(Part 3) Best products from r/Rosacea

I have mild rosacea on my face and scalp. (And mild psoriasis in my ears and some scalp area.) I used to be someone who just washed my face with the rest of my body using bar soap. Not much of a makeup or suncreen user, so my Celtic skin is damaged by years of gardening and everyday sun exposure. That became rosacea in my 50s, when acne and face-flaming became a regular thing. The first time my face flamed out after having a glass of wine, I had no idea what was going on.

I have had success by, first, having an actual skin care routine, for the first time in decades. My millennial makeup-queen daughter helped me navigate the sea of products.

I clean my face/neck with Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes every night and apply Cetaphil Redness Relieving Night Moisturizer, 1.7 Ounce. I have gotten pretty good at not forgetting (mostly).

In the morning, I wash my face/throat with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for All Skin Types, Face Wash for Sensitive Skin, 16 oz. Bottle. I do not like the SMELL of this product, but it goes away after rinsing and seems to work well with their other products - never get it in your mouth - yuck! (I did not like the "Gentle" version of this - felt greasy feeling and did not remove makeup residue.) Then I apply tinted moisturizer, Cetaphil Redness Relieving Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 20, 1.7 Ounce. ("Neutral Tint" looks like it is directed at light-colored skin - which is less useful to people with darker skin tones.}

It really smooths out my skin tone and calms the redness. My skin almost looks "dewy." It is not heavy or cakey, does not settle in my "fine lines" and stands up to sweat if you blot gently. Does not sting if sweat runs in my eyes outdoors. You need the makeup wipes to get it off at night.

Nothing hides everything. But this routine has made a big difference in how I look, and how I feel about my annoying skin issues. I even use a little eyebrow pencil now!

Good luck! If this doesn't work for your skin, try some other products, one by one. I know I sound like a Cetaphil fanboy, but the products are easy to find and inexpensive. If you want photos of my pale middle-aged skin before/after, DM me.

MAKEP:REM UV Defense Me Blue Ray... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074JVHCL1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

It does cool the skin when you put it on (good for rosacea/flushing), this one is more glowy (ok for my dry skin, maybe not for oily), no cast, no irritation for me but does have a sunscreen-y scent.

Japan Health and Personal Care - Biore smooth UV carefree kids milk 90g AF27 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019IDQ57G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HXiSCb17T83EM

I’m really liking this one actually. It has no scent, goes on without flossing or drying my skin, feels soothing.

Biore UV Sarasara Bright Milk 30ml & Facial Sheet Mask, SPF50+/PA++++, Waterproof https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CVH7YVP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_o1iSCb4GGPAKD

This one has alcohol, doesn’t actively dry me out but is matteifying and has powder finish. Tiny amount in bottle, liquid which makes it harder to put on and dries so quick I sometimes feel I’m not getting an even application.

Nivea Sun Protect Super Water Gel SPF 50/PA+++ (Face & Body)Pump Type 140 g (Japan Import) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SM997I2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-2iSCbBEBPVJB

This was the first Japanese sunscreen I ever bought and what allowed me to want to wear sunscreen everyday. It’s a good standby, I like the consistency and doesn’t irritate.

These are the ones I have tried...
I don’t buy into the physical sunscreen hype, I like me some chemical filters. And it has to be cosmetically elegant enough for me to wear it. Read: lightweight, not heavy on the skin; soaks in, feels like moisturizer not copper tone etc.

Okay, brace yourself lmao.

I have an odd wheat allergy/intolerance (not sure what to call it but it's called WDEIA if you're interested). I was very lazy with it and it made things a lot worse regarding flare ups/blushing etc. The first step was cut out/cut down on wheat, shitty fried foods and dairy. I feel combating inflammation from the inside first was a massive step forward.

As for skin care products these are the ones I swear by (personal preference). I'm a red head white scottish guy so my skin is sensitive as hell but also tough as hell.

Naissance Witch Hazel (Not sure if this is an ideal "cleanser" for all or at all but it has worked for me, it does a better job than any standard face washes have done for me.)

Lacura Healthy Glow Toner 5% Glycolic Acid (this stuff is a clone of Pixi Beauty Glow and seems to stand up pretty well to it, Amazon sell it for £15.99 but it's only £3.99 in Aldi and it never seems to be in stock unless you're lucky. Apparently they do beauty events a lot so keep an eye out for that.)

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (A great anti inflammatory for the skin, Niacin is a B vitamin so it's key to get this any way you can.)

Cliganic Cold Pressed Jojoba Oil (Most moisturisers I found were loaded with alcohols I was trying to avoid as much as possible and the good ones were kinda expensive (not always the worst thing but I was strapped at the time). This is really nice stuff. It's hypoallergenic, antibacterial and a source of Vitamin E which could help with scarring etc.)

I also use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution occasionally. I used it a bit too much before and it seemed to make my skin very stripped and irritated but after dialing it back it has become a good addition.

I basically just wash my face with water in the shower (not too hot or you'll be a tomato). I apply the WH first then the toner with cotton pads, letting it dry off in between. Next comes TO Niacinamide, a small bit goes a long way as it can pill when applying things over it. Lastly I'll put a few drops of the jojoba oil on once the Niacinamide has dried in a bit. A FEW DROPS is key here, the coverage is insane. You'll end up looking hilarious if you put too much on, it's not a pleasant look or feeling with a big greasy face.

I do this once in the morning and once at night. I'll use the peeling solution when I feel it's necessary, once a fortnight usually.

Hope that helps or offers something, sorry it's so long winded. It's better to have info and reasons over a vague post in my eyes.

Ole Henriksen vitamin C serum is amazing for redness! I also love using Mario Bedescu rose water spray.
I recently bought a vitamin B3 serum to test out (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5N0Y4U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ffRKBbKF17SF7) and so far I'm liking it for keeping my skin moisturized & helping with the redness.

I highly recommend any brightening serums if you want to target darkness and redness. For blackheads, I like to use Freeman brand facemasks (very affordable & not harsh on my sensitive skin) once or twice a week - something like a de-stressing clay mask or a skin-calming peel off mask, etc.

[EDIT] My skincare routine currently is:

1. SheaMoisture rosehip oil cleanser
   
2. Mario Bedescu rose water spray
   
3. Serum (right now B3 serum - usually the vitamin C serum)
   
4. IT Cosmetics confidence in a cream moisturizer

As a woman who finds my daily cover-the-redness routine infuriating, I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to deal with makeup as a man


I've also used the Clinique yellow-toned powder, and it provides very light coverage. As a pale-olive person, I find it helpful in sliiightly evening my skintone, but I'm not sure if it would be too white or just translucent/less effective on a darker skin tone


If you try it and find you need more redness coverage over a small area like a blemish, then you could apply a dot of a concealer (good brands include Makeup Forever, Dermablend, and Tarte) and tap a bit of the powder over it to set it in place


If you find you need redness coverage over a larger area, you may want to try a light applicable of a buildable powder foundation, like this one, OVER the Clinique powder. I like that particular powder because it doesn't look "powdery" and comes in a nice range of shades in neutral undertones that will counteract redness. I have to work kind of hard to build it up to full coverage with this fluffy brush, and it's only then that you can really identify that I'm wearing makeup. I'm sure a light layer over the Clinique would be undetectable. You could even spritz your face with a spray bottle of water (or this if you feel fancy) to help the powder melt into your skin and look less matte


Finally, wearing a primer-like sunscreen can help these products adhere to your skin better and wear more naturally. I like Bare Minerals SPF 50 because it doesn't have a white cast and is loaded with rosacea-friendly zinc. I think it helps my redness/acne a lot. Replenix Sheer Physical SPF 50 (untinted but no white cast), [Cotz Face SPF 40](https://www.amazon.com/Cotz-Face-Natural-Skin-Ounce/dp/B0073P01RC/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484781631&sr=8-1&keywords=cotz%2Bface%2Bsunscreen&th=1] (tinted), and Elta MD UV Physical(tinted) are other rosacea-approved options

For sure. A lot of people have luck with the CeraVe moisturizing cream, this product works for me and I have dry sensitive skin. A lot of people also recommend Vanicream moisturizer (I personally have not used, but I see a lot of people on here recommending it). These are both supposedly basic and calming products to repair the moisture barrier. They are also not super expensive which is nice.

Right now I am using the Purito centella unscented sunscreen as my daily moisturizer. It is very very moisturizing and my sensitive skin likes it. During night I am using the Purito green cream. Both these products contain centella asiatica which is supposed to decrease redness.

EDIT: Another gentle moisturizer I've read that people recommend on here and r/SkincareAddiction is Cosx ceramide comfort cream.

EDIT2: If you are just starting out with a skincare routine, you should really go check out the bountiful resources at r/SkincareAddiction. For example go on the right hand panel and they have a lot of stuff. Check out the HG (holy grail) threads for moisturizers, etc. They have a whole wiki devoted to

• Rosacea too.
  
• Info on moisturizers
  
• Routine steps

Hey! Intermediate ABer here, and I've tried about 5 Asian sunscreens. I also have moderate rosacea (erythema and papules) as well as eczema. Fun times! :P

/r/asianbeauty doesn't really have a good grasp of the needs of rosaceans (haha?), unfortunately. Gotta use info from here and there to figure out what's good for your skin.

• Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50 PA+++: Totally disappears into your skin. Product looks almost glittery before application, which is cool. The alcohol content is far too astringent for my skin and the fumes hurt my eyes.
  
  
• Shiseido Hada Senka Mineral Water Gel SPF 50+ PA+++: White gel that goes on clear and dries without a film. This product is very slippery, I guess because its no 1 ingredient is silicone. This is my HG sunscreen. When I have an eczema flare-up I use a full mineral sunscreen (PC Calm Redness Relief SPF 15+), but for everyday use this product is perfectly fine on my rosacea.
  
  
• Shiseido Hada Senka Ageing Care SPF 50+ PA+++: I originally tried this product prior to trying the Senka above, and discarded it due to its powdery finish (I didn't like it on my hands... Just wash your damned hands!). It doesn't have an alcohol smell, but alcohol is fifth on the list of ingredients. However, you'll note that the third and fourth ingredients are silicones which might mitigate this. I'll try it again when I get home and will update.
  
  
• Yojiya Sports SPF 50+ PA+++: Oh my gosh, this product is luxurious. It cost me 1800JPY when I was there last September, and to be honest I have been avoiding using it because I have no way of getting any more in the near future. Does include zinc oxide (no visible white cast on me) but no alcohol!
  
  
• Biore Perfect Face Milk SPF 50+ PA+++: Alcohol is third on the list of ingredients, so this was a no-go for me. Much too strong.
  
  That's all I can think of. I'll try out the Ageing Care again tonight and will report back.

I tried it once. My skin did not respond well after the first few days.

I generally avoid face creams that contain petrolatum as a major constituent part of the formulation. Which isn't to say that it can't be a good/appropriate ingredient for some people! It works by forming an occlusive barrier; it literally seals in a layer over the skin so that water can't evaporate. For a lot of people with a compromised moisture barrier, this can be just what they need for their skin to recover. But for people prone to fungal folliculitis, acne, or just clogged pores generally, it can drive breakouts or other inflammation. It's also waterproof, so washing it off properly might require a more intense cleanser. According to this article, "petrolatum jelly can reduce SC water loss by more than 98 percent, whereas other occlusive oils can create a 20 to 30-percent reduction of SC water loss."

When I'm assessing a skin cream, I look for one with a proportionally smaller amount of an occlusive oil (such as ceatyl alcohol), and that has a larger proportion of humectants, which hydrate the skin by attracting and holding onto water (ingredients like glycerin and hylauronic acid), and emollients that condition the skin (like sunflower oil.) There are certain ingredients that do double duty, and I love to see those on an ingredient label. Shea butter, for example, is an occlusive, humectant, and an emollient all in one. On top of looking at the proportions of these three ingredients, I look for other "power" ingredients that may help to reduce inflammation and support the moisture barrier. Think, aloe vera, raw manuka honey, or ceramides.

So, looking at the ingredients of the Aveeno moisturizing lotion (Dimethicone 1.2% (skin protectant), water, glycerin, distearyldimonium chloride, petrolatum, isopropyl palmitate, cetyl alcohol, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, benzyl alcohol, sodium chloride), I'm seeing a very occlusive formula, relatively speaking, although the additional of oatmeal might be very beneficial for your skin. Colloidal oatmeal, in addition to working very effectively as a moisturizing agent, also has anti-inflammatory properties, and can work as a topical antifungal. More on that here.

The reason I go into all this detail is that formulas (and prices) are constantly changing, and as I've gotten better at knowing what ingredients and formulations work best for my skin, it's become much easier to find products that work for me on the first try.

You might just go ahead and try it for a few days, and see how your skin reacts. If it doesn't work for you, you could try a moisturizer that has similar properties, but a less occlusive formulation. For example, this one from cetaphil, or this one from la roche posay. They both also have colloidal oatmeal, and they're also stacked with other beneficial ingredients (ceramides, niacinamide, etc.) Neither are terribly expensive.

For myself, I use this one. It's a simple formulation without petrolatum or silicone, which my skin doesn't respond well to, but it's still enough for me in the coldest months of the year. I layer it on top of two alternating serums that I'm trying out. It's also super affordable, which is a big help to me. Rosacea is expensive. :(

I use MSM cream on my face and it works well. I have not tried oral MSM nor MSM eye drops. IANAD, I can only tell you about things I've researched or tried for myself.

Try erythromycin eye ointment. Or you can get azithromycin eye drops. It's off label for ocular rosacea but a study has shown it works. Beats taking oral antibiotics which upset your stomach.

Castor oil eye drops are supposed to be helpful for lubricating the eyes and have medicinal effect. You might want to try those at bedtime. You can get regular eye drops that contain castor oil to use during the day.

If that's not lubricating enough you can put ointment in your eye at bedtime. You can get OTC stuff like Stye or Bausch&Lomb make something similar. Basically petroleum jelly and mineral oil with a couple other things.

Don't forget to do warm compresses on your eyelids twice a day. It really helps. The day I got diagnosed I did a warm compress at bedtime followed by lubricating drops. When I woke up in the morning I had a big ball of gunk underneath my eye and a great deal of relief. But the warm compresses unblock the oil glands and those are what lubricate your eye, tears are not enough. That may be why Xiidra or Restasis aren't working for you. You need oil, not tears.

Wash your eyelids and eyelashes to get the gunk out. I do mine in the shower with Cetaphil. Some people use baby shampoo.

Almost everything I use now is cheap and over the counter. I totally feel you on this. As much as I'd love to, I simply can't shell out an arm and a leg for a product hoping it will solve my problems. To start with, you should check out the brand called The Ordinary, if you haven't already. Their products are super cheap and highly effective. They exist to "bring to market effective, more familiar technologies at honorable prices."

Here's what I use in my routine that successfully keeps my rosacea at bay:

AM:

- Bioclarity face wash - $9.95

- Cos De BAHA azelaic acid serum - $12.75

- The Ordinary's squalene oil - $6.08

PM:

- Bioclarity face wash - $9.95

- The Ordinary's squalene oil - $6.08

- Durvet ivermectin paste - $6.59

- Weleda skinfood - $11.39

You can order Finacea off an australian online pharmacy for ~$25. I am on my second tube of it currently and it definitely helps! I am also a huge fan of ELTA MD's enzyme foaming face cleanser. Definitely start using a moisturizer, especially with the azelaic acid; I have always found that it dries my skin out and doesn't help nearly as much as if I moisturize after applying. These are my two go to moisturizers atm, I switch between the two to keep my skin guessing. Seb Derm cream, and LRP Rosaliac AR. The last item you might want to consider is a sunscreen (my recommendation is Blue Lizard). Depending on how much time you spend outside, could help more than it irritates, just food for thought really. Best of luck!

My cheeks looked just like that and I started using this and I really recommend trying it. It’s not crazy expensive and worth a shot. I wish you the best of luck!

The Hada Labo helped save my skin when I was having a severe flareup- I was so dehydrated that I couldn't apply anything to my face, well except this and the ceracolla lotion. The japanese skincare tends to offer some very gentle options. Ceracolla also has a "perfect gel" which is more of a moisturizer, and there are different versions for both Hada Labo and Ceracolla- emulsions, moisturizers.

It wasn't hydrating enough, so I you ld layer bot lotions under a stronger moisturizer. I never found the perfect one though.

My issue with it now is that it had castor oil in it- I can't find the ingredient in the current formulation though, but it makes my face really hot. I'll not repurchase unless necessary because they are not cruelty free.

Why do you avoid dimethicone? I try to avoid it because it gives me cystic acne, but my face is so much healthier (other than the acne) when I use it. I've been using Derma E Hydrating day and night cream which has ingredients my skin isn't a fan of, but the formulation has regulated the oil production in my skin. I'm dry, but not dehydrated! And I've woken up with facial skin that resembles my neck!

Does your current moisturizer smell like lavender? I'm intrigued but concerned about the "Blend Of Floral Extractions" and lavender water.

The Aloe Vera didn't do much for my skin. I ended up using it for my body, but if you're interested, it's nice to have on hand even if it doesn't work.