The Best Makeup Products For People With Rosacea

Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

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Using a bunch of makeup products to cover up rosacea seems to be the easiest way out of facial redness. However, there’s this dilemma we face every time we want to put makeup on. On the one hand, you want to cancel out redness using foundation, concealer, or whatever is necessary. And on the other hand, the products you use always carry the potential to make things worse!

But don’t give up just yet. Whether you’re new to makeup or your current products aren’t working for your skin, I’ve got the inspo you need! I’ve gathered my all-time favorite makeup products to use on rosacea skin so you can color up your face, cheeks, and eyes without aggravating redness.

Rosacea is incredibly personal. The level of redness and sensitivity you deal with change. And this affects what you expect from makeup too. But some things are universal. And that’s the fact that we need gentler products. Whether you need a bronzer, a powder, or concealer, below are the best makeup products for rosacea.

Makeup Products for Rosacea

1. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

We all expect different things from our foundation depending on our condition and our desire for coverage. But this foundation stands on a neutral spot: neither too heavy nor too light. It’s a skincare-infused serum formula and a super gentle foundation for people with rosacea. It has light-medium coverage with a subtly radiant finish.

It’s fragrance-free and oil-free, making it suitable for use on acne rosacea too. It has mineral sunscreen for gentle sun protection. Plus, it hydrates with hyaluronic acid and squalane to avoid leaving the skin flaky. If you depend only on your foundation for coverage, this won’t give you that flawless base. But if you use a primer or color-correct in advance, it might as well.

Coverage: Light
Finish: Radiant
Shades: 30
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free

2. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

This is, without a doubt, the best green-tinted thing you could ever put on your face. The treatment is an amazing primer for rosacea and reduces your reliance on foundation significantly! It’s made with Centella Asiatica to calm redness and soothe the skin and has mineral sunscreen. It comes out as a thick cream and spreads out nicely.

It adapts to your skin tone, leaving the skin even and matte. It cancels out any redness on the skin and the under-eye area! But this is a multi-tasker! In addition to working as a color-correcting primer, it doubles as a foundation and has quite a good coverage too! You can pair it with a full-coverage foundation for a completely flawless, smooth base and even reduce the look of pores.

Related: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 Review

Ingredients: Centella Asiatica, niacinamide, mineral SPF
Finish: Matte
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml

3. BareMinerals Mineral Veil Talc Free Setting Powder

BareMinerals Mineral Veil Talc Free Setting Powder - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

This practically weightless, ultra-fine translucent powder is one of the best makeup products for rosacea. Even though we’re always advised to keep makeup products to a minimum, we want to look our best with an airbrushed finish every now and then. When that’s the case, this powder comes in handy.

It extends the wear of your foundation while also coating the skin to smooth everything out. Plus, it absorbs oil, reduces shine, and makes your base sweat-proof too. The mineral powder comes in radiant and matte finishes to help both oily and dry skin types.

Finish: Matte, radiant
Shades: 4
Size: 0.3 oz/8.5 gr
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

4. Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser

Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

If you have ocular rosacea, then you know how the eyes get watery even at the mere sight of an eye makeup product. However, an under-eye concealer is a staple in any makeup routine, including rosacea. And a formula like this one can make you skip foundation! This is a natural-finish, full-coverage concealer that instantly brightens the eyes.

When I use it on my face, it even covers up my redness! The fragrance-free formula is buildable and the perfect high-coverage concealer for rosacea and sensitive eyes. It has a sponge applicator tip for convenient application and stays put for a long time without creasing! It feels incredibly light and looks super natural no matter where you apply it on your face.

Coverage: Full
Finish: Natural
Shades: 32
Size: 0.2 oz/6 ml
Good To Know: Paraben-free, fragrance-free

5. Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear Eyeliner

Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear Eyeliner - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

I know that Lancome isn’t widely known for being the most hypoallergenic makeup brand. But for those of you who can’t stand smudged eyeliner and need that jet-black, perfectly defined eyes, this is absolutely amazing. And don’t worry, it’s gentle too! It’s an eyeliner pencil with a slightly creamy texture.

So it applies more easily than liquid eyeliner. It has a matte finish and once it dries down, it is there all day! It’s waterproof and smudge-proof and I’m not just saying that. I tightline my eyes and bring the pencil closer to my inner corners. That’s where a typical pencil would build up and smear. This does not! If you’re into colorful looks, there are other shades available too.

Finish: Matte
Shades: 8
Size: 0.42 oz/12 gr
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, paraben-free, waterproof

6. Clinique High Impact Mascara

Clinique High Impact Mascara - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

Similarly, a hypoallergenic mascara will make eye makeup a breeze for people with sensitive eyes. And using a fragrance-free mascara like this one is a good start if you want to avoid watery eyes. The volumizing formula colors up individual lashes pretty nicely.

It allows you to build volume without drying too fast. But that also means the application can get tricky. So build slowly and avoid getting any mascara very close to your roots, which might turn on the waterworks.

Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can try their new High Impact Hi-Fi Full Volume Mascara which is even more pigmented and great for amazing volume as good as faux lashes!

Shades: Black, brown
Size: 0.28 oz/8 gr
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, paraben-free

7. Nars Liquid Blush

Nars Liquid Blush - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

Well, we cancel out the redness on our skin so that we can put back the redness of our choice. Because let’s face it, rosacea redness doesn’t make the most flattering flush of color on the cheeks. If you’re struggling to wear blush with rosacea, this one makes it incredibly easy for you. This is a liquid blush with a runny texture. It’s very pigmented and for fellow rosacea sufferers with fair skin tones, the shade Orgasm is simply exquisite.

It’s a nice peachy pink with a radiant finish and it makes it look like you’re wearing blush and highlighter. It blends seamlessly into the skin and lasts long even if you don’t use a setting spray! It doesn’t move your foundation either. I apply it using an angled blush brush for more precise application but it applies easily with fingers too!

Quick Tip: If you don’t like liquid blushes or you’re prone to breakouts, try Nars Powder Blush. You’ll find the shade Orgasm in there too but the shade Torrid is equally flattering on fair skin tones and lasts just as long!

Finish: Radiant
Shades: 4
Size: 0.5 oz/15 ml
Good To Know: Paraben-free, fragrance-free

8. Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer

Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer - Best Makeup Products For Rosacea

If you’re not into blush, you can try a bronzer to freshen up the complexion or sculpt the face. I prefer cream bronzers because I think they look more natural. It’s also easy to apply a cream bronzer with fingertips and achieve a sun-kissed glow. And I can’t get enough of this!

Its creamy texture looks natural and is a lifesaver for people with rosacea who are dealing with dry, flaky skin. That skin simply doesn’t get along with powder formulations as powder clings onto dry patches. The buttery formula melts into the complexion and gives you a natural, radiant tan on the cheeks.

Quick Tip: A shimmery bronzer is not for everyone. If you prefer something you can wear in summer and winter and both as a bronzer and contour, try a more versatile powder bronzer with a matte finish such as Benefit Hoola Bronzer.

Finish: Radiant
Shades: 5
Size: 0.158 oz/4.5 gr
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan

9. Wander Beauty Double Date Lip and Cheek

Wander Beauty Double Date Lip and Cheek

If you’d like to try the latest trend of using over-achieving products that multi-task big time, then try this one. It’s a dual balm, one clear and another pigmented one, that goes onto the eyes, the cheeks, and the lips. These types of products pair incredibly well with a light base.

You can use it with a CC cream or a tinted moisturizer to achieve the ultimate dewy skin with a luminous finish. You can moisturize the lips with the balm or even use it as a highlighter. Or you can achieve a monochromatic look by coloring up your cheeks, eyes, and lips. The skin-loving formula is basically a pigmented balm you can safely use on rosacea skin.

Finish: Radiant
Shades: 4
Size: 2×0.07 oz
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan-friendly

So these are the makeup products for rosacea that I can swear by. If you’re new to makeup or new to rosacea and don’t know what type of makeup products to use and how to choose, no worries. Keep reading for things to keep in mind.

How to Choose Makeup Products When You Have Rosacea

1. Choose Gentle Formulations

First things first, opt for overall gentle makeup products that don’t contain irritants that might cause rosacea flare-ups. Go for alcohol-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free makeup products, especially when it comes to base makeup like foundation and tinted moisturizer. Personally, I don’t mind fragrance in makeup. But it’s a very common rosacea trigger.

2. Look for Skin-Friendly Ingredients

Whether it’s your concealer or bronzer, having skin-friendly ingredients in your makeup products is always a plus. For example, a complexion product like a foundation can help reduce redness if it contains Centella Asiatica or green tea. A hydrating under-eye concealer made with hyaluronic acid can reduce flaky skin under the eyes too.

3. Avoid Comedogenic Makeup

If you have oily, acne-prone skin or you’re dealing with acne rosacea, go for non-comedogenic makeup products. They are usually oil-free and don’t make acne worse. Pay extra attention to this when it comes to using products that stay longer on your skin such as foundation.

4. Ensure Easy Removal

Easy application is a bonus but you need to ensure your makeup products are easy to remove too. This is important especially when it comes to choosing an eyeliner or a mascara for rosacea. You don’t want something that’s difficult to remove as it will require a lot of rubbing and possibly lead to irritation.

How to Apply Makeup on Rosacea Skin

Start with Skincare

Remember that your skin is more important than your makeup. So before anything else, start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Layer your toner, and serum, and moisturize your skin well. This prevents that flaky foundation look. If it’s daytime, finish your routine with sunscreen.

Use Multi-Taskers

If you don’t like applying a lot of base makeup, you can make use of multi-tasking products. For example, you can try color correctors, CC creams, or tinted primers to neutralize redness in this step. This way, you may not even need foundation or need very little amounts.

Apply in Layers

I’ve seen that my makeup looks better when I apply it in layers. For example, instead of slathering on the foundation and hoping for the best, I apply a few tiny dots of it across my face. I blend it before applying more. This way, I can control how much product I need and I don’t use any more than necessary. This prevents that heavy, cakey look, and concealer creasing.

Be Gentle with Makeup Application

Whether you’re using your fingers, brushes, or sponges, remember to be gentle while applying makeup on sensitive, rosacea skin. Even the way you apply your makeup can make you look red. Do it in slow, dabbing motions.

Remove Makeup Properly

It’s very important to keep your skin clean and properly remove your makeup because leaving it on can lead to sensitivity and even congested skin. You can try double cleansing with an oil-based cleanser or check out my top picks for makeup removers for rosacea, but either way, don’t sleep with makeup on.

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