Get ready, this is a long post. I've had noticeable rosacea since 2017. When I say "noticeable" I mean, I started having to cover it up about 4 years ago, but when I look back at photos of my rosy cheeks, I realize I've had it even longer than that.
UPDATE: If you scroll all the way to the bottom I've put all my products in one list. I've since started using a toner as well because when I originally wrote this we didn't have the Magical Mist - which has been hugely beneficial for me!! You can watch this video on Instagram of me doing my skincare routine.
I'm pretty much the poster child for rosacea - I've always blushed easily whether I'm embarrassed, stressed out, or I've had a good workout. I'm of Celtic and Scandinavian descent and I'm fair-skinned, plus it runs in my family -- all of those things make me more prone to suffering from this skin disorder.
I saw a derm last year when it was really bad. I was just curious about a conventional approach because I was feeling hopeless and desperate. Suffice it to say, I was disappointed with the recommendations to manage it, but not at all surprised ( more on that in another post).
I have spent more hours reading on Reddit, scouring over rosacea forums, rosacea blogs, and scientific papers than I would like to admit. The one thing I can tell you is what works for one person, doesn't work for everyone because rosacea is a skin disorder of many different causes. Since you are reading this, I assume you have rosacea and you already know what it is so I'm not going to spend time defining it for you - you're already an expert.
However, what I am going to do is share with you what has worked for me skin microbiome and it is greatly affected by your gut health - research points to a link to foods to limit or better yet avoid please read this post first. Next, be sure to read this post about foods to eat for calm skin. Of course, not everyone is the same, so there may be a food on my list that you know is a trigger for you. If that's the case, avoid it. You may be like me and eating the perfect skin diet, but develop rosacea. However, I know if my diet wasn't as healthy as it is, my skin would be far worse.
Okay now that we've got that out of the way, let's talk about how I care for my skin. Please note, this is not the only way, but it what has immensely helped me. I've provided lots of options for products as well as a DIY magical serum.
In another post, I review all the natural health supplements I take as they are essential for gut health and healing rosacea. I'm religious with my supplements!
Here goes, a detailed list of how I care for my skin.
Make sure you're washing your face with filtered water, not tap water
Chlorine is an antibacterial chemical and it is extremely drying and irritating to those with sensitive skin. Water, even without adding a face wash, strips the skin of its natural oil barrier and can negatively impact the pH of your skin, and your acid mantle matters a lot in rosacea. This natural oil barrier is everything and with rosacea, your barrier is already compromised, which is why your skin is so darn sensitive to really cold or hot weather and even wind.
In my home, I have a whole home filter that removes all the chlorine and ammonium that comes into our house. Before that we had a filter that just attached to the shower head, you can get one off Amazon or any hardware store, or I would wash my face with the filtered tap water from my kitchen sink. This made a difference in the hydration of my skin within about a week.
Important: When you shower, do not put your face directly in the stream coming out of the showerhead. This is traumatizing and stripping for your sensitive skin.
Wash your face gently preferably with organic bamboo cloths
Do not scrub your face with any abrasive cloths or even washcloths that have too much texture. This includes konjac sponges. They strip too much of the natural oils and they are not soft enough. These are the organic bamboo cloths I use. The key is to be as gentle with your face as you possibly can.
Always toss them in the laundry after one or two uses (depending on how much makeup you use) and let them completely dry out before the second use. Make sure you're using a natural laundry detergent, I use these laundry strips, they are eco-friendly and super gentle.
Before we move on, let's get this out of the way....
I know it is super obvious, but do not, use any products with fragrance, even be cautious of essential oils because many of them do not work for rosacea.
I have spent a lot of money on products that claim to be formulated for rosacea and they have fragrance or irritating ingredients in them. This includes some natural health brands. I personally find that super frustrating, but at least I have ruled them out. Feel free to ask me about brands in the comments section as I may have tried them.
Use a non-comedogenic, natural, and organic face wash that is soothing and healing
When I switched to Fresh Face Cleanser my skin immediately felt better and less red from the calming organic comfrey root, chamomile, and golden jojoba. The comfrey root is incredibly anti-inflammatory and super soothing (you can literally see the little brown flecks of the plant in the cleanser!). It encourages healthy and fast regrowth of damaged skin cells, which is important especially if you get those pustules with rosacea. All the ingredients are super clean and support a healthy skin tone. Plus it is rich in antioxidants and the jojoba oil will not clog your pores because it's so close in pH to the sebum your skin naturally produces.
There are zero additives or fillers (no water) and there are zero ingredients with the potential to irritate your skin. It makes my skin feel nourished, soft, supple and refreshed not stripped and dry. This cleanser is certified USDA organic too.
Honorable mention goes out to Blume Daydreamer Cleanser as well. This is a safe cleanser for rosacea or eczema-prone skin but it's definitely heavier than Fresh Face because it's a cream cleanser. It's very gentle and totally non-irritating.
You can read the reviews of Fresh Face here. Use code 10FORFRIENDS for any Hello Joyous product.
Magical Mist Toner is a new-ish product at Joyous Health and when I originally wrote this post, we hadn't yet released it. True to it's name, it's magical!!
A toner is absolutely essential to balance your skin's pH. Many people with rosacea have skin that is far too alkaline. Alkaline skin allows for micro-organisms that may not be beneficial to flourish.
It nourishes, soothes, and balances your skin. I spritz after cleansing to provide the perfect dewy surface to apply the Hella Hydrating Serum. I also love a midday magical refresh for healthy, hydrated skin.
It is alcohol-free and it helps to balance and restore the skin's natural pH while infusing your skin with vitamins and antioxidants to promote a healthy glow. The rose geranium in this toner is great to help control acne as well. It's magic really!
My skin is extremely finicky when it comes to serums and oils. There are only 3 products I have found that don't make me break out, but are hydrating enough that my skin doesn't look flaky. This Hella Hydrating replenishing serum nourishes and hydrates my skin while sealing in moisture for smoother, softer skin. I have found the power duo of ingredients, cold-pressed rosehip oil (a win for rosacea) and hyaluronic acid, work great for me. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich nutrients in this serum calm irritation and reduce fine lines.
To use, first spritz your face a few times with Magical Mist Toner or apply 1-2 pumps to damp skin. Use code 10FORFRIENDS for any joyous product.
I also love Hydrextreme and when I need extra moisture I put one drop in with my serum. I literally use one drop of Hella Hydrating and 1 drop of Hydrextreme. Use code JOY for Hydrextreme for 10% off. The key with the products you use on your face is to keep it simple!
I really like Iremia soothing lotion because the ingredients are very soothing and healing for the skin. It is an excellent and thoughtful formulation. It's best for those who do not have acne rosacea, but great for dry skin. I can only use it in the winter if I have zero bumps. You can apply your serum first and then apply this moisturizer. You can also add water to the moisturizer if it's too rich for your skin. Use code JOYOUS15 to save 15%. This is best for rosacea type 1 - only redness, not bumps.
This is a godsend if I have a flare-up. When I say "flare-up," I mean my cheeks are so hot you can fry an egg on them. This happens if something stressful happens in the day, I have too much green tea (caffeine) or I teach a webinar - basically as my cortisol goes up, my cheeks go red.
I keep this roller in the freezer at all times. To use it, I put my serum on my face and I get rolling. I only use the smooth side of the roller. The bumpy side is too stimulating for rosacea-prone skin. Make sure you run it underwater if you have it in the freezer before applying it to your cheeks so you don't damage your skin. I love this jade roller by Province Apothecary. Use code JOY to save 10%.
I make this serum which is a combo of organic jojoba, blue tansy and lavender essential oils. I make my own because blue tansy is so expensive that any product that contains it is just outrageous. Blue tansy has a distinct smell but it's very delicate when you're using pure ingredients. It's anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory along with the lavender essential oil.
Blue tansy and lavender are rich in antioxidants and, as a bonus, do not clog your pores. I combine it with organic golden joboba oil because this is one of the most neutral carrier oils for all skin types. The brand I normally buy is out of stock but the brand I have linked is organic.
How to make it: I put about 8mL of jojoba oil into this 10mL bottle and then top it off with half blue tansy oil and lavender oil drops. There are many great companies that sell essential oils, just make sure you buy organic oils.
I combine this DIY Magical Serum with my Hella Hydrating Serum if my cheeks are especially red and I use it on the regular on my chin to keep those bumps tame.
My two favourite natural sunscreens
When it comes to rosacea, you must go natural for sunscreen. Conventional sunscreens contain too much fragrance or fragrance masking chemicals that can aggravate rosacea.
I've been using this BB cream by Coola for a few years and I have tried so many other product samples on my skin. The challenge with many BB creams is that my face ends up looking chalky and flaky. This BB Cream has just the right amount of moisture and because it's tinted it does a great job at giving my skin a nice even tone. There are cleaner products out there (this one is rated 4 on EWG because of the "flavour" ingredient), but this is far cleaner than 99% of the products on the market.
I also love the Perfect Sunscreen by Consonant. I go back and forth between Coola and the Perfect Sunscreen depending on how my skin feels.
When I have a really bad papule that I just can't deal with I use Prosacea as a spot treatment. It is a homeopathic treatment with sulfur. But let's be real, it's not that natural. It's better than the prescription creams and it keeps me from completely losing my mind and obsessing over my skin. It's my last resort but let me tell you it works. This is only for rosacea that has red bumps and hurt (papules). I put the tiniest amount right on the bump. I use it only as a spot treatment and it goes away within 3-4 hours or after a night's rest. It is extremely drying to the skin so do not use this all over your face like the recommendations on Amazon. Side note: Tea tree oil has never worked for those bumps and my skin scars from that.
Okay there you have it! My favourite natural products for caring for my skin. Before I go, here are some photos of my skin. As you can see, there's a remarkable difference. I honestly can't even believe my skin was like that for so long.
Honestly, I really didn't want to share this because the 2 on the right make me cringe and I don't want them to show up on any rosacea product websites (that's happened to others) but I know everyone always wants to see this and now you can see how bad my skin has been. If you're curious about what my skin looks like right now, you can head over to my Instagram, as I show my face all the time! :)
If you have a skin disorder like rosacea, big hugs go to you. I know how much it can affect your self-esteem and self-confidence. In fact, depression is very common in people who suffer from rosacea. When you need to cry, just let it out and cry. But then pick yourself back up and tell yourself EVERY SINGLE DANG day that you are beautiful inside and out. I have post-it notes on all my mirrors that say I AM BEAUTIFUL. Meditation has been so essential for my emotional wellbeing as well as the love and support from my hubby Walker.
I want to make a special note to thank some people who have helped me along the way including my dear friends who are also nutritionists, Josh Gitalis and Brett Hawes, my girlfriend who is an essential oil guru Christine Russell and two naturopath's both Dr. Jennifer DelBelBellluz and Dr. Rachel Swartzman.
If you want to read about natural makeup I use, read this post here.
I truly hope this post helps you because these products have helped me. As with any product, start with the smallest amount and go slow. The more minimal you can be with the products you use on your skin, the better.
UPDATE: Here's a summary of the products I use
- Fresh Face Cleanser to wash my face (I use a wet bamboo cloth)
- Magical Mist to balance and tone (3-4 mists on my face and neck)
- Hella Hydrating Serum to hydrate. When I pump this into my hand I spritz Magical Mist into it as well.
- Super Natural Mask to hydrate and soothe. This is the only gentle exfoliant I use on my skin now. The marshmallow root and nettle are incredibly soothing, especially if your face feels hot.
- DIY serum on my chin only - recipe above
- Tinted Sunscreen (options above) - if I'm going outside
Big hugs,
Joy xo
Disclosure. None of the product discounts are affiliates. The only affiliate links are the Amazon links.
Great post! Thank you for sharing products that have worked for you. I have been working through a related skin issue naturally as well ( Perioral dermatitis) successfully thank goodness but it’s something that mostly gets managed. It’s insane the number of products one will go through looking for the perfect match. I plan on making a post at some point of the products that have worked for me too! I will for sure be trying out some of the sunscreens you mentioned and the face washes!
ReplyThank you for sharing and glad you've found something that's working. This is such a common skin condition. I thought I had it at one point too combined with rosacea. Have you tried osmia black clay soap yet? https://www.thedetoxmarket.ca/products/osmia-organics-black-clay-facial-soap
Thank you so much for this information!! Do you have or plan to have videos/details on how you apply and what order you apply your skincare, sunscreen and BB cream etc and how often. And what you typically eat in a day on a rosacea diet? My rosacea has been quickly worsening lately and I am at a loss. It seems everything I use topically and consume makes it worse. Thank you.
ReplyI don’t have a video yet of how I do my skincare routine but I can just tell you here. Please note that what works for me may not work for everyone but since you asked, I am happy to share :)
Evening routine: I wash my face only once per day at night to remove any sunscreen/makeup. I first wet my face with lukewarm water and then I apply a quarter size of FRESH FACE cleanser to my face and use a wet bamboo cloth to remove it. It easily removes makeup. Then while my face is still wet I put one pump of Hella Hydrating with 1 drop of hydrextreme onto the palm of my hand and put this on my face. On my chin, I put the magical DIY serum - only 1 drop. This may change slightly throughout the month depending on if my skin needs more or less hydration. In the winter, I use deeper hydration and from time to time I will use the Iremia soothing lotion on my cheeks on top of the other serums.
Morning routine: I wet my face and I repeat the evening routine - I put one pump of Hella Hydrating with 1 drop of hydrextreme onto the palm of my hand and put this on my face. On my chin, I put the magical DIY serum - only 1 drop. Once that’s absorbed in, I apply 1 pump of the Coola BB Cream to my whole face. I don’t do my forehead since I have bangs. I wear sunscreen 365 days per year. If my face looks red still, I will put a little of this powder https://www.lilylolo.us/face/blush-away-cover-up.html and then I use Marie Natie pressed foundation powder to set it. I just use a little bit on my nose and cheeks. However, I’m using less and less makeup these days. But my chin must be left alone, haha!
It might seem like a lot, but I keep it as minimal as possible.
Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for taking the time to list the details of your routine. I SO appreciate it! I ordered the products through your site and have started following you on Instagram. Thanks again!
Amazing, so happy to hear that Tiffany! I'm thrilled to have helped a little. :)
Everything you said I’m experiencing,thank you for the info it was very informative🙏🏻
ReplyI'm so happy you found this informative Nicole. Wishing you healthy skin... big hugs!
Hey Joy! Thanks for your article. I completely understand how much it impacts your self-confidence. I struggled with terrible Perioral Dermatitis and it massively affected my emotional well-being. After trying a natural approach for quite a while, I ended up taking an antibiotic to get it under control. I literally couldn’t handle it emotionally any longer. Since then I’ve adopted a VERY minimalistic approach to skincare and continue to improve my gut health - both of which seem to actually be healing it for good rather than just temporarily “fixing it”. Anyways, just wanted to reach out and send you lots of love for sharing this! ❤️ Shannon {The Glorious Kitchen}
ReplyThank you for sharing, it can be really tough. And I totally understand wanting to get it totally under control. You do what you gotta do :) Did you ever try Osmia black clay soap? People rave about it for perioral dermatitis. It cured my gf's skin. This is the link in case anyone is reading this: https://www.thedetoxmarket.ca/products/osmia-organics-black-clay-facial-soap
Hey Joy, Thank you for posting this. I have purchased the products you have recommended, and look forward to start using them. I have a really bad flare up on one cheek (I’m not even 100% sure it’s rosacea), I’m very self conscious of it and wear a lot of make up to cover it, typically a BB cream, as well as a powder cover up on top of that. I would like to try some more natural makeup’s and am wondering if you have any powder cover up that you use and would recommend?
ReplyMy pleasure. Glad to hear you got some products! Yes, for redness I really love this green powder. https://www.lilylolo.us/face/cover-up/pistachio-pressed-corrector.html Any green concealer or green powder is the best thing to cover red.
Hi Joy! Thank you for sharing this article! I was wondering if you can share a link of the company where you purchased your home water filter system ? Thank you! :)
ReplyMy pleasure thanks for reading! All the deets are here: https://www.joyoushealth.com/27512-blog-our-joyous-kitchen-makeover
So glad you shared these tips and the reality of rosacea. I also have the other condition, Perioral Dermatitis, so I really appreciate the tips in the comments. Even just a reminder to get a filter on our home water - was so helpful. Thanks!
ReplyI'm very familiar with that condition. If you haven't tried this yet, it's a must! :) https://www.thedetoxmarket.ca/products/osmia-organics-black-clay-facial-soap This can very well completely clear it up with diet and lifestyle changes. Hope that helps!
Hi Joy. Thank you for sharing this post and especially your honesty and struggles with rosacea. I also struggle with it and sensitive skin. Can I ask your opinion on the product Face Glow by Graydon. I find it's gentle and doesn't irritate my skin and also offers sun protection with non-nano zinc. Could this work as a BB cream as well?
ReplyGraydon's products are super clean! If that works for you I would definitely stick with it!
Thank you for sharing. I will try some of the products you mentioned. I have had this condition for many years, and mostly feel I’m managing it, though mask wearing irritation along the jaw hasn’t helped, and as a teacher I had no choice in the mask type. I switched to a mineral powder spf years ago, and on the plus side I have very few wrinkles! I also take the evening primrose oil. It seems to help. Thanks again.
ReplyEvening primrose oil is great! Oh the mask has been tough for sure for our skin - I can relate!
Hi, Thank you for sharing your story. I can't remember how I found you but I am glad I did. I am going through rosacea too and so many up and down and frustration. Exactly what you went through. I am glad I am not the only one and I have a battle to fight which you have given me some ideas of where to start. I am already seeing natrualpath for gut health but need help with the outside( my face) as I don't know what is best where to start and I don't like using products on my face cause o break out. Thank you for sharing your story.
ReplyHi Lyndsay, thank you for taking the time to read it. I know it's tough and it seems like it will last forever but it will get better. I battled with mine for about 3-4 years before I found something that made it better. I'm glad you're working with an ND. If you have acne rosacea, definitely ask your ND about taking DIM. That worked wonders for the acne part of rosacea combined with clean skincare and a healthy diet of course. This is the brand I took: https://aor.ca/product/estro-adapt/ You can't be on it long term so anyone else reading this, just be aware. This is the link on amazon: https://amzn.to/3eeVuv6
Hello, can you provide a list of the products you use please? Thank you Wendy.
ReplyHi Wendy, the products I use are linked in this post - did you see them?
I just added a summary at the bottom of the post - just scroll down. Hope that helps!
OMG JOY! I'm so sorry you are going through this. I thought i was alone. I too this past year have been dealing with this. I didn't know what i had. It typically affects my eyes at first so i didn't think it was Rosacea. But this past week i've woken up everyday looking like your pic on the very right (above). My diet is so clean as is yours and understand how frustrating and upsetting this truly is. I cry everyday too!! Thank you for sharing otherwise i thought i was alone. I'm currently doing a candida cleanse with my Naturopath and he tries to clear me of allergies. I never had any issues with foods, but lately it seems that whatever i eat i react. I haven't eaten chocolate in like a year. It has taken a toll on my psyche. Very depressed at times. LIke you as a foodie and Nutritionist it just looks plain bad on me. Would love to purchase your skin care items that would work for me. Please send me the link to purchase. Thank you kindly, If you have any other tips, i'd love to hear your opinion. Is it gone or better now?
ReplyHi Rose! I'm happy to report I'm on the other side of this and my skin is back to normal. You will get there too :) I had rosacea for about 3-4 years and when it was really bad it was so hard on my self-esteem and confidence. I didn't even want to go outside. I saw a dermatologist and they wanted to put me on a medical cream, antibiotics for 3 months and the birth control pill. I did NONE of that! I can totally relate to what you're going through especially the part about eating perfectly. I'm glad to hear you're seeing an ND. It was truly a holistic approach. I didn't have a candida issue but I was sensitive to histamines and even though I didn't have noticeable gut issues, once I made changes to my supplements and my skincare I started to see the light. I also did the Dutch test and found out my estrogen was high, by I was methylating well. Even still, I have been taking an estrogen detox supplement to help. I've written extensively about my journey so I will share some more links with you here: https://www.joyoushealth.com/27518-blog-rosacea-natural-health-supplements
This is the skincare I use: https://shopjoyoushealth.com/skincare-bundle/
I also had acne rosacea too so I add water to lighten the serum and I only wash my face once per day because the barrier function is really compromised with rosacea so you have to be very careful with whatever face wash you're using and that it's gentle.
When I had a flare up - like cheeks on fire, I used a jade roller that I would keep in my freezer. I used to get the worst flare ups before my period and even that is gone. I've now had a few BBL treatments to clear up the broken blood vessels and that has helped so much. Sorry for the long reply, but it's been a journey. That being said, you will get there!!
Hi Joy, Can you recommend a moisturizer for acne rosacea?
ReplyI would stick just with the Hella Hydrating Serum (HH) and water it down either by putting a few drops of water in the palm of your hand with a pump of HH or spritzing the pump of HH serum with Magical Mist and mixing it in your hand before applying it to your face - that's what I do. The key is acne rosacea is not to suffocate your skin. You have to let it breathe and even though you want to dry it out, it will only get worse. With acne rosacea it is a fine balance between not overhydrating and making sure you're skin is just hydrated enough. I would highly recommend checking out the Prosacea for spot treatments. That can help get those rosacea spots under control and during that time, don't use anything else on those trouble areas. If you're using the HH and you're breaking out more, than that's a sign you are applying it too heavily and you need to create a lighter moisturization with the steps I recommended above. Let me know how that helps!
Hi Joy, Thanks so much for sharing this; via your podcast, blog and this website I have gathered a wealth of information. And stumbled onto this nugget of information as I am going through something on my face looks like half rosacea and eczema etc. Either condition requires a deeper dive into gut health but we also got to take care of the physical output in the meantime so while you wrote this in 2021 it's relevant to me in Aug 2022. I received the skin care bundle and I'm keen to try it
ReplyHi Leigh, thanks for your comment! I am glad to hear you found my podcast and website. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions and I wish you well on your healing journey, you'll get there!!
Thank you Joy I am wondering have you used the Ren products. They seems to work ok but wondering how they rate for you.
ReplyMy pleasure! I am not familiar with their products so I quickly looked them up. If you have sensitive skin then they are a no-no. The first product I looked at has alcohol and parfum/fragrance which is supposed to be a calming overnight cream (https://usa.renskincare.com/collections/bestsellers/products/evercalm-overnight-recovery-balm). I would pass. What kind of product are you looking for?
Looking for something that calms the red, I flush really badly so even something cosmetic too to hide the constant flushing. Not a big ask ☺️
If you have white or olive skin, then use something with a green tinge to it, that will cover the red. You can read about it here: https://www.joyoushealth.com/27516-blog-rosacea-best-natural-makeup Hope that helps!
Hi Joy - I recently have discovered Meder Beauty. Their products have made my rosacea way way better. They apparently work on the microbiome if your skin. Would love your thoughts if you check them out!
ReplyThanks for sharing! I checked out this brand and while I'm happy it's working for your skin I wouldn't recommend it as there are far too many ingredients that should not be used on sensitive rosacea-prone skin like propylene glycol and many more in their cleansers. That's great they have probiotics in their skincare but unfortunately, the rest of the ingredients kinda squash those benefits.
Hi Joy, I'm so glad to find your blog, thanks for sharing! I've been struggling with my rosacea these last 4years.since last year I've been on n off with antibiotics from my GP. It works well, but when I didn't take it then it started to flare up as well and so I decided to do my research and found your blog. Unfortunately I am in New Zealand and no shipping for your products to here. Any recommendations for drug store? I tried La Roche possay Rosaliac serum, have you ever try it as well? Cheers
ReplyThanks for finding me here Victoria! Sorry to hear you're going through this, but you will get there! Have you read my post about natural health supplements or listened to my podcast about treating it naturally? I would suggest starting there. I haven't tried that product but I avoid conventional skincare because they often have ingredients that are common irritants or hormone disrupting ingredients. One ingredient I would avoid is dimethicone because it stays on your skin as it's a silicone and prevent your skin from breathing properly which I noticed is in that Roche product. I hope that helps!
Yes, I read that post and listen to your podcast. thank you so much for sharing that. I start to research to the cure these couple months since I want to get free from antibiotics. Oh okay I see.. what do you think about the Korean skincare products?
You're welcome! I'm in Canada so I have no idea about Korean skincare products. Is that the brand name? Have you looked up shipping cost to get our products to you?
Joy, I follow you on Instagram and have a question about your journey with rosacea. I know you mentioned using the Prosacea cream as a spot treatment. But other than that, have you used any other topicals to eradicate the bumps? Or did the bumps heal as your internal inflammation healed? Sulfur wrecked my skin, and I’m too afraid to try the ivermectin cream. Just wondering if you noticed the demodex calming down as the inflammation calmed down. Thank you!
ReplyHi there! I have not used any other topicals other than occasionally Prosacea and never more than 1-2x in the same spot when I had a flare. That being said I didn't have the issue of mites causing my rosacea. I had a special test to rule that out with a camera that could see them. Looking back, changing my skincare, and lowering inflammation were the 2 biggest factors in my healing journey. I still use the same skincare to this day! Were you using Prosacea on your whole face - you mention the sulfur cream, which is what Prosacea is... It is extremely drying and peels off your skin which is why it should never be used other than for a spot.
May I ask why you only use the Magical Serum on your chin? My worst spots right now are my cheeks and forehead. Is it ok to use it there?
ReplyHi Whitney, the only thing that has changed from this post is that I no longer need to use the magical diy serum anymore. I use Hella Hydrating Serum all over my face but I sprits my face first with plenty of magical mist. The reason I used the DIY serum on my chin was because it was much oilier than the rest of my face and I used to get rosacea bumps on my chin, which I no longer get.
Any thoughts on these remedies: castor oil topically, evening primrose oil internally and a daily mask with tumeric and manuka honey?
ReplyGreat question. Yes I'm a big fan of oils but I prefer borage oil over evening primrose oil for it's GLA content. You can read this post here about the supplements I recommend for rosacea: https://www.joyoushealth.com/27518-blog-rosacea-natural-health-supplements Castor oil can be sticky and heavy for the skin but if you're combining it with other oils, that may be a better option. I would recommend our hella hydrating as rosehip oil is the best choice for sensitive or rosacea prone skin. Those ingredients for a mask sound great!
First of all, thank you so much for sharing your "before" photos. I listened to the podcast all about your journey with Rosacea but truly thought, "Her Rosacea can't be as bad as mine." Then I came to the website for more information, saw your pictures, and feel better: not because you suffered, but because my Rosacea is just as bad (maybe even worse) and if you could figure out how to control it naturally, perhaps I can, too! Unfortunately, I went the dermatologist route. About a year ago, my face was on fire and I didn't know what to do anymore. The result? I have been using horrifying face creams and have been on a low-dose antibiotic for months and months. At my last derm visit, I asked how long I would need to keep taking the antibiotic. He said, "Forever." FOREVER??!! How terrible is that advice? So, in my search for better possibilities, I discovered your story and your website and am feeling hopeful. Thank you so much for all of this good information! I really appreciate it. (I also have a consultation next week with a functional medicine doctor.)
ReplyHi Lynette, it makes me so happy that you found me and this information. Your skin WILL heal. You will get there. My skin looked even worse than these photos at times, like more of an "angry red". This is a really great post to read if you haven't seen it already. Wishing you well on your healing journey. I also have a TikTok playlist devoted to rosacea, you can find me there by searching JoyousHealth and then click on "rosacea" playlist for all my videos. Great you're seeing a holistic practitioner. Ask them about the 'dutch test' you may want to look into the hormonal link. And from a dietary perspective, try limiting histamine inducing foods and see how your skin reacts - it's a bit of trial and error with rosacea. Good luck!
The links to the cleanser doesn't work. What do you think of Herbal Dynamics Beauty clean
ReplyHi there! Here is the link: https://hellojoyous.com/collections/face/products/fresh-face sorry this is an older post and some of the links were outdated:
Hello, with your serum that you used to use on your chin, how many times for how long would you have to put it on to get rid of bumps? Also, what do you think of using Azelaic Acid for these bumps - individuals and clusters? Or BHA? Re your cleanser: if I put any oil on my face, it goes red, takes a while to recover. Amazing that doesn't seem to happen to you.
ReplyHi Suzanne,
I used it morning and night, so twice daily. It really depends how severe it is. I didn't try any acids because my skin was so sensitive at the time. For rosacea bumps, you can try PROSACEA, only use it as a spot treatment though. Glad you're loving our cleanser. It's is very anti-inflammatory and supports the skin microbiome and skin barrier function making it an ideal choice for sensitive skin or those with rosacea. So happy you're getting results!!
Hi Joy, thanks for your response on the bumps. You misread what I said...I don't understand how you can use that cleanser? Any oil on my face takes a long time to recover. My skin is pale, very sensitive and prone to redness. I've some Scottish genes in there. Honey blonde hair and green eyes. Any special instructions on how to use cleanser with oil in it? Thanks Suzanne
ReplyOh sorry about that. I'm Scottish/Irish/English too so I totally get it! Our cleanser is not an oil based cleanser like how you'd envision an oil-based cleanser to be texture-wise. The coconut and sunflower oils in our cleanser are "saponified", that is the natural soap making process to turn these oils into incredible cleansing superstar ingredients. There is no oil left in the product once they have been saponified. You can watch a video here on how to use it: https://hellojoyous.com/collections/face/products/fresh-face When you put it on your face, you can massage it until it lathers or just slather it on your face and then wipe off with a wet and gentle cloth.
Thankyou for this really helpful post. DIY serum: 1. You use it twice a day, but for how many days for each bump? 2. Do you apply with your finger? 3. How much per bump? Thankyou
ReplyHi there! Glad you found this post helpful. I don't have the bumps anymore, but I still use this on my chin for prevention once per day. I never used it as a spot treatment though, I just spread it over the area and yes, just apply one drop per area of your skin with your finger, a little goes a long way!