I’ve never really had to deal with skin redness that much before—just a little bit on my nose, and that’s it. My main skincare woe is dryness. But recently, my skin has become redder than usual, which has been, of course, very annoying in combination with the dryness. I don’t know if it’s just my skin changing over time or the change in weather (or both), but I’ve found I have to use concealer more and more to cover up red spots.
While concealer is a must-have for me these days, it only covers up the problem as a temporary fix. So I’ve been experimenting with different skincare products to target inflamed, red skin. I tried to switch up my face wash. I applied more moisturizer. I made sure to apply sunscreen diligently. But there’s one product that made a big difference, and that was a serum. I’ve always used serums for extra hydration before but never realized they could provide some redness relief. These lightweight and hydrating formulas have been game changers for me—especially when they’re formulated to target redness. After a few uses, I’ve noticed the redness has subsided and my skin looks and feels more hydrated and healthier.
One of my favorite serums is Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate. Not only does it give my parched face a huge boost of hydration, but it also manages to calm any redness for me. It’s formulated with 15% glycerin and an epidermal hydration filler, so my skin looks and feels plump and smooth. And don’t get me started on the gel-like consistency. Holy moly, I am obsessed with how cooling it feels on! It’s especially amazing to apply during the summer months.
And while I found a favorite, I did do a lot of research into different redness-reducing serums by reading reviews. So if you’re experiencing redness and still need to find your holy-grail fix, take a look at some notable options I’ve found below with stellar reviews.
This serum contains Centella Rx, which soothes and protects, plus Cicabond, which repairs and rebuilds damaged skin. But the best part about this formula is the Jartbiome, a proprietary microbiome complex to strengthen and balance the skin. What a reviewer says: “I haven’t even been using this a full week and I’ve already seen dramatic changes to my skin. I’ve never had a product give me such visible results so fast. I thought I would just have to live with the redness on my face as a fact of life. Not so. Also, my face feels so much cooler now.”
The zinc sulfate in this formula helps reduce and relieve inflammation. Other ingredients include olive leaf extract and vitamin C to provide antioxidant protection; kojic acid to prevent blemishes; and vitamins E and A to condition and nourish the skin. What a reviewer says: “This product is the greatest investment I have done for my skin. The impact in just two weeks was extremely noticeable. I had red marks sporadically on my skin and this product helped even the discoloration. Couldn’t stress its wonders more!”
La Roche-Posay’s serum is specially formulated for sensitive skin to relieve redness and soothe skin. It contains thermal spring water, glycerin, and light reflectors. What a reviewer says: “Finally found a product that works for my rosacea! After being diagnosed with rosacea I tried several prescription and non-prescription products—none of which took the redness, bumps, or heat feeling inside away. Within a few days of using this product, the bumps on my cheeks and nose were gone, and within a week the redness was greatly reduced.”
Formulated with different types of microalgae and licorice extract, this serum reduces redness, sensitivity, and irritation. And that’s not all: It contains peptides and antioxidants to improve the skin’s firmness.
If your redness and irritation are caused by dryness, this hydrating serum can help with that. Avocado, ceramides, and allantoin all work together to soothe, calm, and nourish the skin. What a reviewer says: “My skin is super sensitive and acne-prone, and this has been amazing for my skin! This is helped my redness so so much and I am 10000% going to re-purchase. No other product has helped my redness this much and I’ve tried so many other products.”
Aveeno’s serum has a triple-oat complex, which consists of oat flour, extract, and oil, plus feverfew to calm irritated skin and restore the moisture barrier. It’s great for sensitive skin since it’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. What a reviewer says: “This is AMAZING. It is lightweight, hydrating, and reduces redness. All without breaking me out, which no product has ever done. I hope they never ever discontinue this. I’m honestly floored.”
SkinCeuticals’ gel serum is just so dang soothing and calming thanks to ingredients like thyme, olive, and cucumber extracts; eucalyptus leaf; and hyaluronic acid. The formula also minimizes the appearance of discoloration. What a reviewer says: “I would recommend this product to anyone who has red-sensitive skin or rosacea. Not only does it help calm and clear the skin but also gives you an immediate beautiful glow/dewy look. LOVE this product!”
This calming serum targets redness but also strengthens the skin’s natural lipid barrier and locks in moisture. Use it in the morning before your moisturizer and at night before your night cream. What a reviewer says: “This is the best serum I’ve used to combat redness. It really keeps the red in my skin at bay. Its scent is clean, and it immediately absorbs into the skin without sticky residue.”
Caudalie’s lightweight and water-based serum is ultra-hydrating. It contains organic grape water to moisturize dry skin and nourish the skin’s microbiome plus hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. What a reviewer says: “I love this serum and this product has done me wonders! This serum is so moisturizing and lightweight and feels so great on my skin! Definitely great for the summer and calms down any sign of redness. I use it on a daily basis along with other products and it allows me to apply my makeup in the morning easily and smoothly.”
I’m a huge fan of Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost gel-cream, and I can tell you that its sister serum doesn’t disappoint, either. It’s lightweight and cooling and absorbs so quickly. Plus, I love that it doesn’t feel sticky or greasy. What a reviewer says: “In one week of use, I can see and feel a huge difference in my skin. I had redness in some areas from dryness and it’s gone. I would highly recommend this item for someone looking for a moisture boost.”
If you have a sensitive complexion, this serum is designed to help even skin tone and provide comfort. Ingredients include Aldavine, capparenols, and bisabolol to reduce inflammation; caper and red algae extracts to repair damaged and broken capillaries; and glycerin to hydrate. What a reviewer says: “I have rosacea and am pretty red in the cheeks, I have been using this for a few months now and have noticed a nice difference in the amount of redness to my cheeks.”
The arnica extract in this serum is combined with lavender to boost circulation and promote wound healing. There’s also peppermint in the formula for a nice cooling feel. What a reviewer says: “I have rosacea and it flares up regularly. After using this product my skin is calm and glowing. I can absolutely see a difference in my skin tone. Now I use it daily as part of my skincare routine.”
In addition to redness, you can use this serum to target dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles. It contains hyaluronic acid, collagen, and peptides. What a reviewer says: “I have hormonal acne that gets very inflamed and angry and I have sensitive skin in general. This absolutely reduced the redness and evened out my complexion, calmed my skin, and made it so smooth. It does everything it says—replenishes, smooths, and softens. I will be repurchasing!”
Whether your redness is caused by rosacea, a sunburn, waxing, physical reactions, or professional treatments, this Murad serum will provide some relief. The formula attracts and traps moisture while also supporting the skin’s barrier. What a reviewer says: “I was so lobster-faced from rosacea. I always return to Murad for the best relief.”
Tamanu oil is the key ingredient in this serum. It can calm irritation, reduce redness, fight breakouts, and smooth texture. Other nourishing ingredients include safflower and rose-hip oils, niacinamide, and ceramides. What a reviewer says: “Love this stuff. When my skin is red and irritated, this stuff completely makes it go away. Amazing product.”
This color-correcting treatment is a cream formula that also protects you from UV damage and environmental stressors.
Drugstore favorite Cetaphil has a great night moisturizer to soothe redness and irritation that’s caused by dryness. Ingredients include licorice extract, allantoin, and caffeine.
SkinCeuticals’ Redness Neutralizer is formulated with biomimetic peptides and botanical extracts to soothe the skin and combat any environmental triggers that cause redness.
Washing your face with the wrong product can really strip your skin of moisture and also irritate it even more. This no-rinse cleansing lotion reduces redness and sensitivity while soothing and cleaning the skin.
If you have sensitive skin and conditions like eczema or rosacea, you know that drugstore brand Eucerin has some pretty trustworthy options. This cream works to soothe and hydrate inflamed skin overnight.
Clinique’s oil-free moisturizing cream is formulated with probiotics to restore the skin’s natural barrier and balance its microbiome.
Finding an exfoliant can be tricky because a lot of them can make the redness worse. But this one from Paula’s Choice is specially made to deal with redness and sensitivity thanks to allantoin. It also contains 2% salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores plus hyaluronic acid for hydration.
Those who experience redness because of acne-prone skin can benefit from this drugstore find. It’s formulated with salicylic acid to prevent and fight breakouts plus aloe and chamomile to soothe and relieve redness.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
