Rosacea and make-up novice- help please!

[Parliamo]

I have self-diagnosed rosacea (and the showed myself up in debenhams Clinique counter mispronouncing it) and now am wondering what to do about it.

I haven't ever worn make up regularly, but now I'm getting a bit too old. I'm in between shrugging my shoulders thinking so what? and thinking I ought to make a little bit of effort.

So the Clinique lady gave me colour correcting cream and it's quite nice, although I'm still not convinced I like how it feels. Is the £37 quid for the green moisturiser really worth it? And do I really not need sun cream for my face as well?

Any other tips?

[CharlotteCollins]

I just got diagnosed with rosacea recently. The doctor told me that up to 10% of the population could suffer from it.

He gave me some tablets and they've cleared it up beautifully. Mine may be different from yours, though - I think there are different treatments.

Anyway, I'd check with the doctor first.

[ballseditup]

Don't use the green stuff, it makes your skin look weird and sallow

Just get a foundation matched to your skin colour - the bits that are the least red. A decent coverage foundation will cover a lot of the redness

Don't wear pink or red blush - just use a peach or orange high up on your cheek bones (don't smile and do the apples of your cheeks - the apples drop right down when you stop smoking and it doesn't look great)

Go to different make up counters and try different foundations. Get samples and try them in natural light. Try Bobbi brown, mac, Estée Lauder and Lancombe.

[ballseditup]

Smiling not smoking!

[Ardiente]

I would get it treated before I try camouflaging it. Most types of rosacea skins are highly sensitive to chemicals, and make up would only sensitise the skin even more. Find a good dermatologist (private if necessary) and get it investigated. Mine was attributed to demodex mites and treating this got rid of the redness. You might also respond well to IPL treatment. Good luck.

[Parliamo]

Hmmm I thought that might be the case ardiente, only I've gone the four or five years without putting anything on my skin apart from a very gentle moisturiser and I still get it. I think the triggers are stress, sun, hormonal (was much worse when pregnant) tired (permanent state of being in this house). It's interesting you say dust (is that what you meant?) I'm really quite allergic to dust.

Charlotte, I'm not brave enough to go the docs! I've been a lot recently and get fobbed off so feel bad for something that seems so cosmetic. Perhaps private is the way... I've no idea where I'd even start though.

Thanks for the make up tips, I really don't like looking 'made up' so perhaps green gloup isn't the way. You've saved me some money anyway!

[DrewsWife]

I use a make up called veil cover cream. It's an amazing product designed specifically for facial scaring and hides my
Roseacea perfectly. If you go to their Facebook page I submitted a photo of myself before and after and a wedding photo too.

You can get it on prescription. You don't rub it on like normal make up. You pat it on and it takes a wee bit of extra time. You then set it with their powder and it will stay on when swimming, showering. You remove it using oil based cleanser.

I also have severe excema and it doesn't irritate my skin at all.

My only advice if you have dry skin is plaster your face in non oil based moisturiser about ten minutes before you apply it.

It doesn't flake off. I adore it

[CFSKate]

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2606196/New-treatment-help-rosacea-sufferers-reducing-facial-redness.html I saw this the other day, if it's any help.

[Ardiente]

Demodex mites are present on everyone's skin, except that people with normal immune systems are able to keep the 'population' at normal levels. If your immune system is slightly deficient (e.g. Pregnancy, or in my case hypothyroid), they may get out of control and cause the rosacea. With your allergy and pregnancy being factors, I would definitely investigate the demodex route.

[AntoinetteCosway]

Veil Cover Cream is SUPERB. Definitely worth seeing a dermatologist too.

[Parliamo]

This is all very helpful, thanks everyone. That gel stuff looks amazing. So now I am off to investigate a dermatologist.

[dorathedestroyer]

Seriously, before you fork out for a private derm, do go and see your GP. Rosacea is a really common problem for women between 30-50, and if you've already self-diagnosed, it'll take the GP about ten seconds to prescribe either metronizodole (?) gel - Rosex is one type - or low dosage antibiotics. I found the gel didn't have much effect but the ABs clear up any outbreaks I get within a couple of days.

It's also worth trying to isolate what causes flare-ups, in case it's dietary as well as stress-based, as obviously if you can control it via your diet rather than ABs it's better. Annoyingly, for me, I think bread/yeast, or excessive sugar, makes mine worse, so I'm trying to eliminate that. Gentle skincare can help too, as a decent daily sunscreen is recommended for rosacea prone skin; I use Avene or La Roche Posay, but have been looking at Paula's Choice recently. Would be interested to know if anyone's used the Clinique Redness Solutions moisturiser - seems really expensive for what it is.

[wonderpants]

I felt the same, but the GP was more than happy to prescribe me a tube of the metronidazole gel. I explained I had tried lots of things already.

It isn't as red, but my skin is still bumpy after 3 weeks. It isn't as tight and sore though!

[Maisie0]

I agree with Dora's approach too. It can be a combination of diet, and aging, and how healthy our body is. I also started to cull my cosmetics, and I found some gift sets which my sister got for me to tackle sensitive redness on the skin. I used that, and it worked. It's the Decleor rose oil and the Harmonie cream. There is a lot of cosmetic products now with "medicinal" elements to it. But really, you need to find the absolute root cause and try to eliminate this, than to find a temporary measure to fix the outbreak, but only to then find it may outbreak again later on. I am also trying to not use too strong or harsh products which works against how my skin ages.

There is a lot of "BB" or "CC" cream which is more than a singular make up product but it is combined with a lot of medicinal ingredients in it. So you need to be careful which one you choose to use.

[Pjran]

I appreciate how you feel and not wanting to visit your GP.

I use L'Oreal mineral powder foundation and find it does cover the redness. Unfortunately it is a bit messy as the powder will fall on your clothes so keep an old pillowcase in your makeup drawer and place it your chest to protect your clothes. You'll need to dust more too.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

You need Bare Minerals Bisque powder concealer - cancels out the red far better than green products.

[LoonvanBoon]

I'd also urge a visit to the GP. Personally I find finacea gel (azelaic acid) loads better than metrogel / metrocream; but different things suit different people. Finacea controls the spots aspect for me, & also really helps with redness & other symptoms I've had (flakiness, itching, soreness, general irritation).

I don't wear make-up every day but do use a physical sun block (my eyes can't tolerate chemical sunscreen agents) that is lightly tinted, so it's a bit like wearing tinted moisturiser. The one I use is called Elta MD UV Physical (SPF 41) & I have to order it from the US. There are reviews on makeupalley.

That tones down the redness on my cheeks - don't have too much elsewhere. If I want to cover completely I use mineral makeup - Susan Posnick colourflo - on top. If I'm going out at night & don't need sunblock I sometimes use Clinique Redness Solutions foundation, which isn't bad, but it can irritate my eyes a bit.

I know other people with rosacea who get on well with Estee Lauder Doublewear & Vichy Dermablend. I've tried both but they weren't for me. The latter is very heavy duty if you're looking for total coverage.

[Parliamo]

Thanks for all your help ladies. I will mention it at the GP next time I'm there. I'm trialling wearing make up every day for a week to see if it makes it worse. I'm going to look for a proper facial sunscreen and then see how I get on.

[Mrpicklesesquire]

Hi, just wanted to add I also think you should go to the doctor first.

But.... If you find the green correcting cream is good for your skin, then please dont buy the clinique one, smashbox cosmetics are exactly the same (the clinique lady in john lewis told me after she tried t get me to buy the same thing as you, I told her i had a smashbox one so she ssaid there the same company, same products etc).

I also use the redness solutions daily relief moisturiser from clinique, its lovely and cooling on your skin when you feel slightly hot. i use there anti redness foundation also and its amazing!

You may not have rosasea, it may just be natural redness but theres only 1 way to find out from, the doctor, if theycant do anything then try the clinique anti redness solutions again.