Rosacea Skin Tips: How to Protect Your Skin While on Vacation

Your skin is already more vulnerable to sensitivity when you travel because of the difference in climate, lack of sleep, change in diet and even the water you wash your face with (which may be treated with softeners or other chemicals your skin isn't used to).

Here are- 

4 of the BEST tips for keeping your Rosacea-prone skin free from flares 

so you can look and feel your best and enjoy your vacation!

4 Tips for protecting your Rosacea prone skin on vacation

1. Bring your own washcloths and drying towels for your face

Did you know that using the washcloths and towels supplied by your hotel, Airbnb or even family or friends, have the potential to cause irritation to your skin? 

Your face, in particular, may be triggered by the textures, laundry detergents, bleaching agents or even fabric softeners used when laundering the washcloths and towels, that can lead to redness and irritation to your skin. 

Protect your Rosacea prone skin by controlling the unknowns. 

Bring your own soft Fairface Washcloths, which are super gentle to Rosacea and sensitive skin, so you can wash your face and not have to worry about anything. It can also be helpful to bring some extra small towels or drying cloths as well. 

2. Bring your own skin and hair care products

Free hotel shampoos, lotions and soaps may be tempting because they're FREE but they can also cause irritation to your skin. 

Swap out the free hotel toiletries for your own. 

Stick to your regular Rosacea skin care routine by bringing your own skin care products, as well as travel size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that your skin is already accustomed to. 

And don't even think about using those awful waxy hotel bar soaps. 

TIP: Use your body wash or facial cleanser to wash your hands.

3. Bring your own tissue

I think we can all agree that the tissue and toilet paper in most hotels is far from soft. With sensitive skin, and Rosacea in particular, using abrasive tissue on your nose can lead to unwanted redness and irritation.

While bringing tissue might seem like an unnecessary addition to your vacation toiletry bag, having soft tissues on hand can help protect your skin, alleviate redness, and make a big difference to your Rosacea prone skin.

4. Bring your own pillow and/or pillow cases

Not only can hotel pillows or pillows from other accommodations cause allergies to flare, the pillow cases that cover them can also cause irritation to sensitive skin.

Laundry detergent, fabric softeners and pillow case textures can cause redness and irritation to Rosacea and sensitive skin. 

By bringing your own pillow and/or extra, soft pillow cases, you can sleep on a clean pillow case as often as possible, and protect your skin by controlling what your face is pressed against for 8 hours.

It may take a little extra work and a bit more luggage room, but following these 4 travel tips can really help protect your Rosacea prone, sensitive skin while you are on vacation!

Rosacea & Sensitive Skin Tips

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Diagnosed with Rosacea? 4 Simple next steps to help your skin

Being diagnosed with Rosacea can be a bit overwhelming. I remember what it felt like the day my Dermatologist verified what I'd already googled (I know, I couldn't help myself). 

My red, itchy, acne-like skin was indeed mild to moderate Rosacea. And although I had a new topical prescription in hand, I didn't really know what else to do once I walked out that door. 

He hadn't recommended anything else. 

Was I supposed to use a certain cleanser? 

Could I still use the skin care products I was using on my skin?  

He didn't tell me any of that. 

I was so relieved he'd given me a prescription to help clear my skin but I didn't really know what to do next.

If you've recently been diagnosed with Rosacea by a skin care professional, I want to share with you what I learned so you don't have to stumble around in the dark trying to figure out what to do next.

Just Diagnosed with Rosacea? 4 Simple Next Steps to help you care for your skin

1. Create a new gentle Rosacea-safe skin care routine

This was the BIGGEST thing I needed help with after walking out of my appointment. How was I supposed to wash my face now that I had Rosacea? What face wash was I supposed to use? What about a Rosacea-safe moisturizer? Help! 

Thanks to the recommendation of a dermatologist and my own trial and error over the years, I have found the holy grail of Rosacea skin care, or as I also like to call it: 

The Rosacea Skin Care Dream Team

ROSACEA SAFE CLEANSER 

My favorite: Vanicream gentle cleanser. It is so gentle and creamy on my skin, without any irritation at all and cleans really well without stripping my skin's natural oils. I can often find it at Target or Walgreens.

ROSACEA SAFE FACE CLOTHS 

My favorite: Fairface Soft Flannel Face cloths. These are the only face cloths I will use on my Rosacea prone skin. I need more than just my fingertips to clean my skin, and these are the next best thing! They are so soft and gentle, and don't cause any irritation to my sensitive skin. Find them at FairfaceWashcloths.com and FairfaceWashcloths.etsy.com.

ROSACEA SAFE MOISTURIZERS 

My favorite: CeraVe moisturizing cream OR Vanicream lite lotion I have used both moisturizers safely on my Rosacea prone skin. I tend to use CeraVe because I love its thicker, creamier coverage, but Vanicream is a very nice lighter-weight option if you don't want something very thick. 

I can safely say I use all of these sensitive skin products every day and have had no irritation from them whatsoever. It is so important to wash your face gently morning and night and always moisturize. Also be sure to use any topical medications as prescribed by your dermatologist and for daytime, sunscreen is a must (as we discuss in #3)! 

2. Sleep on the right pillow case and change it often to help decrease Rosacea flares

This is such an easy way to keep your skin cleaner (and clearer)! After all your effort to keep your skin clear and calm, you don't want to "undue it" by sleeping on a dirty pillow case. Plus, sleeping on a clean, cooling pillow case can be so good for Rosacea by keeping your skin cooler at night with less flushing. 

Best pillow cases for rosacea, eczema and sensitive skin Photo ©Fairface™

ROSACEA SAFE PILLOW CASE 

My favorite: Silk-Cotton Pillowcases from Fairface. These pillow cases not only feel soft and silky against my skin, it also reduces heat on my face through the night which means less flushing (so important for rosacea!). Plus, the glide of the fabric reduces friction to my skin and hair throughout the night, decreasing new fine lines and hair breakage. I'll take 2 please!

3. Apply sunscreen daily to protect Rosacea prone skin

I haven't always had the best relationship with sunscreen, but once I did, there was no looking back. There is no better way to protect your skin from aging and damage than wearing sunscreen AND it is vital for keeping your Rosacea prone skin protected and healthy. 

According to the National Rosacea Society, exposure to the sun is named as one of the top triggers for rosacea flares and can also cause severe redness and visible blood vessels on the skin. Protect, protect, protect!

ROSACEA SAFE SUNSCREENS - My favorite: I have been using Eucerin Daily SPF 30 on my face, neck, chest and arms for years and my skin tolerates it well.  

It is often recommended that those with Rosacea choose a UVA/UVB protecting, non-chemical sunscreen (those that reflect sunlight, rather than absorbing UV rays) containing zinc or titanium dioxide, to lessen the possibility of irritation.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 50 comes highly recommended but I haven't tried it myself.  

4. Choose make-up that is safe for Rosacea and sensitive skin  

Once you calm, protect and manage your skin (steps 1-3) you can celebrate it! I think of make-up as the "cherry on top" of healthy skin. 

The key to wearing make-up if you have Rosacea, is choosing make-up that won't irritate your skin. Honestly, finding the right make-up can feel like starting at step 1 again and be very overwhelming. So many choices, and the last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of money on products that might not be right for your skin, or even worse, irritate it!

Choose brands made for sensitive skin and/or Rosacea for the best chance of finding products that won't irritation your skin.

ROSACEA SAFE FOUNDATION MAKE-UP 

My favorite: I have been using Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation for years and my skin has tolerated it well, HOWEVER, that's all about to change. This particular foundation has been discontinued and I will be looking for a new foundation. Ugh.

My next "Rosacea friendly" foundation to try is from It Cosmetics, because it was initially created by someone with Rosacea herself (Jamie Kern Lima). Fingers crossed. I will share my experience once I've used it.  Have you tried it?

OTHER MAKE-UP FOR ROSACEA PRONE SKIN

I, personally, only wear foundation, eye liner and mascara (Maybelline eye liner and Loreal mascara). I also have Ocular Rosacea (read more about Ocular Rosacea ) so sometimes eye make-up can sting my eyes. My eyes have tolerated these products well, so for now they are what I use.

I found a Rosacea forum where people discuss products they've tried, so you could check that out.  

Do you have any Rosacea safe recommendations for eye make-up or other make-up? Please share in the comments!

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Getting diagnosed with Rosacea doesn't have to feel overwhelming or scary if you find the right products and routines to keep your skin stay calm and clear. I hope this has helped!

I'd love to hear your own experience with Rosacea and any products or favorite tips you'd like to share! Comment below, or reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook @FairfaceWashcloths - I'd love to hear from you!

xo Shannon

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Shannon Sorensen is the Founder and CEO of Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin

SHOP: 

Fairface Washcloths, the softest washcloths and face cloths for sensitive skin:

FairfaceWashcloths.com or FairfaceWashcloths.etsy.com

Prevent Rosacea break-outs while you sleep

If I had my way, pillow cases would be sold in the skin care aisle. 

Most people don't know that a clean pillow case is a really important part of keeping your skin clear. You don't want to work hard all week at following your skin care routine, only to put bacteria back on your face for 8 hours a night!

Keeping your skin clear and free from breakouts and Rosacea flares is something we all strive for. 

Since prevention is key to keeping your skin clear, washing your face every night and morning with gentle products, staying away from Rosacea triggers, and faithfully sticking to your skin care routine is of the utmost importance. 

So what happens, after all your diligence, when you wake up in the morning to a Rosacea flare or breakout that seemingly came out of nowhere? It can be devastating.

If you're like me, you instantly begin mentally scrolling through the previous day's activities and food consumption. It can be a little tortuous trying to pinpoint what could have caused your flare or break-out.

One thing you shouldn't ever have to wonder about, though, is whether your break-out was caused by a dirty pillow case. NOPE! NO WAY, NO HOW!

One of the easiest ways to prevent break-outs, *in tandem with a Rosacea friendly skin care routine*, is to sleep on a clean pillow case.  A clean pillow case can help prevent the dirt & bacteria that collects on your pillow case, from transferring onto your skin, which can lead to break-outs and Rosacea flares while you sleep.

How often should you change your pillow case?

Dermatologists recommend changing out your pillowcase anywhere from every few days to every day, even if you wash your face every night.

I am a clean pillow case fanatic, and use a clean pillow case every other night...but sleep on a clean pillow case every night. Huh? No, it's not a riddle (I've never been one to love riddles), it's a method.

The Clear Skin Pillow Case Method

Night 1: Put on a clean pillow case and sleep on one side

Night 2: Flip that same pillow case over and sleep on the clean side

Night 3: Put on a clean pillow case and start the rotation over again

Is it a little obsessive? 

Maybe.

But does it work? 

Yes. 

So is it worth it? 

Yes!

How many pillow cases do you need?

My philosophy? You can never have too many washcloths or pillowcases 🥰

We recommend having at least 4-5 pillow cases if you do laundry every week. That way, if you start with a clean pillow case on Sunday, and follow the Clear Skin Pillow Case Method, you'll always have a clean pillow case to sleep on. 

And if you travel? Always bring your own pillow case and extras with you, so if you're like me, you own a lot more than 4-5.

What kind of pillow case is best for Rosacea?

I've mentioned before how much I love my new silk-cotton pillow cases.

Silk-cotton pillow cases are great for preventing fine lines & hair frizz, & silk is also a good temperature regulator so your face won't get hot through the night and flush (important for Rosacea!).

Silk-cotton pillow cases are also known to produce less friction against your skin and hair and don't absorb moisture so are less drying and provide a cleaner sleep surface through the night.

100% cotton pillow cases also come recommended by Dermatologists due to cotton's breathable qualities. Just be sure to choose cotton that is soft against your skin so it doesn't cause unwanted friction against your face.

Personally, I love both silk-cotton and soft cotton pillow cases. Both feel good against my skin and don't make my face feel hot at night.  From what research indicates, both a silk pillow case and breathable, soft 100% cotton are excellent choices for Rosacea and sensitive skin types.

Avoid anything that makes your face feel hotter during the night (like satin or microfiber), which can contribute to Rosacea flares.

How should I wash my pillow case?

How you wash your pillow case can be just as important as your efforts to use a clean one.

For sensitive skin and Rosacea, use a fragrance-free detergent made for sensitive skin (right now I'm using All's Free and Clear) & NO fabric softener. 

Standard detergents and fabric softeners often use added scents and other chemicals that can be irritating to sensitive skin. Detergent is washed out, but fabric softeners stay on. 

For facial skin, it's best to avoid fabric softeners on anything you will be putting against your face, even if it says fragrance free.

Don't over-do it on the detergent! I know I have been guilty of this. More often than not, too much laundry soap is added to a load and not all washed out during a rinse cycle. Sensitive skin, in particular, can get irritated by remnants of detergent left behind. 

When in doubt, run another quick rinse cycle to make sure everything is rinsed properly, and take it easy on the laundry detergent!

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Do you have any Rosacea Skin Care Tips you follow that help you? Leave us a comment or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram @FairfaceWashcloths. We'd love to connect with you!

And don't forget to add Fairface Washcloths to your Rosacea or Sensitive Skin care routine! Wash without worry! Our washcloths are made soft and gentle for Rosacea, Eczema and sensitive skin and the only thing you should be using against your skin...besides a clean pillow case. ;)