From redness to acne, navigating rosacea can be difficult. Here, rosacea and skin-positivity campaigner Lex Gillies shares the routine that prevents flare-ups.

When Lex Gillies turned 21, she was diagnosed with rosacea. A common, inflammatory skin condition, rosacea can affect the skin in several ways, including redness, flushing, spots that look similar to acne and sensitive skin.

Noting stress as her biggest trigger, closely followed by sunlight, Gillies has developed a skincare regime that is all about soothing and cooling irritated skin. “I try to keep things very simple, with tried-and-tested products I know that my skin loves,” says Gillies.

As stress is the biggest factor behind a flare-up, Gillies states it’s also important to focus on your mental health: “Rosacea is very linked to my emotions and psychological state, so I find it really useful to focus on calming and de-stressing the body: deep breathing, positive mantras and visualisation techniques are really useful.”