Ask a Beauty Editor: The Best Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients for Irritated Skin

If your skin gets irritated after cleansing, theres one probable culprit.

Ever wanted to pick the brain of a beauty editor?

Or get beauty product recommendations from someone who has tried them all?

You’ve come to the right place.

Are there any types of ingredients or products I can apply that help lessen inflammation?

Over time, this skin residue can disrupt the skin barrier.

It causes your pores to clog up, which can lead to acne and exacerbate skin conditions likeeczemaand dermatitis.

Water Filtration

What to do?

First, I recommend getting agood mineral filterforyour showerheadand faucet.

This can help screen out the minerals that are triggering your irritation.

Also try cleansing withmicellar waterwhenever possible, which effectively cleanses skin without requiring you to wash your face.

When you do use the sink, always use cool waternever hot.

And of course, there are general steps to take to counteract irritation.

Keeping a simple skincare routine that focuses less on exfoliation and more on moisturizing/calming is essential for treating inflammation.

So what ingredients should you use to combat irritation?

Several of ourfavorite night creamsalso contain niacinamide.

Try:Glossier Super Pure

Aloe verahas a very long track record as askin-soothing agent.

These compounds contain conditioning properties that help calm and maintain the skin’s moisture balance.

She recommends Dickinson’s toner infused with rosewater (bonus: rosewater also has anti-inflammatory properties).

“It’s also a very promising treatment for rosacea and other adjacent skin conditions.”

The anti-inflammatory herb contains high levels of an antioxidant known as apigenin that has many health benefits.

And the best part?

Its true power lies not in the leaf but in its water, which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

When applied to skin, it interacts with skin receptors to turn down its inflammatory response.

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