Popular products that ended up “in the bin”

I have sensitive, reactive skin with rosacea and these are the products that didn't suit me. Interestingly, many of them are often recommended for exactly this skin type, so this list might save you some money.

Let me explain the quotation marks in the title straight away: most of these products didn't literally end up in the bin, I gave them away. What didn't suit me may be perfect for someone else.

Cleansing and moisturising

• CeraVe facial cleansers (any type). I tried several and none worked for me, even though they're almost always the first recommendation for sensitive skin.
• CeraVe moisturising cream. Same experience as with the cleansers.
• Revox moisturiser. Didn't suit me.
• Olival immortelle cream. Immortelle is often mentioned as a soothing ingredient, but my skin didn't like it in this formula.

Serums and boosters

• Kiehl's vitamin C serum. Not for my skin.
• Kiehl's Skin Strengthening Super Serum. It has a strong alcohol smell, which is the first alarm bell for reactive skin.
• L'Occitane booster. Didn't suit me.

Acids and toners

• Biologique Recherche P50W. A cult toner, but not for my rosacea skin.
• Paula's Choice Azelaic Acid Booster. Azelaic acid is often recommended for rosacea, but this booster probably failed because it also contains salicylic acid.
• Paula's Choice 2% BHA. Salicylic acid simply doesn't suit my skin.

SPF and tinted products

• Olival SPF 30. Didn't suit me.
• Erborian Red CC cream. It's popular precisely for covering redness, but it didn't work for me, probably because of the chemical filters in the SPF. Since then I only use mineral sunscreens.

What I learned

Looking at this list, the same triggers keep repeating: salicylic acid, alcohol and strong fragrance, and chemical UV filters. Today I check the ingredients before buying and introduce new products one at a time, so I know exactly what causes a reaction.

Every skin is different. If one of these products works for you, great. This list just shows that “for sensitive skin” on the pack doesn't mean it will suit yours. The products that turned out to be winners for me are in the article Products I'll buy again.

Frequently asked questions

Why didn't CeraVe suit my rosacea skin?

I tried several CeraVe cleansers and their moisturising cream and none of them worked for me, even though they're a common recommendation for sensitive skin. Every skin is different, so they may suit someone else.

Which ingredients most often irritate my rosacea skin?

The same triggers keep coming up for me: salicylic acid (BHA), alcohol and strong fragrance, and chemical UV filters.

Is azelaic acid good for rosacea?

Azelaic acid is often recommended for rosacea, but Paula's Choice Azelaic Acid Booster didn't suit me, probably because it also contains salicylic acid.

How should you introduce new products if you have reactive skin?

I check the ingredient list before buying and introduce new products one at a time, so I know exactly what causes a reaction.