There are a lot of things that can cause redness: irritation, overexposure, sun damage, and rosacea. Those with sensitive skin are no stranger to this, but it can be a problem that many of us face from time to time. Cool, calm and balance your skin with our best products to reduce redness in 2020.
4.6 of 2038 reviews
Here’s one for oily or acne-prone skin, whatever your age. This water-based serum from The Ordinary clears congestion, getting rid of unsightly bumps and reducing opportunities for the skin to flare up. Your unruly skin will thank you further: this anti-redness treatment also preps the skin and boosts its ability to absorb other treatment products in your beauty regimen.
Zinc is an essential mineral for skin health. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% uses this mineral to regulate oil production and curb breakouts. Zinc also helps the skin heal, so this serum will reduce the marks, scarring, and redness left behind by skin drama. It's also worth giving a shout-out to the Tamarind Seed Extract in The Ordinary’s serum. Tamarind improves the skin’s elasticity and its ability to hold onto hydration.
Skin that's experiencing redness can be dry or oily, so this La Roche-Posay serum works to balance skin's hydration levels, whatever your skin type, without tipping it over into oiliness. In fact, this product is lightweight and totally oil-free. The other unique twist to this treatment is that it contains light reflectors. So, while it's hard at work reversing the damage to your skin, and strengthening it to prevent relapses, Anti-Redness Intensive Care is using optics to take some of the redness out of the skin instantly. Now, that's smart skin science!
As far as Anti-Redness Serums go, this one from La Roche-Posay is supersmart. It’s designed to combat redness in two ways. First, the three active ingredients reduce the visible effects of broken veins and the size of blood vessels beneath the skin. This action calms the fiery effect of redness on the cheeks and chin. Second, La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense: Anti-Redness Intensive Care also soothes the surface of the skin. In short, you get instant relief as well as a remedy for the source of your redness issues.
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel ingredients include Mulberry Extract, which is known to directly target pigmentation and redness. Cucumber and Thyme soothe and cool irritation and inflammation. The serum also contains a blend of antibacterial essential oils to decongest the skin.
This light, hydrating serum is perfect for soothing problems such as rosacea, acne, and is perfect for skin recovery post-surgery. Natural botanicals help soothe discolouration, allowing skin to become refreshed and fortified. Hyaluronic acid boosts hydration, while fruit extracts brighten and refine the skin. Antibacterial Eucalyptus then helps to minimise congestion and acne flare ups.
4.8 of 13 reviews
When you’re suffering from a flare-up caused by sensitive skin, you likely want a magic product you can use to wave away redness. This ‘red alert’ serum from Medik8 helps to bring down redness instantly by relieving skin irritation. The anti-inflammatory effects of Calmwise Serum Anti-Redness Elixir also make it suitable for reducing the redness associated with a breakout. Yup, it can be used on acne-prone skin, because it won't cause pores to clog.
Using a treatment serum to manage a skin condition is rewarding. But you also want the product to manage everyday skin concerns such as dullness, dehydration, and natural ageing. Medik8 Calmwise Serum Anti-Redness Elixir 15ml covers these bases too to work on skin hydration, suppleness, and firmness.
4.6 of 86 reviews
This serum is out of the ordinary because it's not based on the oil, water, or alcohol as many traditional skincare products are. Instead, the Ordinary Pycnogenol is made up of humectants. These are natural molecules—in this case, sourced from Bark Extract—that boost the skin's ability to attract and hold moisture. High doses of antioxidants support the skin, so it doesn't react to physical or environmental stressors. Thus, you can prevent the surface of your skin from becoming vulnerable to flare-ups that lead to redness.
Think of The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% 15mlas a bottle of vitamins for your skin. This anti-redness treatment delivers the antioxidants your skin needs in high doses, without relying on carriers such as oil or other ingredients that can trigger sensitive skins.
The tightness, heat, and itchiness that come with inflamed skin can be really uncomfortable. Try Sensibio AR Daily Soothing & Anti-Redness Care for I-need-it-right-now relief, but also to deal with the underlying issues that lead to chronic redness. Rosactiv, for example, works on the fine vessels beneath the surface of the skin when they over dilate and cause that scarlet flush. With regular, long-term use of this anti-redness serum, you'll be able to get the underlying issues causing the redness under control.
Bioderma's Sensibio AR range is specially formulated for skin that's prone to eczema, sensitivity, and rosacea. You can use Bioderma Sensibio AR - Daily Soothing & Anti- Redness Care along with the other products in the range to support your skin's health. But for the times when your skin flares up, this serum will soothe the situation. Sensitive skins will also love this product as a daily moisturiser because it’s non-oily, free of fragrances, and hypoallergenic.
The plant-based ingredients in this highly concentrated treatment serum work on the deep levels of the skin to reduce inflammation and calm tissues. We’re talking supercalming extracts from the likes of Chamomile, Ginger Root, and Oats. UltraCalming Serum Concentrate also hydrates and nourishes the skin barrier, which gives it a fighting chance against external irritants that lead to red flare-ups and chronic dryness.
When you have sensitive, irritated skin, you can get stuck in a frustrating cycle of trying products. Some anti-redness treatments reduce acute inflammation, and others treat the root of the problem. Combining different formulations isn't the answer, as your skin may not tolerate the doubling up of product. Thankfully, Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate for sensitive and red skin works on all your skin problems.
Small vessels under the skin dilate when you experience a flare-up. Neuropeptides and antioxidants work together to return blood vessels to their natural state, so you don't experience that telltale redness and heat. SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer reduces redness and flushing by up to 30% instantly. Use this anti-redness treatment along with other medications prescribed for rosacea if you suffer from this chronic condition.
As the name promises, this SkinCeuticals rescue product has one aim in mind: to give you relief on the spot from flushing and redness. SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer combines neuropeptides and antioxidants to stop the inflammation process in the skin from progressing. Finally, you certainly don’t want to highlight pesky rosiness by sweeping on an oily substance. That’s why this formula is a lightweight gel–cream that also reduces the appearance of redness.
Another great skincare brand for sensitive skin is Pai Organic Skincare. Find out more in our here The Ultimate Guide to Pai Organic Skincare
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense: Anti-Redness Intensive Care
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel
Medik8 Calmwise Serum Anti-Redness Elixir 15ml
The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% 15ml
Bioderma Sensibio AR - Daily Soothing & Anti- Redness Care
Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate
SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
This article has been updated on 12/02 to replace discontinued products with our recent product recommendations. Brooklyn from our Customer Service team has helped to bring you our most recommended products and up-to-date information.
