“I’ve been so impressed with this serum in the short time I’ve been using it. It’s runnier than I expected – but then I’m used to using prescription-strength azelaic acid – and it absorbs so quickly. It leaves my skin smooth and doesn’t pill when I put sunscreen and makeup on top of it. It’s not cheap but stay consistent and the results will be good,” says Lucy Partington, Glamour contributor.
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2. Best Under £20: KALME TeQ Serum
Why we love it: I featured the KALME Night Cream in my round-up of the best rosacea creams, before moving on to testing the brand’s TeQ serum. ICYMI, KALME is a skincare brand entirely centred around helping those who suffer from redness and rosacea – and it’s affordable, too. Everything is developed to reduce skin reactivity, redness, bumpiness and dryness using plant-based ingredients only.
While I’m still in the throws of testing this rosacea serum, first impressions are really good. The skin repairing prebiotic serum is super hydrating, and uses three hero ingredients: Prebiotic Agave Extract, Blue Agave extract and Pure Plant-based Squalane. The Agave Extract is called PreBIULIN AGA, from Mexican Agave – the plant uniquely used to make tequila – and it’s a repellent for bacillus oleronius bacteria. This is the skin bacteria specifically associated with rosacea; skin prone to rosacea has a volatile reaction to bacillus oleronius bacteria that results in the classic cyclical symptoms of redness, inflammation and hyper-sensitivity. Here, PreBIULIN AGA works to reduce bacillus oleronius, in turn repairing and replenishing the skin’s microbiome.
Elsewhere, Blue Agave extract contains prebiotic properties to help hydrate and reinforce the action of PreBIULIN AGA, while the plant-based squalane – pure and extracted from olives – and is proven to have a very high hydrating action while being non-comedogenic and non-reactive for sensitive skin.
3. Best For Dry Skin: Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum
Why we love it: You can always rely on Korean skincare to be gentle and soothing, and this Korean serum by Anua is no different. Formulated with an effective blend of 10% azelaic acid alongside hyaluronic acid, regular use will gradually help reduce the telltale signs of redness.
Hyaluronic acid will help hydrate skin, plus added niacinamide will help balance out any excess oil – all whilst evening out your skin tone.
“Consider this to be something of a magic potion: a hardworking blend of three of my all time favourite ingredients means this serum really delivers on every level. I found it easy to incorporate into my routine and before I started using it I expected it to leave my face feeling sticky but it didn’t do that all – instead it was a joy to apply both morning and night, it didn’t cause any pilling, either,” says Partington.
4. Best For Sensitive Skin: Medik8 Calmwise Serum
Why we love it: Medik8 is a brand that can do no wrong in the eyes of pretty much every Glamour editor, and its Calmwise Serum is a prime example of its science-backed efficacy. Fragrance- and alcohol-free, this rosacea serum is comprised of just seven ingredients that work to visibly reduce redness in just one month. It also promises to support and strengthen the skin’s barrier while leaving skin feeling calm and visibly restored.
Just six drops each morning is all you need, so consider this a great choice for flare ups or for everyday balance and comfort, especially during the winter.
“I was worried this serum would feel too oily for me, but actually it isn’t at all and instead it absorbs quickly into my skin without leaving any trace or film on top of it like some similar serums can. It is super calming and I noticed a difference right away – and despite the instructions saying to use it each morning, I actually quite like it as part of my evening routine when my skin is feeling warm or tight – something that often happens when I go from being cold outside to indoor central heating during the winter months,” says Partington.