Red cheeks can be pretty, but not if you have no control over your extra-rosy complexion. Skin redness can be caused by many things (for example, sensitivities, allergies and rosacea), but the bottom line is, it’s no fun. That’s why we’ve gathered some solutions for skin redness.
Opt for unscented.
If your skin is prone to redness, try switching to unscented skin care products. Fragrance can irritate sensitive skin, so scented products can wind up doing more harm than good. If you can’t bear to give up fragrance altogether, hit up your local health food store for products containing naturally derived scents, rather than those that come from harsh chemicals.
Be gentle.
Just say no to harsh facial scrubs, polishes and peels. Even if the package states the product is safe enough for sensitive skin, you may still end up looking red and irritated. As a general rule of thumb, never exfoliate with anything gritty (e.g., a scrub that feels like it has sand in it). You can try products that contain micro beads (which are softer), but don’t exfoliate more than once a week no matter what product you choose.
Cover it up.
It’s always a good idea to have some products that minimize redness handy. Heavy foundation can irritate skin and look too obvious, but several other items are made specifically to tone down red skin. Physicians Formula offers concealers that minimize redness, including the Gentle Cover Concealer Stick ($5.45) in green. Clinique has a foundation ($24.50 at Sephora.com) that treats and covers redness, calms irritation and provides natural-looking coverage.
Use targeted products.
Many skin care products are aimed specifically at calming skin down. You may have to go through some trial and error to find one that works for you, but some good options include Murad Redness Therapy Correcting Moisturizer ($37) and Skyn Iceland Antioxidant Calming Serum ($65) — both of which work to calm and sooth red skin.
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