June 11, 2018

5 Best Skin Care Ingredients for Redness

Winter is officially here, and we know what those infamous cold Australian winds can do to our skin.

When it comes to battling red, dry and irritated skin, it’s important to avoid harsh facial scrubs and certain ingredients such as fragrance, alcohol and witch hazel. But, there are a few ingredients you can definitely add to your beauty routine to help keep redness at bay. Curious? Here are the top 5 skin care ingredients to look out for the next time you’re shopping:

1. Rice

Rice is a classic ingredient you can find in a lot of Korean skin care products, such as the COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask and SRB Enzyme Powder Wash. And for very good reason, too! Rice water contains vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory benefits that does well in treating acne, irritated skin, eczema and even sunburns! The cooling sensation of using rice water can also help reduce redness and clear acne, as well as soothe any irritation.

2. Squalane

If you are struggling with super dry skin that is prone to redness, it’s time to meet your new favourite ingredient, squalane. Not only does it do wonders for soothing sensitive, chapped, or irritated skin, incorporating this emollient ingredient into your routine will also prevent moisture loss and boost cell regeneration. There are two different types of squalene: one that is derived from shark liver oil, and one derived from olives and other plants. The Olivarrier Fluid Oil is formulated with only the highest quality olive-derived squalane to strengthen skin barrier and calm redness.

3. Centella Asiatica

If your skin is acne-prone and you regularly deal with irritation and redness, make sure to look for Centella in the ingredient list. This natural ingredient has been known to calm inflammation, help wounds heal faster, and even increase skin cell turnover. Lucky for you, centella asiatica is all the rage in K-Beauty, so there are many ways in which you can incorporate this soothing ingredient into your skin care routine. Dr. Jart’s Cicapair Serum and Cicapair Cream are two products that champion centella asiatica to treat sensitised skin, while COSRX’s Centella Blemish Cream is another popular option to treat acne, while calming down redness.

4. Niacinamide

Niacinamide is another fantastic skin care ingredient that not only calm redness, but also help with uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, and fine lines. It helps boost your skin’s natural barrier, and ability to protect itself from external aggressors so you won’t have to worry about redness from the cold winter winds! The COSRX Galacytomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence is jam-packed with Galactomyces and niacinamide to help you achieve balanced and even-toned skin.

5. Licorice

Yes, we’re talking about the very same licorice you can find in a candy store! Licorice extract has been used for a very long time to fight inflammation and promote skin elasticity. It is an anti-inflammatory and can be used to treat rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis as well as other forms of redness, rash, itchiness, and swelling. The Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner is a soothing toner that features a blend of ingredients that fight inflammation and redness, including Centella Asiatica extract, sodium hyaluronate and licorice!