My glow up: the routine that changed my skin
Everything I use for my rosacea skin, step by step: from the Omnilux red LED mask to Soolantra and Skinoren.
Category
Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that usually shows up as redness on the cheeks, nose and chin, and sometimes as small inflamed bumps. Triggers are very individual: sun, heat, alcohol in skincare, fragrance, acids.
I'm not a dermatologist and I don't give medical advice here. I share what I've learned over years of trial and error: which products helped my rosacea skin and which made it angry. If you suspect rosacea, the first step is always a dermatologist.
Reviews and lists
Babé Mineral SPF 50: my current favourite
The best of the best: they spread and reapply beautifully. The minuses are a too-dark tinted shade, leaky packaging and nano titanium.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O: bottle number fifty and still my first step
My long-time favourite, I must be on my fiftieth bottle. Forever my first step, and my skin is better for it.
Bioderma Photoderm AR SPF 50+: some coverage, but it didn't calm my redness
The new tinted anti-redness SPF gives some coverage, but it doesn't spread nicely, it's chemical and it seemed to cause redness for me.
Avène B-Protect SPF 50+: good for summer, but drying
A tinted SPF with just the right coverage for summer that slightly masks redness, but it's drying and builds up during the day.
Avène Thermal Spring Water: refreshing, but it didn't help my rosacea
It suits many people with rosacea, but long-term it caused redness for me instead of calming. It refreshes nicely, and that's it.
Avène Couvrance: a pretty finish, but not for my skin
It gives a pretty finish, but there's no shade light enough and I think it caused papules and pustules.
Avène Cicalfate+ serum: OK hydration, nothing special for redness
It hydrates OK, but I didn't notice anything special for redness. And the pump feels cheap.
Biologique Recherche P50W: a cult toner, but too aggressive for reactive skin
I'm not saying it's bad, but it's too aggressive for my reactive skin with rosacea.
Erborian CC Red Correct: beautiful coverage, but redder skin afterwards
It covers and neutralises redness beautifully, but after taking it off my skin was redder, with more papules and pustules.
The mineral sunscreens I've tried, from holy grail to total flop
Finding a mineral SPF that doesn't look like a white mask and doesn't dry you out is a constant battle. Here are my six, ranked from favourite to disaster.
Popular products that ended up “in the bin”
These products are often recommended for sensitive skin with rosacea. They didn't suit me, so maybe they'll save you some money.