The 9 Best Rosacea Products That Actually Work
So, you think you have rosacea. Welp, you've come to the right place. Whether you've been officially diagnosed, or you're just trying to figure out WTF is going on with your face, don't stress-I'm here to help. As a refresher, rosacea usually presents as persistent flushing of your face (thanks to overactive blood vessels). sometimes accompanied by bumps, pimples, and broken blood vessels. Fun, right?
Luckily, you can kind of, sort of take comfort in the fact that you're not the only one-an estimated 16 million Americans also have rosacea, so it's a pretty inclusive club. And though there's nothing wrong with letting your rosacea do its thing, you do need to take action sooner, rather than later, if your end goal is reducing its appearance. “If you don't treat symptoms and signs early and get it under control, rosacea will get progressive more severe over time,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in NYC.
Don’t let that scare you, though! There are tons of ways you can avoid or combat flare-ups, including lifestyle and diet changes (e.g. stay out of the sun, limit alcohol and spicy foods, reduce stress) and following a good skincare routine. And that's where I come in. Below, nine calming solutions Dr. Zeichner recommends to help treat, prevent, or minimize your rosacea.
1. The Nourishing Night Cream
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Nourishing Night Cream
Before heading to bed, slather on this redness-relieving night cream that contains two soothing ingredients-oat and feverfew-that curb irritation fast. You've likely already heard of the calming properties of oats (and if not, then hello, welcome to a fact), but the feverfew is a medicinal herb that works much in the same way to reduce redness. Basically, this gentle cream is like a little hug for sensitive skin.
2. The Cooling Serum
La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense
The hero ingredient in this serum is ambophenol, a polyphenol-rich botanical extract that helps reduce the size of blood vessels while simultaneously strengthening their walls (the more you flush and your vessels dilate, the weaker and "leakier" they become over time). The formula also has a cooling finish that feels extra calming against a warm face, along with a mix of light-reflecting flecks that help detract from ruddiness or splotches.
3. The SPF Moisturizer
Cetaphil Redness Relief Facial SPF 20
If you already stay out of the sun the best you can, then good. But if you don't, you might want to reconsider: According to the National Rosacea Society, the sun is the number-one culprit behind a rosacea flare-up. If you're thinking, "Ugh, I love the sun, but sunscreen irritates my skin," try this beloved mineral formula from Cetaphil. It's filled with allantoin, a superhero hydrator, and has a slight tint to it, so it neutralizes redness and soothes dry skin on contact.
4. The Anti-Redness Serum
First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum
This serum is filled with a mix of ginger extract and bisabolol (both natural anti-inflammatories), aloe (a hydrating soother), and caffeine (a blood vessel-constrictor that helps neutralize redness), all of which work to topically soothe and calm intense flare-ups.
5. The Redness Neutralizer
Skinceuticals Redness Neutralizer
Inside this tiny, unassuming bottle is a lightweight serum that helps cool your skin and improve its overall texture and tone, thanks to its peptide-rich formula. Peptides, as a refresher, help combat and destroy the environmental triggers that can lead to blotchy, red, itchy skin, so make sure to use it every morning on clean, dry skin.
6. The Daily Moisturizer
Elemis Daily Redness Solution
This cream basically coddles your itchy, irritated skin with moisture and happiness until it returns to the healthy state it was in before you ever uttered the word "rosacea." Or, at least, that's the hope. Massage it into skin twice a day, and let the combo of willow extract and amino acids in the formula soothe irritation and redness.
7. The Calming Night Cream
Eucerin Sensitive Skin Redness Relief Soothing Night Creme
There's a reason why Eucerin is known as the rosacea-friendly brand: Their products are really, really good. And this cream is no exception. It contains licorice root extract-another brilliant ingredient for calming inflamed skin-and glycerin (an amazing hydrator), making it perfect for anyone who is constantly dealing with dryness and irritation.
8. The Prescription Treatment
Rhofade, prescription only
If over-the-counter formulas aren't cutting it when it comes to minimizing redness, ask your dermatologist about Rhofade. It's a prescription-strength cream that's basically an answer to your rosacea prayers, since it's been proven to minimize the flushing associated with persistent rosacea by constricting the blood vessels over a 12-hour period.
9. The Cover-Up
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream With SPF 50+
Fun fact: The creator of this CC cream was having trouble concealing her hereditary rosacea on camera as a news anchor, which is what inspired her to create her own formula. If you've never tried this CC cream, I can assure that it covers anything and everything (yes, even your red splotches) with one sheer layer. Aside from being the perfect cover up, it contains hydrating and skin-plumping peptides and hyaluronic acid, collagen-building niacin, and vitamins A, B, C, and E to help fight fine lines and skin damage. What more could you want?
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