What am I doing wrong? (Redness on face - pic included)

[ItalianChineseIndianMexican]

These are my cheeks - with foundation on.
I use Liz Earle face wash, No7 serum, No7 moisturiser. Sometimes use a primer (Rimmel) and always Revlon Colourstay foundation.
But I then have to put concealer (Rimmel Hide the Blemish stick) across nearly the whole of my face - cheeks, nose, chin, forehead - to get rid of the redness. Even then, I still don't look flawless. It drives me crazy - plus is time consuming and expensive. To top it all, I think Rimmel are stopping making the concealer so I definitely need alternatives!

FYI Im 46, perimenopausal and have always had rubbish (spotty/ blemishy / red) skin on my face. It's affecting my confidence and self esteem now. Please can anyone help?
Thank you.

Have you ever tried treatment for rosacea? It looks like that to me. You can get cream from the GP.

Do you notice whether alcohol, sugar or spicy food makes it flare up worse?

I have rosacea and mine is dreadful if I drink for a few days in a row.

Oh let me add - the Liz Earl cleanse and polish will destroy my skin barrier if I try and use it. I want to love it but it is terrible for me. Maybe try a gentler face wash?

I like this:

https://www.boots.com/e45-face-foaming-cleanser-150ml-10312468?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19965642474&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwTqES1LyFH9zqd37JKoLU3na&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIutm_ssDWkwMVRqRQBh0b4ifxEAQYAiABEgLjlfD_BwE

What’s your diet like?

I’d guess you’re doing too much with the face wash and to try something gentler and more soothing/cleansing

Me and my mum both suffer with redness and both use this: https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/erborian-cc-red-correct-40ml/17643956/?adtype=&affil=thggps&gclsrc=aw.ds&cq_plt=gp&shippingcountry=GB&switchcurrency=GBP&gbraid=0AAAAAD-fXip-8c3kpx2Am5TI6gc0FN9ej&cq_cmp=22490205294&product_id=&cq_src=google_ads&cq_plac=&affil=thgppc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkMjOBhC5ARIsADIdb3e3Yz77_e89GwNRQI9r7Ahlop7kZ-di3LgJoOVwBkDUwfPrHMrchWQaAgW-EALw_wcB&cq_term=erborian%20cc%20red%20correct&cq_con=184026952492&cq_net=g&cq_med=&kwds=545144498121&thg_ppc_campaign=22490205294&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22490205294

only thing that works to cover it for us and doesn’t require concealer etc on top. I just use it as a foundation instead of anything else :)

Following with interest. I have similar problems and have been wondering if it is rosacea. I am reluctant to go to GP because they are absolutely useless. What is the cream - is it prescription only?

Hi OP, I was recommended the Boots Derm Solutions range for redness prone skin. It’s helped, though it took a while.

Boots often have discounts available and offers on, and I would look online. (The actual shops can be a bit of a shambles re stock levels and staff on tills etc.)

Try a colour corrector. Red counteracts green. I use a maybelline one that’s pretty good. It calms redness so that you can put foundation over it and the red doesn’t show through.

I have sensitive skin that is prone to redness and often find No7 products very ‘chemically’/perfumed. Gentle brands that have worked for me:

• Revolution Hydrating range
• CeraVe
• La Roche Pose
• Embryolisse
• Beauty Bay Oat-based range

concealers/colour correctors always end up knocking back the redness into a weird grey shade for me, so I try to hit it at the source with gentle skincare products.

Too much booze and sugar definitely makes things worse for me as well.

I have a lot of redness too and have to be very careful with cleansers as often they’re too harsh.
I use this CC cream from L’Oréal which covers a lot of the redness, it works really well and is often on 3 for 2 in Superdrug. I find I don’t need a foundation or concealer with it, my skin looks great once I’m wearing it. I haven’t used foundation in months!

You could do an online consultation but yes it’s prescription.

I’ve had Rozex (metronidazole) and Soolantra. I preferred the Rozex and it definitely got it under control.

It looks like rosacea. I use CeraVe hydrating cleanser and moisturiser with spf 50 on the advice of the dermatologist who diagnosed mine and Dr Jart’s green colour correct cream which is miraculous at covering it up.

I have VERY sensitive skin with redness, at times it’s painful. I no longer use any face wash products, in the morning I use dampened cotton wool pads, in the evening I cleanse with Elemis pro radiance cleanser. I use Nivea moisturisers with Vitamin C.

I wear very little makeup, just a Nivea tinted moisturiser and a bit of concealer around my nose and cheeks, topped off with a little bronzer. If my skin starts to feel especially dry I use a mixture of Jojoba mixed with Rose oil, it feels and smells lovely, I use this after moisturising.

For many years I’ve spent a fortune on all the fads and regime’s, the more products I used the worse my skin became. It’s trial and error and the more expensive products aren’t always the best, I can’t use Liz Earle at all, my skin reacts terribly to the ingredients 🥴

I agree. I’ve spent a fortune trying various product ranges and gave up a few years ago. Just use water to clean my face.
I’m allergic to latex and most plant based facial products irritate my skin. Aloe Vera is related to latex and seems to be in everything. I can’t eat bananas for the same reason. Common preservatives and foaming agents such as SLS and benzyl benzoate are also common irritants.

I am trying MooGoos range of products, their face serum is lovely and doesn’t cause any redness. I’ve also started using their hair care range because of my scaly scalp.

I was diagnosed with rosacea and given some cream by my doctor.

I had been using Liz Earle cleanse and polish, plus the moisturiser for years but I found these products just irritated my skin, then I found Natural Elements who have various cleansers, moisturisers, serums etc. specifically aimed at troublesome skin. Their moisturiser is the only one I can put on my neck/throat without it breaking out in red, itchy patches.

Since I started using them I've not needed the prescribed cream.

I also use Dr Jart to cover the redness.

I've got very similar skin to you OP and have to be very careful about what I use on my skin. The best cleanser that works for me is Cetaphil PRO for redness prone skin. I also use the night cream from the same range.

In terms of make-up, yes it takes a while but covering it up massively improves my confidence when leaving the house. I always use a green-based primer (currently the No. 7 one, but am looking at the recommendations on here too). Then, gradually build up coverage using No. 7 foundation mixed with a little concealer on the areas which are more red. I use a fixing spray because I work long days, but again I'm still on the lookout for a non-irrritating one.

Alcohol most definitely affects the redness for me - straight away if I drink and then generally if I've been drinking regularly. As a result, I've pretty much cut it out. I never drink if I'm out because I flare up massively.

I also have rosacea, although mine usually manifests itself as an overall redness on my cheeks and nose, I did go through a period with these spotty patches on my cheek that wouldn't go away, and eventually got prescribed some soolantra which sorted them out.

As for skin care, I find la roche posay toleriane cleanser and their rosaliac moisturiser the best, really gentle and have noticed a reduction in redness. I also love erborian red correct, I just use that on its own as foundation, sometimes with maybelline concealer if I have a few spots.

I've noticed that chocolate will break me out unfortunately, and when I've made an effort to eat a lot of green veg my skin looked really good. But this part's a little harder to follow than the skin care routine!

Thank you.

I was wondering if it was rosacea. Never had treatment or looked into it - but will now!

I don't drink much alcohol at all anymore. Spicy food and sugar, yes. But the redness is there all the time. Nothing seems to make it better or worse really.

Healthy enough I think.
I don't drink much alcohol. Generally eat well - cook from scratch, get my 5 a day, not too much upfs etc.
I could probably do with drinking more water.
And maybe less sugar...

I developed rosacea like this at 50- thanks to perimenopausre. I use The Ordinary azelaic acid and had to start from scratch working out what products set my skin off. I need to wear factor 50 everyday to stop the sun making it worse. I use altruist.

The facial wash will be too harsh. Top tip is not to wash your face in the morning and let the natural oils from the night stay on the face. Put a very simple moisturiser on top - cera ve.

use minimal cleanser at night and moisturise straight away

@ItalianChineseIndianMexican Definitely looks like rosacea - your GP can prescribe Soolantra for this and it can work really well, you may need to use it for a while to see results.
A gentle cleanser is important; Liz Earle has a lot of essential oils so may be irritating your skin. Avene does fragrance free cleansers, or La Roche Posay Toleriane for sensitive skin.
Use SPF 50 every day.
Boots no 7 Hydraluminous foundation isn't too heavy and I find it evens out the skin.
I hope you find a solution for this.

Thank you.
Will look into this :)

I'd stop Liz Earle and no 7 and use cerave hydrating wash and Clinique DDML or cerave moisturiser.

Agree this could be rosacea. I’ve got very problematic skin, although not rosacea. If you can afford it I’d look into a monthly Dermatica subscription. You want to sort it at source not be covering up with make up. I’ve used Dermatica for years and my skin has a glow.

I’d maybe introduce a serum and try out Cerave products. They have no fragrance, I think people underestimate the irritating properties of (unnecessary) fragrance.