Photo: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
If your skin tone makes it look like you are blushing all the time, it’s time to call in the color-neutralizing foundations. Whether from rosacea, acne or sensitive skin, a red, uneven skin tone can keep you from achieving skin perfection. But thanks to the right foundations, you can blend your foundation to show off only luminous, even-toned skin.
Oil-free
When it comes to makeup for an uneven skin tone, oil and foundation don’t mix. This is especially true if you have rosacea or acne because a foundation that contains oil can potentially clog your pores and cause acne breakouts. Look for a foundation labeled “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free,” either of which is a sure sign your foundation won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts.
SPF-Containing Foundation
Even if you have a love/hate relationship with your skin, you certainly don’t want wrinkles or sunspots before they’re due. That’s why you should look for a foundation that contains a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. These foundations not only shield your skin from sun damage, they also can prevent the sun from aggravating your reddened skin, saving you from having to cover over one less thing.
Green Base
When you have red-based skin, you can use a color-correcting base or primer to help your skincare colors meet in the middle and look even and normal in tone. You can achieve this using a foundation primer or even a light green-tinted foundation. Allow this to set on your skin for a few minutes, then apply a foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone to help redness fade away. If you feel like you still look a little green when you see the finished product, next time mix your green base with a moisturizer or a foundation that lessens the foundation’s potency.
Full-coverage Foundation
Since you’ve got a few uneven spots and redness to hide, sheer foundations aren’t going to be your best bet. Instead, look for a foundation that offers medium to full coverage. Imagine these foundations like a black T-shirt compared to sheer foundations, which are a see-through one. You want the shirt (or in this case, the foundation) to cover your skin and therefore color the parts of your skin that may be red or a little uneven or bumpy. You may need to blend a bit -- start with one layer of foundation, allow it to set for a few minutes, and then blend another layer on top of this until you achieve your desired skin tone.
