I’ve always liked May. It’s almost like summer, but cooler. It starts with a holiday. It brings us strawberries. And pollen. Plenty of pollen. If you’re allergic, you wish you could jump directly to autumn! Hay fever is the worst. I don’t have it, but the bf does and he sneezes and spits no stop for a month. Poor thing. So what do you do with your makeup during that season? I talked to makeup artist Jo Freeman for her best makeup tips for hay fever sufferers:
What The Heck Is Hayfever And Why Do I Get it?
Hay fever is triggered by exposure to pollen. It makes your nose runny and sneezy and your eyes watery and itchy. Wanna know a few “fun” facts about it? I’ll tell you anyway:
- Rainy days are your BFF: Less pollen in the air. Windy days, early mornings and evenings are the worst.
- It’s a summer-long affair: Tree pollen gets you in early to late spring; grass pollen from late spring to early summer; weed pollen from early summer to early autumn.
- City dwellers have it worst: Pollen + pollution = higher chance of getting hay fever.
How Do You Deal With Hay Fever?
Well, you could lock yourself in your house and never get out, but that wouldn’t be fun. Here are a few tricks that can help:
- Close the windows: I know it’s hot but do you really want pollen in your house? Thought so.
- Dress smartly: No, I don’t mean a cocktail dress. Put on glasses and a wide-brimmed hat. They help keep the pollen away from your face.
- Have a shower: Pollen can stick to skin and hair, so wash it off as soon as you get home. While you’re at it, change your clothes, too.
- Speak to your pharmacist or GP about medication: Benadryl Allergy Relief, for example, contains acrivastine, which can reduce the symptoms in about 15 minutes. Or so I’m told. The bf hasn’t tried it, yet.
Why Are We Talking About Hay Fever, Anyway?
Because hay fever doesn’t just make your life a living hell. It plays havoc on your face, too. And that impacts your self-esteem. How can you look and feel your best with a red nose, itchy eyes and flaky, puffy skin? To help you put your best face forward this summer, Benadryl Allergy has asked makeup artist Jo Freeman to share her pro tips and tricks to combat AllergyFace:
AllergyFace Beauty Challenge #1: How To Conceal A Red Nose
When you’re dealing with an allergy like this, your skin tends to be drier than usual and starts to flake. All that sneezing makes things worse, turning your nose into a red, flaky mess. How the heck do you conceal that? Here’s the trick:
- Prep skin: Before doing any work on your face, slather on a hydrating moisturizer. Jo recommends Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. It’s a simple as it comes. A blend of silicones and hyaluronic acid to replenish moisture and lock it in. That’s it. Basic, but that’s what irritated and damaged skin needs.
- Go green: no kidding. Green is on the opposite side of red on the colour wheel. That means it can neutralise the redness. Then, you put foundation on so you don’t like Hulk.
Related: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Full Review
AllergyFace Beauty Challenge #2: How To Brighten Watery, Itchy Eyes
The eyes have it the worst. They’re super irritated, very watery and anything they come in contact with seems to make things worse. What the heck is a girl to do? Here are a few pointers from Jo:
- Use light shades: Dark shades make your eyes look smaller while vanilla and beiges have the opposite effect. Jo uses powder eyeshadows, but I think that creams are better for irritated eyes. You don’t want any powder to fall into your eyes!
- Whiten and brighten: Using a white kohl pencil on your lower waterline makes your eyes look bigger and more awake. (Gio’s thoughts: But, be careful! Your eyes are super sensitive now and putting everything on your waterline can irritate them even more!).
- Go waterproof: Watery eyes = streaky mascara. The best way to avoid looking like a racoon is to use a waterproof formula. If you’re worried removal will be a pain, use an oil-based cleanser. Something as simple as mineral oil (no, it’s NOT dangerous!) or evening primrose oil will do.
Or do what I would do: put on sunglasses and call it a day.
Related: 5 Myths You Need To Stop Believing Now About Mineral Oil
AllergyFace Beauty Challenge #3: How To Distract From A Puffy Face
Allergies can make your face swell up, making you lose your natural shape. Makeup can’t reduce the swelling, but it can make it look less noticeable. Here’s how:
- Contour your face: Not the easiest technique to master, but when done right, it can make you look so much slimmer. Apply bronzer in a 3-shape, starting from your temples into your cheekbones and outwards and downwards towards your chin. Then, gently sweep on highlighter on the top of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and on your cupid’s bow for an even more sculpted look.
- Make a statement: A bold lip never fails to attract attention and dwarf everything else. Plus, it’s perfect for this time of the year. The bolder the colour, the better.
Who said that makeup was off-limit during hayfever season?
The Bottom Line
Hay fever season isn’t going anywhere. The pollen’s still out there, your eyes will still water, and the bf will still sneeze like he’s trying to win an Olympic medal for it. But here’s the thing: just because your allergies are throwing a tantrum doesn’t mean your face has to show it. That’s where these makeup tricks come in handy.
They’re not about faking perfect skin or pretending you’re not suffering – they’re about giving you back a little control when your nose is red, your eyes are itchy, and you just want to feel human again. So yes, you might still cry off a tissue or two, but at least you can leave the house knowing your concealer, mascara, and lipstick are working harder than your antihistamines.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
