Are you embarrassed? My top 10 skin care tips to help reduce redness

Some sheet masks are ace for reducing redness

Hi lovelies,

This is a quick guide for those of you who, like me, are looking for ways to reduce redness! I get a LOT of redness in my skin. Not all the time, but when it goes red, it goes bright, flushing red. I know there are some skin conditions, like rosacea, that can cause redness (actually, I think I am transitioning to having low level rosacea - I hear that it can come on in your thirties/forties if you have had very “blushy” skin in your younger years). Anyways, these tips are based on my trials (and sometimes errors) and the products and methods that have worked for me to reduce redness - so please bear that in mind.

I’m pretty sure that the biggest driver of my skin redness is simply that I have fairly fine, fair skin and blood vessels that seem all too close to the surface! I will absolutely, full on flush at the very slightest embarrassment, any irritation at all, a single red wine or 5 minutes in the sun.  If you can relate, I hope these tips might help you! Even if not, these skin calming solutions may still help you achieve soothed, healthy skin. I hope you enjoy them!

Jess x
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​My Top 10 Skin Care Tips to Help Reduce Redness

1. Don’t wash your face in the shower
This is a particularly important one for me, not least of all because one of my big vices is hot, hot showers (even in summer). Heat will always bring out redness in my skin, so washing my face with that hot shower water is a no no. Leaving my face cleansing for after my shower means I can use lukewarm to cool water and allow that process to help cool down my skin temperature after the warmth of the shower itself. I also recommend a quality low pH cleanser to help reduce stress on your skin. Check out our range of great, gentle cleansers for all skin types.

2. Use a super soft wash cloth/hand towel to dry your face
Drying your face with a scratchy, rough washcloth or towel will manually exfoliate it. If you have super tough, rough skin that might be fine! But if you have easily sensitised skin, I would recommend investing in a high quality, soft, cotton face washer (and wash it regularly). Watch this space, we are keen to start offering our very favourite, luxury towel products from Japan here in store soon!
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3. My Holy Grail (at least so far!) First Treatment Essences
People seem to have different experiences with First Treatment Essences, but I wouldn’t be without one. These are super lightweight essences that feature galactomyces or saccharomyces ferments and I always use mine immediately after cleansing or exfoliating (when I do that). My favourite by far is the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence, which includes niacinamide or Vitamin B3, which is also a great skin brightener and smoother. The COSRX Galactomyces Alcohol Free Toner is another great and affordable option.
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4. Calming treatment sheet masks
I have a BUNCH of favourite sheet masks for reducing redness, and they are my favourite treatment step for this as the really help your skin absorb soothing and calming ingredients to the greatest extent possible. I particularly love sheet masks that include Centella asiatica extract (or madecassoside, its derivative), aloe, tea tree, green tea and niacinamide to help reduce redness in my skin.
Some current faves include: Benton’s Goodbye Redness Centella & Aloe Soothing Mask Packs, Abib and Innisfree’s Madecassoside Masks, Dr Jart’s Cicapair Calming Mask, HelloSkin’s Whoa Whoa Soothing Mask and IOPE’s Derma Repair Mask which features super calming Hinoki Cyprus extract.

5. Cooling masks
Keeping my skin cool as much as possible (especially during the warmer months) helps my redness a lot. And getting as much of the heat out of my skin before a night out really seems to make a difference for me. Popping a sheet mask in the fridge for a few minutes before masking works wonders in summer, but when I really want to up my game I love to use hydrogel masks, like the Mochi Masks (refrigerated first) and modelling masks. I adore the 23 Years Old Aqua Bab Modelling mask for seriously cooling and hydrating my skin. The Dearpacker Alaska Glacier Soothing Mask Pack is another good option if you don’t have time for a sheet mask. (plus a hack - you can totally chill then use hydrogel eye patches from a tub to spot cool/treat red areas, not just under your eyes!)
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6. Light, soothing, hydration
Lots of heavy layers can make my skin more prone to redness in summer, so I like to switch up some of my skin care products to lighter, super easy to absorb options once it gets warm. I also really like to keep my layers hydration/humectant focused - meaning lightweight serums and gels with additional soothing and brightening benefits, like aloe, Centella asiatica extract, rose and licorice.
Current faves include: Commleaf’s new Skin Relief Fresh Serum and gel cream AND the brand’s Rose Sleeping Mask; Bonair’s Premier Aloe Real Squeeze Toner, Thank You Farmer’s True Water Deep Serum, Benton’s Moist and Mild Serum (and Toner, coming soon!), and Heimish’s Rose Water Mist Serum.

7. Squalane
My skin just loves squalane. It just always makes it brighter, glowier and less irritated. If you haven’t tried it, I can’t recommend enough that you give it a try (even if just in a sheet mask, for special occasions). My fave squalane splurge is the Dr Althea Squalane Ampoule Treatment Mask Pack. The Olivarrier cruelty-free, vegan squalane Fluid Oil is amazing too.
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8. Exfoliation that your skin likes
I have found it hard to exfoliate more than once or twice a week without risking additional redness (I believe it’s a “thin skin” issue). The Somebymi range is the only chemical exfoliant I’ve found that I can use as regularly as I like (usually every night). I’d especially recommend giving it a go if you have redness and breakouts/spots. It comes in a cleansing bar, toner and serum.

9. Sunscreen!
Protect, protect, protect your poor, easily upset skin from that hot, harmful sun. I am obsessed with sunscreen now and having a rotating group of them to choose from based on whether my skin needs more moisture or not, or whether I want to be able to re-apply easily later in the day (a big thing in Tassie especially as we end up with very long sunny evenings in summer). Check out all our faves here to see what might best suit your skin and lifestyle.

10. A brightening primer
If all else fails and I have a little leftover redness to take care of, I rely on my Son & Park Beauty Filter Cream Glow. I love it because it’s hydrating and priming and blurs out light redness really well - and I can use it if I need without foundation.