Rosacea Makeup Tips

Rosacea, a chronic inflammation of the skin, is characterized by small, pus-filled bumps, visible small blood vessels and redness on the skin of the face, particularly the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose. Although rosacea has no cure, according to the Mayo Clinic, your dermatologist can prescribe medication and counsel you about lifestyle changes to help control the symptoms.  Rosacea sufferers should take special care in purchasing and applying makeup to minimize symptoms and avoid worsening their condition.

1.     Skin Preparation

Before applying makeup, cleanse and moisturize the skin with gentle products appropriate for your skin type. Rosacea-affected skin requires careful handling, since it is easily irritated. Avoid pulling or rubbing the skin with washcloths, towels or cleansing wipes.

2.     Ingredients

Products containing acids, alcohol or other irritating ingredients can make rosacea worse. Even though a product may be advertised as reducing redness, it could actually aggravate your skin problems unless it is specifically formulated for rosacea. Look for hypoallergenic products, and avoid those products with scent, as they can irritate sensitive skin. To avoid any further worsening of rosacea, be sure to use products that contain UVA/UVB protection.

3.     Base

A sheer green-tinted base can help to counteract the redness caused by rosacea. It also helps to smooth out skin tone, allows for easy makeup application and increases makeup’s staying power.

4.     Foundation

Rosacea sufferers should use an oil-free foundation that won’t aggravate sensitive skin or encourage the development of pimples. Look for a product with the degree of coverage you require–a light foundation may be all you need if you have have mild rosacea, while you may need a heavier cream to conceal moderate to severe rosacea. Try to match your skin’s natural color as closely as possible. The National Rosacea Society suggests applying foundation with an antibacterial foundation brush rather than your fingers, which can add grease to your skin, or a sponge, which is too rough for sensitive skin.

5.     Concealer

Concealer should be just one shade lighter than your natural skin tone. After dotting concealer under the eye, gently blend from the inner corner of they eye to the outer edge. You can also dot concealer on and around bumps and noticeable blood vessels, then gently blend and cover with foundation to even out tone. Just as with foundation, you may want to use an antibacterial brush rather than your fingers.

6.     Mineral Powders

Mineral powder makeup products can be a real boon to rosacea sufferers. They contain no oils or other potentially irritating ingredients, and unlike most other foundations, are meant to be applied with a brush rather than fingers or a sponge applicator. Some mineral powders are yellow-toned, especially intended to tone down redness.

7.     Eyes, Lips and Blusher

More severe forms of rosacea can affect the eyes as well as the skin, so if you use eye makeup, be sure to look for products that are hypoallergenic and that wash off easily without any rubbing or scrubbing. Use a mascara that is easily removable with a warm water rinse. Light-colored eye shadows have less pigment and may be less irritating that those with dark pigments. Keep color on the lips light and sheer; a bright red lipstick only calls attention to red, irritated skin. Since redness is already noticeable with rosacea, apply blusher sparingly, if at all.