Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While an effective skin care routine and the right prescription can help treat the condition, makeup can also play a key role in neutralizing the redness associated with rosacea. According to makeup artist Emily Gray, the right primer is essential for camouflaging and calming rosacea. As Gray explains, a green-tinted primer can help cancel out redness in the skin, making it easier to cover with foundation and concealer. However, it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients in your primer and avoid anything that may irritate sensitive skin. This includes drying alcohols, fragrances, and certain oils.
To prepare rosacea-prone skin for makeup, Gray recommends following the National Rosacea Society’s guidelines for skin care and makeup application. This means using minimal products and being gentle with the skin. A cleanser or micellar water, moisturizer, and primer should suffice as part of your pre-makeup routine. You should avoid extreme water temperatures when cleansing your skin, and be careful to blot your face with a towel instead of rubbing it. You should also always apply sunscreen every morning, following the same rules of avoiding irritants like fragrances and drying alcohols. To minimize the risk of a rosacea flare-up, try using a mineral sunscreen.
For those with mild rosacea, the NYX Studio Perfect Primer is a great option. The lightweight primer has a mint green tone that can help minimize blotchiness and redness before you apply foundation and concealer. It also works to create an airbrushed finish, thanks to silicone ingredients that leave your skin with a smoother, more even surface. Silica is also added to help absorb excess oil, preventing shine from popping through your foundation.
If your rosacea is accompanied by dry skin, you’ll want to choose a primer that contains moisturizing ingredients to prevent dry patches or flaking. Hero Rescue Balm + Red Correct is a lightweight primer that packs in several nourishing ingredients, including shea butter, panthenol, glycerin, and peptides. It still contains a green tint to blur redness, and silica to keep your face shine-free. It’s also available in a smaller, half-ounce size, making it perfect for users wanting to test it out or target smaller patches of discoloration.
Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Prep + Correct Primer is another drugstore option that can help lock your makeup in place while minimizing the appearance of rosacea. In addition to reducing redness, seaweed extract from red algae moisturizes the skin and provides antioxidant protection against environmental stressors like pollution. It also comes in peach and purple tints, which are great if you have multiple types of discoloration you’re trying to target.
Finally, the L’Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream Anti-Redness is a great option that can be used on its own or as a color-correcting primer. Encapsulated green pigments adjust to your skin tone once applied, helping to cancel out redness and create an even skin tone. The BB cream has received over 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with users raving about its ability to camouflage rosacea.
In conclusion, the right primer can work wonders for camouflaging and calming rosacea. By choosing a green-tinted primer that’s free of irritants and gentle on your skin, and following the National Rosacea Society’s guidelines for skin care and makeup, you can achieve a flawless, even complexion that helps to minimize the appearance of redness.
