5 Summer Beauty Tips for Sensitive Skin & Rosacea

Summer is here, and with warmer temperatures comes sweating - and with sweating comes beauty products melting right off your face. Am I right?

When it's hot out, I need as little on my skin as possible. For someone with "normal" skin, beauty routine changes are no big deal. But for people with rosacea and/or sensitive skin (me!), even a small change can bring on all sorts of trouble. Today I'm going to offer you five tips that work for me and hopefully they will help you avert a skin disaster!

(If you're interested in reading more about my rosacea diagnosis/journey, be sure to check out Five Important Things I've Learned About Rosacea.)


(This post is sponsored by Lexli. It may contain affiliate links which were added to make it easier for you to find the items. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). You are free to use the links or not - if you do, I thank you!)





A light gel-based product can absorb quickly and completely, keeping your skin hydrated without feeling too heavy in the heat. When looking for these types of products you just want to be sure that there are no ingredients that can be drying, like alcohol. One of my favorites is the Moisture Intensifier Serum by Lexli.


This one is especially great if you have rosacea or sensitive skin, because like all Lexli products, it has a base of soothing aloe vera. It also contains allantoin and panthenol for hydration, arnica to reduce inflammation, and glycosaminoglycans to help improve the structure of the skin. (Read my post about Aloe Vera and Rosacea.)



If your skin is very dry, or if you feel like you want a little more hydration at night, a lightweight oil-free moisturizer could be just the thing. It could be used alone or over the Moisture Intensifier Serum. I want my moisturizer to absorb well and not leave my skin feeling too tacky .


Simply Hydration is a great choice. It does contain botanical fragrance extracts, so just be aware if you have a sensitivity to those. A fragrance-free option is CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (the "PM" just means there is no sunscreen in it).



I would love to use a tinted moisturizer, but my skintone is uneven from the rosacea and most tinted moisturizers don't offer enough coverage. I know there are a ton of you out there who can relate to the struggle!


During the summer, I switch to a lightweight foundation, especially for daytime. I absolutely hate being out in hot weather and feeling like my foundation is sitting on my skin like a big blob of grease, or even worse - that my face is sliding off! I've been using Tarte's Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation (available in 30 shades) and CYO Lifeproof Long-Lasting Foundation (available in 14 shades). Both are lightweight with buildable coverage. I would say an initial application gives light coverage and you can build it to a medium coverage. For me, both work best without a primer and when applied with a makeup sponge.



Setting powders can make or break your look. The trick is to find one that helps smooth and set your look without making it look caked on. I've tried a ton, but my favorites are e.l.f. HD Loose Face Powder, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder, and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Micro Powder.


I dip my Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder Brush into the powder, tap off the excess, and lightly dust over my face, concentrating on my T-zone where my makeup tends to wear off.

For under my eyes, I use either the e.l.f. Undereye Setting Powder or the Bye Bye Pores.



Can I just say how much I love setting sprays/facial spritzes? I don't ever want to be without my favorite aloe-based face toner - Tone & Balance. When I say toner, I'm not talking about a product that you wipe over the skin to remove any traces of makeup. This toner is non-irritating and you spritz it on after cleansing to calm and soothe the skin. I like that it gives me a nice base for all of my other skincare essentials. In warmer weather, I also like to use it as a refreshing mid-day mist. Spritz it on and stand in front of a fan for a minute - instant heat relief! Plus, it's the only spray I can use under my summer foundation that doesn't cause it to deteriorate quickly.


If I want a product to strictly use as a setting spray, I reach for MAC's Prep + Prime Fix+ (love the summer scents!) or Skindanavia Makeup Finishing Spray.


And those are my top five tips for creating a summer beauty routine that works well for sensitive skin/rosacea. I hope they help you keep your skin looking it's best!