Help for Sensitive Skin and Rosacea: Skin Care Guides

Navigating through the challenges of sensitive skin (and rosacea on top of that!) can be very difficult.

Finding the right products that are gentle enough and not irritating for such reactive skin can be a long, frustrating journey through trial and error.

Because I have gone through all of this myself, I decided that a great way to offer help, for us sensitive skin and rosacea types, was to create a series of helpful Skin Care Guides to help take some of the guess-work out of finding the right products and at least give you a proven sensitive skin care routine as a great place to start.

I hope so much these resources can be a huge help for you and your rosacea and/or sensitive skin!

First up, the best skin care routine I have found to support my sensitive rosacea-prone skin:

My "Dream Team" Skin Care Routine for Sensitive Skin & Rosacea - Instant Digital Download

In our New Digital Skin Care Guide for Sensitive Skin & Rosacea, I share my entire step-by-step sensitive skin & rosacea skin care routine, including: 

• My morning cleansing, moisturizing and protecting routine 
• Each step of my nighttime skin care routine  
• Each product I use, why I use them, how and when I apply them and why I love them (including one product that might surprise you!)

This tride and true rosacea and sensitive skin care routine has helped my skin stay clean, clear and calm for many years. I don't have to worry about products causing redness, irritation or rosacea flares because each of the products I use are gentle and protective. 

>>>Pick up your Instant Digital Download today, of "Dream Team" Skin Care Routine for Sensitive Skin and Rosacea here -a new link is coming soon! Sorry for the inconvenience!

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More helpful resources for Rosacea:

Clear Skin Guide Rosacea and Sensitive Skin - lifestyle habits my skin can't live without!

There are so many things that contribute to keeping my skin clearer and more calmer, when it comes to Rosacea and Sensitive Skin. I have lived with Rosacea for 14+ years and it's taken me a lot of trial and error to come up with lifestyle habits that support my skin in the best ways.

This coloful-magazine-style 28 page pdf is full of all the things I do that help to keep my rosacea prone sensitive skin looking and feeling its best with many more days of clear, calm skin. I hope it can help you too!

Pick up your copy today! Clear Skin Guide for Rosacea & Sensitive Skin Instant Digital Download - new link coming soon! Sorry for the inconvenience!

See what it's all about!

Ocular Rosacea Eye Care Guide:

Soothing Tips & Remedies for Ocular Rosacea -Instant Digital Download

Rosacea doesn't only affect the skin, it can also affect our eyes, causing symptoms like itching, burning, redness and dryness. Ocular Rosacea can also make it particularly challenging to wear contact lenses. 

I have dealt with dry eye issues (and contact lens related discomfort) related to Ocular Rosacea, for years. It wasn't until I met with my Ophthalmologist on a regular basis and started to put the tips and remedies he suggested into regular practice, that my dry eye symptoms began to ease.  His suggestions have helped me so much that I wanted to share them with you and I hope you find them helpful for you as well!

Our Soothing Tips & Remedies for Ocular Rosacea Digital Guide is another helpful resource for those with Rosacea to find relief from dry eye and other eye-related symptoms, as recommended by my Ophthalmologist. 

>>>Grab your Instant Digital Download of "Soothing Tips & Remedies for Ocular Rosacea" thru our Etsy Shop and start Soothing your Dry Eyes today! 

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Additional Helpful Guides for Sensitive Skin and Rosacea are coming soon! Here is a full list of the titles either currently available or coming soon:

• Dream Team Skin Care Routine for Sensitive Skin & Rosacea
• Soothing Tips & Remedies for Ocular Rosacea
• Clearer Skin: Rosacea & Sensitive Skin Lifestyle Habits I Can't Live Without 
• Travel Tips for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin 
• Beach List for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin 
• Why I Developed Rosacea After IVF — My Personal Experience

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About the Author: Shannon Sorensen is the Founder and CEO of Fairface, makers of the best soft washcloths for sensitive skin. As an advocate for those with sensitive skin and rosacea, she created this new line of Skin Care Guides for Sensitive Skin and Rosacea as an additional resource to help those with sensitive skin conditions feel less alone and have the best tools and information to care for their skin.  

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions and ideas expressed in these guides are my own, including recommended tips from my licensed skin care and eye care providers. These digital guides are intended for informational purposes and do not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare or eye care professional for personalized guidance and treatment.

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!

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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Can I use Grapeseed oil with Rosacea?

If you have Rosacea, it can be scary to try new products. I know, because I have it, and I did it.

I have been using my tried and true skin care products for my Rosacea going on many years now and don't stray from it.  However, when I started following a skin care esthetician on Instagram named Devyn, @PureSkinOC, and listened to her podcast, I kept hearing her say how much she loved Grapeseed oil and how much her sensitive skin and Rosacea clients loved it too. 

The benefits alone made me very curious...and how could my skin not like something so soothing, moisturizing and natural? So I took the plunge.

(This post contains Amazon links. As an amazon associate I receive a small commission on every purchase)

Can you use Grapeseed Oil if you have Rosacea? 

This is what happened when I used it.

But first, here's what got me hooked:

Benefits of Grapeseed oil for the skin

• Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, high amounts of omega chain fatty acids and vitamin E
• Protects your skin's skin-firming collagen
• Contains antioxidants to protect your skin from free radicals that harm and age your skin
• Moisturizes and helps bind moisture to the skin
• Penetrates the skin quickly so it doesn't leave it feeling oily
• Great for all skin types
• May help skin tone become brighter and more even
• Safe for Rosacea and sensitive skin

How to use Grapeseed Oil on your skin at night

• Wash your face (I use Vanicream gentle cleanser - Amazon with a soft Fairface Washcloth)
• Apply toner if you use one, followed by any topical medications (I apply Metronidazole for my Rosacea) and/or serums
• Apply a small amount of Grapeseed oil to your skin as your moisturizer 
• Massage it in (it feels really good) and let it sink into your skin at least 15+ minutes before bed.
• Wake up to softer skin
• Wash your face in the morning

source: PureSkinOC

You can totally see why I wanted to try it, right? It sounds like a dream!

What happened when I used Grapeseed oil on my Rosacea-prone skin

Night 1

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it was definitely different putting oil on my face. The truth was, it took a little getting used to. It felt like I had oil on my face. Imagine that. ha! And I had to keep touching my face to see if the oil had finally sunk in yet.  Did I put too much on? Is it supposed to feel like this? Will this ever sink in?

Then my eyes started to sting a little bit. Did I get the oil too close to my eyes? 

As is the case with Rosacea, some may also have Ocular Rosacea (I have it mildly, and it causes dry eyes). My ophthalmologist said when my eyes sting I should put some eye drops in, so I did. 

A word to the wise, it would have been better to put in eye drops before the oil, in case the drops can pull any stray oil in your eyes that may have touched your eye lashes.

Once I laid down in bed, worried that the oil on my face was going to ruin my silk pillow case, I felt slight itchiness on my skin. Here's me all night, "Am I just making this up or is my face actually itching?"  My internal dialogue is exhausting sometimes. I'm so high maintenance when it comes to my skin.

And BTW, I did put some grapeseed oil on my arms and hands before bed but they didn't itch.

Morning After

My face, arms and hands felt soft and there were no visible signs of irritation.

My silk pillow case looked like I had slept with oil on my face (ha!)...and since it was wash day, I tossed it in the wash and it came out looking perfectly normal. No greasy aftermath.

I posted my night 1 experience on my Instagram feed and Devyn kindly let me know that the itchiness may have happened because my skin may have been very dry. She went on to say that her clients love it and it's really helped those with sensitive skin and Rosacea. 

I wanted to give my skin a grace period to get used to it, so I felt encouraged to try it again the next night.

Night 2

The whole "putting oil on my face" experience wasn't so foreign this time and I did use less and made sure to put eye drops in BEFORE applying the grapeseed oil. I'm not so hard to train.

I didn't notice much stinging of my eyes and had a little itch, but not too bad.

Morning After

Although my arms and hands still tolerated it well, I woke up with an itchy welt on my cheek and another itchy spot on my forehead. Bummer. My face was not liking this grapeseed oil. I hadn't had that kind of skin response in a long time, so my enthusiasm to extend my skin grace period with grapeseed oil was growing smaller.

One more time

At this point I gave my skin a break from the grapeseed oil and went back to my favorite CeraVe Moisturizing Cream - Amazon to moisturize and in no time, my skin went back to normal.

So what did I do? About a week later, because I wanted my skin to like it SO bad, I tried the grapeseed oil again...and my skin broke out. Boo. It's time to face the fact that this is probably not going to work for me.

I reached out to Devyn and asked her if she had clients who haven't reacted well to grapeseed oil? She kindly responded by asking about the other products I was using (both night and morning) so she could determine what might be going on.

Her clients with Rosacea have had their skin improve with her products and the grapeseed oil, but decided it might be the oil reacting to the Metronidazole topical gel I put on my face at night. It made sense. So I tried the grapeseed oil one night and didn't apply my Metronidazole gel...but my face still didn't like it.

Am I still using Grapeseed oil?

No, but I haven't ruled out using it on my arms and hands at night. Because I know it is a great hydrator, is beneficial to my skin, and can leave it feeling softer, I haven't put it away forever.

Am I disappointed I can't use grapeseed oil on my face? Yes! Will I still try it again? No. I'll stick with my tried and true CeraVe Cream.

But here's the thing, everyone's skin is different. Devyn has clients with Rosacea who love using grapeseed oil, so even if we share Rosacea, we can have different experiences with the same products. There are definitely benefits for your skin, so if your face tolerates it well, it's a win! If not, you can always use it on your body for the healthy and soft skin benefits. 

Have you already tried Grapeseed Oil on your Rosacea or sensitive skin? Leave me a comment - I'd love to know what your experience was like!

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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A huge part of my skin-calming skin care routine for Rosacea, has been using soft Fairface Washcloths (the soft flannel is so smooth and gentle to my skin) + using a my favorite Vanicream gentle non-irritating cleanser. 

Head over to Fairface Washcloths on etsy or the Fairface Washcloths website and see if these soft, gentle washcloths can help you with your Rosacea or sensitive skin too!

Feel the softness of Fairface Washcloths for Sensitive Skin

Photo ©Fairface™ Washcloths

We know it's hard to "feel" the softness of Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin, without visiting them in person so we made this quick video to help you imagine what our washcloths feel like if you were to hold them in your hands.  

How the flannel slides softly and smoothly through your fingers and slowly glides across your face, caressing your cheeks as you cleanse. 

Your skin feels clean and calm. No irritation or redness.
A tranquil cleansing experience for your face.

Soothe and calm your sensitive skin today for a 

luxuriously gentle cleansing experience

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SHOP: 
FairfaceWashcloths.com
FairfaceWashcloths.etsy.com

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!

Rosacea skin care routine

I have Rosacea - how do I care for it?

As those of us with Rosacea prone skin or other sensitive skin conditions know, how to care for our skin is a real concern and can leave us with many unanswered questions.

Common questions when caring for Rosacea prone skin:

• What cleanser should I use that won't irritate my face?
• Where can I find a soft washcloth that won't hurt my face when I wash it?
• What moisturizer will give me enough protection without being too greasy?
• What sunscreen should I use and should I use it with a regular moisturizer?
• What make-up won't irritate my face & will cover the redness?
• Is there a medication I can use on my face?
• How long after applying the rosacea medication should I wait to apply a moisturizer?

What Causes Rosacea?

Just to give you some background, I'll quickly summarize what I've learned about what causes Rosacea. Learning about what causes it helped me develop a routine to keep my skin Rosacea-flare-free.

Research has shown that bacteria and/or face mite's are possible contributors to Rosacea break-outs. Others believe it to be a vascular disorder because of the flushing and redness, or aggravated nervous system sending out increased blood flow to the face during stress, causing swelling to the skin. Rosacea symptoms can also be triggered by certain foods, exercise, stress, skin care products, weather conditions, etc.
*[see Rosacea.org]

Rosacea Skin Care Routine

I'll admit, my skin care routine takes priority in my personal care. I'm officially high maintenance. It's important to me to keep my face as clean and clear as possible and I know that if I follow my skin care routine religiously, I have clear skin much more often. All the work and attention I give to my skin care routine is worth it!

Everyone's skin is different, but this combination of care and products works for me. Hopefully it can work for you too!

Laundry care to prevent Rosacea flare-ups

I may be a little over-zealous, but I sleep on a fresh pillow case every night. I follow a flip schedule where I sleep on one side, then the next night I flip it and the next night use a clean pillow case. It may seem like overkill to some, but it keeps my skin clear and happy.

I also change our sheets weekly and wash sheets and pillow cases together in hot water with dye-free, hypoallergenic detergent. I also dry them on hot without a fabric softener.

My Skin Care routine to prevent Rosacea flare-ups

Morning

• Wake and shower within about 30 minutes
• Shower water is comfortably warm, but not hot
• Wash hair first, then body, rinse all soap off 
• Wash face last with fresh, clean Fairface Washcloth (softest washcloths for Rosacea and sensitive skin)
• Use Vanicream gentle cleanser with soft Fairface Washcloth, clean without scrubbing
• Rinse cleanser completely off face
• Wrap hair in hair towel
• Use a clean, dry washcloth to pat dry my face
• Apply Rosacea topical medication 
• Wait about 5 minutes and apply Vanicream moisturizer to face
• After 15+ minutes, apply Eucerin Sunscreen 30 to face, neck and chest area
• After 10+ minutes, apply medium coverage Mary Kay foundation make-up with a clean latex-free make-up applicator sponge

Evening

• Use elastic headband to pull back hair
• Rinse face with warm water (not hot)
• Apply Vanicream gentle cleanser to the a clean, fresh Fairface Washcloth, and clean face gently without scrubbing
• Blot face dry with a fresh, clean washcloth or towel
• Apply Rosacea topical medication 
• Wait about 10 minutes and apply Vanicream to face and eye area

Other tip:
I also find that if I'm outside for at least 30 minutes a day my skin seems to be better overall. Being outside allows ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and mites on your skin. A bit of sunshine is best, but always wear sunscreen and stay cool (rosacea likes to flare in heat).


Since I started this routine, my face has been so much clearer and virtually flare-free! Making sure to use a clean, fresh washcloth for every face wash, blotting dry with a clean hand towel or clean washcloth, laundering towels and sheets with hypo-allergenic detergent and no fabric softeners to alleviate chemical irritants, and using clean pillow cases nightly has dramatically increased my clear skin days.

Hope some of these tips help.
Wishing you happy skin too!