Rashes and other skin conditions can be devastating to your confidence. I remember when my father went through chemotherapy and broke out in an acne-like rash all over his face. He seriously didn’t want to leave the house. It broke my heart, as isolating oneself from people doesn’t do any good, especially if you’re fighting an illness like cancer. I remember applying some concealer on his face and how that profoundly changed how he felt about his appearance. If you’ve got a rash causing you embarrassment, try some of my makeup tips to camouflage it so you can feel more like yourself again.

1. Clean & moisturize. First you need to prepare your skin. Gently clean skin in lukewarm water with a safe product (free of toxic ingredients), then pat dry and apply a hydrating but light moisturizer that will help your skin heal as you go about your day. Consider soothing ingredients like aloe, calendula, oat extract and licorice root to relieve itchiness so you won’t be tempted to rub and touch your makeup later in the day. Be sure to clean gently so you don’t further aggravate your rash, and no rubbing!

2. Make sure you don’t forget sunscreen. While your skin is trying to heal from a rash, sun exposure can be especially damaging. Make sure to apply your safe sunscreen before your makeup. Even if your foundation has SPF, it’s usually not enough. Look for formulas that are oil-free, chemical-free, and non-comedogenic.

3. Use light and hypoallergenic makeup. Sometimes your makeup may be the cause of your rash—or at the very least, it may make it worse. Make sure your makeup is non-comedogenic (free of clogging ingredients like mineral oil), fragrance-free, and is made without toxic ingredients (use my Ingredients to Avoid list). Make sure it feels light and comfortable on your face (not like a mask). It’s up to you whether you choose liquid formulas or powder ones. However, liquids will be more hydrating. Also consider whether or not it can be easily removed, as you don’t want to have to rub and pull at your irritated skin just to get it clean.

Step 1: Start with concealer. Choose a color that matches your skin tone (or a little lighter—don’t go darker), then apply with a small concealer brush over red and raised areas or over broken capillaries. For areas that are really red, you may want to try a green concealer, as it will help neutralize the redness. Test the color by applying some to the red areas and see if it helps them disappear. Use concealer only on the areas you want to cover—using too much can make your skin look cakey, which will make the rash more obvious. If you have acne-like pustules, a yellow-based concealer is best, applied from the center out and blended will at the edges.

Step 2: Choose foundation based on coverage you need. If you have just a mild rash, a light foundation may be enough, but if yours is more severe, feel free to experiment with cream foundations that provide more coverage. Match your natural skin tone as closely as possible, and use a brush or sponge rather than your fingers to avoid adding oil or bacteria to your already sensitive skin. Many rosacea sufferers love mineral powder foundations because they’re oil-free and feel less irritating to skin rashes.

Step 3: Skip the blush. Your skin is already red, so most likely you don’t need blush. If you do want a little color on your cheeks, use a sheer color.

Step 4: Dab of powder. Using a loose face powder lightly over the red areas can help to further camouflage them. Just be careful not to use too much so it doesn’t look cakey and dry.

Step 5: Less is more. Keep your eye makeup light so that you don’t look over done. Also, choose a neutral lip color. A bright red lipstick can bring attention to the redness of your skin. Choose instead a softer, neutral color or light gloss.

Have you had to camouflage a rash? Let us know if you have any tips.

Photo courtesy Brixton Street via Flickr.com.

If you’re going through cancer treatment, you may have a few more flaws you didn’t have before, like acne, dry flakes, or scars. Here are a few tips for how best to use concealer to smooth out your skin’s appearance.

1. Before or after foundation? This depends on what you’re going for. If your face is in basically good condition and you need to hide only under-eye circles and a few age spots, you’re probably best using foundation first, then concealing the flaws. If you have more wide-spread dark areas you want to cover, it may be best to use the concealer first, just be careful not to wipe it away when you apply the foundation. Some say that when you apply foundation first, you automatically use less concealer. (Note: always moisturize your skin before applying any makeup, especially if you’re going through cancer treatment.)

2. Conceal undereye circles. The skin under the eyes is particularly thin, so tiny blood vessels can show through, giving a darker look. It doesn’t help if you’re tired, feeling sick, or have puffy eyes from medications! To conceal these dark areas and brighten your eyes, use a concealer with a warm (pink) undertone to counteract the blueness of the dark circles. Pat some moisturizing eye cream under the eyes first, then apply concealer. Many use their ring fingers for application, but if you’re going through cancer treatment, you’re at a higher risk for infection, so be sure to wash well, or even better, choose a soft, flat concealer brush. Brushes also give you more control over application. Little Miss Makeup suggests a slightly pointed brush with firm but flexible bristles. (A lip brush will do in a pinch.) For larger areas, go for a firm, flat, dense-bristled brush with a rounded edge.

Dab concealer on the inner corner of the eye (always dab, never rub or streak) and along underneath the lashes to the outer corner. Expert tip from lovetoknow.com: apply about an inch below the eye, rather than right on the dark area. The lower lid is absorbent, and the cream will “travel up” where it’s needed. If you put it right on the lower lid, you may create puffiness. Keep dabbing until blended. If concealer dries too quickly, add a bit more moisturizer.

3. Conceal corners of the nose. Dab a little in the inner corners of the nose to create a more flawless look. Blend with the edge of a dry wedge. Some makeup artists suggest a bit of concealer on the bridge of the nose to bring light to the face. You decide.

4. Conceal acne. A yellow-based concealer in a color close to your foundation is best to hide break-outs. Apply sparingly, work from the center out, and blend well at the edges with a makeup wedge. For a more natural look (and to reduce your risk of wiping off the concealer), apply concealer after foundation when covering pimples. Use a dab of powder to set, but not too much or you’ll have a white spot.

5. Other areas. A tip—to find other areas on your face that may appear too dark, tilt your head downward and look into the mirror. The shadows will show up. Dab concealer and blend them away. One other area to check—the fine lines bending down toward your lips. A little concealer may help hide your age.

Have any tips for applying concealer? Please share with us.

Photo courtesy of Beaute Mineral via Flickr.com.

No matter your skin type or shade, concealer can do a lot to create a flawless appearance. Here are some tips on the various kinds you have to choose from.

Solid: These usually come in wand or stick forms. They provide the best coverage and are particularly effective on scars, bruises and acne spots. They are thick and help fill up indentations, so if you want to hide pockmarks or old chicken-pox scars, these are the way to go. If you have mature skin, avoid these as they can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles.

Stick: A solid concealer in a stick form, sticks are a great addition to your purse for quick-fixes on the go. They cover completely, so if you have a scar, bruise, or dark area that’s particularly stubborn, a stick is a good way to hide it. These can look cakey, however, so apply sparingly.

Liquids: These are best for women with dry, aging skin—and those who are going through chemotherapy. They also work well for all-around coverage. They’re often considered one of the best choices for under-eye circles, since they’re easy to blend on tender skin and you don’t have to rub too much. Liquids provide a sheer coverage and a light finish, and can help make red veins on the cheeks and nose less visible. However, they can fade faster, so be sure to set with powder.

Cream: These concealers usually come in a tube or pot-like container. Some come in color combinations that can be especially effective for covering blemishes or scars. Coverage is not as heavy as stick concealers, but they do cover well (better than liquids) and are great for all skin types. Apply sparingly, as too much can look cakey. At the right level, cream concealers give off a dewy look.

Powder: With the popularity of new mineral makeup, powder concealers are now available. These are best for covering larger areas, and grant a lightweight feel. Users also rave about the natural look even after applying powder foundation. Powder is not the best choice for dry skin, however, as it can settle into fine lines. Powder concealer also doesn’t cover blemishes very well—choose another option for those.

What shade? There are a couple rules for choosing a shade. First, consider your skin tone, and go just a half-shade lighter. For pale skin, use a light beige with yellow undertones. Cool skin tones do well with peach or apricot colors. Warm skin appears more flawless in yellow tones. Olive skin should go for medium beige with pink undertones, and darker skin should choose a medium to medium-dark shade with peach undertones. Test along your jawline. (Always buy products that you can return if they’re not right, and make sure to be very careful around cosmetic counter testing units. Use disposable applicators to avoid infection.) Another test: if your concealer is too light or too pink, it will emphasize the dark area rather than concealing it. Or, try a bit of concealer over your foundation. If you can’t see it, you’ve got the right shade.

You may want also to consider what you’re trying to correct. If you have ruddy tones or broken capillaries, a blue or green concealer will cover better than a yellow. Yellow is best for covering dark areas or undereye circles, and for overall concealing. If you have pale- or yellow-tone skin, you may want to try shades of lavender and rose for a livelier complexion.

For a more natural-looking concealer, try a cream-to-powder foundation under your regular foundation.

How do you choose the best concealer for you? Let us know.

Photo courtesy of incurable_hippie via Flickr.com.