As an adult, I struggle with rosacea. It's fun times getting older. I always wondered what my grandmother's facial redness was.... now I know (thank you for that Gamma). And anyone that has it, or sensitive, irritable skin in general, knows that the sun and the heat only make it worse. The itchy, red-bumpy mess. Gah! While prescribed steroids and topical ointments have helped, they aren't necessarily sustainable nor travel friendly. Here are my go-to products to ensure I don't scare small children while traveling.
Obviously, you must keep your skin clean so let's start with my nightly routine:
My Favorite Skin Cleansers:
Currently, my go to travel cleanser is La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. It is a daily, non-soap face wash for normal to dry, sensitive skin. It is a fragrance-free, formulated with niacinamide and thermal spring water (so fancy), which help to soothe and protect the skin. It is also oil-free and non-comedogenic (won't clog pores). My skin reacts well to this cleanser, and it comes in a 50ml/1.7oz which is perfect for carry-on travelers.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser is a gentle, non-irritating cleanser that is very easy on sensitive skin. It is fragrance-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. While all that is great, and I've had good results using Cetaphil for years, sometimes I just don't think my face actually gets clean. There's not that squeaky feeling that I get with other cleansers. But that's just me. It is dermatologist approved and highly recommended. And again, the 2oz travel size is perfect for your carry-on.
There are quite a few skin hacks. You always have to keep your skin on its toes! One that I try and do every few days is using a light exfoliant to rid the skin of dead cells that can cause build-up. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Exfoliating Daily Facial Cleanser has been a great find. While not "daily" for me, I generally put it into my regimen every third day at night. That way, I can regenerate the skin without over irritating it. It is a very lightweight, oil- and soap-free gel with hyaluronic acid and naturally-derived skin smoothers, making it a perfect choice for all skin types. Unfortunately, the smallest size is 5oz, so you'll either have to transfer it into a smaller carry-on approved container or check a bag (the horror).
After washing, a toner is always good for skin hydration:
My Favorite Skin Toners:
I probably spent an hour at the Origins™ counter the other day at Bloomingdale's. Anyone that knows me understands the absurdity of that statement. But when you have problem skin, you'll really do almost anything. And I fell in love with Dr. Andrew Weil's Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion. It's not a lotion at all, it's a delicate, watery toner made from reishi mushroom, fermented chaga mushroom, and other botanical extracts to soothe, calm and hydrate irritated skin. It smells wonderful. This one comes in a 3.4oz bottle, perfect for your carry-on.
Another safe and solid choice is Avene's Gentle Toning Lotion. Again, not a lotion. It's a lightweight, oil- and alcohol-free toner that is formulated with soothing silicates (think the Blue Lagoon in Iceland) to help quiet sensitive skin. This toner doesn't have an overpowering fragrance, so it won't compete with any other smells going on. I haven't found this toner in a travel size, so you may have to transfer into a smaller carry-on approved spray bottle.
When I first moved to New York, I lived on the Upper West Side, above both the Aveda salon and a Clarins store. This is when I fell in love with both, but the later has Clarins Soothing Toning Lotion (why they insist on calling it a lotion is beyond me). Using a cotton ball, this one is great for removing any remaining traces of makeup or dirt after cleansing. It is formulated with organic chamomile and organic purple coneflower extracts to help comfort your skin. It is also enriched with the Clarins Microbiote Complex (pre and probiotics), which helps to balance the skin's natural microbiota. This one comes in a 3.3oz bottle so you don't have to check a back or transfer it into a different carry-on approved container.
My Favorite Night Creams:
As an impulse buy in the line at Sephora, prior to the company even launching (these were beta samples), we grabbed a small jar of Naturally Serious After-Dark Natural Peptide Sleeping Cream. That has been one of the best pick-ups in a long time. It's a very dense cream, but it leaves no residue and soaks right into the skin. It is formulated with flaxseed peptide, apple extract, and shea butter, with the goal of lifting and firming the skin overnight. And you're in luck, they come in carry-on, travel approved sizes in 50ml/1.7oz containers.
Another thicker night cream is Eucerin Redness Relief Night Creme. It is formulated with licochalcone A (a type of natural, liquorice phenol) to pacify and calm irritated skin. It is also enriched with ceramides, lipids that hold skin cells firmly together, protecting it from allergens and external aggressors. In keeping my skin on its toes, I try and alternate these products so my skin doesn't get too comfortable with one product.
Something quite a bit lighter is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry. It is a delicate moisturizer that is formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help hydrate and plump the skin. It is non-greasy, but not powdery either, it has a really fine feel to it. It is fragrance-free and dye-free. I generally try and use this cream after I use the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Exfoliating Daily Facial Cleanser to allow the products to work in tandem.
I will admit, I generally don't wash my face with soap in the morning. Overnight your skin goes through a renewal process, cycling oxygen and nutrients, and I want to retain that. I splash cold water to wake the skin up, pat dry, leaving the regenerated new skin cells. From there, it's time for my daytime routine:
My Favorite Day Creams:
I've been using Dr. Jart+ since long before they were bought by Estée Lauder. This South Korean skin care brand utilizes tiger grass to deal with redness and irritation, which is found in my favorite day cream aptly named, Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Gel Cream Moisturizer for Redness. This is particularly great for those looking for a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer. It has a cooling gel which feels really nice on irritated skin. I use this daily before applying any make up. It too comes in a travel size at 50 ml / 1.7 oz. This is one product off a trio found in their Redness Rescue Kit (better value to get all three) that comes with a serum and color corrector (see below).
No skin product list would be complete without Aveeno, they make a Calm + Restore Redness Relief Moisturizing Cream. It is formulated with calming feverfew (a flower in the daisy family known to aid with fevers, headaches, and arthritis) and nourishing oat, as well as ceramides and vitamin B5 to restore the skin's moisture barrier. While not a light cream, it absorbs nicely into my skin without leaving a sheen. It is great to use under sunscreen. You can carry-on this moisturizer as it comes in 50 ml / 1.7 oz.
After my morning lotion application, it's time to deal with the color and look of my skin:
My Favorite Color Corrector and Foundation:
Anyone who struggles with rosacea, redness or sensitive skin knows that your face can become very uneven. As mentioned above as part of the Redness Rescue Kit, Dr. Jart has Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment to tackle that problem with anti-inflammatory and healing properties. A green paste (to counterbalance the redness), it helps to neutralize the irritated spots and even out skin tone. I use this after Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Gel Cream Moisturizer for Redness. The corrector can be used as a foundation itself or a base under foundation and other makeup. It comes in a highly compact 15 ml / 0.5 oz travel size.
As more of a true foundation, with different colors for all skin types, I love IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Full Coverage Color Correcting Foundation. This one has an SPF 50 component which is great for travel when you are sitting in the sun but not necessarily prepared for it (i.e., at lunch / dinner, on a walk, etc.). It is color correcting, helping to camouflage the appearance of blemishes, redness, dark circles, and uneven skin tone. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. This too comes in perfect carry-on sizes of 1.08 oz / 32 ml or 0.406 oz / 12 ml.
BONUS: Some Redness and Sensitive Skin Secrets
One of the best facial soaps, in my humble opinion, is still Dove Beauty Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar Soap. It is gentle on sensitive skin, it is free of brutal chemicals, it cleans while keeping the skin soft and hydrated. For the price, it really can't be beat. I always thought washing your face with a bar of soap was just a no-no, however, this bar of soap has a life-long tenancy in my shower soap dish. Grab a soft washcloth and you're good to go.
There are a few rosacea products out there that require prescriptions, one of which is Oxymetazoline. However, if you can't visit a dermatologist and/or don't have the budget, Afrin contains Oxymetazoline which narrows facial blood vessels, reducing swelling and redness. Yes ma'am, spray a little Afrin in your hand, apply to your face and you've saved yourself both time and money. My actual dermatologist let me in on this little gem.
In studies, sulfur has been known to reduce inflammation related to rosacea. Found in most drug stores for under $10, Prosacea Rosacea Gel is a topical containing sulphur 1x, a homeopathic ingredient effective in reducing redness, pimples, and irritation. While some people don't like the smell (in true sulfur fashion it lives up to its name), I found it to be very subtle and reduced with other lotions, foundations, and fragrances.
And there you have it. Some of these are spurge products, some are bathroom basics, but I hope you find it helpful!
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