7 skin-soothing moisturizers to try if you have rosacea, according to dermatologists

July 2024 · 11 minute read

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If you're one of the 14 million Americans living with rosacea, you likely know the struggle of coping with flushed cheeks, persistent redness, visible blood vessels, and sometimes painful pustules. 

Another common challenge you might face when living with rosacea? Trying new skin care products. Many facial washes, moisturizers, and other beauty and skin products contain potentially irritating ingredients that can worsen your symptoms, as you may already know.

Having rosacea typically means you have a damaged skin barrier, which leaves you  more susceptible to irritation and dryness. But according to Dr. Fayne Frey, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice, the right moisturizer can help strengthen your skin barrier — and may also help calm inflammation and combat dryness.

Below, dermatologists recommend seven different soothing, ultra-moisturizing formulas that can help minimize rosacea symptoms and improve the appearance of your skin.

Note: On light skin, the hallmark symptom of rosacea is redness. But people of color with rosacea may instead notice brown discoloration and patches of dry, darker, and swollen skin. Other tell-tale signs of rosacea on skin of color include yellowish-brown hard bumps near the eyes or mouth and acne-like breakouts.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra-Sensitive Skin Face Moisturizer

La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra-Sensitive Skin Face Moisturizer

This moisturizer contains both hydrating ceramides and moisturizing humectants. It’s also free of any potentially irritating fragrances, preservatives, parabens, oils, and alcohol.

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Every product in the La Roche-Posay line is formulated specifically to accommodate skin allergies.

Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Spectrum Skin and Laser, recommends this product because it contains ceramides — naturally-occurring fats that benefit the skin by improving hydration and strengthening the barrier function. 

Not only that, but Brauer says it contains glycerin, a humectant that can help your skin attract and retain moisture. In fact, according to one review, glycerin is the most effective humectant for skin care. 

One reviewer who's lived with rosacea for 10 years says this moisturizer helped ease their skin's dryness and flaking. "I am truly blown away by this product. This is the first time in months my skin has felt moisturized and hydrated," they write. 

Vanicream Moisturizing Cream

Amazon
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream

Key ingredients in this moisturizer include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalene. It’s free of fragrances, dyes, formaldehyde releasers, and parabens.

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Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice, says this is one of her top picks for rosacea because of its ingredients. 

Hyaluronic acid, for instance, is a natural substance that helps your skin cells retain moisture. Squalane is a noncomedogenic and lightweight moisturizer with anti-inflammatory properties that's well suited to sensitive skin.

Better yet, this moisturizer is hypoallergenic — meaning it doesn't contain ingredients likely to trigger allergies. 

Many reviewers with rosacea write that this is the first moisturizer they've used that doesn't irritate their skin. According to one reviewer, after four days of using the product daily, the redness in their skin went down by 90%.

Cetaphil Redness Relieving Moisturizer

Target
Cetaphil Redness Relieving Daily Facial Moisturizer

Key ingredients in this moisturizer include glycerin, allantoin, licorice root extract, and caffeine. It’s non-comedogenic and free of parabens and fragrances.

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As the product name suggests, this budget-friendly moisturizer is specifically formulated to tackle redness, which it does in several different ways, according to Dr. Dusan Sajic, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Derma Skin Institute.

The humectants in this moisturizer — glycerin and allantoin — are popular humectants that may help reduce inflammation, Sajic says.The licorice root extract and caffeine, meanwhile, also boast anti-inflammatory properties.

Another advantage of this moisturizer, according to Dr. Dustin Portela, a board-certified dermatologist at Treasure Valley Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center: it provides mineral-based sun protection with broad spectrum SPF 20. 

As an added bonus, the formula is also tinted, which may help conceal unwanted redness. One reviewer writes that when they use this moisturizer, they can use far less foundation or skip it altogether.

"I'm really impressed with how this applies. I only need one pump to cover my entire face, and instantly, I can tell that the redness is calmed after application," they write.

Note: Sun exposure is a top trigger for flare-ups, according to the National Rosacea Society (NRS), and experts consider mineral sunscreen more effective at blocking the sun's rays than chemical sunscreen. The NRS recommends applying a non-chemical sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside.

Bioderma Sensibio AR Cream

Amazon
Bioderma Sensibio AR Cream

Key ingredients in this moisturizer include allantoin and glycyrrhetinic acid. It’s non-comedogenic, and contains no parabens or fragrances.

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Dr. Elaine F. Kung, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Future Bright Dermatology, likes this moisturizer because it contains glycyrrhetinic acid, a component of licorice root extract that can help reduce inflammation.

According to Bioderma, 73% of people who used this moisturizer for 28 days say they noticed less redness, while 77% of people say it soothed their skin.

Multiple reviewers write that this product helped relieve redness and even out their skin tone. Many also write that it doesn't feel too heavy and layers nicely under foundation and other makeup.

Note: This formula is not oil-free, so it may not be the best option if you have acne-prone or very oily skin.

Skinbetter Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment.

Skinbetter
Skinbetter Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment

This moisturizer contains ceramides, squalane, glycerin, and caffeine and is free of fragrances, dyes, and parabens.

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All Skinbetter products are tested by dermatologists, and this moisturizer gets Brauer's seal of approval, in addition. 

That's because it contains a powerful mix of soothing ingredients to relieve redness and support hydration and the skin barrier, such as:

While this is one of the pricier moisturizers on the list, reviewers say a little goes a long way. They also praise the light and silky formula. Some people say it helps even out their skin tone while also offering a glowy finish.

Avene Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream

Avene
Avene Tolerance Control Skin Recovery Cream

Standout ingredients include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe leaf juice, honey, peptides, and amino acids. This moisturizer is allergy tested and non-comedogenic. It contains no fragrances, parabens, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate, or formaldehyde-releasing agents.

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Sajic likes this product because it contains not only hydrating glycerin, but also thermal spring water — which research suggests can help reduce skin inflammation.

Reviewers appreciate that this cream absorbs quickly and doesn't leave their skin looking or feeling greasy. One person writes their skin is smoother, softer, and less irritated after just one week of using this moisturizer. Many others write that it's the only product that helps reduce the redness in their cheeks.

Skinfix Redness Recovery+ Antioxidant Redness Treatment

Sephora
Skinfix Antioxidant Redness Treatment Overnight Mask

Standout ingredients include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe leaf juice, honey, peptides, and amino acids. This moisturizer is allergy tested and non-comedogenic. It contains no fragrances, parabens, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate, or formaldehyde-releasing agents.

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Kung calls this creamy overnight treatment one of her top picks because it contains soothing aloe leaf juice and honey, both of which have anti-inflammatory properties. It's also formulated with peptides, amino acids that can improve the skin barrier.

According to Skinfix, 97% of people say this mask softened and hydrated their skin after just one use, and 93% say their skin felt calm after one week of use.

Countless reviewers write that after using this mask, they wake up to radiant skin with a more even tone.

"This is one of the only products I've found that helps reduce my redness — both immediately and over time. I also love that it's a sleep mask," writes one person. They also write that this mask doesn't interrupt their daily moisturizing routine and washes off easily without leaving residue. 

How to shop for the right moisturizer

While shopping for the right moisturizer for rosacea, Kung and Chacon strongly advise avoiding the following harsh, drying, or potentially irritating ingredients:

Both Chacon and Dr. Kristina Collins, a board-certified dermatologist at Austin Skincare, recommend choosing products with these soothing, inflammation-fighting ingredients:

Keep in mind, too, that the first four or five ingredients listed on the label make up over 90% of the product, Frey says. She suggests opting for products that list hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, or dimethicone near the top.

According to Brauer, it can take at least a week of daily use to tell if a moisturizer is improving your skin. However, Frey, Brauer, and Portela all say you should stop using a product if it causes any stinging or burning or worsens your symptoms in any way.

When to get professional support

Experts agree it's best to get professional treatment from a dermatologist for rosacea. There are many different kinds of rosacea, and a dermatologist can make personalized product recommendations tailored to your specific needs.

Depending on the severity of your rosacea, Sajic says your care team may also prescribe:

According to Brauer and Sajic, you may want to consider reaching out for support from a dermatologist if:

Insider's takeaway

Using the right skin care products — especially a soothing and hydrating moisturizer — can go a long way toward reducing rosacea symptoms and minimizing flare-ups. 

Dermatologists recommend seeking out moisturizers with ceramides and humectants, as well as ingredients that can help strengthen your skin barrier. They also emphasize the importance of avoiding products that contain fragrances and other common irritants. 

Remember: if a product causes redness, stinging, or exacerbates your symptoms in any way, stop using it immediately. 

When in doubt about your skin care routine, reach out to a dermatologist. A trained professional can help you identify what might be triggering your flare-ups, recommend rosacea-friendly products, and prescribe medications for more dramatic improvements.

Rebecca Strong Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance writer covering health and wellness, food and wine, fitness, and travel. In addition to contributing to the Health Reference and Kitchen verticals at Insider, she has also written for Healthline, Health magazine, Bustle, StyleCaster, PopSugar, AskMen, and Elite Daily. You can follow her work on Twitter. Read more Read less

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