How To Improve the Look of Ruddy Skin With Makeup

There’s nothing quite as flattering as a healthy-looking, pinkish flush, but too much redness can leave your skin looking splotchy. While ruddy skin, or a red-toned complexion, can be frustrating, it’s also a fairly common concern. Redness can be temporary and develop due to environmental stressors (like sunburn or chapping from cold temperatures), or it can be related to certain skin concerns, such as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and acne. In some cases, using the wrong skincare products for your skin can also cause visible redness and flushing.

Whatever the reason, a ruddy complexion can be frustrating to deal with. The good news is that you can offset the reddish tone of your skin with color-correcting and full-coverage makeup products. We’re sharing some of our favorites, below, plus color-correcting tips for balancing out a ruddy skin color.

5 Products To Cover Ruddy Skin

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Color-Correcting Cream

This tinted moisturizer might just become your new go-to for managing a ruddy skin tone. The hydrating cream was developed with plastic surgeons and offers long-wearing, color-correcting coverage to help camouflage facial redness caused by rosacea, broken capillaries, blemishes, and general skin irritation. The unique formula—which contains colloidal oatmeal, peptides, aloe vera, and collagen—also helps calm the skin (a major plus if your redness is due to irritation). Wear it alone or pair it with your favorite makeup for a full-coverage look that won’t crease or crack.

NYX Professional Makeup Pro Fix Stick Correcting Concealer

If you’re looking to camouflage smaller areas of redness (like broken capillaries around your nose), reach for NYX Professional Makeup Pro Fix Stick Correcting Concealer in Green. The hyaluronic acid-infused formula glides on easily, delivering buildable coverage that lasts up to 12 hours. The green shade is ideal for neutralizing redness on light to medium skin tones, but there are 23 other shades to choose from—including five other color-correcting shades and 18 complexion shades for concealing and brightening.

YSL Beauty All Hours Foundation

Full-coverage foundation can sometimes feel heavy on the skin, but that isn’t the case for this breathable option from YSL Beauty. The transfer-proof and waterproof formula delivers up to 24 hours of natural-looking matte coverage, all while feeling weightless on the skin. Plus, the formula is comprised of 77% skincare ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, jasmine petal, and SPF 30 sunscreen—the latter of which can help protect against sun-induced redness.

L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness

This mint-hued BB Cream from L’Oréal Paris is a great everyday option for combating ruddy skin. It contains green-toned pigments that help balance out red tones, then transforms into your perfect base shade for natural-looking coverage. The multi-tasking formula neutralizes the look of redness, evens skin tone, hydrates, and perfects, easily earning it a spot on our list of the best BB creams for ruddy skin tones.

NYX Professional Makeup Color Correcting Palette

This six-pan palette contains everything you need to combat a ruddy skin tone and other skin discolorations. Use the pale green color corrector to neutralize redness, the lavender hue to cancel out sallowness, and one of the peachy tones to improve the appearance of stubborn dark circles. The creamy, blendable concealers are suitable for all skin types and can be used alone or paired with foundation and concealer for a full-coverage finish.

How to Correct Ruddy Skin With Makeup

While color-correcting makeup can help temporarily balance out a ruddy complexion, proper application is key—if applied improperly, you may be left with a greenish cast on your face. Ahead, we break down how to use color-correcting makeup like a pro.

Step 1: Prep your skin well

Before applying makeup, you’ll want to make sure your skin is clean, moisturized, and protected from the elements. Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser, then pat your skin dry and smooth on a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer. Since ruddy skin can sometimes be a sign of irritation, gentleness is key here. Look for products designated “safe for sensitive skin,” and exercise caution when using products containing retinoids, acids, or exfoliating agents, as these can contribute to irritation.

Finally, don’t forget sunscreen. Daily SPF is a must for anyone, but especially important for those struggling with ruddy skin, as sun exposure can often exacerbate the issue. The United States Food and Drug Administration recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. You should also follow other sun protection measures, such as avoiding direct sunlight at midday and wearing protective clothing, to help shield your skin from the sun’s rays.

Step 2: Apply a color-correcting primer

Primer helps prepare your skin for makeup, giving it a base to adhere to so it lasts longer. To combat ruddiness, look for a green color-correcting primer—it’ll help neutralize unwanted redness to promote a more even-looking skin tone (which may mean you can use less foundation).

Step 3: Correct and conceal

If you’re still seeing areas of redness after applying your BB cream, reach for a more pigmented green color corrector. Apply a small amount to any redness you’d like to neutralize and blend it out well with a clean makeup brush or sponge. Then, go over the color corrector with a flesh-toned concealer. This layering technique should help to neutralize any redness you spot, leaving you with an even, healthy-looking complexion.

Step 4: Follow up with foundation

Finally, reach for your favorite foundation and apply it as usual, starting at the center of your face and blending outward for a seamless finish. While the best foundations for ruddy skin depend on your skin type and preferences, we’re partial to long-lasting moisturizing formulas—ideally with SPF for additional sun protection (hey, it can’t hurt).

Next Up: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Using Color-Correcting Makeup Like a Pro