The first thing I changed was my face washing habit.

I used to be under a lot of stress because my face would turn red easily even with just a little heat, and I would experience severe flushing when I was nervous or ate spicy food. In the past, I hated the redness, so I exfoliated frequently and washed my face multiple times to remove excess oil, but this actually made my skin more sensitive and worsened the sensation of heat in my face. Since then, I have completely changed my skincare routine, and my skin is definitely much more stable now.

The first thing I changed was my cleansing habits. In the past, I thought my face was only clean if I washed it until it felt squeaky, but now in the mornings, I either rinse lightly with water or use a mild, slightly acidic cleanser. In particular, after realizing that washing with hot water worsens redness, I now only use lukewarm water. After washing, I apply a moisturizer immediately before my skin dries to maintain my skin barrier and prevent it from breaking down.

I also realized that heat management is really important for skin prone to flushing. Since my face often stays red all day after a sauna or hot shower, I try to avoid them as much as possible, and I have also cut back on spicy and hot foods and alcohol compared to before. In particular, because my skin breaks out immediately the next day if I lack sleep, I am trying to sleep as regularly as possible.

I also use only what is absolutely necessary rather than applying a lot of cosmetics. In the past, I used to apply all sorts of ampoules and functional products that were said to be good, but that actually made my skin more sensitive. Now, I manage my skin simply, focusing on moisturizers and sunscreen. Sunscreen is especially important for skin prone to redness; since prolonged exposure to UV rays significantly worsens the redness, I make sure to apply it before going out.

Above all, the most important thing was letting go of the impatience to improve my skin quickly. I am only now truly realizing that for skin prone to redness, the most important thing is to minimize irritation and slowly restore the skin barrier.