Keeping Rosacea Out of The Picture

Do you avoid family photos because of your rosacea? Here are some tips for making you and your rosacea look its best.

Red or plain black-and-white clothing accentuate your redness. Try wearing softer hues like blues, yellows, khakis and other neutral colors.

When scheduling a portrait session, choose a time of year when your rosacea tends to be well under control.

Full-service beauty salons offer makeup artists who can give individual advice about preparing for a portrait. You can even schedule a full makeup session directly before the shoot.

When applying makeup keep it simple. Apply a contrasting concealer, usually a green or yellowish tone to offset rosacea's red appearance. Choose and apply a good foundation in the correct skin tone -- most people mistakenly match foundation to the back of their hand, but a truer color match is made by testing foundation colors under the chin. Blend the foundation and concealer down the neckline and out toward the ears and hairline to provide a natural look and prevent a "mask" appearance. Follow with a loose powder to finish, making blemishes less striking or noticeable. Emphasize your eyes to draw attention away from other areas by using natural eye shadow shades that match your coloring. Apply two colors -- one for contrast and one for contour.

Put yourself at ease and be as natural as possible. The camera will capture you at your best if your smile is stress-free when your rosacea tends to be well under control.