First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum Saved My Skin!

This poor little post is the one that got bumped because I had to scream from the rooftops about how I made my foundation last all day! (Hey, it's a big deal - am I right?!)

I've been interested in skincare and beauty for many years. I started to type "many, many" years, but I thought, wow - that sounds like a really long time. I don't mind admitting my age. Those of you who read my blog regularly know I turned 55 in November, and my interest in skincare started when I was about 25, so it's been a 30 year "obsession".

You would think by age 55 my skin would be on the dry side and I would just want some moisture and anti-aging products, but I pretty much never do what is expected. For those who aren't familiar with my skin issues, I'll just give a quick run-down. (One of my goals for 2017 is to add a page with details about my skin issues - and I actually did it!! There's a page all about my skin!) I have very sensitive skin that rarely tolerates anything with added fragrance. It also doesn't like most alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) - like glycolic or lactic acid - or salicylic acid (BHA) over 1%. I guess it's mostly "normal" now - it's not really oily or dry, although it can get a little oily in the T-zone if it's hot. It's also prone to breakouts, especially on my chin and along the jawline (thanks, adult acne). And then, of course, I have the usual mature skin issues - fine lines, loss of elasticity, and deepening of the nasolabial folds. Some other things I've noticed over the past couple of years are that tiny red capillaries are now noticeable on my face (I don't think it's rosacea - I see a dermatologist regularly), and also just some "bumps" that aren't pimples or blackheads. They're not white, so I don't know if they're clogged pores, but they don't hurt, and they don't increase in size. Nothing gets rid of them. Fun times, people!!

So I tried a new product and IT WAS AMAZING!!!


(This post may contain affiliate links which were added to make it easier for you to find the items. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). You are free to use the links or not - if you do, I thank you!)

I've seen First Aid Beauty products in the past, but I never really paid much attention to them. A few weeks ago, I noticed that they had a product called Anti-Redness Serum. I read about it, checked the ingredients, and then read some reviews. Once I saw that I could buy some little ampoules to try it out, I was sold. (Unfortunately, I don't see those on Sephora right now, but I would keep checking if you're interested. Also, if you get the full-sized product and you don't like it, don't be shy - return it!)


One thing I didn't mention about my skin - when I get a clogged pore or zit, even once it's healed, it will take months for the redness/hyperpigmentation to go away. I'm very pale and my skin bruises easily. I had a clogged pore back in July/August from a sunscreen I tested, and it was still slightly raised and discolored in late November. I had been using BHA and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide with bisabolol, plus Vitamin C and my moisturizer with niacinamide for almost 5 months, and it had barely changed. Since I can't used AHAs, I'm limited in how I can treat hyperpigmentation.

When I received the FAB Anti-Redness Serum, I only applied a tiny amount to that clogged pore and some of the red areas on my face. I kid you not - the next morning, I could see a difference! I continued to use it twice daily, and within a week, that clogged pore was gone and the hyperpigmentation was 50% less. And not just that. My skin overall was so much smoother! I ordered the full-size bottle immediately. It's really more a lightweight gel/lotion than what I consider a serum - as you can see in the photo below:


After using it all over my face for 3 weeks, I can barely see the hyperpigmentation from that clogged pore AND almost all of those bumps that were under the surface of my skin are gone! My son suffers with bouts of seborrheic dermatitis on his face, and so far, the only thing that helps is washing his face with Head and Shoulders in the dark blue bottle. He had scaly, red patches on both cheeks the other night - I gave him the FAB Anti-Redness Serum to try - the next morning, his cheeks were clear! I'm totally serious. There wasn't a mark on his cheeks. He's getting a bottle, too.

Now, you know the deal - what works for me (or us) isn't necessarily going to work for you. And if you read a lot of the reviews, you'll see that there are plenty of people who were displeased with the product. But there are also plenty who love it. If you can find the little sample packets, they're great. They say they're "daily use" packets. I didn't tear the top completely off mine, only used it as a spot treatment in the beginning, and I was able to get 2-3 days use out of each one. I also cut it open to get more out of it.

The ingredients are: Water (Aqua),Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carbomer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Benzophenone-4, Caffeine, Colloidal Sulfur, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

So really, this will only help your redness depending on the cause. The caffeine will shrink blood vessels, while the ginger and bisabolol are anti-inflammatories. Feverfew, licorice, camellia sinensis (green tea) are also supposed to be soothing - while ginger, licorice, camellia sinensis also have antioxidant properties. Colloidal sulfur is used to treat a lot of different skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. I have used sulfur products in the past, but all they did was dry out my skin, so I wasn't impressed. For me, it's whatever the combination is in this particular product. I can't believe how smooth it has made my skin!


A tiny bit goes a long way with this product. Also, I've been able to stop using TWO products (1% BHA and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide), so I feel like it's definitely worth it.

I was so impressed that I picked up one of the FAB Holiday Trios at Sephora over the holidays when it went on sale for $15 - it included a small size of the cleanser, 28 facial radiance pads, and a full-size lip therapy. The radiance pads contain glycolic and lactic acid, but since it says they're formulated for use by people with sensitive skin, I'm cautiously using them just twice weekly to see if my skin will tolerate them. (Update: I was unable to continue using the pads. My skin just won't tolerate AHAs!)

Have you used any of the FAB products?