Common causes of facial redness include rosacea, spicy foods, anxiety, alcohol, medications, allergies, sensitivity to facial products, over-exfoliation and exposure to sun, wind or cold air. Avoiding triggers such as spicy food or exposure to the elements can help, and there are herbal treatments you can use at home that will ease the redness. The "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology" lists oatmeal and chamomile among natural products with anti-inflammatory properties that can ease dermatitis.
Cooling Mask
Step 1
Peel a small cucumber, slice it open and scrape the seeds out with the tip of a teaspoon. Discard the seeds.
Step 2
Puree the cucumber flesh and 1 tsp. honey in a food processor or blender.
Step 3
Apply the puree to your face as a cooling mask. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Step 4
Rinse off the cucumber mask thoroughly with tepid water.
Step 5
Apply 1/2 tsp. almond, sesame or olive oil to your face while it is still damp to keep your skin smooth and retain moisture.
Chamomile Compress
Step 1
Put a chamomile tea bag in a cup of boiling water and allow it to steep until it is tepid.
Step 2
Cleanse your face with a mild soap using your fingertips instead of a face cloth. Rinse thoroughly.
Step 3
Wet a face cloth in the chamomile tea and spread it over your face, patting it into place. It should be wet, but it shouldn't drip. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Step 4
Apply 1/2 tsp. almond, sesame or olive oil to your face while it is still damp to keep your skin smooth and retain moisture.
Oatmeal Face Wash
Step 1
Grind 1/2 cup of oatmeal into a powder in your blender or food processor. Make it as fine as possible. Sift the oatmeal through a strainer to remove any larger pieces.
Step 2
Blend the oatmeal powder with some water to make a thin paste. Using your fingertips, spread the oatmeal mask over your face. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 3
Splash water on the mask to rehydrate it, and use your fingertips to gently exfoliate your skin with the oatmeal. Rinse thoroughly.
Step 4
Apply 1/2 tsp. almond, sesame or olive oil to your face while it is still damp to keep your skin smooth and retain moisture.
Tips and Warnings
- You can make a green-tea compress instead of chamomile. You can use apricot oil or avocado oil instead of sesame, olive or almond oil.
- Test any ingredient you haven't used on your skin before fully trying a remedy. Dab a little of the ingredient on your inner arm and cover it with a bandage. Wait 24 hours before checking for any adverse reaction such as itching, redness or swelling. If you have an adverse reaction, don't use that ingredient.
Things You'll Need
- Food processor or blender
- Teaspoon, paring knife
- Small cucumber
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1/2 tsp. olive, sesame or almond oil
- Chamomile tea bag
- Face cloth
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- Wire strainer
References
- "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"; Anti-inflammatory ingredients; J. Wu; July 2008
- "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"; Innovations in natural ingredients and their use in skin care; J.F. Fowler et. al.; June 2010
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