15 Moisturizers That Won't Trigger Your Rosacea

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Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes one's skin to appear redder in certain areas — most commonly on the cheeks. While the cause is still unknown, things like an overactive immune system, heredity, and environmental factors are all believed to cause the condition (via Mayo Clinic). Even though anyone can have rosacea, women over the age of 30 are more commonly diagnosed with it. Apart from the redness, rosacea can also come with pimples, skin dryness, and itchiness.

When choosing a moisturizer for rosacea, one has to be very careful. Fragranced moisturizers with too many harsh ingredients can worsen the redness. "Before using any skincare products, choose them carefully by checking the labels," Dr. Jerome Z. Litt, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, told the National Rosacea Society. "Avoid those with ingredients or preservatives that can be irritating. Try fragrance-free products that are gentle, and don't apply excessive amounts. Rosacea patients should also look for water-based moisturizers and cosmetics." Anyone who has rosacea needs to pay close attention to product ingredients, that way they can determine just what their skin can and cannot handle.

Those who use La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 Repairing Balm with SPF 50 already know that it's a game-changer. "It really helps soothe and calm the skin, and hydrates while simultaneously providing a protective barrier," board-certified Dr. Marisa Garshick told Bustle.

Because the key ingredient in the Cicaplast line is cica (also known as Centella asiatica, gotu kola, Indian Pennywort, and tiger grass), the moisturizer is perfect for calming redness. "This plant is known in Asia as what tigers rub on their wounds to help their skin regenerate," Alicia Yoon, founder and CEO of Peach & Lily, explained to Allure. 

A happy reviewer on CultBeauty.com points out that the French brand's cream is especially good as it has a high SPF number. "It's so gentle on the skin, it doesn't sting, it dries down nicely, and it really takes care of irritated or damaged skin. SPFs can sometimes be too much if your skin barrier is damaged, but this would be a good one to try because of all the soothing ingredients," they wrote.

You can buy La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 Repairing Balm with SPF 50 on the Cult Beauty website for $12.42.

Thanks to social media, skin slugging has become very popular in the past couple of years. "Skin slugging is simply the application of an occlusive to act as a barrier to seal moisture into the skin. Dermatologists have been recommending it for years as the last step in your skincare routine to treat dry skin, as we know that skin slugging helps prevent water loss," Jessie Cheung, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Cheung Aesthetics & Wellness, told Healthline.

While there's always a chance that your skin won't like slugging, those who tend to have rosacea in combination with drier skin should definitely see an improvement from this method. Per Weleda, their Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream is a "best-selling product that originally launched in 1926 and has been a cult favorite ever since." According to beauty and skincare expert Caroline Hirons, even people who don't suffer from rosacea will benefit from this heavy moisturizer during the cooler months (via CarolineHirons.com).

You can buy Weleda's Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream on their website for $19.99.

While having rosacea doesn't mean one also has to have acne, more often than not that's the case. Cleveland Clinic notes that if it isn't properly treated, the skin condition can create acne-like bumps that are filled with pus. "Rosacea and acne breakouts often go hand in hand," board-certified dermatologist Ife Rodney, M.D. a board-certified dermatologist, told Who What Wear. "Even moisturizers that promise great hydration could clog your pores, increasing the chances of a breakout."

EltaMD's AM Therapy Face Moisturizer is a great choice for those who tend to break out during a rosacea flare-up. The brand says that its moisturizer smooths skin texture and it is "oil-free, fragrance-free, noncomedogenic, and safe for sensitive skin."

You can buy EltaMD's AM Therapy Face Moisturizer on their website for $39.

Looking for a moisturizer that contains ceramides is always a great choice for rosacea. "Moisturizers with ceramides are particularly beneficial in managing dryness and irritations," Dr. Yusra, a London-based medical director, told Beauty Bay. "They strengthen the barrier function of the skin, keeping it plump and preventing water loss from the outermost layers." According to Dr. Jart+'s website, this moisturizer contains five ceramides that help "lock in moisture, strengthen skin's moisture barrier, and prevent water loss." 

You can buy Dr. Jart+'s Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizer on their website for $48.

A nighttime moisturizer tends to be heavier allowing your skin to soak up more of the good stuff. "Nighttime is the restorative time for your skin, so you should give your skin the extra TLC by using a night cream," dermatologist Dr. Michele Green told The LA Facialist, adding that these moisturizers "address different concerns than daytime moisturizers — typically, they provide intense hydration and concentrated ingredients to fight signs of aging and other concerns."

For rosacea, one of the best nighttime moisturizers on the market is Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Night Creme. California-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Patricia Farris told Allure that she loves this moisturizer because it's a "soothing moisturizer with natural lichochalcone, which improves skin sensitivity and redness." 

You can buy Eucerin's Redness Relief Soothing Night Creme on Sephora.com for $30.

Many think that rosacea is just red skin but unless you have it you might not know how annoying the skin condition can be. In fact, rosacea can make your skin very itchy which makes picking skincare and makeup products so much more difficult. "I can become very withdrawn mid-flare-up and makeup doesn't always cover it very well. It can be uncomfortable when it's itchy," Tanith, a woman who suffers from the skin condition, told SELF.

Luckily, some products help relieve the itch, and one of them is Bioderma's Sensibio AR Visible Redness Reducing Care. According to the French beauty brand, this moisturizer has no fragrance, is non-comedogenic, and serves as a great base for makeup. "I've only used this a couple of times now, but even the first time using it the redness in my face almost immediately went down," a pleased user wrote in a review on the product's website.

You can buy Bioderma's Sensibio AR Visible Redness Reducing Care on their website for $27.99.

Targeting rosacea on its own can be very difficult — let alone trying to target it alongside other skin issues. Because ingredients like AHAs and BHAs or retinoids can be harsh on rosacea-prone skin, dermatologists usually suggest avoiding them if you have this skin condition (via Camille Styles).

For those who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles without causing a rosacea flare-up using Paula's Choice CALM Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer is a must. The key ingredients in this product include squalane, natural prebiotics, allantoin, and mushroom extract — all of which are great for soothing the skin and restoring its barrier. In fact, squalane alone is known as a very effective anti-redness and anti-aging ingredient. "Squalane contains antioxidants and can also serve as a detoxifier. It can help reduce redness and swelling," Tina Alster, M.D., FAAD, and creator and co-founder of The A Method Skincare, told IPSY. "Squalane also has anti-inflammatory properties and is lightweight on the skin, unlike some other hydrators that may clog pores. It works effectively as an anti-ager to improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and elasticity." 

You can buy Paula's Choice CALM Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer on the brand's website for $33.

If you're someone who prefers a gel consistency when it comes to your moisturizers, Dermalogica's Calm Water Gel is a great choice for minimizing facial redness. It quickly absorbs upon application "forming a weightless barrier against environmental assault," the brand states. According to Nazanin Saedi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Jefferson University in Philadelphia, a gel moisturizer is "a really nice alternative instead of a cream. It's hydrating, but it doesn't have the greasier, heavier feel and also doesn't clog your pores as much because it's so quickly absorbed" (via Everyday Health).

Many have a misconception that gel moisturizers are only suitable for those with oily skin, but in reality, they are just as great at keeping your skin hydrated. "My aesthetician recommended this after a facial and after using it for two months I am in love," a reviewer wrote on the product's website. "My skin is not nearly as dry, my rosacea has calmed down, and I've never had any reaction to this," they added. Because the gel moisturizer is so light, it is great for skincare layering or as a base under your makeup.

You can buy Dermalogica's Calm Water Gel on their website for $52.