Rosacea is a chronic and sensitive skin condition that causes the skin to become red and sensitive very easily. If you have rosacea, it can be quite challenging for you to choose the right foundation to cover the imperfections on your skin.
You should choose foundations for Rosacea that help you cover the imperfections, such as bumpiness, redness, dry spots, uneven textures and pigmentation issues. These foundations should also perform the role of healing, hydrating and relaxing your sensitive skin, without causing any flare-ups or breakouts.
While shopping for best makeup for Rosacea, you may have a tough time choosing the right one. While some may claim to give you full coverage, they also come with the risk of aggravating your flare-ups.
Looking for Moisturizers? Check out the list of 9 Best Moisturizers for Rosacea Recommended by Dermatologists.
Here Are 9 Best Drugstore Foundations for Rosacea 2023
Our recommendations are lightweight, and have color-correcting properties. Their effects stay on your skin for a long time. Keep reading to know more about our recommendations, and try one of them to see the wonders they create on your skin.
Best in the Overall Category
Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage 24-Hour Foundation
If you are looking for one magic formula that will help you erase all kinds of blemishes and imperfections from your skin, this is the best option for you. The positive effects of this foundation last for 24 long hours on your face. Apply a pump of this foundation on your face to conceal all issues such as redness, uneven skin tones, pigmentation issues and other types of blemishes.
Known to contain color-correcting pigments, this foundation works well for all types of sensitive and oily skin. It works great to conceal red spots and dry spots. Apply the foundation thoroughly using a thick foundation brush, and blend it outward for the perfect look.
Best in the Budget Category – First Option
NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation
This one comes in an impressive range of 45 shades, all at an affordable price! NYX Professional Makeup Foundation is waterproof, which means you can take it with you to your favorite holiday spots as well. It has a creamy texture with a matte finish, which is specially designed to absorb excessive oils. Hence, it works great on oily skin. This foundation can also be used on other skin types to conceal pigmentation issues. Since it provides a long-lasting effect, and comes in 45 different shades, it is one of the most-loved foundations in the market today.
Best in the Budget Category – Second Option
E.l. F Flawless Finish Foundation
One of the most affordable foundations on this list, this one is priced less than $10! It also gives you 40 shades to pick from, in addition to being super-light in texture. Its oil-free formula works wonders on all types of skin to correct uneven skin tone issues.
Best to correct redness
IT Cosmetics CC + Cream with SPF 50+
Collagen is the key component of this foundation. Collagen is a group of proteins responsible for the development of the skin’s connecting tissues, cartilage and ligaments. Though most of the topical collagen creams claim to bring about a visible reduction in the fine lines and wrinkles by covering up for the loss of collagen in one’s skin, this foundation comes with the additional feature of keeping one’s skin hydrated.
This foundation comes with a CC feature, which means it has color-correction properties. People with rosacea need color-correcting creams to keep redness, blemishes and pigmentation issues at bay. Due to their powerful features, all CC creams, including this one, come in a lightweight texture compared to other creams. This one is a great choice for you, if you are looking for full coverage due to your rosacea issues.
Since it also comes with a sun-protection formula of 50+ this foundation is your perfect anti-aging solution. With its collagen, peptides and hyaluronic acid, this product keeps your skin as hydrated as possible. It is replete with antioxidants that protect your skin against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Hence, this cream is many things rolled into one – it provides overall coverage, along with hydrating and concealing certain areas of your skin.
Best to Correct Uneven Texture
Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation
Are you looking for the perfect foundation to correct your uneven texture problems? This liquid-based cream can be the answer to your problems. It is used for protecting all kinds of uneven texture issues such as pimples, dry spots, rough patches, bumpiness and more. Apart from intelligently covering these issues, this cream also hydrates your skin.
Thanks to its liquid texture, this foundation doesn’t accumulate on your wrinkles or fine lines. It comes with a satin finish rather than a matte finish; therefore, you will be surprised at the natural glow it gives your skin. For best results, take a little foundation on your fingers, and warm it nicely before applying it to your skin.
Best for the Dry Skin
Perricone MD Foundation Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 20
One of the best highlights of this foundation is that it is absolutely lightweight. Though you apply it on your skin to correct the imperfections, you don’t feel a thing. This foundation does a great job of giving your skin a healthy and natural glow.
Since it is the consistency of a serum, it is easy to apply. A little bit of cream is enough to get absorbed into your skin quickly. You can use this to correct issues such as discoloration, blemishes, pores and more. Its lightweight formula enables you to use the cream even during hot climates, as there are no chances of smudging for flare-ups when you use this cream.
Best for the Mature Skin
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation
Rosacea, combined with the problems of aging skin, is one of the worst combinations ever. It is quite a frustrating problem to have, and you might have spent a lot of time looking for a product that addresses both these issues effortlessly. Here is the perfect solution for you.
All of its ingredients are derived from plants, making it very effective for the blemishes and aging symptoms on your skin. This foundation is in the consistency of a serum and is replete with natural ingredients such as rose petals and argan shell powder, along with a few other powerful antioxidants. All of these leave your skin blemish-free, young-looking and shiny. While you can use this foundation over your eyes and eyelids as a primer, you can also choose to use it on your nose and cupid’s bow to perform the role of a natural highlighter.
Best for the Matte Finish Look
Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation
If you are looking for a foundation that does more than covering your imperfections, this baked powder cream is the right one for you. Apart from covering the imperfections perfectly, it also gives a natural glow to your face. One of the most important ingredients of this foundation is a plant, known as Centella Asiatica, famous for its soothing properties.
The white tea extract present in this cream helps your skin fight against the aging symptoms and free radicals that cause oxidative stress. It comes with a self-adjusting formula, making it compatible to be used throughout the year. Use a bristled foundation brush for full coverage and a loose brush for light coverage.
Things to keep in Mind Before Buying Foundation for Rosacea
Here are some important points to keep in mind before buying a foundation to conceal redness:
- Buy only oil-free foundations
When you buy oil-based foundations, they can cause your skin pores to clog and break out. When you are already suffering from rosacea, these breakouts can damage your skin further.
- Choose foundations with SPF protection
Exposure to the ultra-violet rays of the sun is one of the biggest triggers of rosacea. To avoid flare-ups due to the sun’s exposure, always buy foundations with ample SPF protection formulas embedded in them.
- Choose foundations that don’t have irritating ingredients
Before buying foundations for rosacea, always remember to read the label to know about the ingredients. Try to avoid foundations that contain sensitive ingredients such as eucalyptus oil, menthol, salicylic acid and peppermint oil. These can trigger flare-ups easily.
- Buy yellow-based foundations
Yellow-based foundations help in keeping redness at bay. They also help to correct uneven skin tones, thereby making your face look as natural as possible.
4 Tips for Finding The Right Foundation Makeup for Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that doesn’t have any cure. Therefore, you need to be careful while choosing the best drugstore foundations for Rosacea and sensitive skin. Here are some tips that will help you:
1. Buy makeup that have mineral-rich formulae
Always buy mineral-rich foundations, especially those that are rich in zinc or titanium. The anti-inflammatory properties of these minerals help to fight flare-ups and redness effectively.
2. Buy talc-free Products
Talc is a preservative that can damage your already sensitive skin. Not many cosmetic products are talc-free. However, it would help if you took the extra effort in looking for foundations that don’t have talc and other preservatives in them.
3. Go with the light textures one
Foundations with light textures will help cover the imperfections on your skin without clogging them. Bumpiness, redness, pimples and other breakouts can be effortlessly covered when you choose light foundations.
4. Buy foundations that have non-comedogenic properties
Non-comedogenic foundations come with special properties that don’t block your skin pores, thereby giving your skin a healing effect.
What kind of foundation should I use with rosacea?
According to rosacea.org, Mineral makeup is often a good choice for rosacea-prone skin, as it typically doesn’t contain potentially irritating ingredients.