If you frequently experience facial redness, irritation and small bumps, you may be dealing with rosacea, a common skin condition that impacts more than 14 million people in the U.S. alone, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It usually affects those between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Since there’s no cure, many are left with the difficult task of treating their own flare-ups.
I've written about expert-backed solutions to common skin care concerns for over four years and suffer from moderate rosacea myself. I spoke to dermatologists about common triggers of rosacea flare-ups and how to avoid them, plus the best skin care ingredients to help tame redness and inflammation. I also compiled a list of expert-approved cleansers, sunscreens, moisturizers and more to consider for rosacea, and NBC Select staff favorites.
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How I picked the best products for rosacea and redness
When shopping for rosacea treatments, dermatologists recommend considering the following key factors:
- Gentle ingredients: Look for products that are fragrance-free with gentle, hydrating ingredients to soothe irritated skin, including niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and aloe. Azelaic acid is also a gentle acne-fighting ingredient that can help prevent and reduce bumps caused by rosacea, experts say.
- Sun protection: Experts recommend wearing sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to avoid further redness and irritation. Consider mineral-based sunscreens, which have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide rather than chemical filters, and are often less irritating for those with sensitive, rosacea-prone skin.
- Product type: Experts recommend a “less is more” approach in your routine — focus on using moisturizers, facial cleansers, serums and sunscreens that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin, and avoid any harsh exfoliants, scrubs and alcohol-based toners. It’s important to be cautious when using acne treatments or retinol— they can be harsh on sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, according to the dermatologists I spoke to.
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Best skin care for rosacea and redness in 2025
To help tame redness and irritation from rosacea, consider the expert-recommended moisturizers, facial cleansers, serums, sunscreens and more listed below. I also included products I and other rosacea-prone NBC Select editors use to reduce flare-ups.
Best overall moisturizer
La Roche-Posay is an expert-recommended brand for people dealing with rosacea or acne-prone skin (or both). I use this moisturizer every night before bed since it’s both gentle on my rosacea and hydrating enough to keep my flaky, dry skin at bay. The moisturizer has ceramides and niacinamide, both of which can help soothe and calm rosacea flare-ups, says Dr. Erum Ilyas, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology. I pair this moisturizer with the brand’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, which is a gel face wash that maintains my skin’s moisture and doesn’t irritate it (unlike most other cleansers).
Best serum for redness
“Prequel is one of my absolute favorite brands that I use year round no matter what state my sensitive, eczema-prone skin is in. I know their products are safe and will prevent and combat my flare-ups,” says former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez. “It’s one of those brands that just gives me peace of mind, especially because I know they have multiple seals of acceptance.” This serum has both the National Rosacea Society and the National Eczema Association’s seal of acceptance, so it’s safe for very sensitive skin. It blends arnica, oat and vitamin F to calm the skin and a slight green tint to neutralize redness, according to the brand. It’s fragrance-free and you can use it day and night.
Best facial spray
I’ve been a huge fan of Tower 28 for years, specifically its barrier cream and this facial spray, both of which have the National Rosacea Society’s seal of approval. The SOS Daily Rescue spray went viral on social media because it instantly reduces redness and soothes irritation (a huge plus for those with rosacea). It has hypochlorous acid, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, according to the brand. I spray this on my face after every workout, especially when I can’t get to the shower for a little while — it turns down the heat- and sweat-induced redness on my face, and makes my skin feel clean without needing to fully cleanse.
Best overall cleanser
For people with very sensitive skin (especially those who might feel a burning or stinging sensation when trying new products, which is common with rosacea), experts recommend Vanicream. This cleanser has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance — the program evaluates products based on the NEA’s criteria of ingredients and contents to ensure they’re beneficial for people with sensitive skin. The dermatologists I spoke to also recommend the brand’s moisturizing cream for very dry, sensitive skin, which is also one of our favorite moisturizers for dry skin.
Best azelaic acid cream
Ilyas recommends this cream to help improve redness and generally even out skin tone, including any dark spots caused by bumps and blemishes. The serum has 10% azelaic acid and is gentle enough to use up to twice a day, according to the brand.
Best cream for redness
Clinique’s Redness Solutions product line includes cleansers, moisturizers and sunscreens that can benefit those prone to redness and rosacea. Though the products typically look green when you initially apply them, experts say the green hue goes away when you blend it into the skin. In fact, the green particles work to camouflage the red color, according to the dermatologists I spoke to. The Clinique Daily Relief Cream is a great option if your skin has blotchy red spots: Not only does the cream reduce the appearance of redness, but it also gently calms irritated skin, according to Clinique.
Best foaming cleanser
Foaming agents can often be too harsh on rosacea-prone skin because they remove most of the oil on the face, which can lead to even more dryness and flaking, experts say. However, there are a few that can be safe for sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, including this one from Aveeno. “It recognizes that by adding calming and hydrating ingredients to balance the foam of the cleanser, those that need their cleanser to foam in order to feel clean can [use it] while limiting the risk of excess dryness,” says Ilyas.
Best overall sunscreen
The EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen is a favorite among experts and NBC Select staff because it’s free of heavy moisturizers that can clog pores, plus has niacinamide, which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that tames rosacea. It’s the only sunscreen I’ve tried that doesn’t flare up my rosacea and soothes any blotchy redness on my face. Similarly, former NBC Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg uses it on her fair, sensitive skin every day following her dermatologist’s recommendation because it doesn’t cause flare-ups for her, either. “I [also] love the texture and it never burns my eyes if I sweat,” she says. The mineral-based sunscreen has zinc oxide, an ingredient that’s better suited for sensitive skin compared to chemical filters, experts say.
Best for mature skin
This Senté cream has heparan sulfate analog, an ingredient that mimics the naturally-occurring molecule heparan sulfate, which reduces redness and hydrates the skin. This cream is a favorite of Ginsberg: “I have mature skin, and rosacea can complicate finding skin care to help with fine lines because sometimes active ingredients can cause a flare-up,” she says. Her dermatologist recommended the Senté Dermal Repair Cream, which she says noticeably soothes her rosacea-prone skin. “It’s on the thicker side, so it really moisturizes, but it feels light on my skin and absorbs well. It is on the expensive side, but it’s worth it.”
Best budget-friendly cleanser
Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser is an NBC Select Wellness Awards winner and comes recommended by dermatologists thanks to its gentle, non-foaming formula that hydrates and soothes rosacea-prone skin. Ginsberg says she’s used this cleanser since she was 16 years old and loves that it’s both affordable and gentle on her skin. “It’s also great for travel because you don’t have to rinse it off with water — you can massage it in and then (gently) wipe it off,” she says.
Best acne treatment
Though retinoids can be too harsh on sensitive skin, they can still work for those who are rosacea-prone if they’re introduced slowly, starting with just once a week before building up tolerance. “I find the best approach is to first create a simplified routine that directly addresses the rosacea, followed by consideration of adding retinol and retinoids once inflammation in the skin is under control,” says Ilyas.
Adapalene gel, which is an OTC retinoid treatment that treats mild to moderate acne and blackheads, is considered a milder retinoid compared to other options like tretinoin and tazarotene, says Illyas. Both she and Dr. Gabriela Soza, a board-certified dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology, recommend Differin Gel (which contains 0.1% adapalene) as a suitable acne-fighting option for people with rosacea.
Best barrier cream
If you’re looking to repair a damaged skin barrier, consider this Avène cream, which comes recommended by Ginsberg. “As I’ve gotten older, my skin has become more dull, and I refused to give up my at-home peel pads even though they’re not good for my rosacea,” she says. “So, I needed the most soothing barrier repair cream I could find to use after — I tried [this cream] and haven’t looked back.” It’s extremely thick (almost like toothpaste consistency, but silkier), says Ginsberg, so she warms it up in her hands before applying it. “When I first put it on, it leaves a pretty greasy sheen, but overnight, it sinks into my skin and I wake up completely hydrated without a hint of redness,” she says.
Best for sensitive skin
We love using Cetaphil's gentle cleanser for washing our faces without stripping or irritation, and this moisturizing cream is a great option for those with sensitive skin. The cream, which earned the top spot on our list of 100 best moisturizers, has a non-greasy formula with no added fragrance to avoid irritation. It can also provide up to 24 hours of hydration, according to the brand. If you’re looking for a daytime moisturizer, Cetaphil’s Redness Relieving Daily Facial Moisturizer has SPF 20 and a tinted formula to reduce the appearance of redness.
Best bar soap
One of our favorite bar soaps (and one I personally use for my rosacea-prone neck and chest), Dove’s Beauty Bar is a great budget-friendly cleanser for sensitive skin, says Dr. Apple Bodemer, a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The hypoallergenic formula is safe to use as both a facial cleanser and body soap, and it has mild and moisturizing ingredients like glycerin that can help maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier, says Bodemer.
Best nighttime lotion
This Cerave nighttime lotion, one of our favorite moisturizers for acne-prone skin, has ceramides that can help restore the skin barrier and soothe rosacea-prone skin, says Ilyas. You can also purchase the brand’s AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion for the daytime, which has a gentle formula and SPF 30 (the minimum amount of sun protection recommended by experts).
Best acne spot treatment
Sulfur helps to gently even out skin tone and reduce bumps caused by rosacea, says Ilyas. She recommends this spot treatment mask from Sunday Riley, which you can apply to blemishes or textured areas of the skin. It helps to remove dead skin cells, draw out impurities and reduce redness, according to the brand. After letting the mask dry on the skin, the brand recommends washing it off with warm water.
Best tinted sunscreen
This Isdin tinted sunscreen can cover up redness and protect the skin against the sun, which is rosacea’s biggest trigger, says Soza. It also has peptides and antioxidants to also help minimize signs of fine lines and wrinkles, according to the brand.
Best budget-friendly serum
This azelaic acid serum, which comes recommended by Ilyas, has green-colored micro particles that can help mask redness. It also has 0.3% allantoin, which is a chemical compound that can help soothe irritation, according to the brand.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Erum Ilyas is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology. Dr. Ilyas specializes in adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and skin cancer treatment.
- Dr. Apple Bodemer is a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
- Dr. Gabriela Soza is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York City.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am an updates editor at NBC Select who has written a variety of skin care stories, including treatments for cystic acne, keratosis pilaris and dark under-eye circles. For this article, I spoke to three dermatologists about how to tame rosacea and highlighted their recommendations for the best products to consider. I also included recommendations from NBC Select editors who have rosacea.
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