal skin imperfections, correct redness, and hide blemishes. It provides full coverage without feeling cakey and heavy.
• Clear Coverage Color Correcting Compact: The compact features duo yellow and green powder pigments to color correct as well as control shine and set makeup in place.

To get the most out of the Clear Coverage line, Williams suggests dabbing on a small amount of the concealers, applying the CC cream, and then finishing with the powder.

The line will launch alongside a new initiative that aims to make Neutrogena^® products accessible to a wider range of people. The For People With Skin^® campaign aligns with Clear Coverage to expand the Neutrogena^® shade range to be more inclusive for all—whether acne-prone skin is a concern or not, says Williams.

"Acne is something that consumers of all skin tones and colors are affected by, and hyperpigmentation is something that deeper skin tones have challenges with, according to our research," says Williams.

The initial launch features 12 Clear Coverage CC Cream shades, ranging from deeper to fairer skin tones. But it was important for the line to ultimately be more accessible. Again, the team turned to an expert. Yolonda Frederick has worked as a makeup artist for Black clientele for decades and is an experienced mixologist, ready to mix and match different foundation shades to work for any skin tone.

"She helped us fill in the gaps in undertones by adding more warm, peach, olive and cool undertones for a broader skin range," says Williams. "We also wanted to make sure the concealers were addressing that variability of all skin tones."

Frederick collaborated with Neutrogena^® to develop 22 additional shades that will launch Fall 2021.

In addition to the Neutrogena Mask iD™, coming soon, Williams highlights the exciting innovations Neutrogena^® is exploring.

"There's a lot happening within the Neutrogena^® brand, and when you think about acne, it's not just one-solution-treats-all," says Williams. "With our Skin360™app, consumers can get a personalized at-home skin assessment and receive specific recommendations on what products to use — from cleansers to moisturizers to SPF to acne treatments to makeup — for a routine that fits their needs."

"Neutrogena^® as a brand is looking to make skin expertise more accessible, and dermatologist-grade ingredients accessible, to all people," says Williams. "That's what's really exciting about what we're doing in the future."