Rosacea is a chronic skin condition with a cluster of symptoms which include redness in the face, little pimples (but no black and white heads), and skin sensitivity.
It mostly affects the face, (and can also affect the neck, chest and scalp as well as the eyes). Studies suggest it affects anywhere up to 22% of us, and is more common in women than men.
It can happen to any age, but usually starts after the age of 30.
Ironically, because of the redness of the face and the bumps that crop up around the cheeks, many women feel the need for great makeup.
But the sensitivity sees many women react to makeup and skincare they previously tolerated no problem.
So what are the best tips for women battling rosacea needing to find makeup that won’t set your face on fire?
1. Great rosacea skincare.
To ensure your rosacea is well controlled you need to maintain a good skin barrier with rosacea friendly ingredients like niacinamide and retinal.
2. Be careful with cleansing.
Use a soap free gentle cleanser to avoid drying your skin out. Research finds you should only use a cleanser ONCE a day.
You should check the pH and avoid any cleanser that is alkaline.
Gently rinse off and then allow your skin to dry fully before applying skincare. Stinging is more likely if you put skincare onto wet rosacea skin.
3. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day, preferably based on a physical sunscreen like Zinc or Titanium.
Even if your makeup claims an SPF, it’s often not enough. As sunburn is a huge trigger for rosacea flares, protecting your skin from the sun is really important.
So, beyond your SPF product, stay out f the sun altogether in the middle of the day and wear a wide brimmed hat if you’re outdoors.
4. Avoid skincare products with Vitamin C, AHAs and prescription retinoids or retinol products.
Nobody ever needs a toner, but especially not for people with rosacea.
5. Always test a new makeup product on your neck or even your arm first to make sure your skin doesn't react to it.
If any product burns or stings stop using it.
6. Green-tinged foundation.
Lots of brands have green-tinged or “colour-correcting” foundations to combat the redness on your skin.
7. A mineral makeup foundation.
It’s not a regulated term but in general, mineral makeup is free from oils and waxes, fragrance, and preservative ingredients found in conventional foundation products.
8. It’s hard to pick which makeup will cause the fewest issues but as a rule fewer ingredients are better (less chance of one of them causing a flare) and definitely scent free.
By making sure your rosacea is well managed, you will be able to use as little makeup as possible! That’s a win!