Even your most conscientious efforts to look fresh as a daisy this Spring can come unravelled with a bout of hayfever. It is responsible for ruining the lives and makeup efforts of suffers seasonally and we all know its ability to strike at the most inappropriate of times. With sneezing season well and truly upon us, we spoke to RY.com.au senior beauty therapist and fellow hayfever sufferer, Jade Dowling to find out what’s in her tool kit (aka handbag) to ensure she looks on point at this season’s soirees.
Reduce the ‘Rudolph effect’
One of the most noticeable, and possibly most annoying symptoms of hayfever is a runny, itchy nose. Constantly blowing and wiping your running nose causes irritation, dryness and redness (we all remember Kleenex’s nod to sandpaper tissues, ouch!). It also removes any remnants of foundation you may have perfectly applied, adding to the ‘Ruldoph effect’. Combat looking like one of Santa’s crew by layering your base products on your nose area when applying your makeup. That means applying moisturiser, primer, foundation, powder then following up with foundation and powder again. Thinly layering product means your base will take longer to rub off and you’ll avoid a caked-on look. Opt for a ‘tacky’ primer on your nose for the best hold. I recommend Dermalogica Redness Relief Primer, which is not only a great base but it’s infused with Oat Extracts and Oat Kernel Oil help soothe redness and condition irritated skin.
CC a remarkable difference
Chances are you are going to be touching, rubbing and generally mucking around with your face a whole lot more once a bout of hayfever hits. Although you need the coverage to combat the extra redness, is it imperative you are able to reapply your base throughout the day. Doing so with your normal foundation will result in a patchy, caked on mess. Enter the CC cream, whose job is to colour correct. CC creams are also super easy to reapply, and apply layer after layer. A good one is Curtis Collection by Victoria Naked Glow CC Cream, which is highly pigmented but gives a naked looking coverage.
Mess free mascara
Waterproof mascara is a must when eyes are red, irritated and watery. Missing this step is a sure way to ruin your entire makeup look while looking like you’ve just watched the quicksand scene in The Neverending Story. My favourite hayfever proof mascara is Mirenesse Secret Weapon 24Hr Mascara. It’s a great tubular formulation that gives 24 hours of blissful watery-eye proof lashes. To tend to redness, formulated eyedrops to treat inflammation will nip the itchiness and redness in the bud too to keep you looking fresh.
Counteract the puff with contouring
Even if you are not into the whole contouring thing, now is the time to dust off your contouring kit to work with hayfever-induced puffiness. Adding depth to your features will have you looking more Bella, less potato. My current favourite is the Garbo and Kelly Instagirl Powder and Cream Contour Kit. Pack it in your handbag to regain your composure and complexion after your sneezing fit. While we are talking about puffiness, an eye cream with a massage-inducing application tool can work wonders at de-puffing eyes. I love FreezeFrame Boost Eye Roller for an instant improvement. Keep it in the fridge for bonus soothing relief.
Even when hayfever has you feeling under the weather you can still look your usual, fabulous self. It’s all about having the right tools on hand to address the symptoms and conceal the telltale signs.
