Rosacea: Goals for Healthy Skin

I've been thinking a lot about skin care lately, not just about products, but more around what our own expectations are for our skin. 

Are you happy with the skin you have? 

Do you wish your skin looked like someone else's? 

Do you feel you fall short because you don't look like the filter-perfect-skin you see on Instagram? 

Do you have realistic expectations for your skin?

Do you know how to care for your skin? 

After I posted this on Instagram, 

"Skin care isn't about having perfect skin, it's about having healthy skin." - Shannon Sorensen, Founder, CEO, Fairface

I started to wonder, what are people's expectations for their skin? And beyond that, what are my own?

What it's like having Rosacea

I've shared openly on the Fairface Podcast, what's it's like living with sensitive skin and Rosacea, and what has helped me along the way.

Although I am able to manage my Rosacea today very well, it was a different story 12 years ago when I was first diagnosed. Rosacea has left its mark on my skin and my soul. 

My skin is far from perfect and I can thank medium coverage make-up for hiding most of my flaws. I have tiny blood vessels on my cheeks, a perpetual rosy complexion, and a self-conscious dislike for leaving the house without make-up on. I have bumps and spots that show my age, and every year I wonder, "will this be the year I have them lasered? Will they just come back, and how many more will pop up over time?"

I take my skin care routine seriously (probably more than most). I don't go a day without sunscreen or a night without washing my face before bed, and I have a slight obsession with changing my pillow case each night. 

Are my rosacea skin care goals realistic?

The truth of it is, Rosacea cannot be cured, but it can be managed. Although my skin will never look like Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman or Cindy Crawford, I feel blessed with the skin I have and I try to honor it by taking care of it the best I can. 

If I focus on having "perfect skin", like celebrities appear, or even the flawless-filtered-skin on Instagram, I will always fall short and feel inadequate.

The goal is not to have perfect skin, and instead, to keep my Rosacea-prone skin healthy, which is much more realistic and also much more attainable. 

Is Healthy Skin Possible with Rosacea?

Can you have Rosacea and still have healthy skin? Yes! 

By focusing on maintaining a healthy skin skin barrier, i.e. the outer layer of your skin, you can maintain healthy Rosacea skin by: 

• Following a gentle skin care routine (I love Fairface soft flannel washcloths, Vanicream Cleanser and CeraVe moisturizing cream.)

• Wearing sun protection every day (I love Eucerin's SPF 30 daily sunscreen)

• Using make-up that is appropriate for your skin & doesn't irritate (I wear Mary Kay foundation)

• Eliminating your triggers by watching your environment and what you eat to prevent flushing as much as possible

• Meeting with a Dermatologist annually to get the best advice on treatments to help manage your Rosacea. (*I use Metronidazole gel on my skin daily to help prevent and clear flares)

This is totally do-able, right? 

Healthy skin care goals that are easy to maintain. That's what we're after! 

Having Rosacea doesn't mean you can't have healthy skin, it just means your skin needs a little extra TLC. With the right products and following good skin care habits, you've got the steps in place to be successful and happy with your own skin!

xo Shannon

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Best Showering Routine for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin

Is there such a thing as showering in the wrong order? It turns out, with sensitive skin conditions like Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis and even acne, the order in which you wash does make a difference to your skin.

Sensitive skin conditions can be easily irritated by skin care products used while showering, from the type of body wash you use, to your facial cleansers and even shampoos and conditioners.  

For this reason, the order in which you wash your face, body and hair matters, so you don't leave behind anything on your skin that can be potentially irritating.

If you are using products for your body, face and hair that are ALL made for sensitive skin, you'll have less worry about possible residue irritation.

If your hair products are not made specifically for sensitive skin, your body or face may not tolerate any residual product left behind and result in itching, redness or even a rash. 

Showering Routine for Sensitive Skin

1st Wash your hair

Just because you use your shampoo and conditioner on your hair, doesn't mean you want to use it on your face or body. Facial skin can be particularly sensitive to chemicals used in hair care products. By washing and conditioning your hair first, you'll be able to rinse off any shampoo or conditioner left behind on your face or body. However, just because it's rinsed off, doesn't mean it's totally gone.

2nd Wash your body

After washing your hair, wash your body. This will allow any remaining shampoo or conditioner that may have been left behind on your skin, to be washed away by your body wash, and then rinsed off. 

By washing your body 2nd, and before washing your face, it will also give you extra time in the water to ensure all your body wash is rinsed off. Although body wash may be gentle to your skin in the shower, if it's not rinsed off completely, the residue may have the potential to irritate your skin.

3rd Wash your face

Because your face is generally the most sensitive skin, over body and scalp, it's important to wash it last, so the last thing you have on your skin is your sensitive skin face wash. We love Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser and Fairface Delicate Flannel Facecloths for Rosacea, Eczema and other sensitive skin conditions.

Be sure to completely rinse off your facial cleanser before stepping out of the shower, and seal the moisture into your clean skin with a soothing face cream while your skin is still moist. We love CeraVe moisturizing cream.

This sensitive skin showering routine has helped me a lot. Having Rosacea and sensitive skin, myself, I am always looking for ways to prevent irritation to my skin. I have to admit, there have been a few times that I have hurried through showering and haven't completely followed these steps and have had itchy spots on my face and body. So stick to it, and you won't be sorry!

Have you tried these sensitive skin showering routine tips? How did it work for you? Let us know in the comments below!

xo Shannon

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