How to Conceal a Red Face with Makeup

Red in the face: The well-known saying implies embarrassment is the source of your shade, but sometimes it’s the other way around. Having skin redness may cause you to feel insecure and leave you asking ‘why is my face red?’ or ‘how to get rid of face redness.’ If you can relate, you’ll be happy to learn that you can cover up almost any skin imperfection, including a red face, with the help of face makeup products like foundation and color-correcting concealer. Whatever the cause of your underlying face redness, with the right face makeup know-how you can keep skin redness out of sight until you’re ready to show off your bare skin again. Keep reading for a step-by-step makeup routine to disguise skin redness. But first, find out what skin redness is and what causes it.

WHAT IS SKIN REDNESS?

Unless you’re colorblind, it shouldn’t take much more than a mirror to determine whether or not you have skin redness. Skin redness refers to any reddening of the skin. So, if you spot a rosy hue marking your cheeks or around your nose, that counts!

WHY IS YOUR FACE RED?

If you struggle to pinpoint the source of your skin redness, you aren’t alone. That’s because there are myriad of reasons why your skin might look red, ranging from slight irritations, where the redness won’t last for more than a couple of days, to persistent skin conditions that require a doctor’s attention. To be more specific, mild skin redness can be the result of any of the following: using too harsh of a facial cleanser, over exfoliating, getting a chemical peel, or having acne. On a more serious level, the American Academy of Dermatology states that skin redness can be caused by rosacea, an allergic reaction, eczema, or even psoriasis.

Editor’s note: When it comes to redness, out of sight, out of mind isn’t necessarily the best approach. If your skin redness is painful or persistent, consult a dermatologist before you go about covering it up with makeup.

HOW TO REDUCE redness on the face WITH MAKEUP

Now that you’re in the know about identifying skin redness and some of its possible causes, you’re free to move on to hiding it. No one has to know! Follow the next eight steps to effectively disguise a red face in practically no time at all.

STEP 1: WEAR SPF TO PROTECT SKIN FROM THE SUN

Before piling on the makeup, it’s key to first apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF value of at least 15, as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. And remember, your skin can get burned even on cloudy days, so it’s essential to wear one year-round, rain or shine.

If you’ve wanted to streamline your routine with fewer skin care products, use a moisturizer that offers sun protection, like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30. Formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 30 and glycolic acid, this hydrating moisturizer can also help skin appear more radiant. And who doesn’t want that?

STEP 2: USE PRIMER TO PREP YOUR SKIN

It’s all about that base. To effectively mask skin redness, start your makeup application process with a makeup primer that will help the rest of your redness covering routine go smoothly. Help even out skin tone and texture with the L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base. Not only will this makeup primer aid in perfecting skin texture, it also helps ensure an even application of the concealer and foundation to come. To use, spread a thin layer of primer onto a clean, moisturized face and gently massage it over your skin.

STEP 3: NEUTRALIZE SKIN REDNESS WITH COLOR CORRECTING CONCEALER

Intimidated by color correcting? Don’t be! Learning to color correct is all about utilizing your knowledge of the color wheel. Red and green sit on opposite sides of the spectrum, which means that these colors can be used to help counteract one another—it’s that simple. And that’s why green color-correcting concealer is the ultimate miracle worker when it comes to hiding face redness. Applying a green concealer might seem intimidating at first, but just keep in mind that a little goes a long way. Start by dotting a small amount of the L'Oréal Paris True Match™ Color Correcting Crayon in Green onto red areas. Then, blend the color out with a makeup blender or your fingers until obvious green splotches have disappeared and a more even-looking skin tone is revealed. Of course, you may still have hints of green on there, and that's why you’ll want to follow up with the next step.

STEP 4: ADD CONCEALER OVER TOP FOR EXTRA COVERAGE

After color correcting, it's time to apply a concealer that perfectly matches your skin tone in order to further hide skin redness. For blendable coverage, try the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Super Blendable Multi-Use Concealer or the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage. To use either option, dab the concealer on as needed—wherever you want to hide imperfections or are experiencing extra redness—and blend out using a makeup blender or your fingers. 

STEP 5: FOLLOW WITH FOUNDATION TO HIDE EVERYTHING

Adding a layer of foundation will give your makeup a seamless look. To camouflage any skin redness that might still be showing, use a full coverage foundation, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Foundation, which offers staying power with a weightless feel. Apply it with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender to ensure even coverage.

STEP 6: SET WITH FACE POWDER TO LOCK IN YOUR LOOK

Finish your face makeup by dusting on a translucent face powder, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Face Powder, which will help your makeup look last. Seriously, don’t skip this step! We’d hate to see skin redness reappearing as your makeup fades throughout the day.  

Editor’s tip: Still worried about how long your makeup will stay put? Calm your nerves with a few spritzes of makeup setting spray. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray. 

STEP 7: APPLY COOL-TONED BLUSH

Don’t throw all your obscuring efforts to the wind by using the wrong color of blush. Avoid shades with warm undertones, which may only serve to emphasize skin redness. Instead, look for pops of color that have cool undertones, such as the L’Oréal True Match™ Blush in Baby Blossom or Spiced Plum. The blushes from the True Match line are conveniently labeled with the undertone of each shade, so you aren’t at risk of accidentally selecting a warm one!

STEP 8: STICK WITH A NEUTRAL LIPSTICK

Similar to choosing the wrong shade of blush, the wrong lipstick shade may only bring more attention to your red face. That means red lipstick is out. Instead of wearing red, try rocking a natural-looking lip like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Les Chocolats Scented Liquid Lipstick in Sweet Tooth or L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Glossy Fawn. When you’re trying to go undercover with your makeup, there’s no need to rock an over the top lip color anyway.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP AT THE END OF THE DAY 

The last thing you want to do is sleep in your makeup. When you do that, it can mix with the dirt and oil that have built up on the surface of your skin, which can lead to clogged pores. To make things easy on yourself, use micellar water—a gentle, no-rinse cleansing option—to take off your makeup. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, oil, and makeup up and away from your skin. The L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin hydrates and soothes—and it’s suitable for sensitive skin. Just pour some onto a cotton round and wipe the pad across your face. No need for any harsh rubbing, which might leave skin looking even more red.

There’s a chance your skin redness is due to the fact that you have sensitive skin! If that’s the case for you, head on over to our article on the 7 Skin Care Rules for Sensitive Skin Types.