The 14 Best Moisturizers for Redness of 2024

Redness shows up in skin for many reasons. Sometimes it's a harmless, temporary result of simply living our daily lives — eating spicy foods can trigger a rosy flush, and so can a summer day with next-level humidity. But sometimes, and most frustratingly, our red and blotchy-looking skin is entirely out of our control — other than having our favorite full-coverage concealer on standby.

“Some of the most common causes of skin redness are rosacea and atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema,” says Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin and Aesthetics Surgery of Manhattan. “Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes facial blushing, redness, and visible blood vessels." Yet, treating full-coverage makeup like our BFF is no way to live, and according to Dr. Henry, we don’t have to. All we have to do is stop inflammation at the source — and it all starts with a hyper-focused, soothing skincare routine to calm angry skin.

Best Overall

Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer

Amazon

What We Love: This helps get rid of dryness without triggering acne or blemishes.  

What We Don’t Love: The lightweight texture may not be satisfying for those who prefer thick, rich creams.

This lightweight cream helps banish redness and hydrates skin without clogging pores and it does so under $50. Dr. Henry names this as one of her favorite rosy relievers. “The Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer is great for moisturizing acne-prone skin and redness, as its formula is non-comedogenic and contains hyaluronic acid,” she says, “Green tea has polyphenols which help to protect the skin from external aggressors and free radical formation.”

Best for: Sensitive, acne-prone skin | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, green tea, allantoin, squalane | Fragrance-Free: No fragrance added | Size: 3 oz

Best Drugstore

Cetaphil Redness Relieving Moisturizer

Amazon

What We Love: This derm-favorite costs under $20. 

What We Don’t Love: The neutral tint, while blendable, can leave a white-cast on deeper skin tones.

Developed by dermatologists, this soothing staple can be on your shelf for a reasonable price. Another one of Dr. Henry’s picks, she loves this for its impressive list of soothing ingredients. “Vitamin E improves the hydration of the epidermis and is a potent antioxidant helping to protect the skin from external aggressors,” she says. 

Outside of its neutral tint and nourishing ingredients, this cream also contains zinc and titanium dioxide for an SPF 20. While it offers some protection, we recommend adding an SPF 30 or more over top. 

Best for: Sensitive skin | Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, allantoin, licorice extract, vitamin E | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 4 oz

Best Moisturizer for Rosacea and Seborrheic Dermatitis

Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer

Amazon

What We Love: This moisturizer is rich in feverfew which has been shown to calm eczema when used regularly.  

What We Don’t Love: This lightweight gel cream is preferred for some, but for those with oily skin, it may not be the first choice.

Another high quality yet budget-friendly option, this gel cream specifically developed for eczema and rosacea, two of the most bothersome and common inflammatory skin conditions. Loaded with prebiotics and probiotics (aka skin barrier strengtheners), along with soothing colloidal oatmeal, this hydrator helps rebalance skin.

Dr. Tanij Nakra, an Austin-based plastic surgeon and co-founder of Avya Advanced Ayurvedic Skincare, loves it for the light hydration. “It is free of parabens, fragrance, alcohol and dyes making it suitable for very sensitive skin,” says Dr. Nakra, “It also contains feverfew which is a medicinal antioxidant that reduces redness.”

Best for: Sensitive, irritated, dry skin | Key Ingredients: Oats, feverfew, prebiotics, probiotics | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 4 oz

Best Anti-Aging Moisturizer for Rosacea

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore

Dermstore

What We Love: When you notice skin starting to lose its sculpt, try slathering on this bouncy, vitamin E rich cream. 

What We Don’t Love: This item is pricey and quite a bit smaller than others on this list. We wish it had a more affordable cost per ounce.

We get it — $100 plus is a big price to pay for a little jar of cream. However, if you are looking to splurge, this goop is a good place to start. With the help of ceramides, natural cholesterol, and fatty acids, this formula targets fine lines and redness. Dr. Nakra thinks it is especially well-suited for those with more mature skin. 

Best for: Sensitive, irritated, dry, mature skin | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.6 oz

Best Color-Correcting Moisturizer for Redness

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Rosalic AR Visible Redness Reducing Moisturizer

Amazon

What We Love: It has a slight green tint to it which helps negate the appearance of redness. 

What We Don’t Love: The cream is very thick and requires a few moments to fully absorb before any makeup can be layered on top.

Perhaps your redness is caused by flaky dry skin. In this case, you’ll want something deeply moisturizing while also soothing to the irritation. This gel moisturizer leans on the powers of glycerin and pentylene glycol to improve the moisture barrier and retain your natural oils better. This formula was specifically crafted for redness caused by dryness so it’s not for anyone with oily or normal skin. It has a slightly green tint to it which, when combined with its soothing antioxidants, helps reduce the look of inflammation. You’ll be happy to learn that it’s fragrance-free as well and is safe for sensitive skin.

Best for: Dry, sensitive skin | Key Ingredients: Glycerin, pentylene glycol, neurosensine | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.35 oz

Best Green Moisturizer for Redness

Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm

Amazon

What We Love: The green hue helps to neutralize redness. 

What We Don’t Love: It leaves a bit of a white cast, especially on darker skin tones.

We’ve reviewed several of Hero Cosmetics items before, like their nose patches and their cleansing clay masks (spoiler: we love them), so we can wholeheartedly recommend their Rescue Balm as well. The brand calls it their post-blemish recovery cream, aiming to color-correct and nourish irritated skin. 

The cream itself feels very lightweight and breathable as it doesn’t clog up pores. Makes sense, considering it was formulated for oily, sensitive, and normal skin types. You’ll notice that the cream has a mild green tint to it which helps to neutralize and camouflage the redness. That being said, it can leave a bit of a white cast on darker skin tones. 

Best for: Oily, normal, sensitive skin | Key Ingredients: Green encapsulated pigments, panthenol, beta-glucan, oligopeptides | Fragrance-Free: No fragrance added | Size: 1.69 oz

Best Calming Moisturizer for Redness

Superegg Sound Renewal Serum Cream

Superegg Sound Renewal Serum Cream.

What We Love: It hydrates, protects against environmental stressors, and strengthens the skin barrier.

What We Don’t Love: It’s perhaps too lightweight for people with really dry skin.

InStyle commerce writer, Bianca Kratky, recently got her hands on the internet-famous Superegg Sound Renewal Serum Cream and it’s been her favorite skincare item ever since. Much like the name suggests, the consistency is in between a serum and a cream, not unlike a so(ooo)othing opaque gel.

Squalene, green tea, and Centella asiatica help to soothe redness, irritation, and sun damage. Already after a week of use, Kratky began to notice some additional benefits, like a more evened-out complexion and a slight reduction in fine lines due to collagen (a huge bonus for someone in her 30s). Because it’s also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, it’s completely safe for sensitive skin types as well. 

Best for: Sensitive, normal, oily skin | Key Ingredients: Squalene, green tea, panthenol, centella asiatica, collagen-boosting peptides | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 2 oz

Best for Redness with SPF

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Sephora

What We Love: The mineral sunscreen is reef-safe. 

What We Don’t Love: It may leave a white cast on darker skin tones.

Innisfree happens to be one of Kratky’s favorite daily sunscreen brands. The fact that they created a formula specifically for redness is just chef’s kiss. The color-correcting cream comes with a broad-spectrum SPF 45 coverage which is more than enough for daily use (and fit for vacations in the tropics as well).

You can fight both sunrays and redness at the same time, sparing you from awkwardly mixing too many products and hoping for the best. Much like our previous option from Hero Cosmetics, this one also comes with a green tint to help negate the redness. For this reason, some white cast might occur, but it should fade with the minutes. Lastly, the cream is both fragrance and alcohol-free so it’s safe for all skin types.  

Best for: Dry, combination skin | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, cica, mineral-based complex | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.69 oz

Best Tinted

Typology Tinted Serum with Vitamin C, Squalene, & Aloe Vera

Typology 

What We Love: It creates a no makeup look, displaying your skin but better. 

What We Don’t Love: There are not a lot of shades offered.

Typology’s best seller Tinted Serum deserves a spot in your rotation as well. Blended with vitamin C for radiance and squalene and aloe vera for hydration and calming inflammation, it’s the perfect formula to both increase brightness while reducing redness.

Unlike many tinted moisturizers that feel heavy and oppressive on skin, this one is very lightweight and merely acts to blur any blemishes, not to cover and clog your pores. Imagine your skin, but better — that’s what this product achieves. Of course we wish there were more than just six shade options, but according to the brand the serum needs to fully dry as the color settles into your personal skin tone. 

Best for: Normal, dry, sensitive skin | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, squalene, aloe vera | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1 oz

Best Moisturizer for Redness and Eczema

Tower 28 SOS Daily Barrier Recovery Cream

Sephora

What We Love: It provides long-term relief from red, itchy flare-ups. 

What We Don’t Love: The cream is very viscous and needs a few moments to fully sink in.

Tower 28’s Redness Recovery Moisturizer is like splashing cold water on ember. It received the National Eczema Association seal of acceptance for how it visibly heals blemishes. You can expect to see long-term results as it’s more than just an instant cover-up of redness. As the name suggests, the fragrance free moisturizer heals the problem at its core with its hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and allantoin. 

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi recommends this product stating that “a basic daily moisturizer designed for sensitive skin is formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides which instantly hydrates, soothes irritation, and helps reinforce the skin barrier,” making this product especially great. Gentle enough to use twice daily, sensitive and irritated skin will find much relief with this item. 

Best for: Very sensitive, eczema- and rosacea-prone skin | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.86 oz

Best for Redness and Acne-Prone Skin

Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer

Amazon

What We Love: The unique combo of squalane, ginger extract, and red seaweed help calm stressed skin. 

What We Don’t Love: We wish that this cream came in a larger size.

While the Biossance price point is a little on the higher side, it is not as much of a splurge as others on the market. Dr. Nakra recommends incorporating this into your routine to help calm inflammation — that pesky red flush — and provide extra hydration. Squalane and probiotics help strengthen the skin barrier while red seaweed extract reduces redness. 

Best for: All skin types | Key Ingredients: Squalane, probiotics, hyaluronic acid, ginger extract, red seaweed | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.69 oz

Best for Redness and Sensitive Skin

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid

Ulta

What We Love: The ultra lightweight texture sinks into skin super fast. 

What We Don’t Love: The jar is not the most hygienic vessel. We wish this came in a tube or with a pump.

Another one of Dr. Nakra’s favorites, this light and airy cream dries down super fast. Its star ingredient is hyaluronic acid which quenches thirsty skin and improves the skin barrier over time. This acid is naturally found in your body, but applying in your skincare routine is like giving your skin an ice-cold glass of water. Insider tip: Apply before putting on makeup. It sinks in so fast that it doubles as a dewy primer. 

Best for: Sensitive, mature, or dry skin | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.7 oz

Best Korean Beauty

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Cream

Sephora

What We Love: We love applying right before makeup for more even coverage. 

What We Don’t Love: The herbaceous fragrance in this product is very polarizing.

A favorite of our beauty editors — and a viral product on TikTok — this calming cream is the perfect first step post-cleansing to tamp down red tones. Dr. Jart+ has an entire line dedicated to reducing redness — this cream is designed to keep your skin calm and to strengthen and protect it so that you deal with less reactions from triggers in the long run. The secret sauce is cica, an antioxidant that has been shown to calm inflammation and shore up the skin barrier. 

Best for: Normal or dry skin | Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatica, zinc oxide, strawberry leaf extract, niacinamide | Fragrance-Free: No fragrance added | Size: 1.69 oz

Best Night Cream for Rosacea

Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Night Creme

Amazon

What We Love: Most night creams require investment up front. This one can be yours for just $10. 

What We Don’t Love: We wish this formula came with a tube or a pump.

You've got your daytime cream covered but need something a little more hydrating to count on before bed? Reach for Eucerin's nighttime oil- and fragrance-free moisturizer, which is made with an extract of licorice root extract to calm redness. It also has a gel-like feel, so even though it'll really boost your skin's moisture levels, it doesn't feel heavy.

Best for: All skin types | Key Ingredients: Licorice root, squalane, tapioca starch, fatty acids | Fragrance-Free: Yes | Size: 1.7 oz

What to Keep in Mind

• Active Ingredients: Redness can be caused by different reasons, be it rosacea, dryness, eczema, sun damage, or acne just to name a few. While you may want to cater to your personal skin type, like oily or dry, Dr. Penzi says that some key ingredients that will always be helpful against redness, including niacinamide, aloe vera, green tea, centella asiatica, ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid. On the flip side, she adds that it’s equally important to steer clear of known irritants, like retinols, vitamin C and higher dose AHAs.
• SPF: It is no secret that UV rays darken your skin tone, but what may surprise you is the effect of heat on your complexion. For some, excess heat can trigger unwanted rosiness. “Sun protection is very important to protect skin prone to redness and sensitivity,” says Dr. Nakra. Be sure to top any of your moisturizers for redness with at least SPF 30, so you don’t undo any of your efforts.
• Non-Comedogenic Formulas: When looking for a new moisturizer, find one labeled “non-comedogenic.” This means that it is specially formulated not to block or clog pores. Since both redness and acne can be blamed on inflammation, it’s common to find the issues at the same time. And while you’re targeting redness, you don’t want to worsen breakouts.

Your Questions, Answered

What is the difference between rosacea and redness? 

Just so that there is no confusion, rosacea and redness are not one in the same. Redness can be a common sign of rosacea, but “rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin,” while redness is one of its indicators, says Dr. Penzi.

“People with rosacea usually have persistent facial redness (erythema), flushing, and/or visible blood vessels (telangiectasia),” she further clarifies. Not all redness is caused by rosacea, however, so it’s important to consult your dermatologist to find out what the root cause of your specific redness is. 

What causes skin redness? 

As noted previously by Dr. Henry, redness can come from skin conditions like eczema or rosacea. However, Dr. Nakra acknowledges that skin redness or rosacea can also be caused by lifestyle factors like environmental stressors, extreme temperatures, spicy foods, alcohol (especially red wine), fragrance, allergic reactions to ingredients in skincare products, environmental stressors, and more. While eczema and rosacea may have more triggers (and can be difficult to treat), a moisturizer for redness can be a stepping stone to helping all of these causes. 

Why Shop With Us

Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer with over three years of experience covering fashion and beauty. Using her extensive knowledge on skincare, garnered through both experience and industry exposure, she was able to compile a list of best moisturizers for redness with the help of freelance writer Anneke Knot. They interviewed two board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Lauren Penzi and Dr. Michelle Henry, as well as board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Tanuj Nakra.

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