Finding the best foundation for rosacea is a delicate balance between formula and coverage.
On the one hand, it is essential to find a brand with a formula that won't irritate your skin further. On the other, you also want to cover up your rosacea bumps and redness without completely suffocating your pores.
The ideal foundation perfectly balances the two with medium coverage and a natural formula which glides effortlessly onto your skin.
Comparison Table
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Finding that quintessential cosmetic may take some time. It takes a while to narrow down your options when you're spot testing, combing through the ingredient list, and trying not to break the bank.
It's also vital to take care of your skin before applying any cosmetic. From moisturizing to foundation selection, our guide helps tame your irritated skin from start to finish.
What Is Rosacea?
While rosacea is classified as a skin disease, it's a common problem that can affect anyone of any age. Depending on the severity, it can spread onto the forehead, chin, ears, or even further down the body.
There are four types of rosacea, each visibly different:
There is no set rhyme or reason as to what causes rosacea. However, several triggers could aggravate your skin. Triggers could include hot drinks, too much sun, a spicy plate of food, or even a certain kind of cosmetic.
But it could also be more complex such as a particular medication. Always make sure to talk to your doctor if you see signs of rosacea on your skin. Only they can provide an accurate health plan to assess and control rosacea.
How to Reduce the Appearance of Rosacea
Image source: Pixabay
While there is no quick and fast cure to rosacea, there are several ways to control the symptoms.
First and foremost, (and we can't stress this enough) go to your medical practitioner. They are better equipped to inform you on what kind of rosacea you have and how to handle it. They can prescribe oral medication and medicated cream to reduce the redness or the acne associated with rosacea.
Before purchasing any facial cosmetic, test it first! People affected with rosacea find their skin is sensitive to products containing particular ingredients. Therefore, it is imperative to test them on an inconspicuous place first (below your chin or near your ear) before purchasing.
Next, find a moisturizer that works with your skin. The moisturizer acts as a barrier to protect your skin from debris, dirt, and the sun. Test several before making a decision.
Second, know what triggers your rosacea to flare up. If alcohol or hot drinks aggravate your rosacea, try to avoid them if possible.
Sun exposure is a prominent trigger for many who suffer from rosacea. Using a sunscreen containing minerals which protect from the sun (such as zinc or titanium dioxide) protects your skin without aggravating the symptoms.
Whatever your trigger is, identify it and remember to avoid them if possible.
Besides using the best foundation for rosacea, look into primers and concealers to reduce the appearance of rosacea.
Primers prepare your skin and allow makeup to glide on faster and stay for longer. There are several primers which have a green undertone which counteracts the redness in your face and level out your skin tone.
Green- or yellow-tinted concealer will also even out your skin tone, so it is less red and ready for foundation.
Traditional Makeup vs. Mineral Makeup
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When it comes to rosacea-prone skin, many claim the best foundation for rosacea is mineral based. A mineral-based foundation does not contain as many chemicals as a traditional foundation. That is beneficial for sensitive, acne-prone skin such as those affected with rosacea.
Most mineral makeup also contains a healthy dose of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are active ingredients in natural sunscreen.
On the flipside, mineral makeup is not great for oily skin. It can clump and make your makeup look cakey. For this reason, many people living with rosacea decide to use traditional makeup.
Remember to test the makeup on your skin to ensure you do not have any adverse reaction to the formula.
How We Reviewed
We've scoured the vast online world to bring you the best foundation for rosacea we can find.
Instead of testing them each personally, we looked at reviews to determine which products we should highlight. We used real customer experiences coupled with overall user ratings to create our list below.
Best Foundation for Rosacea
This list is comprised of several kinds of foundation including liquid, pressed, mineral, and traditional.
Remember to test each one of these on a small patch of skin before committing completely and gauge your skin's reaction to the formula.
[amazon link=”B002BWVQHQ” title=”Jane Iredale PurePressed Mineral Foundation” /]
[amazon box=”B002BWVQHQ”]
Jane Iredale manufacturers many cosmetics including eye shadows, primers (face and eye), and other items including cleansers, toners, and serums.
The vast majority of their items are vegan, gluten-free, and even wheat-free. However, the few products that contain animal by-products and wheat are listed on their website.
Their Mineral Foundation comes in a pressed format, much like eyeshadow. However, unlike other compacted cosmetics, Jane Iredale's PurePressed Mineral Foundation is creamy and easy to apply.
There are an astounding 26 different shades, so everyone can purchase their perfect match. The two active ingredients in all of these shades are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, two natural minerals to protect your skin from the sun. Depending on the tone, they offer SPF 15 or 20.
Customers rated this product 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Most have raved about its ability to offer full-coverage despite its lightweight feel. A couple of customers have said that this is the best foundation for rosacea and have not sought out other foundations.
On the other hand, there are also many complaints regarding shipping. Some customers received just the application pad, others received defective products, while some received an empty package.
[amazon link=”B012OE5AP4″ title=”Shimarz Mineral Liquid Foundation” /]
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If you're looking for a liquid mineral foundation, Shimarz sells its Mineral Liquid Foundation at a fair price.
Like Jane Iredale, Shimarz's mineral foundation is also vegan, and gluten-free. It also happens to be organic, which is another bonus. This foundation also contains both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
However, Shimarz' Mineral Liquid Foundation is only available in nine different shades. You can use a variety of application methods including using a brush, sponge, or even your fingertips.
Customers rated Shimarz Mineral Liquid Foundation 4.1 stars out of a possible 5, with 63 percent of customers giving it a 5-star rating.
Many buyers love this formula because it does not settle into fine lines, making it ideal for an older clientele. It also works to reduce redness and minimize the appearance of cysts caused by rosacea.
While there have been poor reviews, the majority of them are due to incorrect color matches, or they found the formula to be too thick. Take these complaints with a grain of salt, as they are mostly due to personal preference.
[amazon link=”B00FW6A2Q4″ title=”Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation” /]
[amazon box=”B00FW6A2Q4″]
Oxygenetix advertises their products towards people who have problematic skin. The cause could be anything from procedural scarring, healing burns, acne, and rosacea. Their products include several different facial moisturizers as well as 14 different shades of foundation.
While it is not available on the manufacturer's website, you may purchase it on Amazon and other online cosmetic retailers.
Oxyggenetix Oxygenating Foundation does not contain fragrance, oils, or preservatives. It does not advertise to be gluten, vegan, vegetarian or cruelty-free. However, it does promise to promote healing with its aloe vera gel base, grape seed extract, and Salix alba extract.
It is specially made to cover up any redness caused by procedures including micro needling, chemical peels, and laser hair removal. That means that those suffering from rosacea can also benefit from its breathable, full-coverage formula without worrying about irritating their skin.
On Amazon, customers rated this foundation 4.1 out of 5 stars. The majority of users love its not-too-heavy coverage and ease of application. While the cost is significantly more than the other foundations, customers find their skin can breathe much better with Oxygenetix's foundation.
Plus, they claim it soothes and improves their skin so, over time, they use less and less product to achieve the same results.
Many customers were recommended by their dermatologist to purchase this foundation for their redness and irritation. That means it could very well be the best foundation for rosacea, which (depending on the severity), adds light or deep redness to the face.
[amazon link=”B00435HNNK” title=”Clinique Redness Solutions” /]
[amazon box=”B00435HNNK”]
If mineral foundations don't work well with your skin, consider purchasing a traditional foundation.
While it does not contain critical sun-blocking minerals such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, its formula reduces the appearance of redness on the surface of the skin.
Customers who purchased the product on Amazon rated it an overall 4.3 stars out of a possible 5. Several customers who are affected by redness (including rosacea) report this foundation conceals their imperfections without worsening their condition.
It is important to note that while the manufacturer states it is phthalate-, fragrance-, paraben-, and oil-free, it is not vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, or organic.
If the best foundation for rosacea for you are traditional formulas, ensure you're using a good sunscreen beneath your foundation. That is especially vital if you know the sun is one of your rosacea's triggers.
Verdict: What Is the Best Foundation for Rosacea?
While we've listed several brands and types of foundations in our lists, there's one that excites us.
Although pricey, we'd love to get our hands on some Oxyggenetix Oxygenating Foundation. Out of all our foundations, this one seems most highly recommended by dermatologists for anyone suffering from rosacea or other skin issues.
Not only does it provide medium coverage, but it also helps heal your skin while you're wearing it. It's a win-win in our book!
Do you have rosacea? Share your favorite foundation for covering redness in the comment section!
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