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- Best serums for redness and rosacea
- Best moisturizers and creams for redness and rosacea
- Best sunscreens for redness and rosacea
- Best color-correctors for redness and rosacea
- What to look for in products for rosacea and redness
Even when I’m not battling dry, flaky skin or trying to heal dark spots on my face, my fair complexion is prone to redness year-round. While my redness is fairly mild, I have family members who deal with rosacea, a chronic skin condition characterized by frequent and long-lasting flushing of the face. Like any persistent skin condition, redness and rosacea can be frustrating to deal with day to day, but there are ways to optimize your at-home skin care routines to combat flares and give your skin the best chance at rebounding from redness triggers.
To get more insight on how to build a redness-reducing routine, I spoke with board-certified dermatologists to get their favorite products for treating redness and rosacea, and asked CNN Underscored editors to share the calming, color-correcting staples they use in their own routines.
Best serums for redness and rosacea
“[This] is one of my go‑to anti‑redness serums because it combines botanical extracts like cucumber, thyme and olive leaf to soothe inflammation and visibly calm the skin,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jenna Queller said, adding that the formula absorbs quickly into the skin and layers beautifully underneath moisturizers or SPF. “I often recommend it as a daily calming step — morning and evening — to help reduce the appearance and sensation of redness over time,” she said. I’ve been testing the serum for a few weeks and have noticed a subtle reduction in my overall redness.
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joyce Park said that azelaic acid is one of her go-to ingredients for redness and rosacea. Azelaic acid contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to calm redness, and Park said she likes this Paula’s Choice booster, which you can mix into other mositurizers and serums or apply by itself. Park noted that when used consistently, this formula can help reduce redness without being overly irritating to the skin.
If you don’t have access to prescription-strength compounds, like those available at a dermatology office, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Maya Thosani said this Rozatrol serum is fantastic for targeting redness. It uses plant-derived complexes and stem cells to soothe redness and protect the skin barrier, creating an overall calmer and more even-looking complexion. This serum is also accepted by the National Rosacea Society, meaning its ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation for those with rosacea-related skin sensitivities.
Best moisturizers and creams for redness and rosacea
Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Face Moisturizer
Thosani said that moisturizing ingredients, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal and niacinamide can help reduce redness caused by damage to the skin barrier. She likes that this Aveeno moisturizer hydrates without feeling greasy, heavy or sticky. It’s made with prebiotic oats to help calm the skin and is hypoallergenic, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin types.
Rich in heparan sulfate analog, a molecule designed to boost the skin’s immune response to inflammation, as well as antioxidants like vitamin E and green tea extract, this Senté cream helps soothe while also repairing the skin barrier and reducing visible redness, according to Queller. “I recommend it daily, especially for sensitive or post-procedure skin,” she said. Senté’s formula is safe to use as part of your daytime and nighttime skin care routine, and it’s also been accepted by the National Rosacea Society.
Both Park and Queller are fans of this Avène cream, which uses thermal spring water to calm and soften the skin. “I love this during flares or when the skin barrier feels compromised,” Park said. “It’s soothing, reparative and very well tolerated by sensitive skin.”
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jacob Beer said this buttery cream uses ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, sea-anemone-derived proteins and other antioxidants to calm the skin. It’s intended for nighttime use only and works to rehydrate the skin during its most restorative phase, so you wake up with nourished and deeply moisturized skin.
Peach Slices Redness Relief Color-Correcting Moisturizer
Made with centella asiatica extract, cica and panthenol, this multipurpose moisturizer soothes the skin while also providing tinted red-correcting coverage. Contributing writer Kaleigh Fasanella said she's rarely reached for foundation or concealer since adding this hydrating cream to her repertoire, which is a huge win considering she also deals with a rare genetic skin condition that makes her skin increasingly sensitive and red. She said that just a dime-sized amount of this Peach Slices cream leaves her skin looking even, smooth and slightly dewy, but never cakey or overdone.
Best sunscreens for redness and rosacea
Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
If you’re looking for a bit of added complexion coverage in your SPF, there are plenty of tinted sunscreens available, like this one from Isdin. Thosani likes this mineral formula, which provides sun protection without irritating additives and uses iron and zinc oxides to deliver broad-spectrum coverage.
Best color-correctors for redness and rosacea
Bubble Secret Agent Color-Correcting Balm Redness Fix
Ready for some color theory? Because green sits opposite of red on the color wheel, Thosani said that applying green-tinted products helps to neutralize redness, creating a more even overall skin tone. Shaw likes this pocket-sized color corrector from Bubble for neutralizing redness on small areas. “I mostly use it around my nose before applying concealer and foundation,” she said. “It contains encapsulated pigments that activate as you blend it in and I've found that it's best to work it into the skin with a dense makeup brush.”
Park said this K-beauty product "provides immediate cosmetic redness correction" and she loves how natural it looks. I’ve also been impressed with this Erborian formula. The cream layers well on top of my sunscreen and skin care, and you only need a few small dots to help neutralize redness, which makes the product go a long way. Park said she’ll use this cream in place of concealer or spread it around her entire face to create more even coverage. Personally, I’ve had more success using it to target and mask redness in smaller sections — like around my nose, chin or forehead — rather than using it for blanket coverage across my whole face.
After considering this cream for our recent Innovation Awards, CNN Underscored deals editor Jacqueline Saguin said it quickly became a staple in her everyday skin care routine. “I prefer not to wear tinted complexion products most of the time because it can feel too heavy or just not blend well with my changing skin tone from season to season,” she said. “This green-tinted cream is all that I need because it's lightweight and creamy, blending seamlessly into skin.” Saguin added that in addition to masking redness, this cream also brightens her overall skin tone and she appreciates that it creates a neutral canvas to throw a light layer of blush on top of for daytime looks.
What to look for in products for rosacea and redness
Redness in the skin is very common, according to Park, and there can be many causes including disruption to the skin barrier, inflammation from over-exfoliating or harsh products, sun exposure, acne, eczema, contact dermatitis and vascular reactivity (where blood vessels dilate easily). “Sometimes redness is just transient irritation, but other times it’s a signal that something deeper is going on, like chronic inflammation or a condition such as rosacea,” Park said.
Keep in mind that redness in the skin and rosacea are two different things. “Redness is a symptom, while rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that can cause persistent facial redness, visible blood vessels, bumps and sometimes eye irritation,” Queller said. Some signs that your redness might be rosacea include frequent flushing, persistent redness on the central face, small visible blood vessels or stinging or burning sensations. If you notice patterns or persistence with redness, you should speak with a dermatologist.
While rosacea can affect all skin tones, Queller said that it may present more subtly in deeper skin tones. Those with deeper skin tones may notice more textural changes, irritation or bumps rather than obvious redness, according to Queller.
To address overall skin redness and rosacea at home, you should opt for gentle products that soothe the skin and are free from potentially irritating ingredients. Here are a few things the dermatologists I spoke with said to keep in mind.
When looking for products to reduce the appearance of redness, Park recommends prioritizing ingredients that calm inflammation, strengthen the skin barrier and support the skin’s microbiome. These are some of the most helpful ingredients to look for, according to the dermatologists I consulted:
- Azelaic acid: Park said azelaic acid is one of her favorite ingredients for those with rosacea, since it calms redness, helps with acne-like bumps and evens skin tone.
- Centella asiatica, allantoin and panthenol: All of these ingredients work to help soothe irritated skin, according to Park.
- Ceramides and squalane: Queller said ceramides and squalane both aid in restoring the skin barrier and prevent water loss, which reduces reactive flushing.
- Colloidal oatmeal: Thosani said that colloidal oatmeal products have a soothing and calming effect on the skin, especially sensitive rosacea-type skin. This calming ingredient helps to reduce both skin irritation and itchiness.
- Green tea and licorice root extracts: Park said these ingredients have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Niacinamide: Queller said niacinamide helps reduce inflammation, strengthen the skin barrier and regulate blood vessel dilation.
Many of these ingredients work by reducing inflammatory signaling in the skin, as Park said that less inflammation usually means less visible redness. “I also have rosacea myself, so I’m very aware of how frustrating it can be,” Park said, adding that her personal triggers can cause flushing even when her skin care routine is otherwise solid. “The good news is that you can often address both the underlying cause and the appearance. Repairing the skin barrier, reducing inflammation and avoiding triggers can significantly calm redness over time.”
Keep in mind that a reduction in redness won’t happen overnight, and it will take time to see any noticeable improvements. “Consistency matters more than any single step,” Park said. “A simple, calming routine used daily will outperform a complicated routine used inconsistently.”
When building out your overall skin care routine, stick with gentle cleansers that won’t strip the skin. Beer suggested something like Vanicream’s Gentle Facial Cleanser for those with rosacea and sensitive skin in general, since it doesn’t include fragrances or ingredients that tend to induce flare-ups. However, because cleansers are only on your skin for a few minutes at most, Park said they’re not the most effective at treating redness. Leave-on products like serums, creams and other topicals tend to do the heavy lifting when it comes to calming your skin. Park said she likes to use a triple cream for rosacea flares, which includes topical azelaic acid, ivermectin and metronidazole; however, you’ll need a prescription in order to obtain this.
In your morning routine, daily sunscreen is critical as it protects the skin from UV exposure, which can be a major trigger for redness and rosacea flares. At night, using heavier creams and moisturizers can help lock in moisture, soothing the skin and bolstering the overall health of the skin barrier. Thosani said a heavy emollient, such as a healing ointment, can help reduce redness caused by damage to the skin barrier, and also advised applying products in order from the “thinnest” to the “thickest,” meaning you should pat on any liquid-type toners or serums before adding heavier creams or treatments.
Avoid harsh ingredients and aggressive treatments
“From a skin care standpoint, I often see redness worsen with overuse of exfoliating acids, scrubs, fragranced products, essential oils and retinoids that are introduced too aggressively,” Park said. “In-office treatments like strong lasers, peels or microneedling can also backfire if rosacea isn’t well-controlled first.”
It’s important to note that some products, like the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel recommended earlier in this story, contain essential oils mixed into the formula. Personally, I enjoyed the aromatherapy effect when applying the eucalyptus-infused serum; it makes me feel like I just did a spa facial, and it hasn’t led to any breakouts or adverse reactions. While some studies have shown that extracts like eucalyptus oil can be beneficial for the skin, if you’re concerned about adverse reactions or are unsure if these oils may cause additional flare-ups, it’s best to steer clear and opt for a fragrance-free product instead.
Beer added that redness can also be caused by allergic contact dermatitis, a rash that he said tends to affect those using multiple skin care products. If you’re redness-prone, Park recommends a minimal skin care routine, focused on using fewer products made with quality ingredients to address your skin concerns.
