What It Feels Like To Have An Allergic Reaction On Your Face
Sensitive skin - it’s a bitch. There's no denying it. When you have a serious skin reaction, it doesn’t just affect your appearance, it takes a toll on your mood, self-confidence and quality of life. If you've ever experienced a chronic skin condition, I'm sure you'll relate. Growing up, I suffered from terrible eczema which left me feeling isolated and helpless.
So when my cousin Nicola was going through her own serious skin reaction, my first instinct was to make sure she didn’t feel alone, and that I would do whatever I could to help her skin recover. She told us her story below.
The Journey To Happier Skin:
The first step was to eliminate anything that could be aggravating her skin, and to her surprise, I suggested avoiding tap water. Instead of washing her face the way she had done for her entire life, she began using the La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water. This lightweight hydrating mist is infused with antioxidant properties and natural prebiotics to help soothe and calm skin.
We then wanted to combat the intense redness in her skin. Her complexion looked so uncomfortable and aggravated, so it was important we found something to calm and soothe, as well as repair and protect. The La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum is an intensive concentrate to help reduce redness at the source while preventing it from reoccurring. This gentle formula relieves discomfort, while soothing and nourishing skin.
Every day, I would ask Nicola for an update on “our” skin (we were in this together after all). She would send me selfies so I could see the progress, and at first, I was seeing sad, frustrated, miserable versions of my beautiful little cousin. And then, slowly, I could see her coming back to life. A smile was starting to creep into her photos, and then BOOM, my girl was back to her old self - happy, smiley and confident!
Nicola’s Skincare Routine
Within a month of using the routine below, Nicola's skin had recovered from being blotchy, red and irritated, to glowing, calm and healthy.
Step 1
Nicola only uses La Roche-Posay's Micellar Water as her first step if she's been wearing makeup and needs to gently but effectively remove it.
To wash her face, Nicola applies the Thermal Spring Water (instead of tap water) directly onto a cotton pad and wipes it across her complexion until her skin feels clean and hydrated.
If her skin is flaring up, or she’s got some reddness in her complexion, Nicola applies this serum after cleansing her skin.
Step 4
La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Ultra Cream is Nicola's everyday moisturiser that she uses morning and night.
Step 5
If Nicola has any really dry, red spots, she applies this rich nourishing moisturiser which is thicker and more restorative than her everyday moisturiser.
Why Did I Choose La Roche-Posay?
I liken La Roche-Posay to my knight in shining armour. Whenever I’m desperately trying to recover from a skin reaction, it’s La Roche-Posay to the rescue. This French pharmacy range is made specifically for sensitive skin, so it’s no surprise that this is the brand I recommended to Nicola to help her on her road to recovery.
