Red, rosacea-prone skin tends to be very sensitive. In fact, many rosacea sufferers find that certain skincare products contribute to rosacea flare-ups. That’s why it’s important to choose the right cosmetic and skincare products—because they have the power to either soothe or exacerbate your skin condition.
While everyone’s skin reacts differently to possible triggers and products, there are some general guidelines most people with rosacea will find helpful to follow. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top products for your rosacea skincare routine. However, consider consulting with a board certified dermatologist to better understand your skin… and always remember to patch test new products on a small area of skin to avoid an adverse reaction before applying all over.
Top 4 Products for Your Rosacea Skincare Routine
The number of different types and brands of skincare products out on the market is extremely overwhelming. Luckily, the best skincare routine for rosacea is a simple one. The top four products for your rosacea skincare routine include:
Mineral Sunscreen
In general, sunscreen makes up an important component of a healthy skincare routine. However, for those with rosacea, incorporating a natural sunscreen into their routine plays a key role in helping minimize rosacea flare-ups. 61% of people suffering from rosacea rank sun exposure as their biggest rosacea trigger.
That’s why you’ll want to apply a gentle sunscreen everyday — whether it’s sunny or not, and even if you're staying indoors. The sun still impacts your skin through clouds and windows.
When choosing a daily sunscreen, opt for one free from oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, homosalate, and octinoxate. These are common chemicals used in sunscreen, but they may be irritating to those with rosacea. Instead, look for sunscreen made with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which are less likely to cause irritation.
Apply the sunscreen prior to applying your makeup in the morning. If you don’t wear makeup, reapply every two hours while outside.
Makeup Remover
At the end of the day, if you’ve been wearing makeup, it’s important to remove it before going to bed. Leftover makeup, dirt, and oil can clog the pores, allow bad bacteria to fester, and ultimately cause added irritation.
Unfortunately, many makeup removers contain preservatives, fragrances, sulfates, and other harsh chemicals. When choosing a makeup remover for your rosacea skincare routine, look for a makeup remover that’s hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, preservative-free, and sulfate-free.
If that sounds too complicated to search for on the store shelves, try the Gladskin Hydrating Oil Cleanser. It’s cleanly formulated with the most sensitive skin in mind, containing just four ingredients.
Gentle Cleanser
Once you’ve removed your makeup (if needed), it’s time to cleanse! Using a makeup remover followed by a gentle cleanser is a method referred to as “double cleansing,” and it helps to ensure you’re removing sufficient makeup, dirt, and oil from the skin surface to help prevent bad bacteria from overgrowing on the skin.
When you’re using gentle, rosacea-friendly products, this two-step process won’t feel harsh or overwhelming for the skin. Like with your makeup remover, you’ll want to look for a cleanser that is free from preservatives, fragrances, sulfates, and other harsh chemicals. We like the Gladskin Milky Cleanser with Vitamin E.
Once you’ve finished cleansing and rinsing with lukewarm water, pat the skin dry. Avoid rubbing, which can cause unwanted irritation.
Lightweight Moisturizer
Now that your skin is prepped, it’s time to focus on redness relief. Vasoconstrictor creams and oral antibiotics are treatment options a board certified dermatologist and primary healthcare provider may recommend.
While these treatment options can temporarily alleviate symptoms of rosacea, they don’t often offer a long-term solution for rosacea — or worse, can cause uncomfortable and unwanted side effects.
That’s why when you’re evaluating your options for rosacea creams, it’s important to consider the possible long-term effects and if the cream works with your skin instead of against it.
That’s why we created the Biome Balancing Lotion (formerly Redness Relief Cream). Gladskin’s Biome Balancing Lotion reduces the appearance of facial redness and helps restore balance to the skin microbiome. This soothing, lightweight moisturizer for sensitive skin contains Micreobalance®, Gladskin’s patented smart protein. It's minimally formulated and safe for daily long-term use—many see relief in as little as a week.
Apply the lotion before bed after washing your face… and if desired, again in the morning. Just be sure to wait at least five minutes before applying other products like makeup and SPF.
Products to Avoid in Your Skincare Routine for Rosacea
When thinking about your rosacea skincare routine, you want it to be gentle and hypoallergenic. That means avoiding any products that may inflame or irritate your sensitive skin. This typically includes products containing sulfates, fragrances, preservatives, exfoliants, drying alcohols, and other harsh or drying chemicals. For example, because they can be overly drying, you’ll want to consider avoiding face masks that dry out the skin or exfoliate.
Final Thoughts
Everyone’s skin reacts differently to specific triggers. By reading ingredients labels and patch testing products, you can identify which skincare ingredients and products help soothe your skin and help you to avoid flare-ups.
By building a skincare routine with a mineral sunscreen, gentle makeup remover and cleanser, as well as a microbiome-balancing lotion for redness relief, you’re well on your way to establishing skin care habits that support healthy, calm skin and minimize rosacea flare-ups.
