If you’re looking for a way to keep your Rosacea in check, you’ve come to the right place! But rather than just giving you a list of ingredients that should be avoided, we thought we’d give you this helpful guide on how to spot those pesky ingredients that could make your Rosacea flare up. So put on your detective hat and let’s get started!

Fragrances – Artificial fragrances are a common culprit for skin irritation and should be avoided at all costs. They can trigger inflammation or an allergic reaction which can worsen symptoms of Rosacea.

Fragrances can be tricky to spot in skincare products since they can be listed under many different names. To make it easier, look for any of the following terms on the ingredients list:

Parfum

Perfume

Essential oils

Aroma(s)

Fragrance oil(s)

Natural flavour(s)

Alcohol – Alcohol is commonly found in many skincare products as a drying agent but it should be avoided if you have Rosacea. It can strip away natural oils that protect the skin, leaving it vulnerable to further irritation and sensitivity.

When looking for alcohols in skincare, check the product's ingredients list for any of the following terms:

Ethanol

Denatured Alcohol

Isopropyl Alcohol

SD Alcohol (e.g., SD Alcohol 40)

Ethyl Alcohol

Alcohol is easy to spot in skin care as all ingredients are labelled alcohol but it's important to understand that there are 2 types of alcohol used in skincare: Ethyl Alcohol and Cetyl or Cetearyl alcohols.

Ethyl alcohols are the ultra drying, irritating alcohols that should be avoided putting on your skin. However Cetyl or Cetearyl alcohols are actually very nourishing and provide tons of benefits for managing rosacea.

Parabens – Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in products to extend shelf life but they too can cause inflammation and redness on already sensitised skin. The best way to avoid these is to choose ‘paraben-free’ products when shopping for skincare items.

       Identifying them is pretty straightforward, simply look for all =-paraben terms

     • Methylparaben

     • Propylparaben

     • Butylparaben

     • Ethylparaben

     • Isobutylparaben

Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) – These surfactants are widely used in foaming cleansers and soaps but they too can irritate sensitive skin causing flare-ups.

BHA/BHT – BHAs (butyl hydroxytoluene) and BHTs (butyldihydroxytoluene) are additives found in many types of food, makeup, and even moisturizers that help retain colour and fragrance but again these substances could trigger outbreaks so try to find paraben-free alternatives instead. These are those long science terms that are often overlooked – here are the ones to avoid.

look out for the following terms on the label:

• Butylated Hydroxyanisole

• Butylhydroxytoluene

• Hydroxytoluene