A Latina’s Guide to Managing Rosacea Without Destroying Your Skin Barrier

I was 30 when my skin first flared up. It was the middle of a bitterly cold New York winter—January or February, I can’t quite remember—and my super-sensitive skin turned bright red every time I stepped outside. I’m talking cheeks so flushed you wouldn’t mistake them for a healthy glow; instead, you might stop and ask if I was feeling OK.

My mom had rosacea for most of her adult life, but I never thought it was something I could inherit. She has light olive skin, while I have a deeper caramel complexion. Brown-skinned girls don’t get red. We don’t get rosacea—or at least, that’s what I believed.

It turns out I was completely wrong.

Having darker skin doesn’t exempt you from rosacea. It can look different, and it’s often overlooked or diagnosed later in people of color, but it’s very real. For the next decade, nearly every skincare decision I made—from the products I bought to the in-office treatments I considered—was shaped by the reality of having highly sensitive, reactive skin.

As a beauty journalist and editor, I constantly received products to test and was invited to complimentary facials, so for a long time, I blamed the redness on the endless stream of new products and treatments at my disposal. My skin finally calmed down after I discovered K-beauty, but I eventually realized skincare wasn’t my only trigger. Sometimes it was the weather. Sometimes it was something I ate or drank. Before I gave up alcohol in 2022, my face would flush after just one glass of wine.

I saw two dermatologists, and both recommended a prescription topical. I resisted because I wanted to exhaust more natural options first—especially since I have what dermatologists consider a relatively mild case. I don’t get the red bumps that are often mistaken for acne. My skin goes from looking perfectly normal to suddenly flushed—or, at its worst, bright red and irritated.

First, I Incorporated an Ancestral Ingredient

When I was 32, an industry friend reminded me of the beauty benefits of rosehip oil, which many Latinas know as rosa mosqueta. It has long been an ancestral beauty staple across Latin America for hydrating skin without clogging pores and helping brighten dark spots (manchas). I didn’t realize it could also help calm my inflammation.

My friend, writer and style influencer Jessica Torres, even wrote an essay for me about its benefits. I immediately ordered a bottle, and rosehip oil has been a staple in my morning routine ever since. It has made a noticeable difference in keeping my skin calmer, though it hasn’t been a cure-all.

Then I Became More Conscious of My Triggers

According to Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs micrographic surgeon, and cosmetic expert at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City, common rosacea triggers include alcohol, heat, spicy foods, and emotional stress.

Funny enough, my rosacea almost completely disappeared after I gave up alcohol in 2022. I quit drinking for gut health reasons, but one unexpected benefit was that my rosacea became far less of an issue. Around the same time, I cut back on spicy foods, dairy, and gluten to manage my digestive symptoms. That’s when I realized how much certain foods could affect my skin.

I still experience the occasional flare-up, whether it’s from trying a new product, over-exfoliating, getting a facial, or simply being outside when the weather is too cold or too hot. Learning my triggers hasn’t eliminated my rosacea, but it has made it easier to manage.

I Started Prioritizing Skin Barrier Repair

After turning 40, I went on a mission not only to avoid flare-ups but also to repair and strengthen my skin barrier. For me, that meant simplifying my routine and choosing products that support my skin’s long-term health instead of constantly trying to “fix” it.

“If someone has sensitive skin, they need nourishing, supportive skincare without a lot of active ingredients,” says Dr. Engelman. She recommends avoiding glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinols, and retinoids when the skin barrier is compromised and leaving anything more aggressive to a dermatologist.

I’ve double-cleansed for years, but I used to think the tight feeling left behind by a foaming cleanser meant my skin was squeaky clean. Once I learned that it was actually a sign my cleanser might be too drying, I switched to gentler formulas. Dr. Engelman generally recommends cream, milky, balm, or oil cleansers for sensitive skin.

These days, I double-cleanse with the Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil ($20), followed by the Prequel Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser ($18), which leaves my skin feeling instantly soothed.

I also stopped treating toner as essential. For years, toners triggered my rosacea, though I’ve recently had success with the hydrating Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner ($21). Dr. Engelman says people with rosacea can skip toner entirely, but if they use one, it should focus on hydration rather than exfoliation or treatment. “Keep it simple and supportive,” she says.

I used vitamin C throughout my 30s, but in the months leading up to my 40th birthday, I learned that certain formulations can trigger sensitive skin. I switched to The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum ($32), a hydrating formula that helps keep my skin looking smooth, firm, and supple without a flare-up. I follow it with The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil ($11), which I also use for gua sha.

I no longer use a traditional moisturizer. Richer formulas tend to clog my pores, while oil-free ones never seem hydrating enough. Instead, I use the drugstore cult favorite La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Therapeutic Balm ($19) during the day. It leaves my skin looking smooth, hydrated, and dewy, layers beautifully over oils and serums, and doesn’t pill under sunscreen or makeup.

At night, I seal in my serums or retinoid with Solsoller Le Halo Boost Ceramide Microbiome Barrier Cream ($52). By morning, my skin looks noticeably calmer, deeply hydrated, and incredibly glowy. And did I mention the brand is Latina-owned?

I Now Swear by LED Masks

When it comes to at-home devices, Dr. Engelman is a big believer in LED masks because of their anti-inflammatory benefits. I use mine every morning, and on days when my skin feels especially sensitive, I’ll use it again before my nighttime routine—her biggest warning: avoid at-home microneedling or anything else that irritates the skin.

I Tried the Glacē Treatment for Glass Skin

For years, I searched for an in-office treatment that could brighten and refine my complexion without triggering a flare-up. I was recently introduced to Glacē, a professional-grade facial that combines gentle hydrodermabrasion, serum infusion, lymphatic cupping massage, and LED light therapy. Unlike more aggressive exfoliation, it removes dead surface cells without over-disrupting the skin barrier.

I first tried a mini version at a Glacē pop-up in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District and was hooked. My full 60-minute session took place at BellaLaser Medical Spa in Greenpoint, where Latina esthetician Cindy Ayala customized the facial for my sensitive skin.

I looked amazing immediately afterward. The only downside was that the cupping portion—ironically—triggered a rosacea flare-up the following morning. Thankfully, it calmed down by that evening after I followed Ayala’s aftercare recommendations: aloe vera slugging and using only Cicaplast Baume B5 as my moisturizer until my skin recovered.

I still plan to get another Glacē treatment, but Dr. Engelman recommends adjusting the lymphatic suction to account for my rosacea. Because the device’s intensity can be customized, providers can use very gentle suction—or skip that step—depending on a client’s sensitivity and skin reactivity.

Instead of Microneedling, I’m Opting for Monopolar Radiofrequency

As for collagen-stimulating treatments, I’ve decided to forgo microneedling altogether. Instead, I tried XERF, a popular Korean monopolar radiofrequency treatment, in June. My skin looked instantly tighter and more lifted, with a glow that all my friends noticed—without any redness or downtime.

Dr. Engelman says treatments such as monopolar radiofrequency can still be effective for building collagen in people with rosacea. However, the energy should be adjusted according to each person’s skin type and condition.

Maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion while managing highly sensitive skin and rosacea has taken 10 years of trial and error, but I finally feel like I’ve found what works for me.

Moving forward, my rosacea-remedy cocktail will likely include quarterly Glacē treatments customized to my sensitivity, yearly XERF sessions, seasonal lymphatic drainage facials, and the LED mask I swear by using daily. I’ll also stay mindful of what I eat and the lifestyle choices I make, since both can trigger flare-ups.

If you’re a Latina with rosacea, please know you’re not alone. You can achieve the glowing complexion of your dreams without destroying your skin barrier—be patient, because finding what works takes time.