I am a rosacea sufferer and I know how hard it can be to cover that redness! I wrote a whole blog post about my experience of rosacea and how I have it all pretty low key with treatment. I know how I searched the internet for things to cover the red, so I wanted to give back and say about what I’ve found. And what works! I’ve tried to cover my worst flare ups and also looked for ways to tone down my everyday but I am not about the full coverage foundation life. It’s just not me. I never wore any kind of base until I hit my 30’s and full cover just never feels right on me. Even if you are a full coverage kind of person, there are some tips and products here that will make life easier. But if you want to cover the redness but let your skin shine, this is for you! These are the things that I have tried and found to be good. I really hope that some of the things I list here help but I know that we are all different and not everything that works for me, will work for you…
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturiser with SPF15
I have a larger skincare system but I start everyday with moisturiser. This is my go to daily moisturizer because it has a slight shimmer that brightens up my skin and it has SPF15. The SPF is important, I’m okay with having this as my only sun protection if I’m only walking to and from the car. Any more exposure and I need more coverage. I find this works well under all my makeup choices and isn’t too greasy. If I’m feeling frisky or know I will be going the powder foundation route, I will add a tiny drop of highlighter into the mix (I use Becca Liquid Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone). Get it in supermarkets and variety stores.
Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Protective Base SPF15
This is a green colour correcting moisturiser. I feel like its way too green for an all over moisturizer but it is good over the red areas of my face. I think it can come over a little ashy, so I save it for days when I will be wearing liquid foundation/tinted moisturizer. I think that this would really benefit many people with redness but because I tend to be very light with coverage I don’t get the most use from it. Get it from Myer, David Jones or Clinique stores.
NYX Matte Not Flat Powder Foundation in Nude
This is not a high coverage powder foundation but I love it! It can be used over liquid foundation to add extra coverage or on its own with some of the above or some well-placed concealer or other spot covers. It sits on the skin beautifully and does really blend it to look like skin. It has a nice velvety finish that really isn’t too flat. The packaging has held up to daily use and comes with a mirror and a separate compartment with a sponge. The sponge is washable and hasn’t broken down with cleaning. It is on the bulkier side for a compact (because the top is domed) but it is still small enough to throw in a bag for on the go touch ups. It’s also really affordable and comes in loads of colours. As you can see, I’m loving mine to death! Get it in Target, Priceline or Online. 
SPF 30+ Invisible Zinc Tinted Daywear in Light
This is great if you will be seeing some sun! A high SPF coupled with a physical sunscreen is perfect if you are going to be in the sun. The tinted version comes in light and medium and does have some coverage, akin to a tinted moisturiser and it can be teamed up with a powder foundation. Or you can use it as a foundation base. We all know that rosacea and sun can equal flare ups so this is definitely a must in the arsenal. I use this a lot because the Aussie sun is harsh. Get it in supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness
In my opinion, this is the best product for covering redness, full stop. Yes, it’s kind of pricey and not super available in Australia but it is bomb! It’s a skin toned (well for me but other skin tones that are much lighter or much deeper may have issues) one shade only cream, that should be used as a spot treatment. It is a corrector and only a teeny, tiny amount is enough to cover most of the face. You really only need a tiny bit on your areas of redness. It can tend toward cakey, so I prefer a silicone based primer like Benefit Porefessional or the NYX Photo Ready Primer under it. It is great on its own or under a tinted moisturiser or foundation. I don’t use it all the time but it is the only thing that covers a flare up and I wouldn’t be without it.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 20 Sand
This is the best of the affordable, high cover concealers! I use this under my eyes but instead of making that Kardashian triangle, I add some to my cheek redness too. I use a rounded brush or a damp beauty blender to blend it under my eyes and across my redness, fading out at the edges of my face and/or redness. You can’t go in with a too light shade but I use this all the time as ‘no foundation’ cover, maybe with some powder foundation too. It leaves a really natural finish. I’ve actually been through a few of these and you can see I’m getting through this one… Get it in supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Matte & Poreless in 120
If I am going to wear foundation, it will be this! I think it’s a very good colour match and that makes all the difference. The formula is medium (but buildable) and it doesn’t look cakey on me. The coverage lasts all day and doesn’t separate. Nothing worse than separation that also shows redness! Combined with the concealer, this is my go to for events or other times where I want more flawless look. If I need a more full cover situation, I will use this over the IT Cosmetics. My skin was complimented wearing this combo, even though I had the worst rosacea break out ever! Get it in supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
Maybelline Fit Me Powder in 120
I love that the subtle shimmer in this just translates as healthy skin! I hate looking ultra matte, I think it looks so odd on me. My nieces are all for the matte life but as I edge closer to 40, I need to brighten up and look as glowy as I can. I use this powder with a fluffy powder brush to set any kind of tinted moisturiser or foundation but on worse skin days, I will use a puff to press it into my skin for light coverage. As you can see, its’ very well loved! The lid of the packaging broke at the hinges a while ago. It does have a lower compartment with a puff (since replaced, see the Tools section) and it has a mirror too, so it’s good on the go. I love it enough to have a back up one, ready to go! Get it in supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
Colourpop Super Shock Cheek Matte in Aphrodisiac
Blush might seem counterintuitive with rosacea but if you have successfully covered your red or even mostly dulled it down, you still need some colour to your face. I’ve found that blushes that are in a deep mauvey, plummy, closer to bronzer tones are great. They look very natural and blend into any redness nicely. My pan on the left and the Colourpop website shot on the left. In real life, the colour is somewhere in between these photos. This may look scary in the pan but looks just gorgeous on! It seamlessly blends my natural red (that’s lightly covered) into my face and looks so soft. Don’t be afraid to add some colour back in! Get it online from Colourpop.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
I think a little bronzer can warm up the face nicely. Especially if you are afraid of blush! Hoola has been my long time love (ever since I got this mini in the Benefit Advent Calendar) but if you have found it too dark, Hoola Light has been released recently. The pic on the right (borrowed from a one of my fave blog The Small Things, thanks Kate!) shows the two together You can use it as blush, just drop the placement a little. If you read my rosacea story, you’d know about my natural bronze (melasama) but I still like to add it back in with bronzer, if I have foundation on. Get it from Myer, David Jones or online.
MAC Fix+
This is not a setting spray per se but it is a post makeup spritz. It is kind of pricey and I do have DIY that you can use instead. Why is this a redness thing? Well, if you have had to build up products to get the coverage you need, you will definitely have had to powder and this mist just meshes everything together. It takes away any powdery look and helps things to look less cakey. I like my homemade just as much but it really just helps your skin to look like skin. Wouldn’t be without it! Get it from MAC in store or online or at Myer or David Jones.
So what do I do daily?
I start with the Aveeno, buff a little concealer under my eyes and over any particularly red bits. I focus the cover on the middle of my face and buff out to the edges with a brush. I press on the NYX powder, add my bronzer and blush and spritz! Then its brows, cream shadow base, winged liner and mascara. The longest part of my routine is picking a lipstick!
For a fancier look, its moisturiser and primer on my red (Benefit Porefessional) with fingers. Bye Bye Redness on my red, concealer on my under eyes with a brush. Foundation with a sponge and powder with a brush. Blush and bronzer and spritz! Cream shadow base and a few shadows, winged liner and mascara. Maybe false lashes.
Tools I Love
You need to wash your brushes and sponges regularly! Especially if you have rosacea. Weekly is good, I have a blog post on caring for your brushes and another one on how to make a brush roll to store them. I am in love with the Makeup Geek brushes for doing my shadow but for everything else on my face, I mostly use…
- Real Techniques Setting Brush – I use this for concealer and Bye Bye Redness
- Real Techniques Blush Brush
- Real Techniques Powder Brush
- Eco Tools Powder Brush – I use this for bronzer
- Beauty Blender Sponge
- Manicare Puffs – I use these for applying powder foundation and replace often
I have a makeup situation that suits me perfectly! I want to look good but let my real skin show through. It can be a hard thing to do if your skin is red and angry and bumpy! I don’t feel right in a load of foundation. I know plenty of people who do, regardless of their skin. And if you want to find that kind of makeup look or learn much more about this kind of natural makeup, Sharon Farrell is my go to girl! I learned a load from her. As I say, I’ve always wanted to just not wear foundation but I wasn’t comfortable with my rosacea face. I wanted to look like me but polished. Not perfect but I want my imperfections to be background. When my rosacea was at its worst, I relied a lot on makeup to be comfortable presenting myself on the internet. I don’t think makeup is bad but I choose to wear the least possible to look great to me. I experimented and found what worked for me. It might not work as well for you but I had to share in case it did! I have found these products to be useful and I hope you do too. I feel like this post has something for everyone with a redness issue. What are your fave things to deal with the redness?
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