Makeup Tips for Psoriasis

Your face is usually the first thing people notice about you, no matter where you live. Some people might judge you based on your face, how it looks, and your expressions. And it can be embarrassing if for many of us who have flaky skin right there. Areas most often affected by facial psoriasis are usually the upper forehead and hairline. It often also occurs right above your upper lip, your eyebrows, and even eyelids. Yes, it sucks!

Covering plaques with makeup

You can try to cover it up with makeup. Makeup, used sparingly, can help neutralize the redness of psoriasis lesions. I actually think that men can definitely use some foundation (or concealer) on their face to cover up the red patches, but I understand that it might be their personal preference.

For the most natural look, and at the same time the best cover up, you should check pick the color of the base that matches your skin tone. If your psoriasis affected patches of skin are whiter or more red, then I suggest picking up two different base colors to make it look equal. Browse beauty boutiques and makeup counters where you can test shades before you buy.

Prep your skin properly

Before you apply any cover-up cosmetics, moisturizer is a must, followed by a makeup primer. I've actually had no idea about the existence of a makeup primer, but it changed my life. It helps makeup go on smoother and help makeup last longer.

The amount of coverage you need depends on your skin type and the look you want to achieve. In many cases, minimal makeup is more than sufficient. The more products you use, the more skill you need to apply them. So pick something that already has a built-in sun protection (SPF) to have less base to apply.

Adding more ingredients that sits on your affected skin all day causes a higher potential that products will react with each other or with your skin, making it worse.

Too much makeup also tends to draw more attention to your face. I usually use a lightweight foundation that's fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, plus powder on top of it. I have a shade that matches unaffected skin and another color correction one for red patches. The second one usually requires a few layover, before I apply some powder on top of my entire face.

Focus on your features

If you want to take people's looks away from the affected spots, give them something else to focus on. Experiment with some colorful eye shadows, mascara, and lip shades to bring out these features. You can also pack a mini makeup kit for touch-ups.

Glitters and glow or frosts aren't usually recommended by specialists as they can irritate your skin, but personally I've never experienced an issue.

Don't leave your makeup on overnight, even if you're tired. Give your affected skin a break. Make-up removal products with alcohol can hurt a lot. Use a simple cream make-up removal for sensitive skin type and avoid abrasives and scrubs that can further irritate the skin.

Covering other areas

If you have red patches on your elbows, knees or anywhere else really, makeup can come in handy again. I usually use the same products as for the face: base and some powder. When covering patches on joints, remember to bend before you apply anything. This keeps products from breaking up when you move it later. Also, use waterproof hairspray to set foundation on the body so nothing will come off once you sweat.

Life looks better when you know you’re looking your best. Don’t let psoriasis keep you from enjoying your life!