Last week I published ‘The Best Cleansers For Rosacea‘ and here’s the next post in the series, where I share my thoughts on the best moisturisers for rosacea. I always stress the importance of finding the skincare that works for you… and that doesn’t just mean finding the products that suit your rosacea, I also know that it has to be the right price point as well as being easy to find. But there is so much information out there, so many products that claim they’re great for sensitive skin, so where do you even start? I can help.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a dermatologist, or a doctor, but I am a person who has lived with rosacea for 16 years and has learned a lot about it in that time. My blog is not a step-by-step manual for rosacea, it should be seen as more of a jumping off point: something to guide you and steer you in the right direction. You must always use common sense with regards to your skin type, tolerance levels, application etc.
FYI, I have rosacea type 1 which is mainly under control through trigger management, as well as stress management, and finding skincare like the below that works for me. If you have questions about rosacea in general, this post is the mothership, covering skincare, make up, triggers, lifestyle, psychological impact and everything else you can think of.
Products with a * next to them were PR samples, if there isn’t a * it means they were bought by me – my reviews are always honest, regardless of who bought them. Links may be affiliate – this means that I get a small commission if you buy using my link, at no extra cost to you. It’s a great way for you to support my work and I really appreciate it.
THE BEST MOISTURISERS FOR ROSACEA
La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Fluid – If I had a pound for every time I’d mentioned this moisturiser, I would… probably just buy stocks in La Roche Posay. This is my staple moisturiser that is always on my dresser. It’s what I take away with me on holiday, what I go back to when my skin is unhappy, what I rely on when I don’t know what else to use. It comes in a pump bottle with a sealed inner tube designed so that no air or contaminants can get in which means the product can be formulated without preservatives, which can sometimes be an irritant. It is also recognised by the British Allergy Foundation.
I use the Fluid as I have oily skin, but there’s also a Cream version if you have dry skin or prefer a thicker moisturiser.
Avene Tolerance Extreme Emulsion – Slightly more liquid-y (totally a word) than the LRP moisturiser, but just as light and soothing on the skin. The whole Tolerance Extreme range is seriously lovely, with all of the products containing minimal ingredients – this moisturiser contains only 6 ingredients which is pretty unusual. The weird-looking sterile DEFI cap keeps out bacteria and contaminants which means no preservatives here either.
As with the LRP above, the Emulsion is for oily/combination skin, and the Cream is for dry/normal skin.
Medik8 Advanced Night Restore* – This is the moisturiser I use on the nights when I apply my Crystal Retinal. It’s a really luxurious-feeling moisturiser that leaves my skin feeling intensely hydrated and soothed. For me personally, it’s a little too rich to use every night, but a few times a week this is perfection. It does contain lavender, sweet orange oil and neroli so if you are particularly reactive to those its worth bearing in mind, but I have had absolutely no irritation from using it. You can find more information on the ingredients here.
NB: The following products all fall under the ‘moisturiser’ umbrella, but I see them more as treatment creams. I tend to use these when my skin is particularly irritated, dry, or stressed.
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 – This is another product that I’ve recommended for years, I even dedicated a whole blog post to it here. It contains Panthenol/provitamin B5, as well as zinc and madecassosside, and is soothing and repairing while being gentle enough to use on nappy rash, sunburn, scrapes, or a damaged skin barrier. It has a fairly thick formula so I wouldn’t wear it under make up, but for make up free days, flights, and mask evenings it is great.
Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream – This is a pretty new discovery for me (at least compared to some of the others in this list) but it quickly became a firm favourite. This would be a great cream if you were working on repairing your skin barrier as it leaves a light, unnoticeable film on the skin that protects and soothes the skin throughout the day. It feels quite thick on first application but soon sinks in and feels lovely on the skin.
Avene Skin Recovery Cream – Yet another firm favourite of mine for many years, this is another product that’s marketed as a moisturiser but I use it more like a mask. It’s lovely and soothing on the skin, and quickly reduces feelings of tightness and discomfort.
What do you think are the best moisturisers for rosacea (or sensitive skin in general)? Let me know in the comments below!
Lex
NEXT STEPS
- Follow me on INSTAGRAM for lots of rosacea updates.
- Get more information on rosacea and my journey so far in my ROSACEA FAQ POST.
- Join my private rosacea FACEBOOK GROUP for support and information.
- I’ve designed some FREE digital downloads to help you get to grips with your rosacea: grab the Rosacea Trigger Checklist and the Rosacea Flare Up Diary.
- If you’re a Pinterest user, I share all my rosacea posts (and some interesting posts by others) on this board: Rosacea Articles, Reviews, And Infographics.
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