SKIN UPDATE: How Do I Hide My Red Face?

Looking like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer on the daily is not easy.  In fact it sucks butt.  But it is what it is and I’m slowly making peace with the fact that this is my lot in life.  Because the thing is, everyone has something that they struggle with.  Everyone.  It just so happens that mine is something that is very visible, it’s literally written all over my face.

That doesn’t mean that I walk around totally OK with the fact that at any given moment I could pass for a stop street.  Oh no friends, that ain’t how I roll.  I’m far too self absorbed for that.  Actually just the thought of venturing outside without make up on strikes my heart with fear.  Granted, it’s not as much fear as I used to feel (I could actually feel the panic build to the point of tears if I knew someone was going to see my naked face), but now it’s a just manageable twitch.

Which means that every day, without fail, I apply make up before leaving the house.  This is my usual day to day routine (in case you haven’t already seen it).

Now the thing about me is that I’m actually really low maintenance.  I know it might not seem that way but it’s true.  I started wearing make up out of necessity and not because I particularly wanted to.  My need for looking normal outweighed my need to not give a crap.  Not that giving a crap is bad.  It’s not.  It’s just that I didn’t want to rely on it and how funny it is, because that’s exactly what I have to do now.  I always looked at the beauty bloggers out there and marvelled at their skill at applying make up without looking like a clown.  In my case, the clown game was strong whenever I tried my hand at a new eye shadow.

Which means I’ve adopted a really simple tactic when it comes to my make up…

Keep it simple stupid

Sometimes I see Insta stories of some of my friends beauty tables.  Like whole areas dedicated to their make up.  It makes me hella anxious just looking at it.  How do you know what to use?  What if it makes your face flare up likes a balloon?  I couldn’t handle the stress of looking at it and then having to decide what to use every morning.  I guess that’s why they are amazing at what they do while I spend my time shouting at my children and then writing about it.

Anyway, I quite literally have TEN products that I use.  I have a make up bag.  That’s basically it.  Maybe there are a few lipstick options, but I do not own any more creams, lotions or potions than these 10 things.

The thing I’ve learned is that when it comes to real skin care, is that it’s not cheap.  And I’d rather pay the money for things that work than waste smaller amounts on things that don’t.  Especially in my case when I have to use very specific products that don’t make it worse.  This combination up here is the best combo for me.  I have tried all manner of things before this and every single one of them made it worse, especially the coconut oil.  Oh my gosh my skin hated that.

So here’s what I use:

1. NeoStrata Redness Neutralizing Serum – I stopped using this for a bit and I could see the difference.  I have been back on it again for the last 2 weeks and the difference it remarkable.  Most days I apply it twice a day (morning and night before my Serra cream) and it’s really helping to reduce that seriously inflamed look that I had going.
2. LaMelle Serra Soothing Cream for Dry and Atopic Skin – I could not live without this cream.  Before I started using this religiously my skin was not only red as heck, but dry and flaky too.  Try putting make up on dry, flaky skin.  Let me tell you it wasn’t a match.  So the Serra cream has really helped to revolutionise the feel of my skin and make sure that the barrier is together and healthy.  My make up goes on like a dream now.
3. Lycogel – When it comes to foundation I need one that is not going anywhere.  I would rather have a slightly “thicker” make up look than have it melt off my face half way through the day as my previous options did.  Seriously.  By 2pm I wold look like I’d just woken up.  Yoh it was bad.  So the Lycogel has a few options and I take the thicker one.  It’s fantastic.  It’s breathable so even though I put it on rather thick, my skin is totally fine with it.  There is no reaction.
4. Oxygenetics – This is a thinner foundation that I mix with my Lycogel.  It’s a darker colour and I need to mix them together because I’m only part vampire. It’s also breathable and helps my skin to look covered and healthy.
5. Eyebrow pencil – I cannot walk out the house without doing my eyebrows now.  It’s such a small thing, but I have bald patches and it just makes them look together.  I also prefer to draw attention to my eyes rather than the rest of my blotchy face.
6. Body Shop bronzers – Some of you may have remembered my flat out panic on Instagram stories when I bought these and then tried to apply them.  When I rolled it on my cheeks it just rolled off the carefully applied make up I’d just put on!  Flip!  But then you all advised me and now I use a sponge to apply it and it’s make the world of difference.  I only do the darker one on a daily basis and then add the highlighter if I’m going to an event or on a date night.
7. L.O.V Mascara – I stumbled on this brand by accident at my local Dischem.  Mascara needs to be a 24 hour one for me or after 3 hours I look like a sad panda or an angry goth, depending on my mood.  Clearly my body rejects all these things. Anyway, this stuff lasts.  Maybe it’s not the best out there but it’s affordable and it works for me.
8. NAKED Basics Eyeshadow – I’m not one to experiment with eye shadow.  That whole clown thing that I was talking about.  But this palette is perfect for me.  Enough options to do a darker look or a lighter one.  Again, I only ever use this for date nights or events but I’m glad that I have it.
9. Lightly coloured lipgloss – I have a range of Revlon and Almay options that moisturise and tint my lips.  I love them.  I only wear full lipstick, can you guess?  Yes, on date nights or important events.

So there you have it, that’s how I get by every day.  I hope that if you are stuck or needing some guidance, that this might have helped just a little bit.

If there is anything else that I could potentially help with or answer, please let me know.