Chances are that if you don’t suffer from rosacea yourself, you’ll certainly know someone who does.
Usually appearing on cheeks, chin, forehead and nose with symptoms ranging from mild blush-like redness to more severe swelling, discoloured patches and skin getting thicker, rosacea is a highly common and chronic, inflammatory skin condition. According to NHS data, around one in ten of us in the UK have rosacea, with it affecting more women than men and the topic generating over 90,000 searches every month.
Similarly to acne, rosacea isn’t just one skin condition but actually breaks down into four different types that can vary in severity. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea appears around the middle of the face and looks like redness; papulopustular is often referred to as acne rosacea as pimples also appear; phymatous causes the skin to thicken; and rosacea of the eyes is termed ocular rosacea.
What are the most common causes of rosacea?
Although it’s still not completely understood what causes rosacea, there are a number of aspects that are known to contribute to it. “The most common causes of rosacea are genetics, environmental triggers such as sunlight, hot or cold weather, plus stress, spicy foods and alcohol consumption, as well as certain medications,” explains Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist at Self London. “Additionally, abnormalities in facial blood vessels and the immune system can play a role. Those with fair skin are more prone to developing rosacea and it often starts between the ages of 30 and 50. Identifying and avoiding triggers, along with prescribed topical or oral treatments, can help manage symptoms effectively. Seeing a consultant dermatologist for a personalised treatment plan is recommended for optimal control of the condition.”
What kind of benefits can non-prescription creams have?
“Targeted, topical creams, even non-prescription ones, can offer various benefits for skincare concerns such as moisturisation, reduction of redness or inflammation, improved skin texture and enhanced overall complexion,” says Dr Mahto. “Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerin provide hydration, while antioxidants such as vitamins C and E can protect the skin from environmental damage. However, non-prescription creams may have limitations in treating someone's rosacea. While they may provide relief from mild symptoms such as redness and inflammation, they may not be as effective in controlling moderate to severe symptoms, so it's important to consult a dermatologist for guidance if needed. A lot of the time acne and rosacea are misdiagnosed so it's imperative to have a concrete diagnosis.”
What ingredients should you look for in a rosacea cream for most benefits?
When selecting a cream aimed at easing rosacea symptoms, prioritise ingredients known for soothing inflammation and reducing redness. “Look for formulations enriched with anti-inflammatory agents like niacinamide which work to calm the irritation and inflammation associated with rosacea,” advises Dr Mahto. “Incorporating moisturising components such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides helps replenish the skin's natural moisture barrier, which in turn can reduce sensitivity. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E provide additional protection against environmental stressors and promote overall skin health too. In terms of things to avoid, being careful with potential irritants such as fragrances and opting for hypoallergenic products can minimise the risk of exacerbating rosacea symptoms.”
Although rosacea can’t be cured and should be treated by a doctor or dermatologist even in some mild cases, there are creams that, when carefully chosen, are not only helpful but feel enjoyable rather than purely functional to use. With beautiful textures and gentle, beneficial ingredients that help care for complexions with rosacea, our picks below mean you won’t have to miss out on the pampering part of skincare.
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Q+A Chamomile Night Cream
Rich and intensely nourishing without being sticky or feeling heavy on the skin, this fragrance and alcohol-free cream brings calmness to the complexion overnight so you’ll wake with skin that looks soothed and feels refreshed. The blend is based around the chamomile flower, a go-to natural ingredient that’s been used in herbal medicine for centuries for its calming capabilities, ensuring the cream will make every skin type that suffers from rosacea feel more comfortable.
An extra infusion of bisabolol, the key active component of chamomile, has been added to boost the anti-inflammatory properties, helping to take down redness as well as improve the appearance of pigmentation, while jojoba oil keeps skin supple too. It may absorb quickly, but you’ll still be feeling the benefits come morning.
Buy now £12.00, Q+A
Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream
A firm fan favourite for caring for sensitive skin with over a thousand five-star reviews, this certified organic cream can be used day and night to create a cocooning shield that helps protect and soothe rosacea-prone complexions. Plant oils including evening primrose, avocado and squalane from olives ensure that skin feels comforted and nourished as well as improving its health and helping to hang on to essential moisture, while prebiotics also help soothe redness and inflammation.
There are also anti-ageing benefits from baicalin, which works to regulate cell production and improve firmness, plus green tea boosts antioxidant protection too. The cream may feel a little thick when you apply it, but your skin will happily drink it in for a calm, soft and velvet finish in moments.
Buy now £25.50, Green People
Katherine Daniels Sensitive Skin Rich Cream
Specially formulated as a treatment for the most sensitive of skins, this fluid cream will help reduce five common symptoms of rosacea - pain, swelling, itching, redness and heat. The active ingredients create a ‘neuro’ effect, messaging the deeper layers of the skin to release less of the aggressive stimulators that are causing irritation and instead reacting less and responding better.
Over time, this encourages the skin to naturally become stronger and more resistant to stimulation. Think seaweed extract to heal and calm, a peptide complex that encourages cells to regenerate and repair the damage done by environmental attackers such as pollution, plus protective vitamin E. A little of the beautiful, velvety formula spreads easily and goes a long way – one pump should suffice for an instant soothing effect on the entire face and neck.
Buy now £56.00, Katherine Daniels
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Barrier Balm
To tackle flare-ups during the day that require an instant hit of hydration to ease irritation and itching, a solid stick is the perfect, portable option. This clear, matte formula glides on without disturbing make-up and feels weightless on the skin.
As well as infusing the complexion with rich nourishment thanks to ceramides and helping skin to hold onto moisture using a glycoprotein from glacial water, this soothing solution helps replenish the skin’s natural protective barrier – essential for helping rosacea-prone skin to bolster its defences against external aggressors that can exacerbate the symptoms. Squalene derived from sugar cane not only helps with this process but aids with keeping angry skin supple too.
Buy now £30.00, Kiehl’s
La Roche Posay Toleriane Rosaliac AR Concentrate For Dry, Redness-Prone Skin
Don’t let the pale pistachio tone of this fluid cream put you off, the light green tint adds another layer of benefits to tackling rosacea symptoms. As soon as it’s blended into the skin, it transforms into a sheer formula that imparts a colour-correcting effect to counteract the appearance of redness and flushing.
The moisturiser meanwhile is lightweight while still super-nourishing and dries to a soft matte finish, so it is perfect under make-up. Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, added thermal water helps up the hydration as it fights any feelings of tightness and stinging so the complexion feels fresh, comfortable and soft.
Buy now £26.00, Boots
SOS H20 Day Cream SPF30
The SOS range is a well-thought-out capsule collection of care formulated specifically for complexions suffering from skin conditions, covering all bases from sunscreen to lip balm. The day cream is ideal for combining protection against everyday UV rays that can make rosacea worse with softening, nourishing hydration from hyaluronic acid to make skin feel more comfortable.
It also includes plant stem cells, said to encourage the production of new cells and boost skin’s elasticity for an anti-ageing effect. Inside the clinical-looking packaging is a luxuriously silky cream that smooths on easily and sinks in fast to give skin a soft and plump finish too.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
Dermatica
Offering a great mid-point between off-the-shelf creams and seeing a dermatologist in person, the Dermatica monthly subscription service is ideal for rosacea that requires a formula which is a little more heavy-duty. Managed by skin experts including dermatologists, GPs and pharmacists, every cream is customised after an online consultation and your progress is checked on over the months that follow.
The rosacea formula will be blended from research-backed, medical-grade ingredients such as anti-inflammatory niacinamide, at the strength that’s right for you to help best treat your own specific symptoms. The base cream ingredients are added to nourish and strengthen, ideal for all sensitive complexions.
Buy now £24.99, Dermatica
Rosalique 3-in-1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula SPF50
Not called a ‘miracle’ for nothing, this rich, creamy lotion offers rosacea sufferers a triple whammy of concealing, treating and protecting in one. The minty-toned tint contains micro-encapsulated pigments that give a superbly fine, colour-correcting effect to reduce the look of redness, while active ingredients such as alpha-bisabolol, panthenol and urea - all renowned for effectively easing rosacea - calm and soothe irritation when used daily for four weeks, reducing and controlling it better long term.
Added sun filters help protect the skin further from rays that cause a reaction in rosacea-prone complexions. The cream comes with a soft blending brush too, so you can buff in the colour and top up the medium coverage where and when needed.
Buy now £29.99, Fenwick
Murad Daily Defence Cream
Colloidal oatmeal is a champion ingredient for treating compromised and easily irritated skin conditions when it comes to incredibly effective soothing and calming benefits. This rich, almost balm-like cream includes it as one of three hero ingredients, ensuring that redness, itching and any discomfort from the dryness that rosacea causes are quickly reduced.
It also includes hydrating mondo grass sugars and anti-inflammatory niacinamide as well as shea butter to create a beautifully softening, nourishing formula that also helps to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and glides on when you apply it. In fact, so potent is this cream that it’s clinically proven to reduce visible redness, and dryness and give ongoing soothing and itch relief after using it day and night for 7 days.
Buy now £54.00, Murad
AlumierMD HydraCalm Moisturiser
For rosacea-prone skin that is particularly reactive to outdoor elements such as the sun and pollution, this light but intensive cream offers a brilliant balance between protection, strengthening and anti-irritation. It’s packed with antioxidants including resveratrol to counteract the skin-weakening damage done by free radicals, as well as a copper peptide that bolsters the skin’s own defences as it takes down redness, calming niacinamide and moisturising hyaluronic acid.
Poria cocos extract, boswellia, aloe and honey also help soothe angry skin, while allantoin boosts water content in the skin and gently encourages exfoliation for a fresher, smoother finish to the complexion. Just two pumps are enough to care for the face and neck.
Buy now £58.50, AlumierMD
Verdict
Proving that hard-working, effective formulas don’t always have to swing a hefty price tag, Q+A are renowned for its excellent, affordable skincare based around natural ingredients. For rosacea sufferers who want a gentle overnight moisturiser that will help ease symptoms but also provide some anti-ageing benefits too, the Chamomile Night Cream is a fantastic all-rounder.
Packed with a selection of anti-inflammatory, barrier building and elasticity-boosting ingredient essentials, it delivers soothing and calming benefits quickly and gives the skin a satiny finish that lasts until morning. And all for just over a tenner.
