As the seasons change, sensitive and naturally dry skin can become red and irritated due to changing temperatures and humidity. Whether you’re struggling with seasonal redness or have skin redness year-round, there are skincare products available that will help you combat skin redness and decrease sensitivity, irritation, and inflammation. In this blog, the knowledgeable dermatologists who curated the list of products at Derm Skincare will walk through some of our most recommended solutions for alleviating skin redness and irritation.

Why Sensitive Skin is Prone to Redness

Sensitive skin has a heightened reaction to any sort of stress or damage. This means it can lead to a range of adverse effects like irritation, itching, inflammation, and redness. Skin reddens, in most cases, due to vasodilation. This is a clinical term for blood being pumped to the surface of the skin causing blood vessels to dilate. This occurs because blood circulation is an important part of the healing process, so when the immune system kicks in, blood flow increases. Burns are another reason for redness and sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin are more likely to develop sunburn or show signs of burned skin like redness and blisters after exposure to the sun, chemicals, and other substances. Finally, skin sensitivity is linked to a chronic condition called rosacea that causes skin redness. One of the main visible signs of this condition is facial redness and flushing.

General Tips for Reducing Skin Redness

We do have some specific, dermatologist-recommended products that will help combat skin redness, but before we get to our list, let’s take a closer look at some simple tips for alleviating skin redness:

• Try new products carefully – Before introducing any new product into your skincare routine, apply it to a small area and monitor your skin’s response. If you notice redness in this area, you are likely going to have the same reaction anywhere it’s applied.
• Use cosmetics sparingly – We all want to look and feel our best, and for many people who struggle with skin redness, applying makeup to conceal the redness helps them achieve this goal. However, many cosmetics contain ingredients that are known skin irritants. Make sure to choose cosmetics that are sensitive skin-friendly and make sure you remove them completely before going to bed.
• Wear sunscreen – Even if you’re not going to be outside for long, sunscreen will help to prevent a skin reaction to UVA/UVB exposure. Most sunscreens also support a strong natural skin barrier, which reduces irritation and inflammation.
• Moisturize – Dry skin naturally takes on a red hue and it’s more prone to being damaged, causing overreaction and increased redness from sensitive skin. Using a protective and hydrating moisturizer at least twice a day is a great way to reduce this redness and inflammation.
• Make lifestyle changes – Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, poor diet, and dehydration have all been named as triggers for skin redness, irritation, inflammation, and sensitivity.
• Use cold compresses – Cold constricts blood vessels, so if you’re experiencing skin redness due to vasodilation, apply a cold compress or ice pack to the affected area for a few minutes.
• Use topical medications – This is most beneficial for those with rosacea. There are several prescription-strength, topical skincare products that have proven effective in reducing skin redness for rosacea sufferers.

Featured Products for Redness Relief

If you’re looking for skincare products that offer redness relief and improved skin health, it can feel daunting to look through all the products, try to decipher ingredient lists, and read reviews to find out if the latest sensitive skin product is right for you. While the best way to find the right skincare products is always to consult with a knowledgeable dermatologist, our team of skincare experts has put together a list of products that are gentle and beneficial for skin redness and sensitivity:

• ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser – The first step in any skincare routine is cleansing. Keeping skin clean is essential to avoid irritation. However, many cleansers contain irritating ingredients that may be triggers for sensitive skin. The ALASTIN Skincare line was originally developed with the goal of caring for sensitive, irritated skin following dermatologic procedures. Their ultra-gentle formulas also work phenomenally for daily use, especially for those who have sensitive skin. ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser is a great first step in any morning and evening skincare routine. It has soothing ingredients, and the self-foaming formula works to penetrate deep into pores, leaving skin flawlessly clean.
• Colorscience All Calm Multi-Correction Serum – For those who are looking to immediately reduce redness and soothe sensitive skin, the Colorscience All Calm Multi-Correction Serum needs to be added to your morning and evening skincare routine. This serum provides instant redness reduction, and once absorbed, the product goes to work gradually reducing general skin redness over time.
• Skinbetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum – Similar to the Colorscience product above skinbetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum helps to reduce skin redness and soothe irritation. Additionally, this product promotes an even skin tone and texture as well as diminishing hyperpigmentation and shrinking pores.
• Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex – Vitamin C is an antioxidant that prevents sun damage. It lends a boost to your daily sunscreen to prevent burns, but it also helps to fight the long-term adverse effects of sun damage like skin discoloration, accelerated aging, and skin cancers. Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex combines vitamins C and E to prevent sun damage and deliver a more even skin tone.
• SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel – This is a botanical skin solution that boosts the impact of other serums. In the morning, you can use it following vitamin C serums to enhance the results. At night, it soothes, making skin more likely to tolerate retinols that are often not recommended for those with sensitive skin.
• ZO Skin Health Hydrating Crème – This advanced hydrating moisturizer was designed for extremely dry and irritated skin. The soothing and moisturizing ingredients make it ideal to combat the adverse effects of skin sensitivity, including redness.
• Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF – No one should be skipping daily sunscreen application, but it’s even more important for those with sensitive skin that’s prone to redness. Even a hint of UVA/UVB exposure is likely to cause skin redness. While sunscreen is always an essential skincare element, what if your sunscreen could also prevent or reverse the signs of aging and improve overall skin health? That’s exactly what the innovative formula of Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF delivers. It protects against UV radiation as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage from the sun, pollutants, and other environmental aggressors. Simultaneously, this sunscreen works to prevent and reverse age damage and skin redness as well as delivering increased hydration for healthier, more beautiful skin.

Incorporating Products into Your Skincare Routine

Want to know exactly how to build these redness-reducing skincare products into an exceptional morning and evening skincare routine? We’ve got you covered:

Morning Redness-Reducing Skincare Routine

• Cleanse skin with ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser.
• Apply Colorescience All Calm Multi-Correction Serum or skinbetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum (You can alternate between these products if your dermatologist recommends).
• Apply Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex.
• Apply Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel to boost the benefits of vitamin C and help reduce the risk of skin irritation.
• Apply ZO Skin Health Hydrating Crème.
• Apply Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF.

Evening Redness-Reducing Skincare Routine

• Cleanse skin with ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser.
• Apply Colorescience All Calm Multi-Correction Serum or skinbetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum (You can alternate between these products if your dermatologist recommends).
• Apply retinol if your dermatologist recommends.
• Apply Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel (improves skin toleration of retinols).
• Apply ZO Skin Health Hydrating Crème.

Additional Solutions for Sensitive Skin Care

We’ve talked through some general tips and products that alleviate skin redness. Below, we’re providing some additional solutions for sensitive skin care:

• Maintain a consistent, gentle skincare routine. It doesn’t have to be the one described here, but developing and maintaining a consistent skincare routine that’s tailored to the needs of sensitive skin makes a big difference in skin’s health and appearance.
• Learn your triggers and avoid them. While there are certain triggers that consistently lead to skin redness, like sun exposure, others are more specific to the individual. Take the time to jot down all skincare products, cosmetics, household cleaners, foods, and climate you’re exposed to each day. Then, write a few words about your skin's redness and irritation levels. If you notice a flare-up, avoid any new items you were exposed to. If skin health improves, this may be a trigger. It can be a lengthy process but learning and avoiding triggers can be extremely beneficial.
• Seek professional treatment. Laser therapy, microneedling, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and other dermatologic procedures have proven effective in reducing skin redness and inflammation. Consult with a dermatologist about the potential benefits of incorporating one or more of these treatments into your skincare routine.

Come Back Regularly to Learn More

Derm Skincare’s products were meticulously reviewed by a team of knowledgeable dermatologists who wanted to provide easy access to skincare products that are formulated to meet specific skincare needs. Whether you want to find products designed to decrease skin redness or achieve another skincare goal, take a few moments to explore the Derm skincare site to see all the dermatologist-recommended skincare products we have to offer. You can also read our blog regularly to learn more about how best to care for your skin.