How To Get Rid Of Facial Redness

We all get overheated now and then, but suffering from a red face all the time is a real pain in the butt. If your uncontrollable blush is bringing you down, or facial flushing is ruining your game, let's explore a few tips for how to get rid of facial redness, because let's face it — it's only going to get worse before it gets better this summer.

We have all experienced that sudden reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest which Medline Plus describes as a "normal body response that may occur when you are embarrassed, angry, excited, or experiencing another strong emotion." We get it. Science is a thing. But that doesn't mean we have to be particularly thrilled about having bright red cheeks every time we get a text.

Instead of suffering silently—all the while the color of a cherry tomato—take some actions to bring peace to your face. You may not be able to change the fact that you blush like a virginal bride, but you can help alleviate some of the red face factor with a few internal and external tricks. Pay attention to what you put in your body to keep internal temperatures cool, and what you put on your body to decrease risk of irritation. It's all about balance, baby.

What You Eat And Drink Totally Affects Your Redness

Steer clear of spicy, sour, and hot temperature foods. Tragically, hot summer months are not the best time to cover everything in Sriracha. The Cleveland Clinic also suggests eating the following sparingly: chocolate (I know, I'm sorry), cheeses, tomatoes, avocados, red plums, walnuts, and eggplant. This doesn't mean you can't eat them, just notice what happens when you do and be strategic about your diet.

Cocktails give you color. Yes, cocktails are fabulous, but when they cause you to look like a chicken pox monster, their allure starts to wane. It's all about strategy. Have a mixed drink with lower alcohol content, steering clear of sugary mixers like soda and opting for soda water. Perhaps stay away from multiple shots of tequila. Hot beverages also trigger flushing, so avoid warm boozy bevs and get that drink on the rocks. If you find you're constantly hot pink from drinks, there's always help to stop drinking.

Green tea, aloe vera, mint, and licorice extract fight redness. Try this DIY cooling tea recipe: Fill a large mason jar with 5 tea bags of green tea, 10 sprigs of mint leaf, and tap or filtered water. Let the concoction cool in the fridge for a few hours and voila, your own homemade cooling system. Take it with you on the run in a refillable drink container with ice cubes.

Ice. My Sensitive Skincare recommends placing an ice cube against the roof of your mouth when you're hit by redness to quickly cool the body and calm facial inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory foods to embrace. Dr. Howard Murad for the Huffington Post recommends foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli that are, "packed with antioxidants that will help to hydrate the skin internally and protect cells."

How To Cool Down And Cover Your Facial Redness

The magic of makeup. If you're feeling shy about being out in the world, use makeup tricks for concealing redness. These brands of foundation makeup for people with rosacea really cover redness. Even if you don't have rosacea, which is a medical skin condition, using rosacea-friendly products is wise as they are gentle, hypoallergenic, and non-irritating.

Sun protection. A hot body is not always a plus. Warm temperatures can trigger facial redness, so limit time in direct sunlight. Bring a cooling beverage, wear a cute summer hat, and always wear sunscreen. A painful sunburn only makes the problem worse.

Cooling masks. Try these simple natural remedies to reduce facial redness made from ingredients you already have in your kitchen. A cucumber-oatmeal blend chilled in the fridge sets the tone for the day. Or try an easy green tea wash cloth soak (hey! let your cooling tea do double duty).

What all else fails, remember to take it easy. Stress can trigger facial flushing. Create your own inner calm with a simple meditation practice. When you feel your red face rising, take some centering breaths and know that you're beautiful.

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