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
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin reacts to things other people never notice: it stings after cleansing, feels tight, turns red from fragrance or a new cream. The biggest challenge is that “for sensitive skin” is printed on almost every pack, while real experience is often different.
Here I write about products I've tried on my own sensitive skin: what worked, what went to a friend and what went in the bin. No paid reviews and no sugar-coating.
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.
Rhode Pocket Blush in Tan Line: the perfect blush
A lovely blush that blends easily, doesn't irritate me at all and looks like a natural flush from the sun. The only minus: it runs out fast.
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.