Makeup for perioral dermatitis

People with perioral dermatitis often turn to makeup to hide the rash and the symptoms associated with this. Finding a good cosmetics, however, can be difficult if you’re wearing makeup for perioral dermatitis.

Perioral dermatitis is a skin condition that causes a rash around the mouth and nose. It’s characterized by redness, dry skin, and sometimes blisters on the lips.

The condition is common, especially in women who are between ages 30 and 50. It can be caused by a number of different factors, including genetics, allergies, stress, rosacea, and more. But it can also be worsened by wearing makeup that isn’t properly formulated for sensitive skin—which is why it’s important to know what ingredients to look for when choosing products for this condition.

If perioral dermatitis could write, it would type in Comic Sans MS with the caps lock always on. It’s a peculiar, goofy-looking thing that unfortunately, just can’t be ignored. Like set-dressing at a Halloween store, the red, flaky, burning rash around the nose, mouth, and chin lurks when you least expect it to. Some mornings I’ll wake up thinking I’m okay, and then upon closer look, I see the redness and bump—like a parking space you think is open, but it’s actually taken up by a small motorcycle.

And while finding the cause of perioral dermatitis is basically walking through a faulty labyrinth with no exit route, I know that I have certain triggers (stress, late nights, gluten, and Vegas, to name a few). PD has a coven of cohorts, like atopic dermatitis (eczema) and seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff and facial redness/flaking). They all seem to compete for the title of Most Dreadful Skin Monster, but PD is my main nemesis.

Most dermatologists suggest makeup worsens and can seriously aggravate PD, but—surprise, dad!—I’m not a saint. If I listened to everything dermatologists have told me to do, I’d have a smaller chin and Botox in my forehead. I’ve been known to cancel whole afternoons and evenings due to persnickety skin, but the practical reality is that I need to apply foundation and get on with the day. I wear makeup 90% of the time because 1) it’s my job to test products, and 2) I’m in love with makeup and nothing can stop me.

To anyone doubtful that I am a foundation (and makeup/fragrance) hoarder, I invite you to look at my beauty closet; I’ll send pics. I’ve consulted organizers and read feng shui textbooks to help me navigate my foundation problem to no avail. It’s the only area where I’m not a minimalist (unless you count clothes, shoes, and bags, too). Staying far away from added or artificial fragrance in foundations is key for me. I try to use products that double as skincare to avoid turning my face into a piping cauldron of redness and itching.

After having tried almost every single face makeup product in the U.S. (and many from other countries), these are my tried-and-true favorites during perioral dermatitis flare-ups. They successfully conceal without making the condition any worse. Unlike a vegan strip steak, they have never let me down. Keep scrolling for the best foundations for perioral dermatitis.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream SPF 50+

IT CosmeticsCC+ Cream SPF 50+$32.00

I love this foundation for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it’s SPF 50. The air pump tube component is so easy, mess-free, hygienic, and it makes traveling easy. And then there’s the snail serum. If you’re unfamiliar with the skincare benefits of snail mucin, please enlighten yourself to the wonders of the snail world. The foundation coverage feels light-medium but the color correction is really real. Day or night, it’s perfect.

Oxygenetix Foundation

OxygenetixOxygenating Foundation$66.00

This is an excellent foundation in very poor packaging. It was developed by a plastic surgeon and dermatologist in Beverly Hills for post-laser skin. Kourtney Kardashian has sung her praises of this foundation loudly, calling it her holy grail and revealing that sister Kendall uses it too (the formula for acne-prone skin).

I’ve used this over freshly micro-needled skin and have never broken out from it. The brand chalks this up to the proprietary oxygenating complex that allows skin to breathe through the product. The pump and cap component need serious help, but this is an holy grail product, especially during a flare-up.

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

ILIASuper Serum Skin Tint SPF 40$48.00

I’d build a heart-shaped trellis for this product—it’s that good. It’s an unbeatable tag team of niacinamide, non-nano micronized zinc, and hyaluronic acid. Despite popular opinion, I wear sunscreen on my face. Even though I carry an unseasonable tan with me everywhere I go, I do like to protect my face with zinc oxide.

Make sure to shake this up really well before applying it. It’ll have a slight white cast for a few seconds, and then oxidizes to your skin tone like magic.

Makeup for perioral dermatitis