Three Make-up Brands PERFECT for Rosacea
Finding a good brand of make-up for Rosacea isn’t as straightforward as it seems. There’s more to it than just “covering up redness” which admittedly I thought was the only thing to worry about when I was first diagnosed 5 years ago. There are other issues the make-up needs to address:
Will it provide full coverage?
Will it last all day?
Is it smudge proof?
Is it going to hide or highlight the rough, dry flakey patches of skin?
But the biggest test a good make-up brand for rosacea needs to pass is this: Will it make my rosacea worse?
There are a TON of great make-up options that meet criteria 1-4, but it’s taken me years of trial and error to find the ones that don’t make my rosacea worse. A good place to start when selecting make-up is to know your triggers and then familiarize yourself with the ingredients list. Fragrance, for example, is a big trigger for me and it is often found in many foundations.
SOME COMMON INGREDIENTS THAT CAUSE FLARE-UPS (A.K.A. AVOID MAKE-UP IF IT HAS THESE!)
According to the National Rosacea Society many patients cited the following ingredients as triggers for irritation:
alcohol (66%)
witch hazel (30%)
fragrance (30%)
menthol (21%)
peppermint (14%)
eucalyptus oil (13%)
Additionally, ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil, talc, and even some minerals in mineral make-up can make rosacea worse, not better, and certainly not well hidden! So, with all of this in mind, what IS a good make-up brand to start with? Below are my top three picks (at different price points) that work well on my skin.
Disclaimer: You should always test a new make-up on a small section of your skin for a few days to see if it causes irritation. These suggestions work for MY skin, but may not work for yours. Also none of these products are sponsored. I just love them. :)
Three Make-up Brands PERFECT for Rosacea
ONE: MAYBELLINE SUPERSTAY FULL COVERAGE MAKE-UP (Price point $)
When I’m not having a major flare-up, I like to save money on my foundation while still maintaining quality coverage. Maybelline is practically the only drugstore brand of make-up that doesn’t irritate my skin. Elf and Revlon come close, but the coverage and staying power just aren’t there. My all-time favorite of Maybelline is their Superstar Full Coverage Make-up. It reminds me a lot of the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation (which unfortunately breaks me out) in that it looks the same as it did when you applied it at the end of the day - no setting powder or primer required!
This make-up is a great option if:
you need a great foundation on a budget
want something that lasts all day
need a more minimal make-up routine (you don’t need primer or setting powder with this foundation)
you need to cover a lot of redness with little layers required
Want a visual of how to apply this foundation? Then you might also like:
TWO: IT COSMETICS “YOUR SKIN BUT BETTER” CC+ CREAM (Price point $$)
This is my holy grail when it comes to covering rosacea flare-ups without adding to the irritation. It’s definitely more pricey than Maybelline, but the extra cost is worth it. For one thing, there is added skincare to the make-up. All the foundations have SPF included, moisturizing ingredients to soothe rough and dry patches, and they are all designed to reduce the appearance of scars and large pores. My favorite (and I’ve used ALOT of IT’s products) is their “Your Skin But Better” CC+ Cream. I only need one layer and very minimal concealing. A setting powder isn’t necessary, but if you have oily skin or T-Zone then you might need one to avoid creasing.
This make-up is a great option if:
You actively have a bad Rosacea flare-up
Rough, dry patches
Need something with extra skincare added to help sooth your skin
Want a visual of how to apply this foundation? Then you might also like:
THREE: RMS “UN” COVER-UP CREAM FOUNDATION (Price point $$$)
I recently conducted a poll on Instagram asking what your favorite make-up brands are and there was a surprisingly large percentage of you who recommended the RMS “Un” Cover-Up line. After doing a little more research, I can definitely see why. For a non-toxic, all natural line of make-up, it has a lot to offer on par with it’s conventional competitors. Available in 16 shades, it helps improve tone, texture, hydration, and overall radiance as you wear it.
Now, FULL DISCLOSURE: I have not yet tried this foundation. It’s one that I am currently testing out and hope to have a review of in the coming months. But since so many have recommended it to me recently, I figured it was worth a mention.
This is a great make-up option if:
you’re not on a budget
want something non-toxic, cruelty free, and non GMO
need a creamy medium to full coverage foundation
Want a visual of how to apply full-coverage foundation? Then you might also like: