How to “fake” calm skin: My 5 secrets to mask rosacea
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. Being an affiliate does not impact my suggestions or opinions - I only recommend products that I love or am going to try myself. Also...I’m not a doctor. If you have rosacea or think you may have rosacea, call your doctor and see what may work for you! I’m sharing what has worked for me on my journey. Hey, y’all!
If you are lucky enough to have smooth, calm, red-free skin like my previous 20 year old self, bless you - this post is not for you, LOL. If you are like myself and have red, “dragon” like skin as my husband has so kindly pointed out, then come hang out with me.
When I was in my 20s, not to brag, but I had rocking skin. It was clear, it was smooth, and it was CALM. It’s always been sensitive, but it wasn’t always red and inflamed. Sometime between 2016 and 2017 my skin decided to boycott. I have been blessed to develop rosacea type one sometime in my 30s. My doctors still don’t know exactly what the culprit has been, but I have a few suspicions like gallbladder health, liver health, parasites, you know, all of the OBVIOUS catalysts. I had done a few mission trips the previous years to Belize and my makeup free pictures from those days are something that I revel in. Alas, those days are gone, so I have been trying to figure out a way to “fake” good skin, even on my non-makeup days.
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, causing redness, pimples, and inflammation on the face. But let's be honest, rosacea sucks. It's not just a minor inconvenience, it can be a constant source of frustration, embarrassment, and even pain. So, let's take a humorous approach and look at some of the reasons why rosacea really sucks.
1. Red Alert! Rosacea is like a built-in traffic light on your face. Whenever you have a flare-up, your face turns bright red, signaling to everyone around you that something is not quite right.
2. Pimples? Really? When you think of pimples, you probably think of your teenage years. But for those with the type of rosacea that causes acne, pimples are a daily occurrence. And not just any pimples – we're talking big, angry, painful ones that seem to take over your entire face.
3. It's Not Sunburn, I Swear! One of the most frustrating things about rosacea is that it can be mistaken for a sunburn. So, you spend your entire day explaining to people that no, you didn't spend the weekend at the beach, you just have a chronic skin condition.
4. Flare-Ups at the Worst Times! Of course, rosacea flare-ups never happen when you're alone in your room. No, they always happen when you're out in public, at a job interview, or on a first date. It's like your skin has a sense of humor – a really twisted one.
5. The Never-Ending Quest for Products When you have rosacea, you become a skincare expert by necessity. You try every lotion, potion, and cream on the market, hoping to find something that will calm your skin down.
6. No Spicy Foods Allowed If you have rosacea, you learn pretty quickly that spicy foods are your worst enemy. That means saying goodbye to all your favorite Mexican, Thai, and Indian dishes. This is one sacrifice I have yet to make - tacos are life.
What should you do first?
1. Talk to Your Doctor This may seem like a super obvious tip, however, if you’re not sure what type of rosacea you have, you may spend too much energy and money on the wrong products.
2. Avoid Food Triggers You would be surprised how many people do not realize what foods can cause rosacea flares - personally, I can see a big difference in my skin when I have dairy; not only is my face red, but then it hurts too. Try to keep a food journal for a week or so and see if what you put in. your body shows up on your face.
3. Horse Paste You may be thinking, “Excuuuuuuuse me?!” haha. That’s what I thought the first time my doctor told me that too. Research has shown that some people who have the bumpy/acne rosacea have an overgrowth of demodex mites - do yourself a favor and do a google search an image of demodex mites in your pores…I’ll wait. (You’re welcome that I didn’t post that on here. Gross, huh?!) Anyway, think of demodex as parasites that we all have on/in our pores, however, some people have an overgrowth of them - this is where the Ivermectin horse paste comes into play. “Horse-paste (or gel)” Ivermectin can be used as a topical parasitical treatment (do not eat it). My doctor recommended that I use it nightly (just a dime sized amount) for 6 weeks to clear the bumps. You can find the horse paste at your local feed store or Amazon for pretty cheap and it’s way cheaper than a prescription of Soolantra that uses the same active ingredient.
4. Consider a Redness-Reducing Skincare Routine Makeup can only do so much to cover up rosacea. If you want to really get a handle on the condition, consider incorporating a redness-reducing skincare routine into your daily regimen. Look for products that contain soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and green tea. Try to avoid products that use alcohol based products, even alcohol-free witch hazel can worsen rosacea.
In the meantime, fake it!
So, healing rosacea takes time. And sometimes, it’s a life-long condition. So, in the meantime, here are my to 5 ways to help you fake that calm skin!
1. Put on the Green Stuff What has helped me the most is the Dr. Jart Cicapair line. After completing my skincare routine in the morning, I apply the Dr. Jart Camo Drops and instead of rubbing it in like a moisturizing, I pat it into my skin…if my skin is super flared that day, I then go over my skin with the Dr. Jart Tiger Grass cream with a very small amount and pat it over the inflamed areas. The key to this is not doing too much. If I use too much, my makeup will look kind of weird, however, whenever I use a light amount with a patting motion, it’s magic. I am a light-medium skin toned gal, so I’m not sure how it would look over olive or darker toned skin. I will say, on the weekends, I often just use this combo and skip the makeup and my skin looks nice, fresh, and calm.
2. Invest in a Good Foundation When it comes to foundation, you don't want to skimp on quality. Look for a foundation that provides full coverage without feeling heavy or cakey. And don't forget to match the color to your skin tone – you don't want to end up looking like a clown. I personally go back and forth between Ilia and Seint. Ilia is a liquid skin-tine that has SPF built in which limits another product going on my face. Seint is a cream based product that just glows you up. One of their contours is slightly green and works like a charm at covering up redness.
3. Go Easy on the Powder Powder can be your friend or your enemy when it comes to rosacea. On one hand, it can help set your makeup and control oil. On the other hand, it can make your skin look dry and accentuate any texture. So, go easy on the powder and only apply it where you really need it.
4. Use a Light Hand with Blush Blush can be a great way to add some color back into your face, but it can also make rosacea look worse if you apply too much. Use a light hand and apply blush to the apples of your cheeks only.
5. Take Your Time Covering rosacea takes time and patience. Don't rush through your makeup routine, and don't get discouraged if it doesn't look perfect right away. Practice makes perfect, so keep at it.
So, let's raise a glass (of non-spicy water) to all the rosacea sufferers out there. Covering rosacea can be a bit of a challenge, but it's not impossible. With a few makeup tricks and some patience, you can achieve a flawless, natural-looking complexion. And if all else fails, just remember – a good sense of humor is the best way to deal with any skin condition.
Let me know what works for you!
Sources:
https://www.usdermatologypartners.com/blog/4-types-of-rosacea/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4807898/#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20ivermectin%20eradicates%20Demodex%20mites,of%20patients%20with%20papulopustular%20rosacea.
