Products: Healing Lotions For Sensitive Skin
Skin is the window to our health - it’s our largest organ and holds the secrets to what’s happening inside our internal ecosystem - our microbiome. We just need to figure out what it is saying.
Healing rosacea can be tricky – we need to heal your skin from the inside out AND outside in.
Our skin reflects how we feel and how we speak to ourselves – it’s all connected. My rosacea flares up when I am not looking after myself mentally or physically. When I started believing in myself, I began to take charge of my skin – it was so empowering.
Proper rest, a healthy diet, paired with “progress over perfection” mentality will help calm your mind to manage stress rather than just react to it.
The final piece of the jigsaw is carefully selected skincare to soothe the redness before it turns into spots or visible blood vessels. The right skincare can help your skin repair itself and restore your glow.
Below is an ever-growing list of tried and true products for MY sensitive skin – I hope your skin loves them too. (Check out my skincare routine to read how I use these products daily).
Just remember that what soothes my skin might not soothe yours.
Have a product that is tried and true? I’d love to try! Email hello@jessthesciencechic.com or DM me on Instagram @jessthesciencechic
“Beautiful skin reflects a dynamic mindset, not a miracle.”
Cleanser:
SkinFix Barrier Foaming Oil Cleanser: Finally! A cleanser that leaves my skin feeling supple and soft without drying it out - a total game-changer for my routine.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser: This gentle and hydrating cleanser removes makeup and soothes my skin after a flare-up. Pair with La Roche-Posay Toleriane moisturizer for extra prebiotic benefits.
Healing Rosacea: Cleansing tips
Wet skin is delicate so pat your skin dry gently with a microfibre towel – no rubbing! Lukewarm water, never hot -easy does it!
Moisturizer:
My skin LOVES this ultra-rich, lightweight moisturizer. It layers beautifully under my makeup and keeps my skin hydrated all day. I massage this potent cream AM and PM. It plays a vital role in my 3 day rest and recovery days between Dr. Whitney Bowe’s skin cycling regimen. Bowe Glowe works its magic on my skin, visibly soothing redness while nourishing my fragile skin barrier.
Skinfix Barrier Lipid-Peptide Cream: Rich, lipid replenishment cream
I massage this rich, fluffy cloud-like product all over my face at night when my skin needs a heavy dose of hydration & TLC.
Skinfix Barrier Lipid-Peptide Lotion: Daily replenishing skin barrier support
This is a great lightweight version of the triple lipid-peptide cream that can be used throughout the day.
La Roche Posay - Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer: This wonderful, lightweight, non-irritating moisturizer also layers beautifully under makeup and soothes my soul (and my skin).
Healing Rosacea: Moisturizing tip:
Beware over the counter creams claiming to target redness. They are formulated for dry, eczema-prone skin and are often too rich for rosacea-prone skin.
Rosacea sufferers sometimes assume their skin is dry, but often it is dehydrated, a sign of microinflammation. Rich creams and oils may initially soothe their inflamed skin, but they can aggravate rosacea over time. We need to take the heat down, not feed it!
“Beauty is being comfortable in your own skin.”
SKIN-Emergency!!! Immediate Redness Relief:
Dermalogica Barrier Repair Ultra Calming: This waterless barrier cream keeps moisture in and environmental stressors like pollution out. My first line of defense against irritation and full-scale flare-ups.
Farmacy Honey Savior Multi-Purpose Honey Skin Salve: This has been the “saviour” for my over sanitized dry hands throughout the last two years!
Indie Lee Squalane Oil: Dubbed as a superstar skincare ingredient, squalane can help rescue and restore the driest and most inflamed skin.
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 This balm protects and soothes dry, cracked, and chafed skin. I recently used this during a moderate flare-up, which helped speed up recovery time!
Healing Rosacea: Anti-redness tips
Please don’t lose heart - rosacea is not just a lifestyle condition, and sometimes it just turns up. Sensitive skin is ‘hardwired’ for inflammation so let’s concentrate on strengthening your skin barrier.
“Where’s all your money? “It’s on my face.”
SPF & Makeup:
SuperGoop! (Re) Setting 100% Mineral CC Cream My skin LOVES this SPF 50 broad-spectrum sunscreen foundation! There were so many shades and options to choose from, that I welcomed help from a Sephora makeup artist. She picked the perfect shade to even out my skin tone.
SuperGoop! (Re) Setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35 IN A POWDER!! I totally geek out that my makeup powder contains broad-spectrum sunscreen! The powder sets the CC cream, and out the door, I go!
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream This broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen foundation comes in several shades to match and compliment your skin tone. I use “Natural Glow”, which blends beautifully under makeup. (Or use alone and head out the door)
Healing Rosacea: SPF tips
Sunscreen needs to become a daily habit for all rosacea sufferers, whatever your skin tone. Sun exposure can weaken blood vessels and increase flushing, so don’t forget to reapply at least every two hours.
Chemical Exfoliators & Retin-A:
Caudalie Vinoperfect Glycolic Peel Mask: A gentle chemical exfoliator suitable for rosacea!
DWB Beauty Exfoliation Night: This product gently sloths away dead skin cells to prepare my skin for retinal night.
DWB Beauty Retinal Night: RetiNAL: Meet the unicorn of skincare; it works smarter & harder & gentler than retinol!
DWB Beauty Skin Cycling Kit: A clinically-proven Skin Cycling trio (moisturizer, exfoliator, retinal)
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum Potent antioxidant Vitamin C helps protects from environmental stressors while brightening and evening out my skin tone. I’ve tried several different brands of vitamin C, and Mad Hippie is my number 1 pick for sensitivity. I use a few drops in the morning – it layers beautifully underneath my moisturizer and makeup.
Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum: Retinol (a potent vitamin A derivative) speeds up our skin’s natural renewal process. (New plump skin cells in, old flat dead skin cells out). As we age, cell turnover slows down, and our skin starts to look drab. For years I thought I couldn’t say retinol without an instant flare-up - Marie Veronique to the rescue!
Healing Rosacea: Exfoliation tips.
Rosacea lumps are not acne and require gentle care – no pore strips!
Stress strains our skin cells, and their natural exfoliation cycle goes on the back burner. (Like when you move a job to the bottom of the list). Your poor neglected skin barrier goes from smooth and plump to patchy and torn, so moisture escapes and pollutants sneak in.
Lovely Lips:
Lawless Forget The Filler Lip Plumper Line Smoothing Gloss: I’m OBSESSED with this gloss in Rosy (a sheer baby pink shade) that hydrates and plumps the lips with rockstar shea butter & hyaluronic acid. I am extremely cautious about lip plumpers, which often contain ingredients that exacerbate flare-ups. Lawless is the only lip plumping brand that I have experienced ZERO irritation.
Farmacy Honey Butter Lip: Natural beeswax softens fine lip lines, while dream team E and royal jelly moisturize and protect.
Healing Rosacea: Luscious lip tips
Get into the habit of reapplying your lip balm whenever your lips get wet: after showering, cleaning your teeth, drinking a hot drink or eating. Keep one handy to stop you from forgetting: one in the bathroom, one in the car and one in your bag.
Let’s choose healthier skin over ‘perfect skin.’
