Calm Down with These Top Redness Reducers

Skin is temperamental. The tiniest things can set it off. Excess heat, certain product ingredients, allergies, even the foods you eat can send your skin into a tantrum of blotching or flushing—all part of the body’s defense system. Skin responds to damage and irritants by mobilizing immune cells and dilating blood vessels for protection. Whether it’s an occasional issue or a chronic problem like rosacea, we’ve got your guide to the best ingredients for calming your complexion and preventing redness.

Green Tea

Green tea is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic (inhibitor of the growth of blood vessels) properties. It provides UV and environmental protection, calms inflammation, stimulates cell repair, minimizes disruption to the skin barrier and reduces the appearance and formation of blood vessels near the surface of the skin.

If your redness is due to rosacea, it can be a sign that your skin is antioxidant-depleted. Green tea, a potent anti-oxidant agent, can restore balance and give skin greater protection against elements that aggravate the condition (like UV exposure).

Cleanse daily with Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser to maintain build and maintain a healthy, calm complexion.

Niacinamide

A prime cause of redness and rosacea is a weak moisture barrier and increased transepidermal water loss. Both contribute to the skin’s irritability and susceptibility to inflammation. A compromised skin barrier to can result in redness even in skin that is normally calm.

Anti-inflammatory Niacinamide increases the biosynthesis of ceramides, boosts nourishing fatty acid levels in the skin, prevents loss of water content, and stimulates microcirculation in the dermis to bolster the skin barrier and combat redness, irritation, blotchiness, and rosacea.

Niacinamide stars in Vivant’s Skin Nourishing Toner, a cocktail of antioxidant and ultra-nourishing ingredients that also includes gently brightening mandelic acid, and rosehip oil making it ideal for sensitive or rosacea-affected skin. Use it to calm, soothe, and prep skin for additional products.

Algae

The high phenolic content in algae gives it powerful anti-oxidant properties while nourishing amino acids and polysaccharides hydrate and thicken the epidermis. It’s also rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, plus micronutrients including iodine, iron, and zinc—all of which are highly beneficial in combating skin damage and strengthening the skin barrier.

Soothe inflamed skin with an Algae Soft Mask. It’s also a great way to relieve stress, another contributor to irritation and inflammation.

Aloe

The extract from the whole leaf aloe barbadensis contains glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides, which counter inflammation and speed healing.

For redness associated with acne, try Vivant’s Totaloe Calming and Hydrating Gel. The intensely soothing blend also includes niacinamide, algae extract, and green tea extract in an oil-free formula to take down redness and inflammation without clogging pores. It’s great as a protective booster on top of serums.

Allantoin

This hydrating skin protectant derived from the comfrey leaves has anti-inflammatory, antipsoriatic, and wound-healing properties making it the perfect moisturizing ingredient for redness relief.

Our lightweight, non-greasy Allantoin Sedating & Hydrating Lotion combines it with grapeseed oil, oat protein, whole leaf aloe, and zinc peptides for the ultimate soothing moisturizer.

Peptides

These collagen boosting rejuvenators are also potent redness reducers. As cellular communicators, they stimulate collagen production and cell proliferation and also inhibit the pathways for inflammation.

Neutralize redness and reactivate skin’s youthful appearance with Vivant’s Rejuv Rx. The high-performance formula pairs peptides with gently exfoliating lactic acid and nourishing niacinamide to bolster the skin barrier and combat redness while increasing elasticity and volume.

Tips For Reducing Redness

Avoid hot showers, which will cause flushing and pull moisture from your skin resulting in irritation.

Use a gentle cleanser Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser for oily or normal skin, Cleansing Milk for dry or sensitive skin.

Avoid harsh exfoliation. Opt for gentler cell-regenerators like mandelic acid in your clear skin or ageless routine.

After showering, pat dry and apply serums and moisturizers while skin is still moist.

Always use sunscreen, UV exposure can exacerbate rosacea.

Watch your diet. Spicy foods and alcohol can trigger flushing. Eat antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods like berries, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, broccoli, salmon, and nuts to protect cells from environmental aggressors and inflammation.

Use an ice gel pack on affected areas to constrict blood vessels and reduce the appearance of redness.