Our Editor's Top Picks For Rosacea-Prone Skin
Jo is a former Adore Beauty staffer and qualified dermal therapist with over decade of experience in the beauty industry.
She co-hosted our award-winning podcast Beauty IQ Uncensored for 4 years, interviewing names like Caroline Hirons, Katie Jane Hughes and Chris Appleton to name a few.
Here I am again, ready to talk about rosacea. Yep, that skin condition I have that I mention constantly on the podcast and my own Instagram. Yet, even though I constantly talk about it, there's a message I'm trying to communicate that doesn't seem to be fully translating.
My Instagram Q&As and DMs look a little something like this:
"What do you use for your rosacea?"
"What are the best products for rosacea?"
"How did you get rid of your rosacea?"
The message I need to drive home (which you may not necessarily want to hear) is: You can't solve rosacea with a skincare product. There. I said it.
Sure, having a consistent routine is very important, and using the right products may help to curb inflammation, flare-ups and redness, but I'm in no way promising to cure rosacea with the below recommendations.
In fact, I couldn't recommend a visit to a dermatologist more (they'll assist in narrowing down your triggers, identifying your individual form of rosacea, and prescribing any medications if required).
As I mentioned in this article about the Osmosis Rescue serum, rosacea is something that needs to be managed on an ongoing basis. I also recommend perusing that article if you're interested to learn more about my experience with Laser Genesis for redness and rosacea management. Spoiler alert: I highly recommend it.
So, Why Are You Recommending Products Then...?
Well, I've tried nearly everything under the sun for sensitive and sensitised skin. These products have helped to calm my skin during flare-ups, reduce angry and uncomfortable inflammation, bring down tomato-toned redness, and generally bring comfort to my skin when it's not cooperating with me.
So, I figured I'd share those products with you, because even if they won't "solve" rosacea, they certainly can make it a little easier to deal with, in my experience with mild erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.
No surprises here if you clicked the link to my recent article above. This is one of the best products I've tried to date for the management of inflammatory skin conditions that generally don't respond to topical products. The hero ingredient in this serum is Trioxolane (ozonized ethyl oleate) which works to neutralise toxins, calm inflammation, activate epidermal wound repair, minimise the appearance of pores and age spots, and improve skin texture. It's worth the cash in my opinion.
I remember when I discovered this product, I was anrgy at myself that I hadn't found it earlier. I still constantly recommend it to a lot of people. This revitalising cream with a relatively thick, balmy texture has anti-redness and anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes the repairing of the skin's barrier, and the healing of tissues that have been damaged, so it's not only great after lasers and peels, but for treating inflammatory concerns as well.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Sensitive Moisturiser
This is my #1 moisturiser I turn to during a flare-up. It helps with irritation and soothes the skin from within, helping to reduce reactions and soothe redness. It contains very minimal ingredients, making it a dream for sensitive and reactive skin types, and leaves the skin feeling comforted and hydrated.
Now, this one has been designed especially for sensitive and rosacea skin types to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, reduce redness and flushing, and alleviate irritation. Via an innovative combination of biomimetic neuropeptides and natural actives, this gel-cream combats inflammation responsible for vasodilation, the main cause of redness and flushing. A blend of antioxidants also help to regulate pro-inflammatory mediators and reduces skin's temperature while bisabolol, zinc gluconate, and shea butter further soothe and comfort irritated skin.
LightStim LED Light Therapy
I couldn't rave more about LED Light Therapy - honestly, if you haven't heard me talk about my experience with it before, we did a whole podcast segment on it (there's a dramatic story behind it). Red LED helps to reduce inflammation and speed up healing, so I find this handheld device particularly helpful for reduce the severity of flare-ups, and reducing inflammation and redness. Plus, for me it has also reduced the occasional breakout.
