The Most Effective Products for Redness and Rosacea

Dealing with red, reactive skin and rosacea? Overly sensitive skin that flushes, blushes and is easily irritated? You're not alone.

Common triggers include stress, extreme temperatures, spicy foods, fragrance, alcohol in skin care, and alcoholic drinks (particularly wine). Even hot showers and skin-care acids can worsen symptoms. Constant rubbing and friction (like from frequent mask wearing) can also cause a flare-up, (thank again pandemic).

There are ways to calm down redness and irritation, avoiding products with fragrances or alcohols and being careful with potential irritants, like acids and physical exfoliants. Instead, look for products suited for sensitive skin and rosacea, and stock up on skin care that contains hyaluronic acid, azelaic acid, and niacinamide. Below is our curated list of top-rated rosacea-friendly products available in New Zealand. 

La Roche Posay Rosaliac Micellar Make-Up Remover Gel

If you have reactive skin, you know that the cleansing process has to be gentle. This cleanser keeps the most sensitive of skin calm, soothed and hydrated.

EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturiser

Moisturising is an important step of any skincare routine and especially important with rosacea since the skin tends to have a weakened skin barrier contains a blend of lipids, ceramides and niacinimide that mimic the components of the skin barrier and help prevent water loss from the skin surface.

Jan Marini RosaLieve Redness Reducing Complex Face Lotion

This is by far the most compelling rosacea product. The anti-redness treatment uses ingredients like azelaic acid and white- and red-tea extracts, which calm and soothe skin while also helping to improve rosacea symptoms over time.

Colorescience All Calm Clinical Redness Corrector SPF 50

This product neutralises the appearance of redness, it has a green tint to neutralise redness, and niacinamide, which not only helps with inflammation but also helps restore the skin barrier, which helps protect the skin from temperature changes and free radicals - both big rosacea triggers.

Avene Antirougeurs Calm Redness-Relief Soothing Mask - For Sensitive Skin Prone to Redness

This mask soothes the appearance of redness, irritated skin. The Avène Antirougeurs CALM Redness-Relief Soothing Mask can offer a number of benefits for sensitive skin types and it can even be used post vascular laser treatment.

PCA Skin Anti-Redness Serum

Not only is this serum calming and comforting to the skin, it helps with the redness associated with rosacea. It contains aldavine, capparenols, and bisabolol to reduce inflammation, redness, and hypersensitivity to external aggressors.