How to Reduce the Look of Redness, Irritation, and Inflammation

Skin can turn red, irritated, and inflamed surprisingly quickly, and there are a number of factors that can contribute to this. From general sensitivities to acne to over-exfoliation, it’s important to work out the cause of your skin’s irritation if you want to reduce redness for good.

The good news is that this is something that Lavelier can help with. Read on as we talk you through a few of the various steps that you can take to reduce the look of redness and inflammation so that you restore a calm, balanced, and healthy complexion.

Cool Your Skin Down…Literally

Looking for a way to instantly reduce redness?

One method to try is cooling your skin down. Often, redness is caused when blood vessels dilate. This leads to more blood flowing through them. This gives the skin a red and blotchy appearance. Applying cold temperatures to your skin, such as in the form of a cold compress, will counter that by constricting your blood vessels and minimizing the look of redness.

An alternative to a cold compress would be a cooling globe, which you’ll find in our Collagen Cooling Set Limited Edition. Simply store the globe in your fridge and reach for it whenever your skin is looking red. It will glide over your skin easily, giving your skin an even, fresh, and balanced finish.

You could also try storing some of your skincare products in your fridge. Whether this may be a serum, a cream, or anything else, you’ll be able to chill and calm your complexion each time you apply that product. It will also feel incredibly refreshing!

Soothe Your Complexion With a Face Mask

Face masks can be incredibly useful when you want to give your skin some extra care. The beauty of face masks is that many of them are very targeted. If your aim is to reduce redness, find one that’s capable of calming the appearance of inflammation and your skin should look and feel soothed as soon as the mask touches your face.

One mask that does this well is the Lavelier Coral Luminous Face & Eye Masque. One of its main ingredients is sea moss powder, which has been proven to be highly capable of lowering the feeling of inflammation in the skin. Glucomannan, otherwise known as konjac root, does the same, while sodium hyaluronate will leave your skin barrier feeling more resilient. Being made from hydrogel means that this mask is exceptionally hydrating too!

The HydroCollagen Lift Mask in our Collagen Cooling Set Limited Edition would also be a great choice. This formula is loaded with peptides, which are known for thickening and strengthening the feel of the skin barrier. Meanwhile, niacinamide will tackle the look of redness while keeping the complexion smooth and moisturized.

Keep Your Skin Moisturized

If your skin often finds itself irritated and inflamed, then this is a sign that your skin’s natural protective barrier has been damaged. This damage can occur for a range of reasons but, whatever the cause may be, it means that your skin will no longer be able to adequately protect itself from environmental aggressors. Be it pollution, chemicals in the air, or anything else, all of these unwanted particles will have a much easier job penetrating your skin, which makes inflammation so much worse.

One way to get around this is by ensuring that your skin is always well-moisturized. A moisturizer will form its own layer over your skin’s surface, playing its own role when it comes to keeping your skin feeling better protected against the environment.

With that said, you’ll need to pick a moisturizer that plays nicely with sensitive skin. Look for a rich formula that’s packed with fatty acids and complexion-soothing botanicals, such as the Lavelier Marine Deep Moisturizer. Featuring shea butter, sunflower seed oil, coral seaweed extract, and chamomile extract, it’s a superstar at diminishing the feeling of inflammation. Even better, this formula contains aloe vera too, which, as you’re about to find out, is a game-changer for anyone dealing with irritation…

Add Aloe Vera to Your Skincare Routine

So, what’s so great about aloe vera? 

Well, if you’re trying to reduce redness, this is an ingredient that you definitely want on your side. Historically used as a medicinal plant, aloe vera is revered for how it lowers the feeling of inflammation. It’s great for soothing and protecting the complexion, which is why it’s a go-to for anyone suffering from a sunburn. 

Aloe vera is also exceptionally hydrating. It functions as a humectant, meaning that it attracts and binds moisture to the skin. It will soothe the feeling of itching too, while its numerous bioactive compounds will work to prevent the appearance of skin aging.

With aloe vera offering up so many benefits, you’ll find the ingredient in several Lavelier skincare products. Our Marine Evening Repair Cream is one, with this moisturizer combining aloe vera leaf juice with vitamin E, jojoba oil, green tea, and coral seaweed extract. You’ll find the ingredient in our Nano Gold Serum too. This lightweight solution also provides a blend of peptides, chamomile, calendula, and beech bud extract, all of which are loved for how they soothe the complexion. 

Protect Against the Sun

Another reason why the skin can quickly turn red and irritated is due to sun exposure. As soon as UV rays hit your skin, inflammation begins to occur. Everyone has their own level of sensitivity to this. Some experience redness almost straight away while others only see issues once they’ve been in the sun for an extended amount of time. Either way, any form of sun exposure, even if only for a few minutes, will still cause damage to your skin, with this accumulating over the years.

If your skin tends to look irritated after you’ve been outdoors, then focus on protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays. The easiest way to do this is with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, such as the Lavelier Divine Day Defense SPF 30. This product isn’t just a sunscreen – it’s also an amazing moisturizer. With vitamins and botanical extracts, it will leave your skin feeling stronger and healthier.

Of course, in addition to wearing sunscreen, try to take additional sun protection measures too. A wide-brimmed hat will provide some extra shade to your face while some large sunglasses will shield the delicate skin around your eyes from the sun’s damage.

Cut Back on Exfoliation

Exfoliation is an essential part of caring for your skin. It prevents dead skin cells from building up in your pores, which, in turn, prevents clogged pores and acne breakouts. Regularly exfoliating also brightens the complexion, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and enhances the absorption of any other skincare products that you apply.

However, knowing how often to exfoliate is vital. If you do this too often, which is known as over-exfoliation, you could end up with skin that looks red and inflamed.

If you think that your skin’s irritation could be down to over-exfoliation, the first thing to do if you want to reduce redness is to stop exfoliating. Your skin needs some time to heal, and continuing to exfoliate will only prevent this.

Once your skin seems to have recovered, you can introduce exfoliation back into your skincare routine. However, make sure that you’re using a gentle exfoliator, such as the Lavelier Intensive Facial Peel. This formula does a wonderful job of exfoliating the skin without causing damage or irritation. 

Practice Seasonal Skincare

If your skin problems seem to coincide with changes in the weather, this is completely normal. As the seasons change, so do your skin’s needs, making it important for your skincare routine to reflect this.

This means adjusting the skincare products that you use based on the seasons. In the winter months, your skin will naturally be much drier. It doesn’t produce as much sebum and this, coupled with cold temperatures, a lack of humidity, and strong winds, leaves the skin feeling stripped, dehydrated, and vulnerable to damage. This is why, in the winter months, your skincare routine needs to consist of richly moisturizing products. If it doesn’t, then your skin will only struggle with all that the winter months throw at it. This will result in even more redness and irritation.

During the summer, those rich formulas will be too heavy for your skin. At this time of year, the skin produces extra sebum. This means that you’ll need to lighten up your skincare products and strip back your skincare routine.

Giving your skin what it needs based on the time of year will go a long way in helping you reduce redness and balance out your complexion.

Improve Your Lifestyle Habits

Topical skincare products are undeniably useful when it comes to soothing the look of redness and inflammation. However, at the same time, it’s important to reassess your lifestyle choices to ensure that you aren’t unintentionally making that redness worse.

Smoking, for example, can affect the skin in several ways. It is known for triggering inflammation, making this a habit worth quitting for the sake of both your skin and your general health.

Excessive alcohol consumption also has a similar effect on the skin. It dehydrates the skin too, making irritation and itching so much worse.

Of course, your diet also has a direct impact on your appearance. If you regularly eat unhealthy and highly processed foods, you’re more likely to experience skin problems. Ingredients such as sugar and salt are common inflammation triggers. The more of these that you eat, the more your skin will suffer. Instead, swap those unhealthy dietary choices for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These will give your skin the nutrients that it needs to really thrive!

Summary

It can be difficult to reduce redness in the skin if you don’t know what the cause of your inflammation is, making it important to spend some time figuring this out. Once you do, you’ll be able to pick and choose from the tips that we’ve shared above to ensure that you’re caring for your skin in a way that will keep it looking balanced, fresh, and vibrant.

Click here to soothe your complexion with more bestselling skincare products from Lavelier.