As mentioned in this previous post about my Summer Make-up Faves, I have chronic facial dermatitis and over the years I’ve learned how to control and manage it and more importantly, which products to use so as not to exacerbate the problem. I’ve been to many dermatologists and allergists, most weren’t very helpful and were all too quick to prescribe some cortisone cream to treat the symptoms. I know and accept that there is no cure for this and that it may never go away but from reading many many resources about the subject, I also know and believe that dermatitis or eczema is your body’s way of telling you something is not right inside but it chooses to manifest on the outside. With the industrialization or over-processing of and presence of antibiotics in “food” and the many chemicals we are exposed to and somehow ingested everyday, it’s no surprise that there are so many more allergies and skin problems today.
Externally for me, I’ve come to realize that there a few specific ingredients in skincare products that I need to avoid, namely: Propylene Glycol (this one especially), Parabens, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), and Phtalates. Now I may not always be successful in eliminating all four but I try my best to come close; this includes all face products and body/bath products. Internally, I have to avoid antibiotics – this I came to find out only recently. A year ago when my body was actually free of any symptoms of eczema, I got strep throat and of course, was prescribed antibiotics by my GP. Immediately after taking the meds, I broke out in rashes everywhere. A dermatologist advised that the antibiotics can trigger a flare up for most people with a history of eczema…that was a late and regretful discovery and today, there are still a few stubborn rashes that linger on my torso.
With the facial skincare items I show above, my morning/day routine is quite simple as you can see. The Burt’s Bees (a favored brand) face wash is milky and feels like it’s not really cleaning your face but it does the job and more importantly, it lives up to its “brightening” claim. I can really tell the difference when I use it. The moisturizer is my all-time favorite; it’s the only cream I use around my eye area as it is 99% all natural. The night time products are all a must; I am obsessive about getting every iota of makeup off my face before I go to sleep and these all do the trick. The Clarisonic with the delicate blue brush is surprisingly gentle enough to clean my face without irritating it. It really helps slough off the dead skin to minimize the patchy areas. Also, when I notice an area where a pimple is starting (red and swollen), I use the Clarisonic on the area which makes it not materialize and makes it go away so much faster when it does.
All in all, I’m happy with this routine for my specific skin concerns and criteria. Everyone has a different set of needs…the most important thing is to really understand what your skin condition is, what works best for it, and what to avoid. Don’t experiment too much with new products (read: YouTube Made Me Buy It)…stick with what works for you. That’s it for now!
Dear Boo and Lulu 