The 14 Best Products for Treating Rosacea and Redness in 2023, According to Dermatologists

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes redness and irritation on the face—and these expert-recommended products can help soothe the red spots. Facial redness, irritation, and small bumps can be symptoms of rosacea, a common skin disease that affects more than 14 million people most of whom are between the ages of 30 and 50, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. between. Like acne and eczema, rosacea can be difficult to treat—especially since there's no real cure. 

The best way to build a strong defense against rosacea flare-ups is to avoid potential triggers, including some of the ingredients we commonly see in popular skin care products. 

We talked to dermatologists about skin-care products that won't make rosacea worse, as well as treatments and ingredients that actually help relieve rosacea. The Best Products for Rosacea in October 2023 

Our experts say skin care using gentle, non-abrasive products is best for rosacea sufferers. Below, we've rounded up the moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and more recommended by experts to relieve the redness and irritation caused by rosacea. 

All of the products listed contain gentle, moisturizing and brightening ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and aloe to help soothe irritated skin, and are fragrance-free to prevent further irritation. 

1. Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Foaming Cleanser: Foaming cleansers are sometimes too harsh on the skin—they contain foaming agents that strip most of the oil from your face, causing more dryness and flaking. 

While our experts recommend avoiding most foaming cleansers on the market if you have sensitive skin, some may be safe for rosacea sufferers, like this one from Aveeno. 

"It recognizes that by adding soothing and hydrating ingredients to balance the cleanser's lather, people who soap needs to lather to feel clean can enjoy the overall experience while limiting the risk of over-drying," Ilias notes. 

2. Vanicream Gentle Cleanser: "For people who are very sensitive and report that many products burn or sting their skin, I recommend the Vanicream range, which is great for people with eczema and sensitive skin - many rosacea patients find it very tolerable" Dr. Emmy Graber, board-certified dermatologist and director of the Boston Dermatology Institute. Vanicream Gentle Cleanser has earned the National Eczema Association Seal of Approval a program that evaluates products against NEA ingredient and ingredient standards to ensure they are beneficial for people with sensitive skin. Our experts also recommend the brand's moisturizer for very sensitive and dry skin, and it's one of our favorite products for dry skin. 

3. Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser: Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser is recommended by dermatologists for its gentle, lather-free formula that moisturizes and soothes rosacea-prone skin. Select editor-in-chief Leah Ginsberg says she's been using 

Cetaphil cleanser since she was 16 and loves how affordable and gentle it is on the skin. "It's also great for travel because you don't have to rinse it with water — you can massage it in and then wipe it off (gently)," she says. 

4. Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar: Bodmer noted that the Dove Beauty Bar "can be a really good, simple cleanser that people can find at a low price." 

The hypoallergenic formula is safe to use as a face wash and body wash and contains glycerin and more A gentle hydrating ingredient, the brand says glycerin helps maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier. 

5. La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dual Repair Facial Moisturizer: Like Avène, La Roche-Posay is a French brand that makes gentle products for sensitive skin—our experts recommend the brand for rosacea and acne-prone skin. 

I use La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Dual Repair Moisturizer every night because it's gentle enough to treat my rosacea, yet moisturizing enough to treat my flaky skin and prevent dry skin. This moisturizer contains ceramides and niacinamide which Elias says helps soothe and calm rosacea flare-ups. I pair this moisturizer with the brand's Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, a gel cleanser that keeps skin hydrated without irritating it (unlike most other cleansers). 

6. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion: One of our favorite moisturizers for acne-prone skin, this nighttime moisturizer from CeraVe contains ceramides, which "can help restore the skin barrier and soothe rosacea-prone skin," says Ilyas You can also buy the brand's AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion for daytime use, which is mildly formulated to provide SPF 30 protection. 

7. Clinique Redness Solution Daily Soothing Cream: Clinique's Redness Solution skin care line offers cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens and more to help those with redness and rosacea. "[These products] look green, but they don't look green on your face—they mask or camouflage the redness 

Graeber explains. She says the brand's Daily Relief Cream is a good option for people with severe redness: The cream won't reduce the appearance of redness, but it also gently soothes irritated skin, according to the brand.

8. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion Similar to Cetaphil's Gentle Cleanser, the brand's Moisturizing Lotion is a great option for people with very sensitive skin. The brand says this moisturizer, which experts love, is formulated to be non-greasy, paraben-free and fragrance-free to prevent irritation on rosacea-prone skin. According to the brand, it also moisturizes for up to 24 hours.If you're looking for a daytime moisturizer from the brand, look no further than the Redness Relief Daily Facial Moisturizer, which offers some sun protection with SPF 20 and a tinted formula that reduces redness.

9. Differin Acne Treatment Gel Although retinoids are often too harsh for sensitive skin, if introduced slowly, starting with once a week before tolerance is established, they can still work on rosacea-prone skin. "In my opinion, the best approach is to first develop a simplified routine that directly addresses rosacea, and then consider adding retinols and retinoids once skin inflammation is better controlled," says Elias. She noted that adapalene gel—an over-the-counter retinoid treatment used to treat mild to moderate acne and blackheads—is considered less effective than other options like tretinoin and tazarotene. Is a milder form of retinoid. That's why she and Soza recommend Differin Gel (containing 0.1% adapalene) as a suitable anti-aging and anti-acne option for rosacea patients. 

10. Common azelaic acid serum Both Graber and Ilyas recommend The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid Serum to improve redness and even skin tone, including dark spots caused by bumps and blemishes. According to The Ordinary , this serum contains 10% azelaic acid, is cruelty-free, vegan, and gentle enough to be used up to two times a day. 

11. The Inkey List Azelaic Acid Serum The Inkey List Azelaic Acid Serum that Ilyas recommends is similar to The Ordinary's serum—both formulas contain 10% azelaic acid and, according to both brands, can be used twice a day. If redness is a major concern, The Inkey List serum contains ultra-fine green particles to help mask redness and, according to the brand, 0.3% allantoin, a compound that helps soothe the skin. 

12. EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46 EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen is our experts' favorite because it doesn't contain any harsh moisturizers that can clog pores. It also contains niacinamide, which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory for rosacea. This mineral sunscreen has an SPF of 46 and contains zinc oxide, which experts say protects against the sun's UVA and UVB rays while soothing the skin. This EltaMD sunscreen is the only product I've tried that doesn't make my rosacea worse. Likewise, Ginsburg says she uses it daily on her fair, sensitive skin, as recommended by her dermatologist, because it doesn't cause her to break out in rashes either. "I also love the texture and how it doesn't burn my eyes when I sweat," she says. 

13. Isdin Eryfotona Eternal Tinted Sunscreen Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Sunscreen is one of our favorite mineral sunscreens, says Soza, and it provides some coverage, covers red spots, and protects skin from the biggest triggers of rosacea. The brand says it also contains peptides and antioxidants to help reduce signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. 

14. Vanicream Sunscreen, SPF 50 Ilyas said she typically recommends Vanicream sunscreen to her patients because it provides broad-spectrum protection with SPF 50. Water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, this mineral sunscreen is perfect for sensitive skin because it contains only one active ingredient (zinc oxide) and, according to the brand, contains no dyes, fragrances, or parabens.