I’m thrilled to announce that I no longer deal with chronic rosacea! I’ve updated this post with new links as brands and products have changed since I first wrote it three years ago. Meanwhile, I’m still a fan of Well People Foundation Powder, and I’ve shared some clean beauty brands I love for cosmetics, from lipstick to mascara. For my skincare routine, I use Hello Joyous.
Rosacea affects nearly 415 million people globally, and this number is likely higher if we include those who’ve self-reported. Since I began sharing my rosacea journey, including tips for natural skin care and diet adjustments, countless people have reached out to me.
By popular demand, I’m sharing my favorite natural makeup products to help cover up any flare-ups—no shame in that! It makes me feel better about my skin. While it’s ideal to feel beautiful with a flushed, bumpy face, coverage helps me stress less. On a daily basis, my rosacea severity ranges from 1 to 3 out of 10. My before photos showed a 10/10 severity, demonstrating the progress I’ve made.
For me, it’s worth spending a few extra minutes in the morning to reduce redness. That’s why I’m sharing my favorite natural makeup with you—I understand what it’s like to wake up with a complexion that doesn’t reflect your healthy lifestyle. I empathize.
I’ve spent a lot on natural products over the years finding what works for my skin, and I hope this post saves you some money.
Before diving into my favorite products, I want to note that everyone’s skin and rosacea vary. What works for me might not work for you.
If you haven’t checked out my skincare routine, detailing the face wash and serums I use, I recommend doing so first. It’s the foundation before applying any makeup.
If you’re using products with potential irritants, start there before considering makeup.
Rest assured, the products I use are free from parabens, irritating ingredients, alcohol, heavy oils, petrochemicals, and are cruelty-free. There’s nothing that should aggravate sensitive skin unless you have a specific allergy.
These recommendations also suit sensitive skin!
Step One: Use Daily Sunscreen
It’s crucial to use sunscreen daily if you have rosacea due to your compromised skin barrier. This makes your skin more vulnerable to burning and damage from UV rays. I’ve written an entire post about the Best Natural Sunscreens.
Step Two: Color Corrector
Lily Lolo offers a green pressed powder color corrector. It’s non-pore clogging, formulated with jojoba oil, mimicking your skin’s natural sebum, and great for rosacea and acne-prone skin. I adore it.
Why green? Green neutralizes redness on the color spectrum. On Caucasian skin like mine, it balances redness. It’s favorable for olive skin too but test first. For darker skin tones, peach, orange, and red neutralize purple and dark brown discoloration.
How to use: Apply after moisturizer and sunblock using a large blush brush. If you’re wearing liquid foundation, apply it afterwards on red areas. I use it before finishing powder as the final step. Go easy to avoid looking sickly—a little does the trick.
I’ve used Pacifica’s cream color corrector too, which offers three colors. It works alone but isn’t optimal for layering powder. I thinned it with organic squalene oil, applying it perfectly on my face. After healing my skin completely, I rarely need it.
How to use: Apply after moisturizer and sunscreen. It’s thick, so thinning in your palm helps. Let dry, then apply makeup like finishing powder.
Another Tip: Well People Foundation Stick
Well People’s foundation stick is perfect for broken blood vessels. Available in various skin tones, from pale ivory to deep cocoa, it’s plant-based.
Before having rosacea, this was my go-to makeup! The concealer stick is smooth, creamy, non-pore clogging, and breakout-free despite using it around my oily nose. It’s excellent for under-eye concealing.
How to use: A foundation brush works, but fingers do just fine too.
Step Three: Finishing Powder
Well People’s foundation powder is fantastic. I buy a slightly darker shade for a bronzing effect, applying modestly on cheeks and nose, avoiding the chin (a sensitive area for me).
How to use: Apply post moisturizer and sunscreen as the final step.
For mascara, lip gloss, or other enhancements, here are clean beauty brands I love. This is my makeup routine for videos, keeping it natural and breathable for my skin. If you have a favorite brand suitable for rosacea, please share! Or, if you have questions about a brand, feel free to ask—I may have tried it.
I will soon post about all the natural health supplements I’m using and have used in the past. Wishing you beautiful skin from the inside out!
I love hearing your feedback and useful hints! It had been years since I used makeup, other than lipstick and eyeshadow, until I discovered Savvy mineral makeup. Their liquid mineral foundation, loose powder, and bronzer are a treat. Their lipsticks, glosses, and conditioning lip lux are also great. Initially skeptical, after using Young Living products for two years, I tried it and am impressed. It’s clean and well-researched—they exclude many harmful ingredients. I became a fan of Savvy brushes too. Now I wear makeup more frequently, appreciating the use of essential oils and plant-based benefits.
Thanks for sharing your experience! There are lots of wonderful natural makeup brands. My issue with multi-level marketing products, like Savvy by Young Living, is their steep pricing. For instance, their mascara is priced at $43 retail while a similar product from a Canadian company, Pure Ananda, costs about $11 or $12.
While prices might seem high, joining for free provided free gifts and earned points for more products. In comparison, prices align with high-quality products elsewhere. It’s crucial to choose well-researched companies ensuring no nanoparticles are included and that mica comes from ethical sources. Some products on the market have alarming origins.
Great points! Enjoy those free products!
Have you tried pure simple’s flawless foundation? It’s like a BB cream, offering moisturization and covering redness without a color corrector. You might find it heavier than others.
At the Healthy Mom’s Store, my partner found Aurum’s Calming Birch Serum for rosacea. I’m eager to try it. It has interesting ingredients!
Thanks for the info! I haven’t tried it. Liquid foundations usually make my skin too heavy and prone to breakouts, or too light and flaky—very particular! I use minimal green powder and sometimes none at all. Thanks for your tips. I currently use Hella Hydrating and my DIY serum recipe shared in this post. Aurum’s birch serum looks clean but is pricy—I wonder if they offer samples.
Can you suggest a daily sunscreen?
Check out these clean brands! [Link to blog post on best natural sunscreens]
Thanks so much for the comprehensive info! I developed rosacea at 40 and related to your podcast entirely. Cold wind, coffee, wine, chocolate, and monthly skin changes—they’re all triggers. I prefer Canadian products and have found Merit’s foundation stick provides good control. Ilia’s formulas irritate my skin quickly. I’m eager to try your supplement recommendations!
Thank you for sharing your experience, Tania! Foundations didn’t work for me either, exacerbating issues, so I stopped. Your sharing might help others though! Thankfully, I don’t need foundation now, as my sunscreen has tint providing a natural glow.
Thank you for this detailed info and your thoughtful posts. Rosacea can be overwhelming—I had perfect skin before and now feel clueless on how to address it.
Question: How do you remove your makeup? I perform in Las Vegas and heavily apply makeup which may trigger rosacea when removed. I ordered the bamboo cloths you mentioned; is there a recommended makeup remover?
Hi Erica, sorry you’re dealing with rosacea. I use a gentle cleanser made with organic glycerin and herbs/plants called Fresh Face. Full disclosure: I have my own skincare brand, suitable for rosacea/sensitive skin. Wearing heavy makeup requires thorough cleansing—consider washing twice. For intense eye makeup, I use Biotherma Micellar Water with a cotton round. Balance your pH too; my Magical Mist is excellent for redness, applied morning and evening.
Thank you for your reply. Before this, I read all your posts on rosacea and bought all three products. A dermatologist prescribed solutions, including Vaseline, worsening my condition.
I’m hopeful your products will help! Your photos offered hope that it’s not forever and made me feel less alone.
My pleasure. I’m happy to help. Glad you’re trusting your instinct! Vaseline suffocates the skin—it will improve. Have a listen to episode 66 of my podcast about my rosacea journey. Thanks for purchasing the skincare bundle—you’ll love it!
Thanks for your recommendations. I’ve been exploring Kosas and Ilia for foundation, concealer, and skin tints—I need coverage but worry they might clog pores or trigger flare-ups!
Understandable! Ilia’s foundation and serum tint clogged my pores and worsened my rosacea, but results may differ for you. Their serum tint coverage wasn’t great either. I respect Ilia as a brand overall. If possible, visit a store for samples—Detox Market in Toronto offers them.
I can’t express enough how much your podcasts and blogs inspire me to tackle my rosacea struggles. Back in 2020, I managed my rosacea with a whole-foods diet, eliminating dairy and gluten. Unfortunately, trauma in early 2022 re-triggered it, escalating this May. Despite avoiding gluten and dairy, triggers are prevalent now. I’m prioritizing stress management and exploring more podcast episodes. Foundations were tricky, yet Cover Fx seemed fine during remission. Any thoughts on its ingredient list?
Happy to hear my resources have inspired you! Foundations tended to worsen my skin. Have you considered a BB cream? I’m not familiar with Cover Fx—do you know if it’s associated with MAC Cosmetics?
Hey, thanks for sharing—it’s comforting to connect with others facing similar skin challenges. Though hesitant to use full makeup, I’m keen on finding a safe mascara—any recommendations?
Less makeup is indeed better for sensitive skin. I recommend two clean mascara brands: Pure Anada and Elate Cosmetics.
I’m glad I found your post on rosacea. This is helpful! Could you share the pressed foundation powder shade you use?
Thanks for your insightful post—it’s hard navigating skin issues initially. Could you reveal your pressed powder foundation shade? There are only two shades and I’m unsure.
Thanks! I need to update this post since I don’t use that product anymore. Instead, I use Well People Foundation Powder. The label rubbed off, but it looks like “light with golden undertones.” Hope this helps!
Some top-rated makeup products include Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation for lasting coverage, Tarte’s Shape Tape Concealer for flawless protection, NARS’ Orgasm Blush for a natural glow, and Lancôme’s Hypnôse Drama Mascara for voluminous lashes. Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector provides a stunning shine, and MAC’s Retro Matte Lipstick offers vibrant color. These products are renowned for performance and versatility across various skin types.
What moisturizer and cleanser do you suggest?
Hi Katherine! I used my skincare products to heal my skin, maintaining its health now.
