Rosacea – need help with perfect foundation

Have you thought about using a tinted BB cream from either La Roche Posay or Avene? Both brands use thermal spring water as its base and specialise in sensitive, rosacea prone skin and their products are super gentle. Some pharmacies will give you samples to try before buying if you ask.

My mum has extremely sensitive skin with mild – medium rosacea. She was struggling to find a foundation that wouldn’t irritate her skin. I personally love BareMinerals products, so I suggested to her that perhaps they would suit her. She purchased the Barepro Liquid Foundation and she’s extremely happy with it. It’s a full coverage foundation and it covers the redness without being too heavy, and she’s had no breakouts. She applies it with a Real Techniques Brush, I can’t remember exactly which one. I’ve provided the link to the product below.

I’ve got quite a few BareMinerals products and I’ve never had anything I haven’t liked. Now I’ve got Mum hooked too! Their Complete Coverage Serum Concealer is the best I’ve ever had. Definitely HG for me.

https://www.mecca.com.au/bareminerals/barepro-performance-wear-liquid-foundation/V-028258.html?cgpath=brands-barees

My rosacea is only pretty minor, but I use MAC Studio Sculpt which is pretty full coverage and I find that this does the trick and isn’t drying at all.
As for applying, I use a sponge from time to time but I find it a bit fidgety – try looking into a good liquid foundation brush! I use a Real Techniques one and find it pretty effortless.

I do have rosacea. Have done for years. I do use a primer and a full coverage foundation. My favourite is NIVEA Daily Essentials. I’ve used it for years. BH sent a Lancome foundation to me to review. It’s fab. Especially on hot sweaty days. It stays in place all day.

I don’t have rosacea but I have broken capillaries on my cheeks and mild redness on my nose. Take my suggestions as a starting point for your own research.

If you have not done so already, start looking at the ingredients in your foundations. Maybelline Fit and Poreless – the foundation that you’re using – contains denatured alcohol high up on the ingredients list. Alcohol might irritate your skin, dry it out etc. There are so many other potential irritants such as synthetic dyes, fragrances, chemical SPF etc. Identifying these irritants can involve trial and error.

I’d be looking at trying mineral foundations; many of which come in the form of loose powders. I don’t mean mineral powders from brands such as Maybelline that have lots of man-made chemicals. I mean mineral powders from natural-focussed brands such as Lily Lolo, La Mav, Inika, Nude by Nature etc. Some of the natural brands like Inika make mineral liquid foundations, BB creams etc. I like Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation which didn’t give me enough coverage, but it might be good for you.

Some mineral powder foundations contain bismuth oxychloride which is an ingredient that can cause irritation (it makes my skin itchy) – so try to avoid this ingredient.

You can buy samples of mineral foundations from the following website which provides great customer service:

https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/foundation/ 

If you want to try using a blending sponge for makeup, there are plenty of brands that make them. I like the sponges by Real Techniques and EcoTools, but there are more expensive ones available.
 

My Mum swears by Invisible Zinc tinted daywear. She even sits dabbing it on at night while she’s watching TV because she reckons it takes the sting out of her cheeks. It looks natural & the zinc is soothing.