April is Rosacea Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to the millions living with sensitive, redness-prone skin. If you are navigating rosacea, finding the right skincare can make all the difference. We’re shining a spotlight on rosacea and sharing our gentle, effective options designed to soothe, calm, and support your skin, every step of the way.
WHAT IS ROSACEA? + TIPS TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS
Rosacea is a skin condition characterized by redness on the face, small dilated blood vessels, pustules and swelling. Rosacea affects all ages and more than 3 million people in Canada alone. Left untreated, rosacea can worsen over time.
It is not known what causes rosacea, and there is currently no cure. There are products, however, that can help manage this condition. Here are five tips that can help you calm rosacea symptoms:
Go easy on your skin
You want to be gentle in every way with your skin. Look for calming ingredients in your skincare products and treat your skin how you would treat a baby’s. Quick tip: use lukewarm water when you wash your face – not too cold, not too hot.
Keep your skincare routine simple
Stick to the basics. The last thing you want to do is overwhelm rosacea-prone skin by mixing a long list of ingredients that will just do more harm then good.
Test skincare and makeup products before applying them to your face
If you’ve never tried a product or it seems that everything you apply to your face stings, testing can help. To test a product, dab a small amount near (but not on) your rosacea-prone skin. If it irritates your skin (burning, stinging, etc.) within 72 hours, you know not to use it.
Use sunscreen daily
The sun can worsen rosacea. Sun exposure is actually one of the most frequent causes of a rosacea flare-up. Even people with dark skin can have a rosacea flare-up after being outdoors in the sun. For that reason, we strongly recommend wearing sunscreen every single day to protect your skin from UV rays, but also to prevent a rosacea flare-up.
Avoid common food and beverage triggers
While alcohol is not responsible for the onset of rosacea, it has been identified as an aggravating factor, particularly red wine. But it’s not the only one: caffeine and spicy foods are among the most common triggers of the disease.
Your doctor knows best
If untreated, rosacea can worsen and/or become very uncomfortable to live with. We recommend visiting a doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and for the appropriate treatment to be prescribed.
CONTROL REDNESS WITH SUITABLE SKINCARE
Cleansers
Cleansers are a must in a daily skincare routine. However, certain cleansers can be harsh and stripping on the skin, which can cause rosacea to flare up. When selecting a cleanser, it is important to find one with soothing ingredients, free of alcohol and harsh irritants such as physical exfoliants. Also, make sure you wash your face with warm water, not hot.
VIVIER
A gentle pharmaceutical-grade cleanser that helps clean and purify skin by removing dirt and oil. It contains hexamidine, a unique antimicrobial with powerful anti-redness and bacteria fighting properties.
TATA HARPER
A supremely soothing, micro-foaming cleanser that’s non-stripping and works to gently dissolve buildup and impurities.
Toners
The harsh, alcohol-based toners we once knew are a thing of the past. Today’s toners are offered in an array of formulas, designed to treat pores, excess oil and overall redness and irritation. Our toner recommendations instantly hydrate and soothe the skin from irritation, making them perfect for those unexpected flare-ups.
GLO SKIN BEAUTY
Get instant relief for reactive moments and parched, dry skin with this calming and cooling face mist. The soothing antioxidants cocoon and calm skin, settling any irritations or skin stress.
VIVIER
This gentle, alcohol-free medical grade toner provides rejuvenating properties with the benefits of antioxidants to recondition the skin and helps restore its protective pH balance.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C serums are formulated with powerful antioxidants designed to protect the skin against environmental aggressors and to brighten the complexion. Studies have even shown that they help counter inflammation in the skin, making them ideal for those with rosacea. As always, we recommend you talk with your dermatologist or skincare specialist before incorporating a vitamin C serum into your routine.
VIVIER
Formulated with pharmaceutical-grade vitamin C, this oil-free serum is ideal for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. It helps reduce signs of environmental damage such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture and tone.
AUGUSTINUS BADER
A fast-absorbing concentrate with vitamin C and resveratrol designed to support total complexion correction, hydration and renewal. It balances and calms stressed, overly reactive skin and helps to reduce redness.
Targeted Treatments
In addition to using calming products, there are a few targeted treatments on the market that aim to correct redness in the skin. These products are formulated with specific ingredients to prevent and correct redness associated with rosacea. We recommend you use them after cleansing and toning, before applying your moisturizer and suncreen.
VIVIER
This product helps calm and soothe redness, inflammation, irritation and bacteria present in rosacea-prone skin or irritated skin following aesthetic procedures.
Moisturizers
Dehydrated skin can lead to irritation, which can trigger rosacea. The right moisturizer can help keep rosacea flare-ups at bay. People who have rosacea-prone skin are often prone to dry, itchy skin which causes redness to occur. The right moisturizer will provide ample hydration, all while soothing the skin from irritation.
ILIA
A non-comedogenic moisturizer powered by colloidal oatmeal and ceramides that soothes redness due to dry skin & strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier.
PRO-DERM
A daily cream for sensitive skin, formulated to moisturize, regenerate skin and protect it from the elements. A great option following an aesthetic treatment or if you have red or rosacea-prone skin.
Masks
Masks can provide instant relief, as well as long-term benefits to the skin. These two masks are deeply hydrating and are formulated with ingredients that effectively reduce visual redness, discomfort and heat.
SKINCEUTICALS
This mask has been clinically tested post-procedure to effectively reduce visual redness, discomfort, and heat. It contains pure active botanicals, calming dipeptide and hyaluronic acid.
Sun Protection
Sunscreen is a must in a skincare routine to prevent skin cancer, early signs of ageing and hyperpigmentation. It is especially important for people who suffer from rosacea, as sun exposure is a top trigger for rosacea flare-ups. Our recommendations not only protect, but they also soothe and calm the skin.
SKINCEUTICALS
A soothing multi-protective SPF 50 with calming tripeptide technology and bisabolol, suitable for sensitive and redness-prone skin.
AGENT NATEUR
A sheer, dew-enhancing skin sunscreen that soothes redness and irritation with chamomile-derived bisabolol, rosemary leaf extract, and green tea leaf extract.
Discover our rosacea and redness relief products here.
