We recently reviewed a slew of holistic LA facialists (see the guide) and came across Courtney Chiusano on a recommendation from a friend.
We now affectionately refer to Courtney as “the redness whisperer”. To reduce redness that’s chronic or irritating, we refer anyone we know with skin conditions or skin situations (they’re different!) straight to Courtney.
Here are her top tips for how to reduce redness to use at home…
Avoid heat:
Regular use of saunas and steam rooms make the skin redder by repeatedly dilating the capillaries. This includes really intense exercising like hot yoga and spin classes. Also, avoid going from extreme hot to extreme cold like many rituals in Korean spas: This can cause capillaries to break.
Anti-inflammatory Skincare:
Use an anti-inflammatory skincare regimen. Stick to calming ingredients like calendula, chamomile and aloe in your facial products and stay away from harsh exfoliants (including microdermabraision treatments), rough cloths, facial brushes and at-home peels/masks that warm up. Red skin should be treated gently and washed with cool or tepid water.
Avoid red wine:
Red wine promotes redness and flushing due to its histamine content. White wine has less histamines than red, if you want to enjoy a glass of wine.
Anti-inflammatory diet:
Follow an anti inflammatory diet. Avoid spicy foods, fried foods and refined carbohydrates (white bread/pasta) and stick to anti-inflammatory foods like salmon, almonds, leafy greens and berries. Also, be mindful of how much B12 you are taking (supplements, injections). B12 in excess in certain people can intensify reddening of the face.
Avoid picking:
Any pressure on red skin can further damage capillaries, so avoid picking at the skin in any red areas.
To the rescue:
Two products I love for redness are Isun Sapphire Oil and EmerginC D-Red Emulsion.
VIP skin:
To calm redness for an event, use a calming mask like Isun Soothing Relief Mask and a cool towel compress. If possible, see a professional for a session of LED light therapy.
This story first ran in 2018, but we loved it so much we brought it back. Courtney Chiusano is still available for online skincare consultations.
