The killer question: How to reduce redness of the skin?

Many factors can give rise to irritable skin redness – from sunburns, to allergies, to plain old sensitive skin. Hence, taking the right steps, and adding them to your everyday beauty routine is vital for reducing and eventually stopping redness. Here are some of our age-old tips and tricks to flush away this unwanted skin impurity.

Cleanse gently:

When cleaning your face, steer clear of cotton pads – instead opt for a manual nourishing milk. Gently massage it into your face using a circular motion. To tone, use micellar water or a gentle toner. Finish off by patting your skin with a tissue.  Do not rub your face with a cloth after cleansing.

Green tea:

Green tea has numerous health benefits and cancelling out redness is one of them. Start by steeping some green tea and leaving it to chill in the refrigerator. Soak a facial cloth in the tea, squeeze the excess out and apply to your face. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that helps to constrict blood vessels that cause facial flushing. Do this step whenever you need some relief.

Coconut oil:

Let’s be honest, coconut oil is basically great for anything – from cooking, to haircare, to skincare. If you find that your red skin is dry or chapped (especially in winter), apply this oil all over your face, or on the desired areas. Coconut oil is also great for targeting rosacea and acne.

Aloe vera/cucumbers:

To nourish and soothe your skin, make an aloe vera or cucumber mask your go-to remedy. Cut thin slices of cucumber, lean back and apply all over your faces for 15-20 minutes. As for the aloe vera, gels can be found in most pharmacies and supermarkets. However, if you can get your hands on a real aloe vera plant, go for it. Apply a thin layer onto your skin and rub in gentle, circular motions.

Say no to scrubs:

Scrubs that contain large grains are a complete no-no. Ultra-gentle scrubs still remove dead skin cells and are much preferred.

Corrective concealers:

Sometimes us girls just don’t have enough time to sit down and pamper ourselves. When this occurs, cover unwanted skin redness with a green corrective concealer. Rest assured though it will not appear green on your skin. Instead it will cancel out the redness instantly. The Make Up Forever Camouflage Cream Pot in Green will do just the trick.

Avoid:

Avoid products that contain acid-based ingredients. Do not use any products that produce a tightening effect or contain alcohol.

Shannon Gallagher