As a rosacea sufferer, I know how it’s hard to find the best rosacea skincare routine that can help improve your skin appearance and keep symptoms at bay.
A Little About My Condition…
I was diagnosed with rosacea about 9 years ago, my journey was kinda lonely as at first, I didn’t know what was wrong with my face. I thought this was an allergic reaction that would go on its own after a few weeks.
But this was not the case so I visited a dermatologist who told me that I have rosacea! I didn’t know what rosacea is and how to deal with it.
Also, I didn’t want to believe that I really have it. Plus, the dermatologist didn’t explain what this condition is.
So, I kept consulting many dermatologists and all of them said that I have rosacea and there’s no cure.
I had to google this condition to get more info about it, I did a lot of research online and learned a lot. I also found after a couple of years a good empathetic dermatologist who helped me a lot and gave me all the information I needed about my condition.
Communities on Reddit and groups on Facebook also helped me understand common triggers, what to avoid, and how to reduce flare-ups successfully.
I’ve never had rough or bad skin, my skin used to be super clear and pimple & redness-free. Suddenly, my skin become so sensitive to almost everything, my face started to flush quickly, pimples appeared on my cheeks, and my skin became super itchy and dry and can’t stand sun rays or wind.
This made me anxious and stressed, I hated to leave the house and hated how people asked me about my constant red face. And of course, this made my condition even worse as stress is a common trigger of rosacea.
So, I had to learn how to manage social stress and self-esteem issues caused by rosacea.
Many factors could be responsible for causing rosacea including genes, hormonal influences, microorganisms, blood-vessels abnormalities, and even diet. For more detailed info about rosacea causes, types, and triggers, check out this helpful guide: What Are The Causes Of Rosacea & How To Reduce Flare-Ups
To improve your condition and reduce the symptoms, you should:
- Take your prescribed medications.
- Visit your dermatologist regularly.
- Create a suitable rosacea skincare routine.
- Avoid triggers.
- Follow a healthy rosacea diet as food is a common trigger of rosacea. Check out my recommended rosacea diet that helped reduce flare-ups.
- Reduce stress and anxiety levels.
All those steps work together to help boost your skin health and support the skin barrier. Neglecting one of those steps can worsen your condition and increase rosacea flaring episodes.
Keep in mind this rosacea skincare routine works best for me but it may not work for all rosacea patients.
Table of Contents
The Best Rosacea Skincare Routine:
My dermatologist told me ” The fewer products to use, the better results you will get” So, this means it’s best to keep it simple to maintain your skin health.
Here’s my Am and Pm skincare routine for rosacea:
1- Cleanser
The first thing I do when I wake up, I wash my face with my Eau Thermale Avene Xercalm A.D Ultra-Rich Cleansing Bar to get rid of skin care residue from last night, dust, and other impurities.
This soap bar help reduce redness, itching, and dryness. It’s super moisturizing, it leaves my skin nourished, soft, and clean.
As for my night routine, I double-cleanse my face. The double cleansing method is the most recommended by dermatologists as it leaves your skin and pores clear.
I use the Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water and follow it with the Eau Thermale Avene Xercalm A.D Ultra-Rich Cleansing Bar.
The Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water is super gentle on sensitive skin, it calms my skin and never causes irritation or stinging. ( I use it also after working out to gently cleanse my face and get rid of dirt, sweat, and dust.)
Makeup remover or micellar water removes sunscreen, dirt, dust, and makeup effectively. Then the cleansing bar lifts away residue left on the skin that makeup remover could not dissolve.
Related: 15 Best Makeup Removers For Sensitive Skin That Won’t Sting
2- Toner
After cleansing my face, I use rosewater or aloe vera gel to tone my skin. Rosewater and aloe vera gel have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial properties.
This means they can hydrate your skin, refine pores, clear breakouts, reduce itching and drying, and relieve redness. And they help remove dirt or dust that could be left on your skin.
Plus, they prepare your skin to absorb the next skincare products effectively. I use it daily as part of my morning and night skincare routine.
I make my own rosewater or aloe vera gel at home to be sure they’re chemical-free and will not sting or irritate my skin.
Related: Toner For Sensitive Skin: The Best 11 Non-Irritating Picks
3- Spot Treatment
My face used to be full of pimples especially on the cheeks and chin because I have Acne Rosacea. Consuming food like dairy products, high-sugar foods, alcohol, refined carbs, and junk food can trigger acne and worsen your rosacea.
So to fix this, my dermatologist recommends Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner Cream. This cream works like magic! It helps me get rid of whiteheads and blackheads and clear up breakouts.
I had to use it for some time, 3-6 months, till my face become clear and there was no acne left on my skin.
So, I kept using it every day in the morning and at night to keep my pores refined and reduce the risk of developing new acne.
And even if new acne appears on my face, this cream helps clear it up in a few days without leaving a scar.
4- Moisturizer
After applying the pore refiner to my face, I use Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream to moisturize and repair my skin.
I use this restorative cream daily as part of my rosacea skincare routine.
This cream is super effective at soothing irritation and itching and relieving redness.
It contains zinc which is known to help repair skin damage, soothe burns, and boost skin barrier health.
The Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream also prevents dryness and a feeling of tightness.
When my skin becomes red and swollen all of a sudden or after exposing to a trigger, applying it to my face makes it calm and relieves redness.
5- Sunscreen
Sunscreens are an essential step of any good Am rosacea skincare routine.
Rosacea’s biggest enemy is heat and sun rays, the sun triggers your symptoms and worsens your condition.
So, before going out in the morning, you must wear sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful sun rays and avoid flare-ups.
Also, avoid spending too much time in the sun. For me, my skin can’t stand the sun’s rays for more than 2 minutes!
I use Ultrasun SPF50+ Extreme Protection as it suits extremely sensitive skin types and contains physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Those ingredients prevent allergic reactions and reduce the risk of causing annoying symptoms like irritation, dryness, and itching.
The good thing about this sunscreen is you don’t have to re-apply every two hours, you can re-apply it every 5 hours. Make sure to check the instructions before use.
6- Soothing Water Spray
The Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water is a lifesaver! I spray my face with this spring water during the day when my face gets irritated or becomes red.
My dermatologist recommends it for me to reduce sudden flare-ups, soothe itching and irritation, and help eliminate redness. It can also reduce sensitive skin symptoms.
I use this spring water as much as I need during the day.
Related: The Top 11 Signs That Tell If You Have Sensitive Skin
The Bottom Line
Finding the best rosacea skincare routine is one of the major steps that help maintain your skin health and reduce rosacea flaring episodes.
I highly recommend this rosacea skincare routine as it helped improve my condition a lot. But still, it’s best to consult your dermatologist before trying it as what works for me may not work for you!
So check my routine and let me know what you think!
Feature Image Source: Freepik.com/@macrovector