REDNESS TREATMENT
Redness is a very complicated issue with multiple triggers and causes. It can be an occasional or frequent sensitivity- and/or hormone-related flare-up, or the result of longer-term problems such as rosacea, but can be incredibly distressing to both women AND to men, who (in our experience) don’t generally feel they can reach for concealer/foundation to cover the problem up.
In our preliminary Beauty Bible tester questionnaires, we specifically ask whether testers suffer from redness and sensitivity issues (not diagnosed rosacea, as that needs medical treatment); we only send products to those who’ve ticked that box.
All three winning products had some amazing results but also one or two testers who saw little or no benefit in terms of reducing redness.
There may still be a bit of trial and error required here to find the product that suits individuals – but at least you know which of the many products on the market to start with.
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL Adaptology Red Avert Toner
This British organic and natural brand created this toner especially for irritated and sensitive skin. As founder and formulator Laura Rudoe says, a good toner acts like your skin’s life coach, getting things back in healthy balance. The formula is led by adaptogens (truffle and prickly pear) to help reduce redness and soothe any irritation, supported by hyaluronic acid to bring the skin pH back into balance, while hydrating and plumping. In the brand’s trials, 80% of people noticed an improvement in redness and everyone agreed their skin felt soothed from irritation. As you can read below, our testers were very impressed. One loved it as a toner to deep cleanse and soften but didn't notice improvement to the redness that only affects her after washing her face – you might wonder if the problem is more to do with the water.
£28 for 100ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. A wonder product. I get sensitivity and redness when I use a product that is highly fragranced or has too much alcohol in it. My skin will become red, blotchy, the area around my mouth becomes a little raised and sore and my skin tingles which then follows with itchiness. This toner calmed my skin instantly. My skin felt cooler, supple, hydrated, comfortable, brighter and any redness was calmed immediately. On first application, my skin overall was just less sore, irritated, red, angry and inflamed. There wasn’t a concealing action. My skin tone was more even, make up went on easier and my skin loved this product so much. After 28 days, all redness disappeared with this product. There was no redness or pinkness to the skin, my skin was instantly more comfortable, less tight, no itchiness, make up and other skincare went on easier. It has a better tone, even all over with no redness or patches, more hydrated, supple and had a great healthy glow. People did mention that I looked more awake, rested and had a glow to my skin. I feel better about my skin and more confident and it gave me the love of skincare again when you find a product that you enjoy and gives instant results’ • ‘I love this toner. I have sensitive skin with redness especially on my left cheek. I truly believe the result on my left red cheek was instant. My skin was refreshed and felt ready for moisturiser without feeling sticky or any residue. Not sure it had a concealing action. After 28 days, my skin is much calmer and clearer and I do feel better about it, as the product works. Would I buy it? Yes, yes, yes. This product is a great stand-alone toner with huge benefits for those suffering from any sort of redness on face. It’s soothing and hydrating, with a soft subtle scent. The results are absolutely fantastic’ • ‘10/10. The redness is mainly triggered by the climate eg cold weather and I do have red veins on my chin and the sides of my nose. I did not notice a difference in the redness but it felt lovely on the skin; there was no sensitivity and the skin felt more hydrated. The redness was neither better nor worse but it seemed to soothe and cool the skin. I felt my skin was more dewy, fresher and healthy looking. A great product for soothing, calming and hydrating the skin. I have already purchased another’ • ‘Skin can suffer from redness for a number of reasons - change of temperature, windy weather, drinking alcohol and even sometimes just touching it. Felt instantly cooling on the skin, which was very refreshing. After 28 days, I don’t seem to be suffering from redness as frequently and pores on cheeks seem a little bit less noticeable. I don't worry so much about the redness now. When the redness does occur a quick spritz of this product is so cooling and refreshing, Lovely light, cooling product that also happens to my redness look and feel better. It has a subtle, almost medicinal fragrance, which disappears almost instantly. I don't know if the product is supposed to be firming but I notice a very slight tightening effect when using which I also enjoy’ • ‘I often get redness and sensitivity when I'm stressed or haven't had enough sleep. Occasionally, I have a reaction to cosmetics. Yes! I was really surprised by now quickly the redness went down after the first use. After 28 days I think it's a great product for me for first thing in the morning. It certainly makes redness go down quicker. I feel much more confidence about my skin. It’s the ultimate for calming redness prone skin. I loved how easily my make-up went on after using this product.’
£28 for 100ml - click to buy
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD Katherine Daniels Sensitive Skin Rich Cream
This salon strength cream is formulated to treat the five symptoms of skin sensitivity: redness, itching, heat, swelling and pain, leaving skin soothed and comforted. As the brand says, sensitivity is not your skin type, it’s a condition. It may happen if you have a dry skin type but haven’t cared for its delicate nature, also if you use products that are too harsh or aggressive, damaging the skin barrier. When that happens, pollutants and irritants can get through the barrier, causing dehydration and other problems. This product aims to calm and soothe skin immediately and, with regular use, restore the skin barrier and balance. While it doesn’t claim to be natural, it does exclude mineral oils, SLS, phthalates and parabens as well as added fragrance and it’s not tested on animals. There are plant actives (a seaweed extract and a plant squalane) plus vitamin E as well as a neuro soothing complex. It’s fragrance free, which you might expect, but one tester marked it down for that; she also saw no real improvement in redness. Testers really liked the effects but not all saw a reduction in redness.
£53 for 50ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. I occasionally get redness after eating certain foods or drinking wine and my skin can react to being outside on windy days. The first thing I noticed about this product was how rich and soothing it was. It seemed to help the skin feel more calm and settled. My skin is looking better at the end of testing, more glowy and even textured. I do feel better about my skin, as it looks so much brighter and feels amazing. What I liked about this moisturiser was how it made my skin feel on application, the cooling and soothing effect really appealed. I also liked the fact that it was a British brand. This moisturiser is excellent but where it really delivers for me is the level of hydration without stickiness that is quite hard to achieve. I'm 64 so I don't really expect miracles but if I touch my skin a couple of hours after applying this it feels like the skin of a much younger version of myself. I really didn't think that was possible!’ • ‘ 10/10. I have had redness and high colour my whole life, exacerbated by lack of sleep/stress. My skin is normal, occasionally dry. This had an instant cooling soothing sensation. Over the month, my skin tone became more even and is now looking very good. I feel it did help the redness in combination with my other products. I really enjoyed this cream, exactly what I like in all the right ways!! Bland unscented goodness that does what it says. It is exactly the type of face cream I want to use!!!! Would like it in a bigger tube!!’ • ‘Full marks, my skin is mature and sensitive, dry on my cheeks. Redness can be caused by new products sometimes, alcohol, perfumed products sometimes react with my skin and putting too many products on at the same time can cause redness. This is really kind to my skin, rich yet gentle and soothing. I love it. My skin improved as I used this silky feeling moisturiser. After 28 days I was impressed with the improvement. Just an excellent product’ • ‘Very good for sensitivity, instantly calming and you can layer with other products. Make-up sits well on top. My skin feels so much more comfortable and is hydrated and radiant.’
£53 for 50ml - click to buy
SILVER AWARD Antipodes Flora Probiotic Skin-Rescue Hyaluronic Mask
This formula is billed as a product to ‘rescue tired, stressed, or sensitive skin. It features a high performance probiotic (Kalibiome Sensitive) to balance the skin microbiome, helping to minimise inflammation (redness and itching), plus New Zealand harakeke flax gel to leave skin soft and plumped, they say. This NZ brand excludes almost all non-clean and green ingredients, but this certified vegan creamy mask does include synthetics (sodium acrylates copolymer and dehydroacetic acid) among the many hard working naturals. They suggest using it twice weekly to distress and freshen sensitive skin, for which it’s dermatologically approved. Packaging is mostly recycled/recyclable, ink 100% eco from vegetables, bottles glass, and tubes aluminium. Several testers liked it as a miosturising calming mask but saw no great effect on redness. One tester with hormonal breakouts found it caused a sensitivity reaction, however, each of the three times she used it.
£28 for 75ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. An amazing hydrating mask that can be used a treatment or left overnight giving a clear and calm skin. I do get redness especially around my nose area, which I think is mostly triggered by the skin being quite thin there and weather conditions. Skin felt relaxed and cooled and less red when I first used it. My skin felt very hydrated and even-toned. Very easy to apply, I do like squeeze bottles for masks as I find it preserves them for longer. It did get mostly absorbed but I did put quite a thick layer so I wiped the excess with a warm towel. After 28 days, skin appears more even especially around the nose area and looked better. I feel better about it overall, as my skin feels very hydrated and cleansed. People commented that my skin looks very clear and calm’ • ‘I Suffer from very slight mild redness at base of eye sockets, which started occurring within the last 5 years, it seems to be triggered by heat, hot water, and whilst the redness dies down it doesn't completely disappear. I have to be honest and say I haven’t notice a reduction in the redness but what I have noticed is my skin texture has improved and pores seem less visible. It definitely leaves the skin looking refreshed and healthier’ • ‘It is light and easy to apply, absorbs quickly into the skin and works its magic - and it is magic - within 10 -15 minutes - added bonus it smells divine!!! I use the mask twice weekly; it leaves my skin feeling, clean, refreshed and plumped up (another bonus). Over time I have notices my large pores are less visible, my skin looks fresher in between mask days and it absolutely appears tighter - a Win Win for me’ • ‘I get some redness on my cheeks and around my nose area. I wouldn't say that I have sensitive skin and the redness has never been a really big issue. For me, stress and the extremes of climate are the main triggers for my redness. After first use my skin felt nourished and really soft and the redness had lessened, also felt my skin looked fresher. After 28 days, the gel-like cream mask hasn't got rid of redness completely but it is definitely less. As a face mask it has been really nice to use, my skin looks clearer, I don't seem to have had as many spots as before and my skin feels great! Rejuvenated and more radiant! People have said my skin looks really good. Lovely face mask, seems to solve a whole array of skin problems in one tube! ’ • ‘It just felt like a really lovely mask. Unsure if this helped my redness but saw an improvement in the dryness of my skin and it makes me feel like my skin is healthier. One of my favourite masks’ • ‘Slightly less redness and skin looks more refreshed, plumper and dewier. I have had compliments on how good my skin looks. This product feels great on the skin and leaves it feeling soft and refreshed.’
£28 for 75ml - click to buy