The Best Make-Up For Rosacea – According To Nine Industry Pros (2024)

'The number-one thing I would recommend for people with rosacea is the It Cosmetics CC cream. For me, it felt like the first thing I’d tried that gave me completely full coverage but didn’t look or feel heavy – plus, it acts as your moisturiser, primer, SPF and colour corrector in one.

'I’ve got two different types of rosacea myself: sub-type one, which is what causes red flushing, and sub-type two, which is what causes the texture. So as well as something that hides redness, I want a product that sits well over texture, which this does really well.

'I know we’re always taught to ‘blend, blend, blend’ but when it comes to redness, patting your product in is so much better: if you rub red skin too much, not only are you removing that coverage before you’ve built it, but you’re also exasperating existing irritation.'

'When working with rosacea-prone skin, I use gentle, hypoallergenic and non-irritating products – the Seoulista Beauty sheet masks are brilliant and calming, and Egyptian Magic is my all-time favourite product to give a natural glow and calm the skin before make-up.'

'For coverage, I like something that doesn't need to be massaged or buffed too heavily into the skin: stippling your base gently, rather than dragging with a brush or sponge, will keep irritation and redness under control. Monika Blunder's Cover is a go-to: it's a balmy texture and works as both a foundation and concealer. It's super buildable, and can even cover tattoos.'

'This unassuming little tube isn't exactly the most glamorous beauty purchase you'll make, but what it lacks in sex appeal it more than makes up for in effectiveness.'

'Rosalique's 'miracle formula' is essentially a super-calming, green-tinted cream that melts into a skin-tone base once massaged in with fingers, taking redness down a few notches while masking pigmentation and blemishes in the process. The finish is perfect for anyone who can't stand cakey layers of foundation: no-one will know you're wearing anything at all.'

'It's worth noting I'm reasonably olive-toned, and this is the ideal shade match for me (yes, it only comes in one hue - eye roll.) If you're particularly pale or have cool undertones, try the similar Erborian CC Red Correct instead.'

'Whenever someone asks me about the best make-up for rosacea, I end up asking them lots of questions because, quite frankly, there’s never a one-size-fits-all, especially when skin is red and inflamed. My top tip would therefore be to make sure your colour match is bang on so that you can be really selective about where you cover, and leave as much skin bare as you can, well, bear.'

'A brand that makes this incredibly easy is DCYPHER – their tech measures your skin tone through the screen, mixing you a custom-made foundation, concealer or colour drops to add to moisturiser or SPF. You can also tweak the formula of the foundation, so if, for example, you want more glycerin to hydrate and keep your skin soft, it’s a doddle to get.'

'Application techniques skin prep are essential, too. Press, don’t rub, and make sure you’ve applied products that will cosset and protect your skin. I love the Mortar and Milk PHA Barrier Repair Serum on skin that’s prone to being cross, and always, always advise wearing SPF (Fave Fluid by Ultra Violette is brilliant.)

'My favourite product to share with clients that have rosacea is Fresh Melon Pot Rouge. I think often we look at all the things we want to hide or cover on our skin, but this product has a beautiful way of enhancing your cheekbones without them needing to be masked in make-up.

'The peach tone is perfect for tempering redness in the skin, and the cream-based formula instantly hydrates and smoothes, leaving a healthy, radiant glow. Keep it in your bag for quick lip and cheek top ups.'

'For reactive skin or rosacea, I tend to keep the application process as minimal and light as possible. Opt for a cooler (yellow) under-toned foundation or tinted moisturiser, as this will minimise most of the redness. Keep the application light and use a brush to prevent additional reddening of the skin. If necessary, use a long-wearing concealer on any redness that is still visible.

'When wearing make-up, one of the challenges with rosacea is the heat in the skin, as it can often be difficult to keep your foundation in place. I love Charlotte Tilbury's Invisible UV SPF 50 Flawless Poreless Primer. It’s a great primer for any complexion, but it also reduces redness, hydrates and offers high protection as well as pollution defence, which are all essential for keeping the skin in optimum condition.'

'I use a couple of approaches when working with rosacea. For mild examples where the skin is more flushed in appearance, I prefer to use concealer before my foundation.

'I love the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage as it covers without looking cakey. The pan comes with two shades, allowing you to correct with one and skin-match with the second. or custom blend them together as needed. For application, I recommend a larger fluffy brush such as the MYKITCO 1.7 My Ultra Multi as this builds coverage gently and gives you control over a larger area of skin.'

When working with more defined redness I will use a green corrector: but avoid anything that is too pigmented. I prefer a gentle mint that still corrects but doesn’t completely kill the skin tone.'

'My favourite make-up product for rosacea-prone skin has to be Dr Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment, as it calms and neutralises redness, evening out skin tone.

'The green hue shifts to beige on application, correcting redness on all skin types. Use it alone, or add extra coverage with a foundation on top.'

'When it comes to my number-one make-up product, I would definitely have to say a bold lipstick. I find that on days when I'm feeling more self-conscious about my skin, I find it easier to redirect people's attention, instead of trying to cover up the areas I'm less confident about.

'I used to get really bogged down thinking people were staring at my skin, when actually people have incredibly short attention spans and are usually more worried about people looking at them!

'I usually reach for a hot pink, an orangey-red, or a dramatic plum colour – anything that brightens my mood and draws the eye. My current favourite is the Fenty Stunna Lip Paint in Unlocked.'