When it comes to beauty, few things are as annoying as inflamed skin.
For many people, inflammation means skin that can be itchy, sensitive, red and uncomfortable – and sometimes, it can be all you can think about when you have a flare-up. That’s perhaps why quick-fixes are everywhere on TikTok – you’ve probably seen the technique for ‘icing’ your skin, either with a jade roller you’ve left in the freezer, a frozen cucumber or even braving the ultimate test: sticking your face (briefly) into a bowl of ice.
We’re becoming more aware of inflammatory skin conditions – particularly with celebrities speaking out about their struggles. Kim Kardashian has opened up about her journey with psoriasis – she had her first flare-up at 25 – and famous faces with rosacea include Sam Smith and Cynthia Nixon.
If you’re struggling with a skin condition, it’s always a good idea to see your GP or a dermatologist, so you can get the most appropriate treatment advice for you. But if you have red skin that you’d simply like soothed, anti-inflammatory skincare might be worth checking out…
What is inflammation of the skin?
View this post on Instagram
Your skin might be inflamed if it’s red, sore or itchy. Dr Preema Vig, medical director of the Dr Preema London Clinic (drpreema.com), says it “occurs due to an immune response in the body”. This “can be triggered by conditions such as bacterial, viral and fungal infections, allergic reactions, internal disease, and some skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis”.
It’s worth noting that darker skin tones can also struggle with inflammation – and it might not always manifest itself as noticeable redness. For example, eczema might look like darker patches on darker skin, and those affected by the condition might still feel sore and itchy.
How does anti-inflammatory skincare work?
FUN FACT: All oils used in my products are infused with Calendula flowers (also known as the plant that can do it all). It’s anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties make the perfect ingredient to fight against dry, eczema prone, itchy, irritated skin 😉 pic.twitter.com/gW2LXbivjL
— TAKE 25% OFF TODAY!✨ (@natural_ni) January 3, 2022
“Anti-inflammatory skincare contains ingredients that actively inhibit inflammation in the skin,” explains Vig. She can see why it’s becoming increasingly popular at the moment, saying: “Instead of buying a separate product such as an anti-inflammatory face cream, your skincare product is now giving those combined benefits, so you don’t have to purchase them separately.”
Luckily, there are plenty of common skincare ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties. Vig recommends looking out for products which include aloe, turmeric, calendula extract, witch hazel, niacinamide, sea buckthorn oil, vitamins C, D and E, oatmeal or ginger – “all these ingredients can help fight inflammation”.
If you don’t want to exacerbate the redness of your skin, there are also some products you might want to steer clear of, such as those “that contain synthetic fragrances”, Vig suggests.
Anything else you should know about anti-inflammatory skincare?
View this post on Instagram
As with most things, anti-inflammatory skincare isn’t necessarily a quick-fix. Although topical products “can start to give an immediate effect”, says Vig, “you [might] want to address the inflammation that occurs in the deeper levels of the skin, and address the root cause”.
The skin is our largest organ, so you have to think of a range of factors when taking care of it. “Often I will advise patients to evaluate their lifestyle (stress and raised cortisol levels), diet (certain foods can cause inflammation), water intake and amount of sleep – this can all contribute,” explains Vig. Ultimately, she advocates for a balanced lifestyle and skincare routine: “Do not forget the skin is an organ and benefits from vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – from food, supplementation and also topical skincare.”
And don’t worry if your redness-prone complexion is taking longer than you might want to clear up (but do seek expert advice if your symptoms are severe or getting worse). As Vig adds: “The time it takes to reduce and address inflammation varies from person to person, and also on any skin conditions they are suffering from (such as rosacea, acne etc).”
Anti-inflammatory products to try
Gifted Acai & Sea Buckthorn Vitamin C Glow Oil, £38, Allies Of Skin
Amaranthine Soothing Face Mask, £18.50
Byoma Moisturising Gel Cream, £11.99, Cult Beauty
Keys Soulcare Golden Cleanser With Manuka Honey, £20
Naturopathica Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream, £60
Botanics Clarifying Foaming Cleanser, £4.12 (was £5.49), Boots
Q+A Rosehip Cleansing Oil, £10
Selfless By Hyram Niacinamide And Maracuja Daily Support Moisturiser, £24, Cult Beauty
Best-selling skincare
Need some new additions to your skincare routine? Check out our list of best-selling skincare on Amazon.
- TARGETS BLEMISHES & LARGE PORES: Using two skin-friendly ingredients, Niacinamide and Zinc, this lightweight and gentle serum helps to tackle blemishes and minimise the appearance of large pores
- NIACINAMIDE & ZINC SERUM: The ingredients in this serum regulate the skin’s natural oil production to help prevent further congestion, while zinc has calming and soothing properties, which reduces...
- VEGAN: This serum does not contain any animal derived ingredients
- Package includes: You will received 1 piece of coral fleece hair band, which design with cute Palm and Snail, looking adorable, also comfortable to wear, helping to fix your hair.
- Creative design: Our headband with a lovely Palm and Snail at the top, which will keep your hair neat and tidy and at the same time make you look extremely sweet and adorable, a necessary hair...
- Soft material: The headband Made of good quality coral fleece, soft and durable , provides outstanding touch feeling and hygroscopicity. The soft loop headband cover is comfortable and you'll want to...
- Formulated with 96% Snail Secretion Filtrate, this moisturiser protects the skin from dryness and aging by repairing the skin's moisture. This snail serum improves the skin's vitality by reducing...
- Our Advanced Skin Snail Essence features a lightweight texture that immediately seeps in to the skin upon application and delivers multiple effects. The snail essence will leave your skin hydrated and...
- Snail 96 Mucin Essence contains 96% Snail Mucin, which helps repair and soothe red, sensitized skin after breakouts by replenishing moisture deep into your skin while also improving skin elasticity....
- THE REAL DEAL - The one-step, easy to use, innovative and effective way to target your acne. Hydrocolloid patches create a moist environment and optimum conditions for your spot to heal.
- ULTRA-THIN AND TRANSLUCENT - Each one of our mighty zit patches is translucent, ultra-thin, and has tapered edges to seamlessly blend with all skin tones so you can proudly wear them day or night.
- VISIBLE RESULTS - Dots for Spots pimple patches act as a protective cover to prevent picking, touching or popping, while also working to minimize the appearance of redness and active breakouts.
- INCLUDING - Our hyaluronic acid and vitamin E watermelon moisturiser, blueberry & oat extract cleansing gel, green-tea cactus toner and finally our collagen & pineapple extract face serum. Vitamin E...
- HOW TO USE - We recommend using this 4 step regime daily, starting with the gel cleanser to unclog pores and clear dirt. After washing, use the toner to restore ph. Next, apply the serum to help...
- PERFECT GIFT - This gift set contains full-sized products and is ideal for beginners, young adults, women and anyone who loves professional skincare products. This set is also great for those new to...
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You may be interested in…
This article may include affiliate links to products and services where we may receive a small fee to support the running of this site if you make a purchase or is a sponsored article from one of our select editorial partners providing valuable advice and information to our readers.
