Table of Contents
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels on the face. It can also cause bumps and pimples, and in some cases, it can lead to eye irritation. There is no cure for rosacea, but it can be managed with a combination of treatments.
Treatment options for rosacea may include:
- Topical medications: These are applied to the skin and can include creams, gels, and ointments that help to reduce inflammation and redness.
- Oral medications: These are taken by mouth and can include antibiotics, which can help to reduce inflammation and the number of pimples.
- Laser and light therapies: These treatments use concentrated light to reduce redness and visible blood vessels.
- Facial creams and ointments: These can help to soothe and moisturize the skin, which can be helpful for people with rosacea.
The best rosacea treatment products
Feeling flushed or wearing a blush?
This is an often and somewhat unfortunate assumption that many people suffering from mild to moderate rosacea face on the daily. Given that their skin is reactive, the face tends to become flushed showing facial redness, patchy dryness, and even acne-like bumps depending on the severity of the condition.
Although fairly common in people with fairer skin tones, rosacea can be quite capricious. This means you have to deal with the uncertainty of a flareup randomly. It may come and go for a few days, a few weeks or months and then abate before popping up again.
And while there are a few common triggers to watch out for, it’s important to figure out the exact trigger for you. The best route to take, if course, is to consult with your dermatologist who can help you out with prescription oral and topical meds. But if you condition is mild, you can also go with over-the-counter options that target inflammation and redness.
Here we have compiled a list of the best rosacea skincare products for men and women to keep flushed and irritated skin to the minimal.
Best Overall
Skinception Rosacea Relief Serum
Designed to deliver both short and long-term results, Rosacea Relief Serum by Skinception® targets three aspects of problematic skin including redness, inflammation, and spider veins. We highly recommend this one.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
Working as a barrier cream, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging product, this all-in-one product targets multiple aspects of rosacea prone skin.
Skinception has an ingredient profile that works to target redness, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation and irritation in different stages of rosacea.
It offers both short and long-term benefits to users. By providing instant relief after application and improving skin elasticity, tone, and firmness in the long run.
There’s no severe side effects and for the price this is the best rosacea treatment overall. It comes with a money-back guarantee. We highly recommend skinception above alternative products.
Best gel for redness
Prosacea Medicated Rosacea Gel
Using the potency of sulfur paired with the soothing calmness of aloe, Prosacea medicated gel soothes the skin and treats existing breakouts by tackling excess oil issues.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
Using the cooling effects of aloe in a water-based gel format, Prosacea is a medicated, homeopathic topical gel most adept at treating redness issues.
Designed to soothe inflammation and bacteria-induced redness, it can destress your complexion and provide it the hydration it needs to stay calm.
It has a lightweight formula that doesn’t weigh skin down or clog pores keeping skin breathable. Its sulfur-based formula helps minimize inflammation and other issues while keeping side effects to the minimal.
The product is safe for daily use and comes recommended by dermatologists. But anyone with a sensitivity to sulfur should still get a professional’s opinion before using this product.
Best face wash cleanser
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
A creamy formula that does irritated skin justice, this dermatologist-developed product from Neutrogena cleanses really well without drying skin out.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
Checking all the boxes for fragrance free, non-comedogenic, oil, soap, and paraben free, this hydrating cleanser from Neutrogena should be your daily go-to option for sensitive skin.
Featuring a mild, creamy formula, a little goes a long way. It keeps things simple by using none of the fancy cleansing ingredients and gives you soothed, hydrated skin after every use.
It is quick to remove dirt and oil without causing the skin to dry too much or feeling flaky. The cleanser does exactly what it promises and keeps skin hydrated for daily cleansing.
If you’re looking for an effective soap-free option, it doesn’t get any better than this daily face wash cleanser.
Best serum
Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid 10% Serum
The multifunctional serum can be used before makeup, alongside a moisturizer or sunscreen depending on your skin’s needs.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
A lightweight serum that absorbs nicely into the skin, this product from Cos de BAHA does not dry out rosacea prone skin.
With the power of azelaic acid, this serum promises to restore damaged skin tissue, minimize scars and hyperpigmentation, and nourishes the skin to brighten and clear it up.
The anti-inflammatory potential of this star ingredient reduces the swelling and redness associated with rosacea. It is also helpful in killing the bacteria that causes the condition and keeps skin pores clean.
If you prefer using a serum as opposed to other treatments for your skin, then this affordably priced serum may be what you’ve been looking for. Just be sure to do a skin test first as it may be a bit strong for the more sensitive skin types.
Best moisturizer
Honeyskin Ultimate Face & Body Cream
It is ideal for people with dry skin, uneven, cracked, or sensitive skin and can also offer some cosmetic benefits along with its healing potential.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
A face and body cream designed to calm irritated and dry skin, Honeyskin provides users with a product that does just that and more.
It has a nourishing formula with some of the most skin-friendly ingredients including aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, cocoa butter and more that target skin dryness, itching, and redness very well.
It is suitable for both men and women with dry skin and rosacea issues and promises to resolve both therapeutic and cosmetic issues.
However, the small jar is priced on the expensive side for the amount of cream it contains. So, if you’re looking for more product for your money, you may just have to look elsewhere, Otherwise, this Honeyskin cream will do your irritated skin justice.
Best natural option
First Honey Skin Therapy Cream
Delivering skin-soothing effects for rosacea and other conditions, this is a nourishing, moisturizing, and restoring formula to pacify your skin.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
Suitable for all types of dry and irritated skin issues including rosacea, the First Honey Manuka Honey Cream can provide you daily relief from uncomfortable symptoms.
It relies on the healing potential of medical grade manuka honey, a natural source of skin-nourishing nutrients, to deliver its promised results. Its intensely hydrating formula keeps skin clean and naturally moisturized while also fighting inflammation, redness, and itchiness.
Free of any parabens, fillers, phthalates, or other harmful substances, this is the best natural way to treat your rosacea prone skin.
So, if natural is what you’re looking for, then this nourishing, moisturizing, and restoring cream is all you’ll ever need to fight dryness and keep rosacea at bay.
Best toner
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution Acne Toner
A low-strength glycolic and salicylic acid toner, this takes a gentle approach to cleanse rosacea-prone skin.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
A gentle toner that does its job without irritating sensitive skin, this will unclog pores and smooth your skin texture after your cleansing regimen.
It uses the power of salicylic acid and glycolic acid to obliterate bacteria and control oil making skin feel fresh and smooth after use. It uses a low concentration of chemical exfoliators that gently clear away dead skin cells from th skin’s surface.
Regular use gives you skin that is smooth, less hyperpigmented, and calmer than before.
The clarifying solution is reasonably priced and part of a trio if you would like to use it alongside the Effaclar cleanser and moisturizer but can be used on its own as well.
While it is gentle enough for rosacea prone skin being non-comedogenic and fragrance free, it isn’t alcohol free. So, if you have issue with that, do a skin test beforehand to see if it will work for you or not.
Best affordable
Thyme Out The Knockout Alternative
This is a more natural way for taming rosacea issues. Suited for every skin type, it is a product that won’t make a huge dent in your wallet but still deliver the results it promises.
- Effectiveness:
- Ingredient quality:
- Safety:
- Value for money:
A cost-effective spray solution to managing rosacea symptoms, Thyme Out is a liquid formula that you can spray over irritated skin and leave on to absorb into the skin.
There is no need to spread or rub it into the skin minimizing contact. It contains soothing ingredients like thyme, organic aloe vera, and purified water. A word of caution though is that it also contains organic grain alcohol which may be an irritant for some.
The spray promises anti-fungal, soothing, and healing properties to pacify inflamed skin with the potency of thyme and calm it down with the soothing power of aloe.
You can be sure to get nothing but 100% organic ingredients which is backed by the brand’s 100% satisfaction guaranteed. And there is no need to break the bank when doing so.
What to look for in a good rosacea treatment product
Despite being a very common skin condition, there is no known cure for rosacea. That leaves many people with the option to manage their sensitive skin care routine with over-the-counter treatments.
But not all rosacea treatments are created equal and there is no one size fits all. And the fact that potential causes of rosacea are highly varied doesn’t help either. If anything, this requires that you look very carefully at the product of your choice and make sure that it matches your skin’s specific needs.
There are a number of topical treatments that can help with calming symptoms of mild to moderate rosacea. Calming ingredients range in variety but the most common ones can be found in the following forms:
Vitamin serums
Serums for rosacea prone skin often contain calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients along with antioxidants.
There are special vitamin C and E serums which are great for correcting free radical damage as well as for preventing it in the future. Using a vitamin C serum under a moisturizer can minimize irritation and cater a strong skin barrier.
Such serums are also a good option to apply under sunscreen with vitamins C and E to brighten skin tome and support collagen production
Other calming ingredients in serums include niacinamide and colloidal oatmeal.
Azelaic acid
Over the counter azelaic acid products claim to have antibacterial properties that can be helpful for calming and preventing inflammation. Unlike several other options, azelaic acid is considered suitable and safe for use during pregnancy.
While most acids are harsh and can have a drying effect, azelaic acid seems to be well tolerated by sensitive skin users with minimal problems. Experts recommend using any product with azelaic acid for at least three months for it to work.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 with anti-inflammatory potential. It is a relatively gentle and non-irritating ingredient in skincare products making it skin-friendly for rosacea prone skin.
It is best suited for mild to moderate cases of rosacea and may not work effectively enough for more severe problems.
Metronidazole
This is a popular topical option to treat rosacea associated with pimples and bumps but not so much for flushing and redness. It is available as a prescription only and is a treatment that takes time to show results.
Metronidazole is available in both an oral form of a pill and topical forms of gel, cream, and lotion. However, all types can cause a flushing reaction so it’s best to avoid consuming alcohol during treatment.
Retinoids
All retinoids are a form of vitamin A, which, when used topically, can cause skin cells to proliferate and shed more quickly. This results in smooth, even skin.
As such, retinols are seen as collagen builders which are beneficial for skin in the long run. They are believed to improve rosacea symptoms by generating healthy skin with more normal blood vessels.
However, they can also cause irritation for sensitive skin and that’s why it’s important to find the right concentration. This can vary from .025 to .1% depending on the brand or if it’s generic. Over the counter options typically start at the lower end of concentration and can be tolerated well by most, if not all, individuals with rosacea.
Also, when using a retinol-based product it becomes imperative to moisturize as it speeds up the natural process resulting in dry, flaky skin.
Good practices for managing rosacea symptoms
Just as it’s important to know what to use for rosacea prone skin, it’s equally important to know what products to avoid. Here is a quick rundown of what you should stay away from when trying to manage your rosacea symptoms.
Go fragrance free: While a product may smell nice, it won’t do your sensitive skin any favors. Fragrances are a no-no since they can easily aggravate touchy complexions.
Non comedogenic: Whether it is a moisturizer, sunscreen, or calming lotion, non-comedogenic is the way to go. This will help prevent pores from clogging and breakouts from occurring while keeping the skin adequately hydrated.
No dyes or alcohol: Dyes and alcohol are also triggers for rosacea and should be avoided strictly. They may have harsh ingredients or chemicals that will irritate skin and should be swapped for products with calming and cooling ingredients like aloe vera or cucumber.
Use sunscreen: For rosacea sufferers, sunscreen is non-negotiable. Since sun damage is a well-known trigger for the condition. a good sunscreen will not only prevent irritation in susceptible individuals but will assist in preventing flare ups in others already struggling with the condition.
It is best to go with a mineral-based sunscreen for the most soothing results.
FAQ
What are some common rosacea triggers?
While every case is different, people with rosacea often find their condition worsen by sun, heat, and wind exposure. In addition, alcohol, exercise, and stress can also factor in and some people have also been able to pin down specific foods to cause a flare.
How to take care of rosacea prone skin?
Alongside following a sensitive skin skincare routine, it’s also important to eat right while avoiding foods that trigger inflammation. At the same time, try to consume others that have a dense antioxidant nutrient profile. Healthy oils and fats can also help improve the condition of your skin.
You should also take some time to figure out your triggers and avoid them whenever you can.
What happens to untreated rosacea?
When left untreated, mild cases of rosacea can progress to severe ones. It can lead to permanent skin damage which may extend to the eyes as well.
Untreated rosacea may cause the eyelids to become swollen, red and develop sties. Further aggravation can lead to eye irritation and vision problems.
Final verdict
Because rosacea has no known cure to date, your best bet is to find a skincare regimen that suits your skin’s specific needs.
Our recommended products deal with inflamed and irritated skin covering all skin types and go beyond simple cleansing and moisturizing. With the right product you can minimize your symptoms and enjoy radiant, healthy skin.
