Everyone deals with facial redness some point in their lives. Patchy, uneven skin is a problem that affects many, and often times, we don’t even know why. Even if you think it’ll magically disappear by morning, it’s there again screaming back at you when you wake up.

Was it the lack of sleep? Or was it that new mask? Maybe it’s a sunburn? Knowing the cause is one, but knowing how to treat it is another.

What causes redness? There are a ton of different reasons out there, but the more common ones include over-exfoliation, sensitive skin, dry skin, eczema and rosacea. Over exfoliating can be problematic as it can traumatise the superficial blood vessels, hence, redness. Using one exfoliation is usually more than enough (and if you don’t know where to start, try these good acids).

Unbeknownst to you, many products can contain one or a few of these harmful ingredients that are known to irritate the skin, sometimes even the foaming agent, sodium lauryl sulfate, in your favourite foamy cleanser or the alcohol in your toner. Sensitive skin and dry skin always go hand in hand, and foam types are usually more drying than cream or oil cleansers. (We tried out five new ones that just hit the stores, and they fared pretty well.)

Some of these issues are more difficult to solve than another, and there’s no one cure for everything. Take rosacea, for example, a type of redness caused by stress, sun or alcohol that never goes away entirely because of the thickening of blood-vessel walls. That requires something more potent and more time to heal. But, for quick remedies to overnight skin irritations, that much we can help, along with some of our ride-or-die product picks.

 

Step #1: Lather Up That Sunscreen

Regardless of whether your face is red or not, never forget to wear sunscreen to protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays, especially if acids are present in your skincare routine. Increased exposure to UV rays can increase the sensitivity in the skin, which in turn leads to more redness. Sunscreen these days double as mild moisturisers, too, and when your irritation stems from dryness, that’s good news.

Step #2: Keep Cool

Products that contain calming ingredients like aloe vera, cucumbers, calendula, chamomile and blue tansy oil can help to reduce the inflammation spell. Aloe vera is great for sun damage, skin allergies and dry skin, while cucumbers contain ascorbic acid that relieves inflammation and face puffiness. Calendula, chamomile and blue tansy all work as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent.

 

Step #3: Moisturise, Moisturise and Moisturise

We’re sure you’ve heard this to death – hydration is key. Dehydration allows environmental intrusions and irritants to permeate the skin, making it more reactive. Think of your skin like an elastic band. When it’s dry, it is brittle and weak, whereas when it’s moist, it’s stretchy and bouncy. Niacinamides also help to repair the skin by increasing the amount of ceramides in your skin, so incorporating an ingredient like it is important for sensitive skin.

               

 

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