The 8 Best Serums For Redness

This La Roche-Posay serum is among the very few serums that are formulated specifically for neutralizing visible redness — let alone the few drugstore serums that do such a specific thing. The formula contains three key ingredients: ambophenol, a natural plant extract; neurosensine, a strengthening peptide; and the brand's signature Thermal Spring Water, which are all beneficial for rosacea patients, according to a clinical study conducted by La Roche-Posay. You can use it AM and PM if you’re hoping to tame chronic redness, or on an as-needed basis to tone down a sudden, unexpected flush immediately.

Ampoules are basically more intense versions of serums: They tend to be more concentrated, contain fewer ingredients, and they’re ultra specific in terms of their skin care benefits, whether that’s increasing elasticity, fighting breakouts, or reducing redness, like this one from Korean beauty brand COSRX does. The hero ingredient in here is centella asiatica, a “cure-all” plant extract that’s often found in Asian skin care products for its soothing and strengthening properties. Madecassoside and panthenol also help to calm and smooth dry, flaky skin, while improving its ability to retain moisture over time. It’s super powerful (but appropriately gentle) and almost universally beloved, so I have no idea why it costs under $25. But I won’t argue with it.

Korean skin care brands really nail the “redness-reducing serums at affordable price points” concept, as this one from Purito also demonstrates. Like the COSRX serum, this fan favorite features centella asiatica as its central ingredient, though it appears in a slightly higher concentration here (49%, versus COSRX’s 42.36%). Niacinamide, ceramides, peptides, and panthenol also work to strengthen your skin barrier, so it’s another good choice if you’re hoping for long-term relief. Reviewers say this is effective for everything from cystic acne to run-of-the-mill ruddiness, and it’s even gentle enough to use around your eyes.

Pretty much everything from REN is a go-to among beauty editors (including Elite Daily editors), especially those with sensitive skin. Their anti-redness serum in particular is a failsafe option. This contains lactic acid, a gentle AHA that can help rebalance your skin flora and improve its ability to retain moisture when it appears in lower concentrations (as it does here). Meanwhile, things like seaweed extract, arnica, and milk proteins help soothe inflamed skin. This works best in tandem with other products in REN’s Evercalm line, which was designed specifically with reactive skin types in mind.

Let’s talk about tactility, baby. Where most serums have a fluid, viscous consistency, this one from Dermalogica is soft, creamy, and sort of sedating for angry skin, thanks to nourishing ingredients like oat kernel extract, evening primrose oil, and avocado oil. It’s the cashmere blanket of serums. This one can calm your skin immediately after it’s triggered, though it’s probably best if you’re seeking lasting results: The formula mainly features peptides and antioxidants, which work to fortify your skin's natural protective barrier — which, in turn, can help protect your skin from things like irritation and breakouts (and thus redness) over time.

This iS Clinical serum is among the most effective skin care products a person with redness-prone skin could buy — it gets almost-perfect reviews across the internet for calming, smoothing, and brightening hypersensitive skin. The formula is thoughtfully designed to reduce inflammation immediately, while a raft of antioxidants help repair and protect compromised skin over time. It’s effective on all manner of inflammation, from contact dermatitis to rosacea to insect bites. Note that this contains small concentrations of retinol and vitamin C for their powerful stores of antioxidants; so if you have very sensitive skin, avoid using these ingredients elsewhere in your skin care routine, since they can be irritating if you overuse them.

Precisely as you’d expect from the name, this serum from the beloved K-beauty brand Dear Klairs is a cooling, quenching treat for irritated skin. Ingredients include centella asiatica, aloe, and hyaluronic acid, to name a few headliners; while beta glucan, a powerful (yet criminally underrated) humectant attracts moisture, reinforces the skin’s natural barrier, and can even repair damage wrought through dermatitis, rosacea, and other forms of inflammation. The bottle is generously sized (you get 2.7 fluid ounces of product, as opposed to the iS Clinical’s 1 fluid ounce, for context), which makes its $21 price tag all the better.

If you’re craving even more nourishment (and a creamier texture) than most serums can offer, you might like this product from ISNTREE. The alcohol- and fragrance-free formula is powered mainly by green tea extract and aloe vera sourced in Korea, while licorice and centella asiatica contribute more soothing effects (and some brightening benefits, too). As an emulsion, the texture lands somewhere between a lotion and a serum, so it feels wonderfully moisturizing but absorbs quickly into your skin, without leaving behind a greasy or tacky residue. Since it’s so lightweight, you can essentially treat it as you would a serum and layer another, thicker moisturizer over the top if you feel like your skin needs more hydration.