Cosmetics for Rosacea 101

[Guide]

Cæcilie Johansen, MD, who has rosacea explains in details makeup and medicine for rosacea. Zoe Draelos, MD, volunteers for the RRDi MAC, is also the editor of Cosmetic Dermatology and has advice on cosmetics for rosacea. Dr. Sherry Shieh has some advice on what should be in your cosmetic medicine cabinet.  Jamie Kern Lima, the co-founder and CEO of IT Cosmetics has rosacea. Beauty bloggers Casey Holmes and Stephanie Lange both have rosacea. There are a number of cosmetic posts for rosacea for your consideration that may prove helpful to you, not to mention our affiliate store has a whole cosmetic category (our non profit organization for rosacea receives a small fee if you purchase a cosmetic for your rosacea which keeps our web site going). We have an informative article about cosmetics and rosacea. Green is the color concealer of choice for rosacea. 

"Compared with control subjects, rosacea patients were statistically more likely to have positive patch tests. The most common allergens giving positive results were octyl gallate (10.68%), dodecyl gallate (8.74%), tert-Butylhydroquinone (7.77%), thimerosal (6.80%), euxyl K400 (6.80%), cocamidopropyl betaine (5.83%), and 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-cresol (4.85%)....This study shows that rosacea patients show a strikingly high prevalence of contact sensitization to cosmetic allergens. We recommend the additional use of cosmetic series for patch testing, and the careful use of cosmetics in rosacea patients if cosmetic contact sensitivity is suspected."  Source

"Excessive use of facial cleanser (twice or more a day) and facial mask (more than 4 times a week), frequent makeup (more than 6 times a week), regular skin care in beauty salon (more than once a week), and using beauty salon products were closely correlated to the development of rosacea in Chinese population." [1]

It is important to be sure you don't irritate rosacea sensitive skin with cosmetics and pick the right ones for your particular skin issues so that it helps and not further damages your sensitive skin. Less is more when it comes to cosmetics and the right cosmetic is just what you need. 

"The tested corrective cosmetic significantly improved the QOL of subjects with significant facial flaws, skin tautness and dryness, and was well tolerated." [2]

"Allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics (ACDC) complicates the diagnosis and treatment of rosacea, and is increasingly observed in daily practice....Preservatives and fragrances are primary culprits for ACDC in Chinese female rosacea patients." [3]

The RRDi has collected a number of cosmetics to consider in your search by using our affiliate store. 

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End Notes

[1] PLoS One. 2020;15(4):e0231078
Effects of skin care habits on the development of rosacea: A multi-center retrospective case-control survey in Chinese population.
Huang YX, Li J, Zhao ZX, Zheng BL, Deng YX, Shi W, Steinhoff M, Xie HF

[2] Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:253-257
A Corrective Cosmetic Improves the Quality of Life and Skin Quality of Subjects with Facial Blemishes Caused by Skin Disorders.
Andra C, Suwalska A, Dumitrescu AM, Kerob D, Delva C, Hasse-Cieślińska M, Solymosi A, Arenbergerova M

[3] J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Dec 22;:
Contact sensitization to cosmetic series of allergens in female patients with rosacea: A prospective controlled study in China.
Chen B, Yu F, Chen W, Yao Z, Yang X, Zhang D, Hao F