14 best rosacea products for your skincare routine, tried and tested

Something that can come hand in hand with many cases of facial redness is a sensation of heat. This relatively new formulation from Avene contains a patented ingredient to target hot and bothered skin, providing instant relief.

“This Avene moisturiser is one of my favourite products to reduce redness. It contains Angiopausine to diminish the redness and balance skin tone irregularities,” vouched Dr Phillips.

Though this isn’t a targeted redness treatment, this serum from The Inkey List is adequate at reducing signs of redness.

“Redness can often be the result of an impaired skin barrier,” says Dr Phillips. With this in mind, this potent blend of actives is designed to target barrier repair and, in turn, leaves the skin looking and feeling calmer.

This gel-like cream offers a gentle, easy way to cleanse the skin without stripping it of moisture. “For the first step in your routine, it’s important to use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight. This is one of my favourites,” shares Dr Justine Hextall. One of the points of difference with this cleanser is it has been certified as safe to use even in extreme cases of redness, including skin sensitised by cancer treatment, and allergy-prone skin.

Though every dermatologist was united in suggesting a gentle cream cleanser, for those who like to wear a generous amount of make-up, the removal process can feel tedious. On days when the goal is to maintain a gentle routine but get ready for bed as quickly as possible, this cleanser is the perfect solution. This cream has been formulated with jojoba seed oil and squalane, which gives it quite a bit of slip, meaning you can remove all make-up quickly and easily.

“An anti-redness routine should include a soothing moisturiser containing barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide,” explained Dr Zainab Laftah.

This relatively affordable option from CeraVe is a simple yet effective solution for deeply hydrating and strengthening the skin, thus helping to reduce redness. Be mindful that this formula is rich and may need a moment to absorb before applying make-up. The AM version contains an SPF, but I preferred the PM formula, as this was able to be used morning or evening.

This simple, everyday moisturiser would be great for anyone noticing signs of redness. The formula is buttery yet absorbs quickly, so you can quench any discomfort in the skin and then easily follow with make-up right away, should you wish to.

Of the many creams I tried during the testing period, this one struck a balance between being rich enough to moisturise but without feeling heavy or uncomfortable.

Though rich night creams can often feel somewhat medicinal in texture, this silky option made a refreshing change from the norm. Dr Hextall agreed, and was an advocate of this choice. “I often suggest the dermallergo range from La Roche Posay, as it contains a patented ingredient, neurosensine, that helps to reduce the stinging and burning that can be seen with a sensitive, irritated skin.” It has a soothing, lightweight gel texture but note the bottle is on the small side.

We all know the obvious benefits of using SPF when it comes to protecting against sun damage, but it is also worth considering the fact using SPF can help keep redness at bay, as sun exposure can lead to flare-ups. “Apply an SPF that is broad spectrum, ideally protecting against UVA, UVB and longer wavelengths,” advises Dr Hextall. This one from Garnier matches the criteria, is lightweight, affordable and dries to a non-greasy finish. I would recommend leaving this formula to absorb for 10 minutes before applying make-up, to avoid pilling.

A scroll of ‘Laneige mask’ on TikTok may bring up an endless stream of results for the brand’s lip treatment but the lesser-known cica sleeping mask is where it’s at when it comes to redness. In theory, an adequate skincare routine should alleviate the need for a mask but life doesn’t always work that way. On days when your skin simply isn’t playing ball or the night before a special occasion, this rich yet light mask will help to calm and plump the skin by morning.

If your redness is a result of a skin condition, over-the-counter remedies alone may not adequately treat the symptoms. “Facial redness can often be reduced by using prescription-grade creams,” says Dr Zainab Laftah. Klira is a dermatologist-designed skin service that formulates a prescription-strength treatment to target your own personal skin concerns. This is delivered to you each month and your progress is monitored. Given that each individual will have different redness triggers, having expert one-to-one advice is one of the most effective and time-saving things you can do to manage your symptoms. Klira’s offering will work best as part of a complete skincare routine, so, seek advice from your prescriber about what your other steps should look like.

If wearing make-up isn’t for you but you want something to reduce the appearance of prominent redness, this formula from Dr Jart is the ultimate solution. This skin treatment is infused with adaptable green pigments that dramatically reduce the appearance of redness.

Use a tiny amount and build your desired coverage – don’t forget that green is not a colour you would usually see on your skin, so, go easy. Green is designed to colour-correct red and will give a gaunt look to the skin if used in areas without expressed redness. For warmer skin tones, you may prefer to seek a colour corrector more tailored to deeper flushing. Nars and Mac Cosmetics are both fantastic places to find those.

For many people, symptoms of redness may never have presented until mid-life. Women especially note that changes in hormones can cause more prominent redness. Made of More is a brand that was created to specifically support hormonal skin fluctuations, and this balm gives instant relief to irritated skin. Price per use is high, so, I’d recommend you save this for flare-ups, rather than everyday use.

I also found this product difficult to extract from the tube but, when you finally get there, it’s worth the struggle. You may need to hold the tube between the palms of your hands first, to soften the product a little.

Heat can have a powerful knock-on effect when it comes to redness. “Cool compresses, like a jade roller or a damp washcloth, can help constrict blood vessels and reduce redness. Although this is temporary, it does provide some relief,” explains Dr Ejikeme.

On occasions where this isn’t so practical, this mist from Ella and Jo is a fantastic stopgap. The recyclable aluminium bottle keeps this deeply hydrating formula extra cool, meaning you get a refreshing moment of calm whenever you use it to help ease hot skin and redness. Don’t let the playful packaging put you off, this is a sophisticated and fast-acting formula.

Despite being an eye-watering investment, there is much evidence to support the use of red-light LED therapy to reduce the appearance of redness. For those with more exacerbated symptoms, the benefits of this at-home mask will be worth the commitment. This mask was easy to use, even when watching the TV, so it was simple to slot into a busy routine. After four weeks of continuous use, not only did I see a reduction in persistent redness, but I also noted a general plumpness to the skin overall.