Do You Need a Rosacea Skin Exam Every Year? 4 Reasons to do it

Do you need to have a yearly skin exam if you have Rosacea?

In my experience, after being diagnosed with Rosacea back around 2009, there are

Top 4 Reasons to have a Yearly Rosacea Skin Exam:

1. To make sure any medications you are using are working and discuss different treatment options

2. To renew current medications

3. To discuss any changes to your skin regarding your rosacea

4. To prevent your Rosacea from getting worse, as can be the case if it is not treated or managed effectively.

Other Reasons it's important to have a yearly Rosacea skin exam:

• Since there is no cure for Rosacea, you need to look at this as any other medical condition you would need to continue treating throughout your life.

• There may be times when your Rosacea feels more "in control" than others, but just because your skin is clearer does not mean your rosacea is cured. Rosacea flares more readily due to things like stress, extreme temperatures, certain foods, or other triggers specific to you. 

• The truth is, you should schedule a Rosacea Skin Exam every year for the rest of your life to ensure you are staying on top of your condition and keeping your skin as healthy as you can.  

• You may not notice something on your skin that a trained skin care professional may see. 

• There may also be new options available to treat your Rosacea that you may not have heard of and a Dermatologist is the best source to get that type of information from.

 

The best skin care products to use for Rosacea

Just as important as having your Rosacea skin exam each year, is using the right products on your rosacea prone skin year round.

I have been using skin care products on my skin that have been recommended or approved by my dermatologist, and my skin has never looked better. 

I have been following this routine faithfully for many years and it has kept my skin clear and free from redness, irritation and most rosacea flares. I hope it can help you too!

 

My Rosacea Skin Care Routine 

Metronidazone Gel

I have been using Metronidazole Gel since I was diagnosed with Rosacea and it has helped keep my rosacea clear. It is only available by prescription and with insurance, is very reasonably priced. A single tube lasts me several months.

Vanicream Cleanser

This is my very favorite gentle cleanser. I have tried others like Eucerin Redness Relief cleanser and CeraVe gentle cleanser and this is my favorite. It cleans really well without making my skin dry or tight and doesn't irritate my skin at all. It is very creamy and gentle. I use it ever day.

Soft flannel Fairface Washcloths

These are the ONLY washcloths I will use on my face! I noticed a difference right away when I stopped using regular terrycloth washcloths and switched to these soft flannel face cloths. There is absolutely no redness or irritation. They are soft and gentle to my skin. Highly recommend! 

 

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

I used to use Vanicream lite lotion, but found it didn't give me quite enough moisture. When I switched to CeraVe's moisturizing cream I couldn't believe the difference. My skin felt much softer and it was very moisturizing and healing to my skin. This is the only moisturizer I will use on my face.

Eucerin Daily SPF 30

Using sunscreen every day to protect rosacea prone skin is vital to keeping it healthy. I have been using Eucerin's Daily SPF 30 for years. It is the perfect light weight consistency. It goes on smoothly and disappears into my skin.  I use foundation over it once it has dried and it goes on smoothly. This is my daily go-to face SPF.

Taking care of your Rosacea prone skin doesn't have to be complicated 

If you follow these simple guidelines to have a Rosacea Skin Exam every year and use gentle products to keep you skin barrier healthy year round, you will find your Rosacea prone skin stays clear and is easier to manage than you thought.

Make your Rosacea skin exam today and stock up on these gentle skin care products to jump start your healthy skin care routine today!

Advice from someone with Rosacea and Sensitive skin

Have you ever gotten unsolicited advice about Rosacea or sensitive skin issues, from someone with perfect skin? It doesn't go very far. 

But when someone offers help who has lived through it themselves and actually "gets it"? I'll listen all day long.

I decided to launch the Fairface Podcast back in 2020, based around my small business making Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin, and offering real talk and advice about Rosacea and sensitive skin issues, based on my own experiences.

A place to share and give advice about Rosacea and sensitive skin

Although it's still a bit in its infancy at this point, with a whole 27 episodes under my belt so far, I've loved coming up with new topics and having a place to share my own experiences with Rosacea and sensitive skin issues, wellness topics, and what it's like to run a small business. Through what I share, I hope to connect with and help other people dealing with the same issues.

It's also a place our Fairface Washcloths customers get to peek behind the scenes and get to know me and my personality a little bit better (although honestly, I'm a lot funnier in real life).

Fairface Podcast Recap

In case you missed it, here's a recap of all of our Fairface Podcast Episodes, as of the end of 2021. I'm looking forward to sharing more interesting topics with you and even adding special guest appearances.

If you are navigating through your own journey with Rosacea or sensitive skin issues, I hope these episodes can help you. 

If you have a topic or question you'd like me to cover, please leave me a comment below! I'd love to connect with you! Thanks so much for being here!

Fairface Podcast by Topic 

Topics include Rosacea, sensitive skin care, sensitive skin products, skin care organization, skin and diet, emergency hygiene, wellness, and small business. 

• Links will go to the Podcast episode show notes page for you to listen, read, or both! 

• You can also listen on Apple / iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, & Radio Public. Enjoy!

ROSACEA

What it’s like Living with Rosacea

8 ways to calm Rosacea redness this winter

6 Eye Soothing Tips for Ocular Rosacea

Keeping Rosacea prone skin cooler in the summer heat: 20 Tips

10 Tips to Finding the Right Foundation for Rosacea-prone Skin

SENSITIVE SKIN CARE

The Psychology of Skincare

The Sensitive Skin Care Top 5: What you should be doing for your skin right now

Do I really need to wash my face?

8 Face Washing Tips for Healthy Skin

Sunscreen Diaries: Part 1 + A special message and support of Black Lives Matter

Sunscreen Diaries: Part 2

SENSITIVE SKIN PRODUCTS

Soft Face Masks for Sensitive Skin - Fairface Behind the Scenes

Pillow Talk for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin

SKIN CARE ORGANIZATION

How to Edit your Skin Care Products - for your Face and in your Space

SKIN AND DIET

Does Clean Eating = Clear Skin?

EMERGENCY HYGIENE

How to make your own 72 hour Emergency Hygiene Kit

WELLNESS

10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

3 Ways to Calm Your Worry during the Coronavirus

The Self-care Super 6

How to hear your Inner Voice 

SMALL BUSINESS

The voice behind the brand - Welcome to Fairface

Story Time! Behind the scenes of my small business

The story behind our name: Fairface Washcloths

New Fairface products and big dreams

Bringing a product to market: a maker’s perspective

A look back and look ahead: Fairface 2020 & 2021

Selling as an Introverted People Pleaser

Stress and Rosacea: how to calm your skin

"With all the stress I'm under right now from the fears and anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus, how will my skin be able to handle the stress? The last thing I need is for my Rosacea to start flaring. Are stress and Rosacea related? And if so, what can I do about it?"

[*Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

Do these questions sound familiar to you? Maybe you've been thinking about this yourself as the stress mounts, the home-stay weeks feel more like months, and we have more questions than answers.

You're not alone in your quest to find peace amidst all the worry and anxiety. And for those of us with skin conditions, like Rosacea, we can't help but wonder how long it will be before the stress starts to show up on our skin?

Luckily, I am prepared and have all my favorite Rosacea-friendly skin care products stocked up at home, but is that enough to keep my Rosacea at bay? Will my skin start to show the stress, currently plaguing my mind?

Never fear, let's look at what one very reputable source (one of my favorites) says about stress and Rosacea flares: The National Rosacea Society.

Can Stress cause Rosacea flares?

From all the information I devoured on their website, the answer to whether stress and Rosacea flares are related, is an undeniable YES. 

Emotional stress has been identified as a common trigger among people with Rosacea. One study cited almost 80% of respondents identified emotional stress as a Rosacea trigger for them.

I know I could raise my hand right along with them. Emotional stress, particularly when I get flushed from feeling all the feelings, totally gets my Rosacea flaring.

They went on to say that the tricky thing about Rosacea, is that if you are flaring because of emotional distress, the Rosacea flares only make the emotional distress worse. And no one wants that.

So, what can we do to prevent the stress in our lives from triggering a Rosacea flare, creating a cycle of chaos on our face?

How to Prevent Rosacea Flares during Stressful Times

Dr. Grossbart, as cited in an article from the National Rosacea Society, suggests implementing stress management techniques of mind and body to reduce emotional stress, thereby reducing the chances of having stress-related Rosacea flares.

Care for your body and mind by: 

• Paying attention to what you are eating

• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day

• Making time for exercise

• Making sure to get enough good sleep

• Practicing meditation - like deep breathing, visualization, relaxation exercises

• Taking positive action by focusing on things you can take action on, instead of getting stuck in the worry of things out of your control.

How to Reduce Stress on your Rosacea Prone Skin

In addition to reducing overall stress to your mind and body, it's also very important to maintain or enhance your normal Rosacea skin care routine so there aren't additional stressors to your skin.

Care for your Rosacea-prone skin by:

• Keeping up with your regular cleansing routine

• Using a clean soft washcloth for each wash to maintain clear skin

• Adding additional products as needed, with healing ingredients

• Continuing to use your topical medications 

• Getting an extra prescription on hand if you are running low *I actually did this myself. I use Metronidazole gel and asked my dermatologist for one refill during this period of home-stay and she graciously called it in for me.

• Sleeping on a clean pillow case each night can also help keep skin clear. I love to sleep on *my favorite silk pillow cases that are super soothing to my skin and hair. Sleep on one side and flip the pillow over for the next night. Then change pillow cases. *affiliate link - see disclosure below

Are we all totally stressed out right now due to the Corona virus? Yes. But it doesn't mean we can't still find ways to bring our minds,  bodies and skin back to a place of peace and calm.

By implementing these changes (or continuing the good habits you've already made) you can get through this *temporary* change of life in a mindful way with lower stress and anxiety and your skin will follow suit.

*As an Amazon Associate I may make a small percentage on any purchases made through my links.

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How are you handling the stress of the corona virus? Have you seen your skin react in a negative way to the stress? Do you have any good tips that have helped you and your skin right now? Please share your experiences below in the comments. I'd love to know!

You can also check in with us on social media:
@FairfaceWashcloths on Instagram and Facebook

Wishing you the best and stay well! 

The Rosacea Diet: Fact or Fiction

photo: brooke lark on unsplash

If I told you there was an easy solution to reducing your Rosacea flares just by what you ate every day, would you believe me? Is there really such a thing as a Rosacea Diet?

This topic is a personal one for me, since I have had Rosacea for just over 10 years. Can what we eat every day really help reduce our flares and ease and calm Rosacea? I decided to find out.

DOES WHAT WE EAT EFFECT OUR SKIN AND ROSACEA?

We know diet does indeed have an effect on our skin. Not drinking enough water = dehydrated skin; eating foods that trigger our skin to react = acne, hives, redness, rosacea flares. Food and skin are not independent of one another.

THE DIET - ROSACEA CONNECTION

Rosacea Trigger foods 

Foods that cause a reaction or aggravation of Rosacea on the skin, causing it to flare-up, including flushing, itching, redness and acne like bumps called Pistules, are often called trigger foods. (see Rosacea.org for a lists of common food triggers)

What I know personally, is that my Rosacea gets worse when I eat sugar. Without fail, every time I drink a can of soda, or eat sugary treats, I can count on having a Rosacea flare either within a few hours or at least by the next morning. Sometimes I still eat or drink it on purpose and gauge whether it's "worth the risk" while other times I won't touch it. I have a big sweet tooth so avoiding sugar is really hard for me and I'm not always successful, but I do know sugar is one of the things that will bring my Rosacea out of hibernation, even if it has been calm for a while.

Inflammation 

Your body's way of protecting and defending itself against injury, illness or infection, is called inflammation. It can be situational or chronic and while you can't always see inflammation going on inside your body, it can show up on your skin as redness, swelling, heat and irritation.

Eating too much sugar is linked to inflammation in the body.
Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition affecting the face.

According to Rachel Devine, a holistic aesthetician, & creator of a certified organic skin care line, "Every single skin condition is caused internally."
Source: Room to Grow Podcast Episode #15 by Emily Gough

Read that again. It's so powerful and makes so much sense.

She went on to say, "Just because (our skin) is an external organ, a lot of people forget that it's an organ and when there's inflammation on the skin (Rosacea, acne or anything like that) it's really important to think of it at that point as being an organ...because if our liver's inflamed, we're going to do something about it. But a lot of people think, "oh my skin's inflamed I've just got to put some chemicals on there and hopefully it will all go away", but it doesn't work like that."

CHANGING OUR DIET CAN HELP REDUCE ROSACEA FLARES

My Rosacea Diet Test

photo: jason briscoe on unsplash

In a survey by the National Rosacea Society, 73% of Rosacea participants reduced occurrences of rosacea flare-ups by changing their diets (N=516).

So a couple months ago I decided to put this idea to the test: would changing my diet really improve my skin?  To be totally honest, my "new diet" really came from the fact that I was tired of squeezing myself into my tight pants, but clearer skin might be a bonus? Right?

What I did every day:

• Ate tons of veggies like a crazy person. And I do mean crazy. Like brussels sprouts and broccoli for breakfast kind of crazy. And an overabundance of veggies at every meal - sometimes they were even the main course (gasp!) 
• Eliminated high inflammation foods like bread, crackers, gluten, processed sugars, ice cream, soda pop, most dairy
• Ate a variety of fruits and added them to smoothies along with spinach, carrots, kale, & almond milk
• Ate lots of salmon
• Ate less lean meats
• Ate nuts for snacks
• Exercised at least 30 minutes a day (walked on a treadmill & biked outside)
• Drank a lot more water

RESULTS

What happened?
My skin looked really good.
And I'm not just saying that.
For real, I would look in the mirror and think, wow, I can really see a difference.

I think my skin had been dehydrated but also malnourished. While I did all the right things on the outside of my skin everyday, I hadn't been doing all the right things on the inside. And it really did make a difference.

THE ROSACEA DIET: HEALING FROM THE INSIDE-OUT

While there's no clear-cut "Rosacea Diet" with exact recipes and food plans to follow (because our bodies are all different), it's all about adapting our every day diet by adding and subtracting so we get less of the wrong things and more of the right ones.

Part of this equation is figuring out what your body likes and doesn't like. The National Rosacea Society suggests keeping a food diary to more easily track how your skin reacts to certain foods. For me, I know that eating mainly vegetables and fruits, fish and lean meats, while eliminating processed sugars, and certain carbs, and drinking more water, helped my skin look clearer. For someone else, maybe a food allergy test would help to specifically identify foods that cause an inflammatory reaction in their body.

Other Factors That May Trigger Rosacea

While diet can play an important role in reducing rosacea flare-ups, it’s not the only factor that can affect sensitive skin. Heat, stress, sun exposure, and skin irritation are also common triggers.

Because rosacea-prone skin is easily irritated, many people find that keeping their cleansing routine very gentle helps minimize redness. Using soft cloths and avoiding harsh scrubbing tools can help protect the skin barrier and prevent additional irritation.

You can read more about gentle cleansing methods for rosacea skin here.

How to Start Your Own Rosacea Diet

Step 1: SUBTRACT

1) Stop eating foods you know are bad for you and your skin (ie processed sugars and other foods that increase inflammation in the body).
2) Keep a food journal to track what you eat every day, how you feel and how your skin reacts to it.
3) Identify any new dietary triggers and inflammatory foods and eliminate them from your diet.

Step 2: ADD

1) Make eating clean, anti-inflammatory foods your goal
2) Turn yourself into a nutritional powerhouse by loading up your cells with vegetables, fruits, healthy fats (olives, avocados), salmon and foods with Omega 3s.
3) Create a notebook or Pinterest board and add your favorite healthy recipes to keep you motivated and inspired (check out Arthritis.org for lists of anti-inflammatory foods and recipes)


Be patient with yourself! This process does take discipline and time, but it will be worth it in the long run (and even short-term!) The benefits don't just stay with your skin, you may also lose some unwanted weight and be healthier.

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Have you tried altering your diet to help combat your Rosacea? We'd love to learn about your experience. Leave us a comment below!

Sensitive Skin Tips

If you enjoy articles like this, you might like Fairface Insider — a quiet monthly note with sensitive skin tips, early access to new launches, and occasional private offers.

Join here:
insider.fairfacewashcloths.com

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This article was written by Shannon Sorensen, M.A. Human Development, sensitive skin care advocate and founder of Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin.

Fairface Washcloths are an important addition to your skin care routine if you have Rosacea or sensitive skin. Gentle cleansing is vital to breaking the cycle of redness and irritation. Try Fairface Washcloths today! Your skin will thank you.

5 Fall Skin Care Rules to Reduce Rosacea Flares

Did anyone else wake up at 4am, Sept 23rd, to ring in the fall equinox? No? Just me?

When I read the night before that the official fall equinox was beginning at 3:50am in the morning, I think it seeped too far into my brain, thus triggering a 4am wake-up call to nothing but the official arrival of fall whilst laying awake in complete darkness.

While this change of season means less daylight per day (thru December 21, 2019, the official time of winter solstice), what does it mean for your skin? Do you need to do anything differently for your Rosacea-prone skin in the fall?

I wanted to share these 5 Rosacea skin care rules I personally live by as the seasons change, to help my skin adapt to the weather and conditions without skipping a beat.

[*Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

5 Tips to Reduce Rosacea Flares this Fall 

1.  Stay hydrated

Drinking more water hydrates and plumps your skin cells, flushes out toxins and improves circulation and blood flow. It is listed on Rosacea.org as a top tip for healthy skin, since dehydrated skin is more prone to flare-ups, irritation and sensitivity.

2.  Keep your skin moisturized

A common problem associated with Rosacea is the facial skin barrier dysfunction which makes facial skin unable to retain water. Moisturizers are an important part of a Rosacea skin care routine to lock in as much moisture as possible, so make sure to apply moisturizer every day while your skin is still moist. If you use a topical medication for your Rosacea, like I do, my dermatologist told me medication first, moisturizer second.

3. Keep wearing sunscreen

You know how I feel about sunscreen. Sunscreen 365. I wear it every day without fail, rain or shine  and in Seattle, where I live, it's often cloudy and even rainy. Do I still wear sunscreen in the fall? Heck yes! It is a physical layer of protection from the elements and UVB & UVA rays that are still there, even in cloud cover or rain. Wear it religiously. It's most often the number 1 skin care recommendation that skin care professionals make. If you do nothing else, wear sunscreen (but ps, please also wash your face).

4. Dress in layers 

One of my big pet peeves as the weather starts to get cooler, is places that crank up their heaters like it's below zero outside. Since flushing often leads to Rosacea flares, it's really important to maintain a comfortable body temperature. Since you can't control someone's thermostat, dressing in layers will allow you to still wear the stylish outfit, but take a layer off if needed, so if rooms starts to heat up, you can layer down before you face gets flushed. I personally like to wear a cute graphic tee and a colorful cardigan. Peeling off the outer layer can give you instant relief.

5. Choose a cooler version of your favorite cold weather drinks

One of my favorite things to do with my mom in the fall and winter, is grab a Starbucks hot chocolate, with a shot of caramel. Mmmmm. Just writing this makes my mouth water. The downside to drinking something hot like hot chocolate or coffee is the heat that it brings to our face and body. If you were lost in a snowstorm and someone handed you a thermos of hot chocolate, you'd be all in, but if you have Rosacea, you need to watch your heat intake.

One trick I've found that works well for me at Starbucks is to ask them to make my drink lower temperature, or even "kid temperature". Not only does this make it more comfortable to sip down, it helps eliminate flushing brought on from drinking something hot.

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Do you have any fall skin care secrets or products to share that help keep your Rosacea at bay in cold temperatures? We'd love to hear from you!


I also included links to some of my favorite products to help with the 5 Rosacea fall skin care rules I discussed. If the links are thru Amazon, please note that I may make a small commission on purchases through these links.

Thanks for reading! xo

Shannon
Founder, Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin





RELATED PRODUCTS WE RECOMMEND:

STAY HYDRATED




STAY MOISTURIZED




WEAR SUNSCREEN 365






CARDIGANS & TEES TO LAYER

• I've found good deals on cardigan sweaters at Target and Macys
• Favorite place for cheap graphic tees - Old Navy

photo credit: Timothy L Brock on unsplash

OUR FAVORITE STARBUCKS REFILLABLE TRAVEL CUP & HOT CHOCOLATE



*or make it yourself and choose your own water temperature!




**If you're making your own, don't forget a splash of Caramel syrup in your hot chocolate...mmmmm

Favorite Rosacea-friendly skin care products from a celebrity make-up artist

We all know that the best recommendations for Rosacea skin care products (beyond aestheticians & dermatologists) come from those of us who actually have Rosacea and use the products ourselves.

A recent interview with celebrity make-up artist Christina Grant, who also happens to have Rosacea herself, revealed some of her favorite Rosacea-friendly skin care and make-up products. Since her life revolves around not only glamming up stars on broadway, tv, and movie sets with make-up and healthy skin care methods, she also has to be vigilant about keeping up her own skin's health and appearance. 

[*Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

Rosacea Triggers

Christina shared that, common to many, her Rosacea affects both her skin and eyes. Some of her triggers are food related (i.e. too much gluten and wine) and working outdoors in weather conditions of all types. Wind, in particular, plays havoc with her skin and eyes.

Favorite Rosacea Skin care Products for Protection and Gentle Cleansing

Her recommendation for protecting her skin while working outdoors, is applying a thermal skin protectant, before heading out, to shield her skin from the elements. To calm her skin after being out in harsh conditions, she likes products from the Dermalogica Ultra Calming line. Her favorite essentials are the Dermalogica UltraCalming cleanser and Dermalogica Barrier Repair.

She also loves Fairface Washcloths for gentle sensitive skin cleansing and make-up removal.  Pro-tip: After wetting our soft washcloths, she warms them up in a towel warmer or microwave to help soothe actors' tired faces and "it melts the make-up off like a dream".

Favorite Sunscreen for Rosacea & Sensitive Skin

For herself, Christina chooses Dermalogica Super Sensitive Shield SPF 30 to protect her Rosacea prone-skin. She also mentioned, that while working on the popular TBS show, Search Party, the lead actress liked Suntegrity Tinted sunscreen which provided a bit of color and light coverage (it also contains the rosacea-friendly ingredient Zinc-oxide, known for it's anti-inflammatory properties).

Rosacea Eye Care tips and Make-up Favorites

Ocular rosacea can be really irritating to the eyes, causing redness, burning and itchiness. To keep her eyes happy, Christina recommends using lubricating drops (these are my favorite) and eye wipes called Eye Scrub.

While this natural beauty admits she only wears make-up when she has to (how ironic, coming from a professional make-up artist) her favorite go-to make-up products are Dr. Hauschka’s Translucent Bronze Concentrate (mixed into a moisturizer) or Koh Gen Doh Aqua foundation when she wants a little fuller coverage.

For sensitive eyes like hers, she recommends Weekend Lash Stain, by Milk makeup. I looked for that specific product but could only find Milk's Ubame Mascara, which is listed as "74% natural formula incorporates innovative ingredients like ubame oak charcoal".  Christina also recommended Lavera's mascara which her eyes can tolerate well for long periods of time.

Final pro-tips for Rosacea skin care

Just as Cleansing Gently is our Fairface motto, Christina agrees that gentle daily cleansing is important and warns to be careful not to strip your skin with harsh cleansers, scrubs and masks.  A microfolient product she does recommend is Dermalogica's Daily Microfolient.

And of course, in addition to moisturizing and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, is her MAKE-UP ARTIST MUST: clean you brushes after applying make-up - every time!

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Christina Grant is New York based make-up artist who's far reaching talents have graced Broadway, Film and Television. She shares tips and tricks on make-up and skin care in the entertainment industry, shares several of her favorite products and even scoops on her favorite celebs. 
>Read the whole interview with Christina Grant

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Do you have any Rosacea-friendly skin care or make-up products you can recommend? Please share yours favorites, to help us all navigate through the maze of sensitive skin care!