ROSACEA causes red, flushed skin, broken veins and pimples – and affects one in ten people.
Regular SPF can stop flare-ups, but to reduce permanent redness, you need pro treatments. I put some to the test.
Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula SPF50 (£29.99, rosalique.co.uk): Containing redness-reducing ingredients provitamin B5, urea and shea butter, the cream works almost immediately.
I was worried the bright blue colour might make me look like a Smurf, but it blended into my skin tone perfectly, covering up my redness and giving me an even complexion.
It also doubles as a make-up primer, but I was so impressed with the results that, after a few uses, I felt less need to use foundation.
It contains factor 50 to protect against harmful UV rays. It’s best applied with a brush as the blue colour stained my fingers.
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I was very impressed and will continue to use it daily. My favourite of the three – at the most reasonable price.
HydraFacial, Halcyon Aesthetics, central London (£200, halcyonaesthetics.co.uk): This is like no other facial you had before.
The six-step process works to deeply clean the skin and leave it feeling refreshed and glowing. It also helps to limit some of the symptoms of rosacea, such as facial redness, bumps and enlarged pores.
I visited Halcyon Aesthetics, which is a short stroll from Oxford Street, and was very impressed with the treatment. It is named after the machine used for the facial, which comprises a “vortex pen” to remove impurities and hydrate at the same time.
The pen delivers a strange sucking sensation, but I left the spa feeling as though years of London pollution had been removed from my pores.
There was no long-term reduction in redness, but it left my skin glowing and I would definitely book a return visit to have this facial again.
Lumecca IPL, Vie Aesthetics (£275 per session, central London, vie-aesthetics.com): This powerful laser therapy helps to reverse rosacea damage.
It combats redness and spider veins and also helps to reduce age spots and acne scarring. I had my treatment at the Vie Aesthetics clinic tucked away on Harley Street.
A cool gel was applied to help counter the heat of the laser. I was expecting it to sting, but instead it felt as if elastic bands were being gently pinged against my face.
After the treatment, my skin looked refreshed and healthy, but there was no real reduction in my spider veins.
However, I did get plenty of compliments about my skin in the week following the treatment and it also reduced the appearance of my fine lines.
Around four sessions are recommended to see a permanent result.
THE M&S Discovery Box is a perfect end-of- summer treat.
It is a selection of nine products, including seven full-size and two minis from much-loved brands such as Clinique, Eve Lom, Lumene, Nuxe and REN.
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There are also M&S own-brand favourites, including Autograph, Apothecary and Formula.
Worth £90, the bargain box costs £25 when you spend £30 across clothing, home and beauty ranges in store or online.
