Dermatologists Say These Are The Best Moisturizers For Rosacea

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If you have rosacea, you know how frustrating it is to deal with red, splotchy, irritated skin. The skin condition is most commonly characterized by redness, flushing, red bumps, and even pustules on the skin, says board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, but there are a few reasons why it may be triggered including the sun, extreme temperatures, and spicy foods.

Meet the experts: Marisa Garshick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist. Rachel Nazarian, MD, is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist.

"Oftentimes, [rosacea is] characterized by an increased sensitivity of the skin," Dr. Garshick adds. With increased sensitivity might come the idea that you should stay clear of certain products, which is true in the case of products like chemical sunscreens, but it certainly doesn't apply to moisturizers.

"Moisturizing when you have rosacea is probably exponentially more important because dry skin on top of rosacea-prone skin is a disaster," explains Rachel Nazarian, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist. "You already have a sensitive skin barrier. If you weaken it by stripping the moisture barrier, you are actually more likely to get irritated from random things environmentally that you would've been protected from if you had an intact healthy moisturized skin barrier."

So whether you need a new cream that's more suited for your skin type or you're on the hunt for more to add to your collection, here are 14 of the best moisturizers for rosacea, according to experts.

Daily Facial Moisturizer With Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid

Both doctors back Vanicream's Daily Facial Moisturizer for people with sensitive skin. It's free of fragrance, parabens, and sulfates, making it a great overall pick. "It contains hyaluronic acid and ceramide" says Dr. Garshick. "So it's going to help to hydrate and also support the skin barrier while still being very gentle on the skin."

Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

This super lightweight cream was designed to help repair the skin’s natural protective barrier using key ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin. "Niacinamide is particularly good for rosacea because it has soothing properties while also helping to calm the skin," says Dr. Garshick. "Even though it's great for sensitive skin, it's also oil-free and won't clog pores. So for people who have a combination of acne and rosacea, it can be helpful."

Skin Barrier Niacinamide Refillable Restoring Gel Cream

Perfect for oily skin, this non-comedogenic gel cream hydrates skin without clogging pores. It contains niacinamide and antimicrobial peptides, which is great for acne-prone skin by supporting a healthy skin barrier. It also treats fine lines, wrinkles, and skin elasticity.

Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

This product is all about restoring, hydrating, and protecting the skin. Because this cream is so rich and thick, it's a great option for anyone with irritated skin. "It's going to help calm redness and inflammation. It won't leave the skin feeling greasy, but it does have a thicker quality to it," says Dr. Garshick. "So it's nice, especially for somebody who has rosacea who's experiencing more dry skin." BTW, it can also be used on burns, cuts, and scrapes.

Like Butter Moisturizer

This moisturizer takes after its name. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid to treat dry, red skin. The rich texture is perfect for those who deal with eczema or itchy skin, and the packaging is super trendy too.

Calm + Restore Redness Relief Moisturizing Cream

This cream contains oats, which have anti-inflammatory properties. The ceramide and vitamin B5 also helps restore the skin's moisture barrier, while soothing redness and dryness. And if you're sensitive to fragrances, you'll also be happy to know that this cream is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.

PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

"It contains ceramide as well as hyaluronic acid to support the skin barrier," says Dr. Garshick. "It's also non-greasy, which is great because it absorbs very quickly." She adds that this affordable moisturizer is an ideal option for people with oily skin who want to hydrate their skin without that greasy or sticky finish.

Redness Relieving Daily Facial Moisturizer

Another cream packed with SPF is the Cetaphil Redness Relieving Daily Facial Moisturizer. This cream has a slight tint for those who want to mask any redness. Dr. Nazarian notes that it's also a physical blocker (AKA a mineral sunscreen), which is easier on the skin than a chemical one. Plus, it has caffeine in it to help your skin vasoconstrict—a process that decreases blood flow to the skin.

Seriously Soothing Day Cream

If you're looking for a major boost of hydration, you'll love this day cream, since it's free of parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil. It also mixes other out-of-the-box ingredients that work wonders for rosacea. "It has rosehip oil, which is a fatty anti-inflammatory oil," says Dr. Nazarian. "It really seals the skin barrier, and that's a huge part of having healthy skin when you have rosacea."

Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment

Any product with added SPF gets bonus points. Dr. Garshick notes that this treatment uses mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which can be helpful to people with rosacea who tend to have sensitivity to certain sunscreens. "The key ingredient here is something known as centella asiatica, which is known to have calming effects on the skin and reduces redness," she says. "It'll help camouflage and conceal some redness while still providing protection throughout the day."

Note: The formula is thick and may require one lighter moisturizer as a base before applying the treatment on top.

CALM Rescue & Repair Moisturizer for Sensitive, Oily + Combination Skin

If your skin lies somewhere in the middle, look no further than this moisturizer from Paula's Choice. It fortifies the skin barrier while targeting wrinkles, fine lines, redness, and eczema. This cream is free of fragrance and parabens but includes mushroom extract, squalane, and prebiotic sugars.

SOS Daily Skin Barrier Redness Recovery Moisturizer

This vegan, cruelty-free moisturizer is packed with skin-plumping ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides. It also contains allantoin to lock in moisture and sooth irritation while replenishing the skin barrier. It's perfect for sensitive skin, plus the packaging is super cute!

Green Tea and Hyularonic Acid Moisturizer for Dry Skin

This cream contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, squalene, and allantoin. But the green tea is what separates it from others. "Green tea is such a potent antioxidant," says Dr. Nazarian. "The fact that you have something that neutralizes free radicals and helps protect the skin on that level from environmental damage is really important."

Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream

Although this cream is a bit high in price, it's worth the splurge. The oil-free formula uses lactobacillus extract to help sooth redness and blotchiness. It also contains other key ingredients like caffeine, green tea, and shea butter.

How we chose the best moisturizers for rosacea

We consulted two board-certified dermatologists and compiled their product recommendations into a list, vetting customer reviews, ingredients, and more to find the best options available.

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