Skin redness: How to soothe your skin

Redness is a natural skin reaction in which blood flow increases and the skin’s circulation is activated. But once redness appears, it can be difficult to get rid of and can be an irritation that is hard to hide.

Redness can get in the way of an even skin tone, a smooth surface and a natural glow - and it can be difficult to get makeup to sit nicely on skin that is stressed and unsettled. Read about redness here and get useful advice on soothing your skin.

By ECOOKINGRead by ECOOKING Quality & Development

Updated 2/11/20265 min readHudpleje

Rødme i huden: Sådan beroliger du din hud

What is redness?

Redness in the skin itself serves important purposes in the body's way of regulating itself. Redness occurs when blood flow to the skin increases, giving the skin a pink colour.

Redness serves to transport nutrients and immune defences to the area that has experienced a reaction, as well as to regulate body temperature.

Temporary and permanent redness

There is both short-lived, temporary redness and permanent redness, which are different degrees of redness in the skin.

Temporary redness is a natural and passing reaction in which the skin suddenly flushes. Redness can be caused by emotional reactions such as stress or by external factors such as sun, heat or allergic reactions.

Permanent redness can be due to genetics or develop over time as a result of repeated stress on the skin. Some skin types are sensitive and have hyperreactive blood vessels, making the skin appear more ruddy. Others develop a chronic skin condition such as rosacea, which appears as visible blood vessels, particularly around the cheeks, nose and chin.

Soothe your skin when you experience redness

Our Skin Balance facial mist is a lifesaver for your skin when you experience redness during the day. The facial mist is small and handy, so you can take it with you on the go and give your skin a quick, refreshing boost of moisture.

The gentle mist distributes a cooling layer of aloe vera, natural electrolytes and provitamin B5, which reduces redness and helps your skin relax and return to balance.

ECOOKING Anti-rødme Mist 50 ml parfumefri i sprayflaske med sort pumpe og hvid etiket – azelainsyre 10 % mist mod rødme, pleje ved rosacea

Anti Redness Mist

Fragrance-free mist with 10 % azelaic acid that instantly soothes skin, reduc...

50 ml

How does redness in the skin occur?

It is the skin's nerve endings that react when the skin flushes and redness spreads across your face. The nerve endings detect stimuli and then activate the blood vessels in the skin. The blood vessels respond by dilating, allowing blood to flow more quickly to the area that experienced the stimulus.

This reaction is what you see as redness on the surface of the skin. For most people, the reaction occurs naturally during the day.

The same applies if you are out in the sun on a hot summer's day or out for a run. Blood moves closer to the surface of the skin as a way for the body to cool itself and release heat.

What can redness be a sign of?

The most common causes of skin reactions are exposure to intense heat or cold, strong winds or pollution.

The skin can also turn red in response to allergic reactions to particular products such as perfume, textiles, cosmetics or food ingredients. Many people also react to alcohol and spicy food with redness.

In people with fair or thin skin, redness is often more visible because there is less pigment to conceal the blood vessels. This makes the skin's reactions easier to see and can give the skin a flushed appearance.

How to reduce redness in your skin

Redness is often your skin's quiet cry for help, asking to be treated gently and protected from everything from wind and weather to certain skincare products. It is not always easy to know what your skin is reacting to when redness appears, but if your skin often flushes during the day, it is important to change your habits and care for your sensitive skin.

Here is what you can do to minimise redness during the day:

Mild and gentle cleansing: Always choose a facial cleanser that does not contain harsh or active ingredients that can challenge your skin's balance. Use a nourishing facial cleanser with a light formula that spreads easily over the skin and maintains its moisture balance.
See our cleansing balm, which is gentle on sensitive skin.
Look for certifications: Choose your skincare products based on certifications developed for sensitive skin. Look for products that are dermatologically tested and AllergyCertified - this can help you find mild and gentle products.
Give your skin a break: Avoid strong serums, facial scrubs and frequent cleansing if you have sensitive skin prone to redness. The best thing you can do for your skin is to let it find its natural balance without exposure to harsh ingredients and external disturbances.
Use high sun protection: Your skin flushes when exposed to heat and UV radiation. Make sure to give your skin extra protection from the sun with a sunscreen with high SPF to reduce skin damage and redness.
Choose gentle makeup: If you need quick coverage for facial redness, use a nourishing tinted day cream that lets the skin breathe and retain moisture beneath its coverage. We recommend using our green primer, as it neutralises redness, followed by our CC Cream, which evens out skin tone while giving the skin a boost of moisture and vitamins.

ECOOKING Anti Redness range to soothe your skin

When your skin is irritated, you probably are too. Redness often brings a warm, uncomfortable feeling, and it can also get in the way of the even, smooth finish your makeup was meant to give you. At ECOOKING, we have created the Anti Redness range, which consists of a mist and a cream. The range is soothing and effectively reduces irritation and counteracts redness. Both products are made with nourishing ingredients that help prevent irritation and give your skin plenty of softening care.

Azelaic acid: a mild acid for skin with redness

Anti Redness Mist contains 10 % azelaic acid (azelaic acid), a mild acid that soothes the skin and cares for skin prone to redness and blemishes. It occurs naturally in grains. Spray the mist onto clean skin in the evening, before your cream. It may tingle a little the first few times, so try it on a small area first.