“Your face is really red.”
A statement I’ve heard too many times to count.
I admit I never know how to respond – or even what the person is expecting to hear as a response.
“Thanks, it’s natural.”
“Oh gee, I’m so glad you told me – I’ll just clap my hands, do a spin, and it will magically stop being red.”
“No, your face is really red.”
As if I can’t feel how red my face is thanks to rosacea’s fiery burn. As if it isn’t embarrassing enough that my face turns red when, I’m well, embarrassed – it also turns red even if I’m questioning whether or not I should feel embarrassed (or when I remember a time I was embarrassed).
Or chow down on some amazing spicy curry.
Or when I take a really fun dance class.
Or enjoy a lovely vintage Cabernet Sauvignon.
After any of these (mostly very wonderful) things, I get to hear “Your face is really red,” accompanied by a look that I would expect to receive if I had an extra set of arms sprouting out of my neck. Despite writing a blog, which essentially requires me to share photos of myself with the internet, I absolutely hate having eyes on me (trust me, I love when shopkeepers ignore me. More of that, please).
While aging continues to bless me with a redder and redder visage, it thankfully also has left me with fewer effs to give and now hearing about how red my face is bothers me slightly less than it used to.
But it still doesn’t feel great to stand out because of my red cheeks (and neck and chest, if it’s a really bad flush). And I’ve noticed that my flushes are less intense when I’m feeling confident – which means that finding products to help conceal the redness both covers it and prevents it from getting worse.
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The thing about rosacea (at least, for me), if you cover it up too much, the skin looks really artificial. I’ve never been able to wear full-coverage makeup – it clashes with the rest of my skin on my body. For me to get away with applying any type of base or foundation to my face, you need to be able to tell that my real skin is underneath. Essentially, I can’t fully remove the redness and other imperfections; all you’ll see is makeup.
Unlike the rest of the world, who seems to have found Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment from TikTok, I first heard about this redness-reducing product from a friend. Since I’ve already found my perfect match in my foundation, I honestly didn’t even think I needed another product. But thankfully she encouraged me to give hers a try, and the results were shocking enough that I purchased it the following week.
I purchased the Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment as part of a value set (linked to current set) back in November, and have been using it ever since. Not quite daily, because I still prefer my foundation when I’m taking photos for the blog or Instagram. But for days when we’re just hanging with friends or running errands around town, it’s my go-to.
And since to me, spring and fall are when this product works its best, I thought I’d share a mini-review today. Note: all photos were taken in natural light, and no digital color correction or filters were applied.
First things first: what the heck is Tiger Grass?
Tiger Grass is the nickname for the herb Centella Asiatica or Gotu kola, which is used in Chinese medicine and is part of the parsley family. This ingredient also goes by the nickname Cica, which you might have seen in other brands (in addition to the name of this product).
So why the feline name? Tigers were prone to rolling in fields of the plant to alleviate their wounds – and humans took note!
The ingredient has been found to aid in healing burn wounds and reduce inflammation. It can also help soothe sensitive skin and act as a barrier to environmental stressors and pollutants. But where it really seems to shine is color correcting. By now you probably know that green is the opposite of red on the color wheel, and chlorophyll-rich Centella Asiatica seems to do a great job of addressing redness.
How do you apply Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30?
As with any new skincare product, before you dunk your (clean!) finger into the tub, you should first perform a patch test.
Apply a thin layer to clean skin in a not-noticeable spot like the side of your neck or the inside of your forearm. Let sit for 24 hours, gently remove, and check for any signs of discoloration or bumps. If the spot just looks like normal skin, you should be good to go! But if you’ve experienced an adverse reaction to products in the past, you may want to repeat the patch test for a few days in case of a delayed reaction.
Ready to apply? Almost!
First, you’re going to want to apply a nice, even layer of moisturizer to your clean skin. This is the one I use daily, as I’ve never had any issues with the formula interacting poorly with other products. But I also received a sample of this Ceramidin Cream along with my Color Correcting Treatment and it is a great product to use in tandem. The Tiger Grass treatment is quite thick, and not terribly moisturizing; if your skin is too dry, it won’t apply evenly.
Using a spoon or your clean fingers, apply a dime-sized amount to either your full face or just the parts you need a little extra coverage. The viral TikTok video creator presses it into her skin using her full fingers, but I like to do a little pat-and-swipe combo with the tips of my fingers (this could just be because my nails aren’t quite so talon-y). It turns beige almost instantly after hitting the skin – and it sets pretty quickly, so you’ll want to move fast.
What does the Color Correcting Treatment feel and smell like?
I think the best textural comparison for this product is old-school chalky toothpaste (or at least, a physical sunblock – which makes the most sense as the formula also contains SPF). It’s quite a thick cream, and it definitely drags on the skin if it isn’t moisturized enough. Thankfully, when applied in a thin enough layer, it doesn’t feel heavy on the face.
Smell-wise, the Tiger Grass treatment has an… interesting smell (this is important because it gets applied around the nose!). I can best describe it as a combination of wet paint and dirt. But thankfully it quickly fades once applied (or maybe I just get used to it?).
Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment Before and After
I think the photos pretty much speak for themselves, but overall I’m able to achieve my intended look with this product. My skin looks like, well, my skin – but calmer. I want to reiterate the need to moisturize before applying, as I find the treatment clings to any patches of flaky skin.
Dermaplaning has been a huge help in ensuring the surface of my skin is ready for thicker formulas such as this. Oh – and when I’m in a hurry or if my skin is extra-dry, I’ll put a dot of the Tiger Grass treatment and my moisturizer on my finger, and apply both at the same time. It gives it just a little more slip and applies quickly.
One other note: based on this review from Makeup Alley, unfortunately, the Color Correcting Treatment would likely not work well for darker skin tones. Hopefully, Dr. Jart will consider reformulating or creating additional variations of this product for a more inclusive line.
Would I re-buy the Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment?
I’m fully committed to using up the products I’ve purchased before amassing others. This leads to less-cluttered bathroom shelves and products that don’t hang around past their expiration date, plus it gives me time to consider my next purchase (if there is going to be one!).
So when this tub is empty, nine months or even a year from now, I currently do plan on purchasing it again, but likely as part of a sampler or multi-pack (besides, the jar is a bit bulky to travel with, even if it does technically fit in a quart bag).
Because I prefer to thin out the formula, I’d really like to give the Camo Drops a try, as it looks like an easier-to-apply texture. I’m also curious about the Tiger Grass Serum as more of a treatment than a cover-up. Hopefully, by the time my Color Correcting Treatment runs out, there will be a kit with all three of these products so I can figure out which is my favorite (and share that info with you!). Ready to give it a try, but worried about the cost and commitment? This mini size is just $25.
2023 Update: I’ve since tried samples of both the Tiger Grass Serum and the Camo Drops – and I have to say, I think I like the Camo Drops more than the Color Correcting Treatment! The application is a little smoother and a bit more sheer. If you’re looking for a little lighter coverage, that’s the way to go. So why haven’t I made the switch? I’m still working my way through this big ol’ jar of the Color Correcting Treatment.
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What are your biggest skin concerns? What products have you found that you love?
Hi, I have the same skin issues. My chest and neck and even arms get red. I take rosadyn an oral supplement and my favorite color correctors that work are it cosmetic cc cream for winter and bare minerals complexion rescue for summer. They completely cover redness and mines pretty bad!
Thank you so much for sharing your favorites – I will have to check both of those out!