Rosacea is a common, chronic skin condition that mainly affects the face. It tends to occur from your early twenties and beyond. The major symptoms of rosacea include a redness of the face, a breakout that can easily be mistaken for acne (usually without blackheads and whiteheads) and rhinophyma (the development of a large, red, bulbous nose).
It can be extremely common to mistake rosacea for acne, especially as acne products tend to aggravate rosacea even further. If you get any of the symptoms listed above, alongside a burning and gritty sensation around your eyes, then it’s highly recommended that you see a dermatologist.
How to fight symptoms of Rosacea
Get to know your triggers
Caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, strenuous exercise and extreme weather conditions can all be triggers of rosacea. Keep a journal and note down what causes a flare-up so you can get to know what yours are.
Ice Packs
Use ice packs on your face to soothe the inflammation of rosacea flare-ups. Never use anything hot on your skin.
Use an anti-redness moisturiser
It’s vital to moisturise when you have rosacea to cool down your skin. We’ll recommend specific essential oils you can mix into your moisturiser later on in this feature.
Protect your skin from the sun
Stay in the shade or cover up wherever possible, and always use a high SPF sun cream. Make sure the sun creams you use are fragrance free and hypoallergenic to avoid further aggravation of the skin.
Only use gentle cleansers
Avoid harsh cleansers and astringents as these can aggravate rosacea skin. Check the ingredients label and avoid retinoids and salicylic acid. Look for fragrance-free and hypo-allergenic cleansers. It is not only about which cleanser you choose, but the way you use it too. Use as gently as possible and make sure the water you splash your face with is lukewarm.
Skip harsh skin treatments
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are a no go. You should also be wary of general facials. If you can see a dermatologist, they should be able to develop a suitable treatment plan for your rosacea.
Choose fragrance free, mineral-based makeup
Try going makeup free wherever possible to give your skin a rest. We know that rosacea symptoms can be stressful which can be combated by applying makeup. We recommend using a pressed powder over liquid foundation as the latter can clog your pores and make your rosacea worsen.
Natural Skincare Remedies for Rosacea
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera helps with rosacea because it has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. You can buy it as a gel, as a juice, or even squeeze the gel directly from its leaves. It’s very soothing for the skin and is often used in treatments for sunburn. Apply the gel or juice directly to your skin twice a day and wash off with lukewarm water, you’ll find that the symptoms of rosacea begin to reduce within two months.
Green Tea
Green tea is super rich in oxidants and can be drunk or taken as a supplement. One of its many health benefits is that it helps to reduce redness and inflammation that comes with rosacea. It can be mixed with essential or carrier oils as a moisturiser, while many people also use cooled green tea bags placed directly to the face to reduce rosacea symptoms.
Turmeric
Another herb that is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is generally used in cooking, but can also be taken as a supplement or drunk as a coffee.
Essential Oils for Rosacea
Many essential oils have natural anti-inflammatory properties which makes them perfect for helping reduce the symptoms of rosacea. Not only that, but they can help you relax, give you an energy boost and even revive your mood and focus.
We have to remind you that while essential oils are natural, there’s still a chance that they may irritate your skin if applied topically. Always remember to try a skin test if you’ve never used a particular essential oil. Place a small amount of diluted solution behind your ear or on your forearm to see if it causes any irritation.
Before you find out which essential oils are best for helping to fight the symptoms of rosacea, we have to remind you that diluting them in a carrier oil is super important. Undiluted essential oils can be very potent and therefore may irritate your skin further. Below are our recommended dilution ratios for adults:
2.5% dilution: 15 drops essential oil per 30 grams of base oil
3% dilution: 20 drops essential oil per 30 grams of base oil
5% dilution: 30 drops essential oil per 30 grams of base oil
10% dilution: 60 drops essential oil per 30 grams of base oil
Tea Tree
A very popular herbal remedy for rosacea and other skin conditions like acne, rashes, minor cuts and burns. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil can help soothe red, itchy or sore skin, which can be extra painful for rosacea sufferers.
Lavender
Known for its calming effect on the mind and body, lavender is also calming for the skin. This purple power flower can induce a deep sleep and is sometimes used by insomniacs to help calm them at bedtime. By applying it to the skin in a diluted form, redness and inflammation can be soothed.
Geranium
With anti-inflammatory properties, geranium can soothe and calm inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea. It also has antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-fungal and astringent properties. It is suitable for rosacea as it balances oil production, preventing the skin from getting either too dry or too oily. This can help rosacea because an imbalance of oil production can aggravate the condition.
Chamomile
One of the best skincare oils for rosacea skin, as it is renowned for being a soother. It reduces redness and protects the skin and pores from microbes, which can worsen the condition. Try and find ingredients like chamomile to make a DIY toner for your whole face as it can soothe your skin.
Rose
Who doesn’t want to smell like roses? Rose oil has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and astringent properties. It’s seen as one of the best aids for rosacea skin because it balances oil production and calms painful redness and inflammation.
Rosemary
This herb’s essential oil packs a lot of power. It has an anti-inflammatory chemical, carnosol, which helps in the treatment of rosacea, and is also anti-aging. Rosemary can improve the look and quality of your skin while fighting against sun and free radical damage.
Thyme
Thyme’s antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties help with the painful symptoms of rosacea by preventing further inflammation of the skin. It helps to heal scars, prevents the development of infections and is also antimicrobial. This is perfect as microbes stop rosacea skin from healing and can aggravate it even more. Thyme can also help with symptoms of stress and anxiety, which often contribute towards rosacea worsening on your face.
Sandalwood
A common symptom of rosacea is extreme itchiness, and sandalwood’s natural anti-inflammatory properties can help hugely with this. As this essential oil can leave the skin with an oily residue, we recommend applying it overnight to work its magic. This will mean less scratching of your face in your sleep, meaning you’re less likely to wake up with irritated skin!
Jasmine
This essential oil brings back the balance to the dry skin that goes hand in hand with symptoms of rosacea. It does this by promoting cell turnover, which reduces the redness of flare-ups. Because of its aroma therapeutic properties, it can also help reduce stress and anxiety when applied with a carrier oil.
Cypress
Redness isn’t the only symptom of rosacea, as puffiness also tends to occur frequently on the skin. Cypress oil targets this symptom as it’s a natural anti-inflammatory. Not only that, the calming and woody scent acts as a natural aroma therapeutic for you to help with symptoms of anxiety.
Carrier Oils for Rosacea
You can use these oils on their own or with essential oils to help fight the symptoms of rosacea. Always make sure to use the diluting scale we’ve recommended above to ensure your skin doesn’t become any more irritated.
Rosehip
Rosehip oil’s vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C and essential fatty acids promote elasticity, skin healing and vibrancy of the skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a natural option in the quest for finding a moisturiser for rosacea. It provides plenty of nourishment because of its ability to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin. It reduces redness by strengthening broken and damaged capillaries by acting like an astringent. Rosehip oil also acts as an ideal acne treatment, due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
Coconut
Coconut oil is a natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and moisturiser so is a perfect carrier oil for fighting the symptoms of rosacea. A small amount should be applied directly to your skin to help reduce the redness around your face, nose and eyes. Because it contains lauric acid, coconut oil will also help soothe the irritated skin that occurs from rosacea.
Moringa
Packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants, moringa oil has many benefits for the skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent choice to include as part of your anti-redness skincare. Its antiseptic property also helps in the removal of impurities like blackheads and acne from the skin. Vitamins A, C and E are considered three of the top skincare ingredients by dermatologists, and moringa oil has all three! Use it as a gentle cleanser by massaging it over the face and neck and using a muslin cloth with warm water to rub the skin in circular motions.
Black Seed
Black Seed is a traditional Middle Eastern spice that has been used for thousands of years, taken internally and applied topically. Its health benefits are numerous including the treatment of asthma and allergies, candida and fungus, heart health and immune health. It’s extremely rich in vitamin A and amino acids, which helps encourage regeneration of healthy skin cells. It’s also extremely rich in fatty acids which provide deep, long-lasting moisture and nourishment to help reduce the symptoms of rosacea.
Tamanu
Although a newly recognised oil in the skincare industry, Tamanu oil has been Southeast Asia’s powerful weapon against health and skincare issues for centuries. Drawn from the nuts of the Tamanu tree, it has antioxidant, anti-neuralgic, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. This means it can treat a host of skin conditions and types, including rashes, acne, scars, aging skin, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and redness. Tamanu Oil is anti-inflammatory, which makes it ideal for rosacea skin. You can use it as a daily moisturiser or add a few drops into your usual moisturiser, as it absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy residue.
Evening Primrose
The Evening Primrose plant is grown for both its beauty and its benefits. It’s considered one of the best moisturisers for rosacea skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties and can improve its health and appearance. Other properties include treating acne and psoriasis, fighting hair loss, lightening the skin and reducing hyper-pigmentation. As evening primrose oil helps to balance hormones, it can also improve the condition of our skin when taken as a supplement.
Jojoba
Extracted from the jojoba plant, jojoba oil has an identical molecular structure to the skin's sebum. The oils components include vitamin E, B-complex, copper, iodine, chromium and zinc. As a natural anti-inflammatory which is easily absorbed by the skin, jojoba oil is incredibly healing and deeply moisturising. It can reduce redness and blush, hydrates and heals, guards from infection and is suitable for all skin types.
Camellia
As rosacea makes the skin extremely sensitive, it is essential to use plant oils that are gentle on the skin. Camellia oil is hypoallergenic, making it perfect for sensitive skin as an anti-inflammatory that soothes irritation and redness. Made from the same flower as green tea, this oil strengthens skin tissue and combates free radical damage to fight signs of aging. It has a silky texture and works well as a light moisturiser for rosacea skin. Another super absorbing oil, camellia penetrates deeply into your skin to work its magic.
Borage
Also known as Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), Borage oil is a fatty acid vital for healthy skin. It helps to maintain the stability and fluidity of the skin's natural water loss barrier. This makes it perfect for treating rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, acne and dermatitis. It also has soothing anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce redness from rosacea. When cold weather strikes, use borage oil to minimise the rosacea flare-ups that are triggered.
Calendula
Calendula is a type of marigold, an edible flower, and can be found growing in Asia, Mediterranean countries and Western Europe. It contains significant amounts of the anti-inflammatory compound bisabolol, which has properties that help to soothe rosacea skin. Its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties help to speed up the healing of wounds and minor cuts. Calendula oil can be used as a soothing moisturiser, while improving the appearance of skin by offering antioxidant protection to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and scars.
Comfrey
The comfrey plant naturally produces a compound called allantoin, which has been proven in a 2017 study to alleviate skin reactions and symptoms with absolutely zero side effects. This makes it perfect to act as a carrier oil or pure moisturiser for rosacea conditions like redness and inflammation.
We hope you found your favourite natural remedy for rosacea here, don’t forget to give your skin the goodness it deserves thanks to our full range of natural face oils. Read more about natural beauty care, wellbeing trends and more here.
