Introduction
It's estimated that rosacea affects as many as 1 in 10 UK women. We’ve drawn on Lynne's years of experience to compile our best tips and suggestions for an even complexion - and the confidence boost that comes with it!
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a long-term skin condition with several sub-types that can lead to a combination of the following symptoms: persistent redness and inflamed-looking skin, visible blood vessels, red bumps and whiteheads, and bumpy, rough skin.
What causes rosacea?
The ultimate cause is unknown. It's not contagious or to do with poor hygiene. It runs in families, but there isn't an identifiable genetic link. The common skin mite Demodex folliculorum is theorized as a cause, since people with rosacea have around 10 times the number of mites on their skin as other people, but the exact mechanisms are still poorly understood.
We do know that rosacea is worsened by a variety triggers in our diet (caffeine, alcohol and spicy food) and does not tend to respond well to very rich cosmetics, denatured alcohol, the SLS/SLES in foaming cleansers, fragrance or certain botanical extracts. All our recommendations take these into account.
Our recommendations
Our suggestions are limited to the cosmetic concealment of rosacea. Only a GP or dermatologist can work from within to tackle the root causes with prescriptions and laser treatment, and we do recommend you look into that option if rosacea is bothering you.
The best base for rosacea
For the most natural effect, go for a sheer, oil-free base like Sheer Balancing Foundation, then tackle areas of redness with a concealer.
Be light-handed when you apply your base or concealer, and avoid rubbing the skin which may increase redness and sensitivity. Use soft make up brushes for application – our Buffing Brush is great for fluid and cream foundations.
Conceal to reveal beautiful skin
On top of your sheer base, target areas of redness with our Future Flawless Concealer.
Offering medium to full buildable coverage, it will conceal redness and thread veins effectively while its creamy texture will melt into skin.
Choose a colour that matches, or is slightly more golden than your natural skin colour, as a flaxen tone will help subtly colour correct redness.
This image shows before and after application of Sheer Balancing Foundation Fresco, and Future Flawless Cover Concealer in Gold.
Before
After
Blush
A blusher that’s too pink is best avoided by those with rosacea, but peach tones will look healthy and ensure redness is downplayed.
Always apply high on the apples of your cheeks, away from your nose and mouth where natural flushing tends to occur, to add shape and definition to your face.
Setting Powder
An instant complexion saviour for all-over redness is a lightly golden powder – Silk Touch Gold is used by makeup artists in TV and Film to hush high colour, invisibly.
It’s very sheer and light and suitable for all pale to medium skin tones. Dust lightly with integral half moon brush and watch your complexion gain new clarity.
Further Tips
Although getting a tan will make rosacea look less obvious, UV light does make rosacea worse. So do protect your skin, either with a sunscreen or simply with the mineral protection inherent in all makeup.
If you have rosacea, it's best to always treat your skin gently. Never rub the skin too much when cleansing or applying makeup as this can cause irritation and exacerbate redness. And don’t overload your skin - try to use as few products as you can, as this will mean fewer ingredients combining on your skin with with a smaller chance of an irritation occurring.
