Tips For Even Skin

[KristiLee89]

While I love a glam look on occasion I tend for a "no make up" makeup look for work and daily life. The problem is my skin is very pink/red. I guess it's called hyperpigmentation? Any tips for even skin tone without applying tons of foundation? My skin is also oily AND flakey/dry. 

[cmgnj]

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment has become my foundation. It's my overall HG product. It's green in the jar but oxidizes to match your skin (at least it does for me). Pea size covers my whole face & usually any redness I may have. To combat redness, you want to use gentle products & clear your skin from the inside out. Oily & dry/flaky? Maybe you're dehydrated? Make sure you're not stripping your skin with harsh cleansers & use moisturizer even if you feel oily. Avoid any foods that make you flush, avoid washing your face with hot water & always use sunscreen.

[aletab]

Hyperpigmentation is related to melanin, which is brown, not pinky/red. Is your face more pinky/red than the rest of your body? If yes, it sounds like you might have a reactive/sensitive skin issue—especially since your skin is oily AND flaky/dry—and that's probably worth a trip to the dermatologist.

Meanwhile, in addition to the skincare ingredients that @Coquetries mentioned, what helps keep my mild rosacea under control: using fragrance-free products only (Paula's Choice, Simple, and CeraVe are great), moisturizing with a bit of high-quality skin-balancing oil (coconut, joboba, or argan), and using irritant-free mineral makeup like RMS.

Also FWIW I have much better luck getting a no-makeup look when I color correct with yellow instead of green—yellow tones it down nicely while green completely erases it but in a really unnatural-looking ashy way that requires full foundation to even out. If you want to play with what color works for you, NYX's HD Photogenic Concealer Wands are a really great and cheap option.

[Coquetries]

I'm going to recommend three skincare ingredients to look for, rather than products. That way you can shop around and have a lot of options on what to try.  👍🏻

1. Centella Asiatica - Potent healing, soothing, and anti inflammatory ingredient. Goes by many names like madecassoside, cica, etc. It's the star of Dr Jart's Tiger Grass line that targets redness and another commenter recommended. Generally uncommon in Western skincare but a very popular ingredient in Korean skincare products. If you like dr jart but it gets too pricey for you, check out other products with this.

2. Niacinamide, or Vitamin B3 - all around superstar anti-inflammatory and hydrating ingredient. Glossier has a pricey serum with this. Paula's Choice and The Ordinary are good alternatives. You'll find this in a lot of products actually, so keep an eye out for it.

3. Azaleic Acid - Good for acne and rosecea. I'm not sure how mild or severe your redness is, so just covering all bases. 

[opalescentlust]

I'll definitely second Azelic Acid. Try The Ordinary version in the tube. Awesome product & so affordable!

[StephanieBT]

Hi @KristiLee89, one of my favorite recent finds for correcting red/pink skin is the Dr Jart+ Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment. It can be worn alone (which is what I usually do on days off), or under foundation as a base layer to cut the redness down. 

[KristiLee89]

Thank you I will look into this!

[bbrryynnnnee]

thayers witch hazel toner has helped my redness a lot, and it's pretty inexpensive

[KristiLee89]

Thank you! I use this when my skin is more oily otherwise it is too drying. When my skin is dry I go for rose water by Mario B-something 🙂