Are you looking for the best tips and cruelty-free recommendations when it comes to irritated, red and acne-prone skin? You've come to the right place. This article will aim to give you some insight as well as production recommendations for soothing your skin. 

Important to note: These tips and products might not help everyone. If you deal with any severe skin irritation, it's important to consult a dermatologist instead of taking matters into your own hands. 

Firstly-- a lot of times when it comes to skincare, we are always told 'more is better.' We have 10 step regimes shoved in our face, and such a variety of products that we can no longer keep up with what we actually need or not. The most important thing when it comes to achieving smooth, calm skin is consistency as well as quality. A simple 3-4 product routine packed with beneficial ingredients will do more for you than 100 different products packed into the week. Less is more, especially if you have sensitive and acne prone skin. 

Let's talk over some popular plant-based ingredients that help to promote calm and soothed skin, as well as some products that include them. 

1. Hyssop

Hyssop is a potent herb that has been used as medicine for thousands of years. However, when applied topically it can also treat your skin! It has anti-bacterial, anti-redness and skin calming propertied making it perfect for acne-prone and irritated skin. 

Arencia's Holy Hyssop Serum does a great job at utilising this incredible herb. It is packed with french hyssop, as well as a patented vitamin blend to provide essential moisture and nourishment.

2. Centella

Possibly the most famous plant in skincare, Centella Asiatica (often called Cica or Tiger grass), is a powerful plant used to aide in skin calming, skin barrier repair and hydration.

For centella focused products, SKIN1004 will be your best friend. They're a fully vegan and cruelty-free korean beauty brand, with pure madagascan centella at their forefront. All of their products contain pure centella extract, with the original as well as tone-brightening ranges being the most popular. If you're looking for centella extract in its purest form, then their Centella Ampoule is perfect for you. 

3. Chamomile 

Everyone knows that chamomile is great at promoting inner calm and peaceful sleep, but did you know that it is great at calming your skin too? It is often broken down into a compound called Azulene, which comes out bright blue and is widely used in skincare for calming and providing the skin with vital anti-oxidants. 

The best example of this in skincare is Dear Klairs' Midnight Blue Calming Cream. It is light-weight but hydrating, and will do wonders for calming your skin down. 

Here's an example of a Vegan and Cruelty-Free skincare routine using these plant-based ingredients to promote calm and healthy skin:

1. Foam Cleanser: SKIN1004 Madagascan Centella Ampoule Foam
2. Serum: Arencia's Holy Hyssop Serum or SKIN1004s Centella Ampoule
3. Moisturiser: Dear, Klairs' Midnight Blue Calming Cream

When you stay consistent with a simple routine like this (simply adding SPF in the morning and a sheet mask or eye cream as and when needed), your skin is sure to see big improvements. Strip your routine back to something simple like this, and avoid any active ingredients for a while to see how your skin does. Happy calming!