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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SHOP our favorite soft face cloths for sensitive skin

Fairface Washcloths Delicate Washcloths on Etsy

OR

Fairface Washcloths Delicates on our website

 

Soft flannel face cloths for Rosacea: Before and After

Meet Haley, a lovely Fairface Washcloths customer who found us after an unfortunate incident with a microfiber cloth: 

"I have rosacea, and even gentle exfoliation flares up my skin. I bought microfiber cloths thinking their softness was the answer and I immediately regretted it. They burned my skin so bad - I looked like a tightly stretched shiny plastic tomato (it's funny now but at the time I freaked out). 

A dermatologist suggested a soft flannel cloth and when I typed it into Etsy these came up. Shannon was so kind and helped me decide on these and it's like I'm washing my face with my fingertips.

I'm attaching a pic of my face (for everyone's benefit haha I did not plan on posting these) after a microfiber cloth (it's not greasy my skin was squeaky-shiny/polished like a shoe & badly stripped/burned), & a pic of the first day using a Fairface. A week after using them I had an even (not red) skin tone that honestly I've never had. WORTH it." - Haley   (reposted with permission)

The best soft face cloths for Rosacea 

Have you been there yourself? You tried something new on your face and it turned out to be a very bad idea? Maybe your face got really red, broke out, or felt like it was melting off? Sensitive skin can be very finicky like that, especially if you have Rosacea.

We wanted to share Haley's honest Fairface Washcloths review with you, in case you are looking for the right soft face cloths for your Rosacea-prone skin. Like Haley, maybe you have tried other washcloths on your sensitive skin, hoping they would be gentle enough, but ended up causing irritation and redness.  

Dermatologists recommend using soft, cotton flannel cloths, like Fairface Delicates, to wash your face gently, without using anything harsh that can cause your skin to get red and irritated, like the microfiber cloths did to Haley's skin.

Rosacea-prone skin also means skin prone to irritation, inflammation and redness, so gentle products are a must for keeping your skin calm and even. And that's where Fairface Washcloths come in.

What washcloths should I use on Rosacea prone skin? 

What do you currently use to wash your face, if you have Rosacea or sensitive skin? Have you tried Fairface Washcloths? 

Fairface Washcloths help reduce redness and irritation when you wash your face because the soft flannel glides across your face and doesn't drag or pull. If you're using a cloth, or heaven forbid a tool on your face (eek!), that causes redness and irritation, it is most likely because the material it is made out of is too harsh and abrasive to your skin. You don't need to scrub to get your face clean. It can actually do more harm than good.

If you have Rosacea or sensitive skin and haven't found a cloth that is gentle enough to wash your face with, look no further. You've found it. Fairface Washcloths are the only face cloth you should be using on your sensitive skin and like Haley, after using Fairface Washcloths, she's never seen her skin tone so even, and it's definitely worth it!

BUY THE SAME FACE CLOTHS HALEY IS USING that calmed her Rosacea skin

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. ;)

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.
*Please note, we have included helpful links to recommended products and as an Amazon Associate we 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!

6 Winter Skin Care Tips for Rosacea & Sensitive Skin

How to keep Rosacea prone skin healthy during winter

Did you know winter can be just as hard on Rosacea prone skin as it is in the summer?

As I write this, (2/11/2019) we are currently under a rare winter storm advisory in Seattle. We have almost a foot of snow outside, with more coming down, and the school closures just keep coming.

Even spending 20 minutes outside can make or break my face if I'm not taking precautions. Don't let winter unleash havoc on your Rosacea.
*Please note, we have included helpful links to recommended products and if linked as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

6 Winter Skin Care Tips to protect your rosacea-prone sensitive skin from flushing, burning, and stinging:

1. Cover Up

Windburn is a real thing, have you had it? I used to get it after a day of skiing. After 8 hours or more, of cold wind hitting my cheeks, I was left with redness, burning and dryness.

Whether it's windy or not, just being outside in cold temperatures can chap your skin. Shield exposed areas with a light-weight scarf or other cover-up to protect your skin from windburn and chapping.

2. Wear Sunscreen

No matter what your skin type, "Sunscreen 365" should be your motto. Sun still shines its rays through clouds and loves to bounce off of snow and water. Whether it's cold and cloudy or hot and balmy, sunscreen will protect your skin from the elements and keep it healthier. I love the lightweight Eucerin Daily Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen and wear it every day of the year.

3. Dress in layers

I run hot by nature, so the minute I'm in a hot room, I get nervous that my face will start to flush and result in a Rosacea flare.

The best solution for keeping your temperature at bay in the winter, is to dress in layers. If you're in a cool room, you'll stay comfortable, if you're in a cozy room with the fireplace blazing, you can shed a few layers before you start to over heat. Try to keep your body temperature as even as possible so you don't get flushed. Your face will thank you.

PS Wearing these soft merino wool socks that I love from Costco on my feet, help to keep my temperature more even too! You can buy them through the link or pick some up at Costco.

4. Temperature Matters

It's normal to climb out of a warm bed and want to jump into a hot shower to combat the shock of a cold house. Hot temperatures, however, especially hot water running over your face, can result in flushing and can cause sensitive skin to react. Keep the shower water temperature comfortable, but don't go overly hot.

Also watch out for hot tubs, saunas and hot drinks. Anything that causes your body temperature to rise and your face to flush can be problematic for sensitive skin and rosacea. Be aware that for some, alcoholic drinks like red wine, and foods like hot salsas can also have the same affect on your face.

5. Wash gently

Another one of those mottos you should adopt, especially if you have Rosacea or sensitive skin, is "Wash gently 365". Especially during the winter months when your skin is prone to irritation, always treat it gently. If you do slip-up and get windburn, (or even sunburn during a day out in the snow), it's important to pamper your damaged skin to get it healthy again. 

Always wash with a gentle cleanser for sensitive skin and always opt for a soft face cloth to protect your skin from harsh textures that can damage your skin barrier. I LOVE Vanicream Gentle Cleanser  and will forever only use Fairface soft flannel face cloths on my face! Protect that sweet skin barrier of yours!

6. Don't get too dry

We all know that indoor heaters and outdoor cold temperatures can cause extra dryness (and even micro-cracking) to our skin during the winter. According to the National Rosacea Society, using a moisturizer every day is key for building a strong moisture barrier and preventing burning, stinging, itching and irritation.  I, personally, opt for a bit heavier moisturizer during the cold months. I LOVE Cerave Moisturizing Cream, tho truth be told, I love it so much I use it all year round!

And always remember to stay hydrated! This is something I need to work on. Drink more water even when you don't feel like it to keep your body and skin hydrated. You will feel it in your skin if you don't.

*This post contains product links, added for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through Amazon.com.

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Do you have any skin care advice to keep Rosacea skin calm during the cold winter months? We'd love to know!

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Shannon Sorensen is the Founder and CEO of Fairface Washcloths. All expressed opinions are personal and are not meant to substitute a physicians care. Please seek the help of a dermatologist to get the help you need.

How to wash your face if you have Rosacea

Photo by: Daniela Avila @ unsplash

"How do I wash my face without it getting red and irritated if I have Rosacea?"

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Message from the founder of Fairface Washcloths, Shannon Sorensen

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One of the first questions I found myself asking 7 years ago, as I was battling red, itchy, irritated Rosacea skin, was, how in the world am I supposed to wash my face if it gets re-irritated & red every time I wash it?

Battling my rosacea flare-ups, while still going out in public, felt nearly impossible. I would wear make-up to hide the redness and through tortured will-power, didn't scratch my face. When it came time to wash all my make-up off, my face would become irritated and red all over again, and the vicious cycle continued.

Washing Rosacea-prone skin gently

I tried washing my face with just my fingertips, which was gentle, but it didn't get all my make-up off or really get my face clean. I tried washing gently with regular washcloths and baby washcloths (eek!), yet every time I washed, my Rosacea redness flared.

That's why I created a line of soft washcloths so I could use them on my Rosacea-prone skin and they wouldn't irritate my skin as I washed. It is a cloth that is gentle and more effective than using my fingers, and would get my face clean without irritating it in the process.

No more redness and irritation to Rosacea-prone skin

It was an instantaneous love affair between my sensitive skin and these lovely soft washcloths. My face had never felt so calm. It wasn't a red, irritated mess after I washed it. I had peaceful skin for the first time in a long time.

Through my extensive research and testing out a variety of materials, I had found the miracle fabric my rosacea-prone skin loved. Soft, soothing, imported 100% cotton flannel. As one customer put it, "It feels like I'm washing my face with a cloud." It soothed as it cleaned. I was hooked for life and so was my face.

Fairface™ Washcloths for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin

I share these miracle cloths as a labor of love with those with sensitive skin issues because I care about helping people feel good in their own skin. I know Rosacea can be a hard battle if it's not under control and even when it seems to be, there are still those days when the redness pops back up.

Fairface™ Washcloths have helped me so much that I have made it my mission to share them with the world. Using our soft cloths can break the vicious cycle of redness and inflammation by cleansing gently and effectively without the harsh textures that can cause irritation to sensitive skin.

It is often said that only those who share the same experiences can really understand each other.
We're in this together!
xo
Shannon

Sensitive Skin Tips

If you enjoy learning about gentle skincare for rosacea and sensitive skin, 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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Fairface™ Washcloths are an exclusive product through FairfaceWashcloths.com & FairfaceWashcloths.etsy.com. Made in a suburb of Seattle, WA, USA.

Fairface™ Washcloths have been featured in a variety of beauty, skin care & lifestyle publications as a must-have cleansing cloth including The National Psoriasis Foundation, Into the Gloss, Details Magazine (now GQ), Gal Meets Glam, Holl & Lane Magazine, and a variety of other blogs and publications.

Rosacea friendly Face Cloths and Washcloths NEW bigger size!

©Fairface Washcloths Best Rosacea-friendly face cloths and washcloths

Our selection of Rosacea-friendly Face Cloths and Washcloths have expanded to offer a new LARGER option for even better overall coverage of your sensitive skin!

We value our customer feedback and want to make sure you have the right products for your sensitive skin care needs.

While many of you love our standard 9" x 9" cloth, others wanted a bit more coverage.

With you in mind, we have expanded our line to now include both the standard 9" x 9" facecloth/washcloth option AND the XL 12" x 12".

Our new 12"x12" X-large washcloth is available NOW at FairfaceWashcloths.com in both our Original Fairface Washcloth with soothing, soft flannel + absorbent terrycloth & in our Delicate Fairface Washcloths with soothing, gentle double-sided flannel for cleansing even the most tender skin.

Sensitive Skin Tips

If you enjoy learning about gentle skincare for rosacea and sensitive skin, 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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