Gentle Skincare Routine to Calm and Protect Rosacea-Prone Skin

Skincare for Rosacea Is a Game-Changer: 6 Steps to Achieve Calm, Protected Skin

If you’ve recently noticed that the skin on your face keeps getting red and flushed and is feeling ultra-sensitive, there’s a chance you could be dealing with an inflammatory skin condition called rosacea. If you are, don’t be alarmed: This condition is common, and while you can’t completely cure it, you can keep it under control by avoiding things that irritate your skin, taking medication when necessary, and adjusting your skincare routine. To get you up to speed on the latter, we asked two board-certified dermatologists for their top tips on skincare for rosacea, and they emphasized taking a gentle, hydrating approach. Read on to learn the six most important considerations when building a rosacea-friendly skincare routine, from which products to use to when to involve a derm.

Meet the Experts

Purvisha Patel, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates in Memphis and Visha Skincare.

Deeptej Singh, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Sandia Dermatology.

Symptoms of Rosacea

Curious if rosacea is something you may be experiencing? When someone has this common skin condition, they might have symptoms like:

Sensitive skin

Dry nose and cheeks

Flushing or blushing

Redness on their face

Burning skin

Acne

Visible blood vessels on the surface of their skin

Of course, many of these symptoms may be due to other causes, so your best bet for knowing for sure whether you have rosacea is to get your dermatologist’s opinion. Still, many of the top skincare tips for rosacea involve a gentle, pared-back approach, so it’s usually safe to give them a try whether or not you have a diagnosis.

The Best Skincare Tips for Rosacea

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Know Your Triggers

To establish a skincare routine that won’t further aggravate rosacea-prone skin, start by understanding your triggers, or the factors that cause your symptoms to flare up. These triggers can vary from person to person, but some of the most common include stress, heat, cold, wind, alcohol, pollution, sunlight, select skincare and haircare products, and foods like dairy, chocolate, and spicy food.1 When exposed to these triggers, your skin may become irritated and inflamed, so if you know what typically causes your rosacea to flare, you’ll want to do your best to avoid them.

While avoiding triggers can be helpful, keep in mind that this method isn’t exactly foolproof. “For some patients, controlling rosacea is possible through diligent trigger avoidance,” says board-certified dermatologist Deeptej Singh, MD. “However, others may find that avoiding triggers alone is not sufficient to manage their condition.”

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Practice Gentle Cleansing

When you’re dealing with rosacea, gentle cleansing is a non-negotiable—mainly because your skin is inflamed and you don’t want to do anything that will irritate it even more. “Over-cleansing can lead to irritation,” Singh says. “It’s often more about removing cosmetic products applied to the skin than addressing an inherent need for cleaning.”

Board-certified dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD, suggests cleansing twice a day using lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, emphasizing that those with rosacea should avoid scrubbing. Singh says that how often to cleanse your skin can vary depending on your skin and symptoms—so make sure to check in with your derm and to regularly assess how your skin is feeling. “Rosacea differs in type and severity among individuals, and a person’s tolerance for cleansing can change over time,” he tells us. Below are some tips on choosing a gentle cleanser:

Choose a gentle formula: Look for cleansers and soaps that say they are gentle or suitable for sensitive skin, such as Cetaphil or Cerave face wash.

Look for niacinamide: Cleansers that contain niacinamide can be helpful for some people with rosacea. This ingredient has the potential to reduce inflammation and help protect the skin from environmental stressors.

Consider certain synthetic ingredients: Cleansers made of synthetic detergent (rather than soap) can be helpful in reducing rosacea symptoms for some because they may be less irritating. This may sound counterintuitive, but the acidic pH of these types of cleansers could align better with your skin’s natural acidity.

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Focus on Hydration and Barrier Repair

Moisturizing is really important for people with rosacea, as it has several potential benefits including barrier repair, maintaining the skin’s microbiome, and preserving the pH balance. “Moisturizing the skin helps decrease inflammation and can help with the itching and discomfort from rosacea,” Patel explains. “It [also] repairs the barrier so the nerves are not exposed to air.”

Looking for a moisturizer that’s safe for your rosacea-prone skin? The dermatologists we spoke with recommend trying a product that’s non-comedogenic, pH-balanced, and contains ceramides, which help protect and repair the skin. Products with hyaluronic acid or azelaic acid can also be helpful.

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Use a Good SPF

Though sun protection is absolutely essential for everyone, this especially goes for those with rosacea because UV light can be a trigger and exacerbate irritation and inflammation. “By applying sunscreen, you can avoid rosacea becoming inflamed,” Patel says.

As you search for a rosacea-friendly SPF—especially if this is one of your known rosacea triggers—we have a couple tips:

Look for a product that contains SPF 30 or higher: In order to avoid irritation from sunlight, you’ll need adequate protection. It’s best to opt for formulas with SPF 30 or higher, plus be sure to reapply throughout the day.

Opt for mineral formulas: Try to use a physical sunscreen that contains titanium or zinc oxide. Often, these are less likely to contribute to inflammation than chemical sunscreen products.

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Avoid Irritating Products

When you have rosacea, your skin barrier can be compromised, and cosmetics and skincare products that contain harsh ingredients can easily irritate and inflame your skin. For example, “people with rosacea, eczema or a medical skin condition should not use medical-grade skincare products or exfoliating toners, as they could make the condition worse,” Patel says. Instead, she recommends looking for the following ingredients:

Sea buckthorn oil: This can be helpful in healing inflamed skin.

Niacinamide: As mentioned, this ingredient contains soothing and antibacterial/antimicrobial properties, which can be majorly helpful for those with rosacea or otherwise irritated skin.

Hyaluronic acid: This hydrator can help restore moisture without trapping it in.

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Ask Your Dermatologist

Just like when you’re dealing with any other skin condition—especially if you haven’t been diagnosed yet—it’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist for any questions and concerns about rosacea. They can assess your symptoms and use their expertise to come up with a treatment plan tailored specifically for you. This step is especially important because the best rosacea treatment isn’t going to be the same for everyone.

Of course, it’s also important to see a doctor to make sure the condition you suspect is actually rosacea. “It’s essential to recognize that not every redness on the face is rosacea,” Singh says. “If treatments are ineffective, it may indicate a need to reevaluate the diagnosis.”

The Final Takeaway

Rosacea can be frustrating and uncomfortable, but the good news is that if you can figure out your triggers and opt for a gentle, simplified routine, it’s possible to minimize some of the irritation. While you’ll want to consult a dermatologist to confirm if you have the condition and see if they have tips on the best routine for you, skincare for rosacea is generally designed to hydrate, protect, and reduce flare-ups, so most of the above steps have the potential to help with a range of sensitivities.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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