Easy step-by-step skincare routine for rosacea

I got diagnosed with rosacea a year and a half ago, and the best thing I did for it was being consistent with a good skincare routine. This is my step-by-step morning and night routine and the products I use that have helped me get my rosacea under control!

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As anyone who's living with a chronic illness knows, it kinda sucks dealing with it. Knowing that there is no real end to it can feel very discouraging. 

But the best thing we can do is accept it and start to figure out how to deal with it. What can be done to relieve symptoms? Are there triggers you can limit or cut out of your life? 

I already had some experience with this when I got diagnosed with rosacea last winter, having had chronic lyme disease for a few years. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to live a mostly normal life with it, so I used the same technique to troubleshoot the rosacea.

But the best thing I did was find a good, gentle skincare routine for rosacea!

Consistency is key

These are the things I have been doing daily for around 9 months now, and I very rarely have flare-ups anymore! Consistency is key, and well worth the little effort it takes to do. It's really only when I am really stressed, running around trying to do a million things, that I get flushed now. I can even eat some spicy foods, take hot showers, and use the sauna without getting triggered!

​I have always liked natural products, so most of what I use are all natural stuff. I actually started most of this because I was turning 30 and thought I should step up my facecare routine, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed to get the rosacea under control!

My step-by-step skincare routine

AM

1. Prescription rosacea gel
2. Rose water
3. Jade roller
4. Hyaluronic acid serum
5. Sun screen
6. ​Gua sha
   

PM

1. Hydrating cleanser
2. Prescription rosacea gel
3. Rose water
4. Jade roller
5. Hyaluronic acid serum
6. Almond oil
7. ​Gua sha
   

Sometimes I run out of time or energy to do all of this, but at a minimum I do the Metro gel and spray some rose water on to hydrate and cool my skin. Since I have been doing this for a while it doesn't seem to hurt to skip it every now and then, as long as I'm mostly consistent with it. 

Since I also have ocular rosacea that effects the eyes, I also use an eyelid & eyelash cleanser morning and evening and a long-lasting dry eye relief gel at night. ​

Photo by Camille Brodard

My preferred products

Hydrating cleanser

I was told by my dermatologist to use a cream cleanser from La Roche-Posay 1-2 times per week, but I recently started using it every night and honestly my skin is so much better now! It's very gentle and really cleared up my stress acne. I take 1 pump and massage it all over my face, and rinse with water. 

Bamboo washcloths

If you don't know (like I didn't for most of my life), it's really important that you pat your face dry, instead of rubbing it. I got a bundle of bamboo washcloths from Hiphop Panda, and they are sooo soft. Bamboo materials are naturally hypoallergenic and really good for sensitive skin.

Metronidazole gel 0.75%

I got prescribed this antibiotic topical gel right as the pandemic started, and I have not noticed any side effects so far. It works quite well, but it did not completely stop the flushing on its own -- it was first when I started this skincare routine that the joint effort took effect.  There is a 1% version though that might work better on its own.

​It is by far the most expensive of my products (I've paid $50-80 copay, depending on insurance) but the 45 g tube also lasts me a year. I apply a thin layer and let dry for at least 5 minutes before applying other products. This is a great time to get dressed or journal!

Rose water

Rose water has anti-inflammatory properties, so it is excellent for rosacea. I was actually already using this as a toner! I use 100% rose water from Teak Naturals, which comes with a pump as well so I can just spray it over my face and neck and enjoy it's cooling feeling. 

Photo by Kalos Skincare 

Jade roller & gua sha

I looove my jade roller! I've given a bunch as gifts to friends and family and it is one of those things that just feels pampering to do. I buy them from Baimei, and while I favor the rose quartz one they also have them in white and classic green jade. 

I use the jade roller to gently work the rose water into my skin, at the same time as I'm massaging my face muscles. I used to get so many tension headaches before! It is very relaxing. It helps depuffing my face after sleep (especially if I was drinking the night before) and the cool stone has a calming effect on flush-prone skin. I use the gua sha after my moisturizer and also work on the front and back of my neck. 

Hyaluronic acid serum

This one I got for my "I'm 30 now skincare routine", but the vitamin C and aloe vera it contains are also great for rosacea. Two birds with one stone! The serum is mainly for hydrating, healing, and "plumping" the skin. I swear, in the first two weeks I used it several worry lines faded or completely disappeared! 

The one I got from InstaNatural comes with a little pipette, so I put 1 drop on each cheek, my chin, and forehead. I massage it into the skin in small circles.

Almond oil

I've been using this Viva Naturals almond oil for years for massages, but it's also great for my face! I was using coconut oil before as a moisturizer, but now I find it a bit too heavy for my skin. Almond oil is non-greasy and contains vitamin E, and can be used on hair and nails as well. 

• Related article: Easy Swedish back massage tutorial

Eyelid & eyelash foaming cleanser

I use this cleanser from We Love Eyes for my ocular rosacea. My eyelash line used to burn a lot and since I started using this I have way less discomfort to deal with! After rinsing my face (I usually do this step first in my routine) I gently rub 1-2 pumps over my eyelids and under the eyes and rinse again with water. 

Photo by Chelsea Shapouri 

Track your symptoms and triggers

Rosacea is a very personal skin condition, so while there are common triggers and guidelines, everything may not apply to you. This is why tracking it can be very beneficial. For a few months I had a rosacea log in my bullet journal and tracked when I got triggered and what may had caused it, i.e. certain foods, cold winds, a hot shower, stress. . .

This was incredibly helpful and helped me learn what to avoid while I got it under control. While I don't really have to think about avoiding foods anymore (although I still stay away from really spicy foods), I got a cute sunhat that I bring everywhere and I will keep wearing a cloth mask when I'm outside in the winter, even when (if) the pandemic ends. It is such a simple solution I can't believe I never thought about it before, since winter has always made my face incredibly dry!

​Photo by Arisa Chattasa

I can be a frustrating journey finding the right products and lifestyle changes, but I am so glad I put in the effort. I have barely had any flushes at all for 6 months now. So make sure you give new products, habits, and medications some time to work. For general skincare routines they say you should allow 4-6 weeks for it to really show the benefits, so with the sensitive skin of rosacea it may take longer while you track down your triggers. Don't give up!!

Apart from my daily routine, these are some other things I have done/do:

• I always wear a sun hat outside or use a parasol
• A simple face mask of 1 tbsp honey and 1/4 tsp turmeric is wonderful and makes my skin super soft (turmeric is awesome to add to smoothies and foods as well, being anti-inflammatory)
• When I got a lot of flare-ups, I kept a jar of green tea in the fridge and dabbed it on my face with a cotton ball. It feels amazing and cools down the flushing area really well. Aloe vera is also a good alternative
• I did a 3-months dose of 100 mg/day Doxycycline. I got incredibly nauseous from it though, so I will not repeat this unless I really have to, but it was really helpful for the ocular rosacea (Update: I did 50 mg/day for 2 months in 2022, because the summer heat made my symptoms bad again. The lower dose was a lot gentler on my stomach and still did the trick!)
• ​I like to heat up a heating pad and lay it on my eyes for a while when I go to bed, which helps release natural oils under the eyelids to keep them lubricated and help dry eyes. Bonus points for making me sleepy and relaxed!
• Before the Doxy started working, I avoided dairy, sugar, spicy foods, and alcohol as much as possible (common triggers)
• I use eye drops whenever needed, especially working in front of a computer​

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