Shoppers With “Fire Engine Red” Skin Say This $18 Serum Cleared Their Complexion

Sophie Wirt

February 24, 2024 at 6:00 PM·2 min read

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It stars azelaic acid.

Skin inflammation can stem from countless conditions — yet many inflammatory conditions, including rosacea and acne can share a specific telltale sign: redness. If you’ve struggled with redness, you’ll know it’s tricky to treat. Luckily, shoppers may have an answer in the $18 Redness Relief Solution from The Inkey List.

The Inkey List Redness Relief Solution is a lightweight, layerable facial serum that soothes and quells inflammation associated with conditions like rosacea and eczema. True to its name, the formula calms crimson complexions — in as little as four days, per the brand — in two ways.

For one, it’s packed with skincare ingredients known to address redness at the source. Azelaic acid is the star of the formula, where it’s included at an impressive 10 percent concentration. The ingredient is garnering increased attention lately — for good reason. According to dermatologist Dr. Lori Aliksanian, M.D., “azelaic acid is a topical medication that is effective for [treating] rosacea.” Furthermore, she adds, it’s equally praised for its hyperpigmentation-fighting powers and ability to tackle inflammatory acne. As dermatologist Dr. Talakoub, M.D., previously told InStyle, azelaic acid offers an “anti-inflammatory property,” which can help “decrease redness and swelling” of the skin relating to numerous conditions.

“It’s unique in that it penetrates all skin layers and targets inflammation,” Dr. Aliksanian continues. On the hyperpigmentation front, it inhibits “dysfunctional melanocytes,” she adds, which “helps treat the unwanted pigmented dark spots that we sometimes see in healed skin after a breakout.”

Azelaic acid aside, the Inkey List’s redness reliever features 0.3 percent allantoin — yet another soothing superhero, often found in eczema creams and products for the driest, most sensitive of skin.

In addition to providing physical relief to inflamed skin and addressing redness at the source, the Inkey List’s formula delivers instant aesthetic benefits: It contains ultra-fine green pigments that color-correct, or neutralize, redness on contact. Furthermore, the lightweight serum layers well with other products, including foundation, sans pilling.

One shopper who has rosacea calls the product “the best” they’ve used for “redness.” According to another, “It definitely hides…red zones.” Similarly, a shopper who has “spent years” trying to treat their rosacea, the formula transformed their “fire-engine red” skin into a calmer, “clear” complexion.

For a redness-relieving formula that targets redness at the source — and cleverly conceals it in seconds — shop the Inkey List Redness Relief Solution for $18.