Fail-Safe Ways To Reduce The Appearance Of Facial Redness

Skin redness is no joke, especially when it just won’t go away. But there are plenty of ways to deal with a red face – whatever the cause.

Facial redness is one of those things that’s so… very… frustrating. Of course, temporary flushing can be attributed to all manner of daily triggers like a vigorous workout or a particularly embarrassing/nerve-wracking/thrilling event. But that kind of redness isn’t the end of the world – it is temporary, after all. 

When red skin becomes more of a permanent issue, however and, worse still, comes complete with other irritating concerns like itching, heat, bumps or flaky skin, something else is clearly going on.

What Is Facial Redness?

Also known as erythema, skin redness occurs when blood vessels beneath the skin dilate, causing blood to the rush to the surface. This increased blood flow can be caused by many factors but when it’s persistent or severe it’s usually a sign of some kind of inflammation or irritation.

The 5 Most Common Culprits Of Facial Redness

1. Rosacea: This chronic (and surprisingly common) inflammatory condition causes persistent redness along with bumps, hard pimples and itching. Rosacea is often genetic and can lay dormant until triggered by external factors.

2. Irritation: Some skin types are way more reactive making them prone to redness from things like potent skincare, dietary choices and emotional stress, to name just a few.

3. Acne: Acne is the most common skin problem in the US, affecting around 50 million individuals every year. It occurs when the pores becomes blocked by oil, dead skin cells and bacteria.

4. Psoriasis: According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis is a chronic disease where skin cells build up too quickly, causing redness and scaly, itchy patches.

5. Dermatitis: Two main types of dermatitis lead to facial redness – atopic and contact. Atopic dermatitis (aka eczema) is a genetic condition and results in itchy, sudden rashing, whereas contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an irritant or allergen.

How To Reduce Redness At Home

Let’s get one thing straight: if you can’t find relief from your facial redness, it’s wise to consult a physician for a proper diagnosis on your skin health. Conditions like rosacea can’t be cured, you see, and they require careful management. Plus, if you try to self-diagnose you could get things all kind of wrong – often making matters worse.

There are also plenty of proven strategies for calming facial redness and skin inflammation with smart, sensitive skincare choices. Read on for the most important must-dos and don’ts.

DO Avoid Potentially Irritating Ingredients

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis which makes it a massive no-no in your skincare regime.

Of course, most people have no issues with fragrances in their beauty products, but if you have sensitive skin that’s easily prone to redness, you’d be wise to avoid synthetic fragrances completely. You should also tread carefully with natural fragrances. Although rare, certain essential oils can cause reactions on extremely sensitive skin.

Synthetic dyes, parabens (preservatives) and strong sulfates like SLS and SLES can also be irritating for some people so look out for these on skincare labels and avoid them if you think they’re causing your skin to flare up.

DON’T Over-Exfoliate

One of the biggest mistakes you could make ­is to exfoliate sensitive skin too often and too vigorously. Don’t get us wrong, exfoliating is a fantastic way to encourage healthy cell turnover, remove dead skin cells and boost the results from the rest of your skincare routine. But too much exfoliation can weaken your skin’s protective barrier, stripping away all the good stuff that helps your skin remain strong, hydrated and healthy. This makes your skin extremely vulnerable to the outside world and basically asks irritation and redness to do their worst. 

Listen to your skin (it’ll tell you when it’s unhappy!) and limit your exfoliation to whatever your skin is able to tolerate. Once a week is often enough. Also, choose gentle exfoliating formulations that avoid harsh grains or high percentages of potent acids. Both of our exfoliators are super kind to the skin and can be used as little or often as you like. We particularly love our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which uses ultra fine Bora Bora white sand to gently buff your skin. 

DON’T Underestimate The Powers Of A Soothing Toner

The right toner can really supercharge your skincare routine, without needing to pile on too many active (and potentially irritating) ingredients.

The basic role of toner is to remove lingering makeup, cleanser and other debris from the surface of your skin while preparing it for the next stage in your routine. But they can be so much more than that. Their high water content makes them an ideal way to cool down inflamed skin, and if you search for ingredients like aloe vera, calendula, chamomile and gotu kola these are masters at hydrating, soothing and calming the skin.

DO Apply Sun Protection Every Day

UV radiation is seriously bad news for sensitive skin that’s prone to unwanted redness flare-ups, so make sure the sun stands zero chance of getting even close to your face. We recommend applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains an SPF of at least 30. Every day, for that matter. This ensures you’re well protected from both UVA and UVB rays all year long. With a hefty helping of aloe leaf juice plus 21 percent zinc oxide, our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is literally made for sun sensitive skin. It’s so good you will want to apply it every day.

PS: Sun-induced flushing may also be a red flag (no pun intended) that you have a sun allergy, so if your redness is persistent and comes coupled with itchiness, stinging, bumps and/or blisters seek professional advice from a dermatologist.

DO Make Calming Ingredients Your BFFs

What are the specific ingredients to look out for in a successful, sensitive skincare routine? Aloe vera is the obvious choice because it’s naturally cooling, healing, hydrating and packed with anti-inflammatory qualities. And, as a sidenote, almost all of our products contain this gentle powerhouse. Because yes, we love it that much.

Green tea is another must-have for red skin because it’s incredibly soothing and chock full of polyphenols which contain all manner of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Then there’s milk – specifically oat and rice milks ­– which contains tons of nourishing compounds and is great if your skin is particularly dry and sensitive.

Finally, a big shout out to niacinamide which works hard to increase the production of ceramides in the uppermost layers of your skin. This helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier function making it a game-changer for reducing inflammation and evening out red skin. Word is, niacinamide can even be an effective treatment for controlling rosacea or eczema, but if you're a sufferer of either of these conditions you should always seek professional advice before diving in head first.

Fancy introducing some of these sensitive skin, redness-reducing wonders into your skincare routine? Then try our Soothing Cleansing Milk followed by Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum – a winning combination for red, irritated skin if ever we knew one.

DON’T Forget To Moisturize

Like a comforting hug for your skin, moisturizer is non-negotiable for all skin types. And it’s especially important if you suffer with chronic redness. A good moisturizer not only hydrates your skin but it holds all that moisture in while simultaneously ‘feeding’ your skin with essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help to keep your barrier function ticking along nicely.

We recommend ceramide-rich formulas like our Firming Collagen Day Lotion, alongside healing and soothing topicals. When it comes to moisturizing, some of the best ingredients for sensitive skin are aloe (wait, did we mention that already?!), vitamin E, shea butter, squalane, glycerin and hyaluronic acid.