Redness: flushes, patches and what calms the look of it

Redness can be a quick flush, a patch that lingers, or pinkness around the nose and cheeks. On deeper skin tones it may look darker, purple or brown rather than red, which makes it easy to miss.

Visible redness usually reflects blood flow near the surface and, often, irritation. Heat, sun, spicy food, alcohol, harsh products and over-exfoliation are common triggers.

An irritated skin barrier tends to make skin more reactive, so redness and stinging often travel together.

• Daily sunscreen, ideally a gentle mineral or fragrance-free formula.well-supported
• A simple routine with fewer actives while skin is reactive.well-supported
• Niacinamide as a barrier-supporting step.limited evidence
• Azelaic acid for the look of redness alongside bumps.limited evidence

• “Anti-redness” botanical extracts at unknown concentrations.
• Green colour-correctors as anything more than cosmetic cover.