Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Rosacea...a post in repsonse to a reader's question.

Please forgive me as I have been remiss in not posting a timely response from a reader.
Her question asked me to discuss in a blog post how I manage my rosacea.
Other than the crucial habits of eating healthy food, drinking lots of Perrier, avoiding red wine, reducing stress I rely on a line of gentle products by Avene that are specifically created for sensitive skin.


My skincare regime is simple.


Morning and evening cleansing with a foaming cleanser
 sunscreen
moisturizer
followed by a moisturizing tinted cream
(my mature skin is dry and the extra moisture is absorbed like a sponge!)
In the evening I remove all my make up spritz with thermal water and gently pat on serum.


Weekly or bi-weekly I'll have a spa morning treatment.
I use Bio-Gommage an exfoliating product by Methode Physiodermie
and then slather on L'Occitane Divine Cream and go about my domestics.


My favourite sunscreen by La Roche Posay
 Sea Buckthorn Salve which I use if I have a flare up of redness.
I use this at night as it is rather greasy and not suitable for wearing under tinted moisturizer or make up.

I am not a dermatologist and would never suggest that I am an expert on rosacea so if you do have this condition I would strongly advise you to seek medical attention.
I saw a specialist years ago and have learned that my skin reacts to strong chemicals in skin care products so I avoid using them on my face.

Changing my diet made a big difference in how my skin looks.

When I worked I would have a facial every few months at The Willowstream Spa in the Victoria Fairmont Empress and they customize a facial after consulting with you about your skin.
I loved how my skin felt after having a spa facial.
 Now that I am on a pension, and saving for my trip to Paris I do my own facials...


My favourite tinted moisturizing cream by Sweet Lei Lani
created by a woman in Langley BC
for a friend who was undergoing chemotherapy 
and still wanted to look lovely during her treatment.

It is gentle and light and adds a dewy finish and comes in a variety of colours.


In addition to these skincare thoughts...

 I try to get lots of fresh air by walking outdoors by the ocean everyday.
Rest and relaxation is vital, as is sleep.
It is high on my list of healthy priorities but can often be a challenge at my age
it seems to be broken up
 not as long
and as a result is not as restful as I would like.

If I have a restless night I will try to take a longer walk.
The sights and sounds out and about in nature are so soothing.

So with those thoughts in mind I am off for my walk and will be back soon.
Enjoy your week!

Hostess

19 comments:

Jean S said...

For those in the US, Paula's Choice is an excellent line....though apparently Avene is now available here, too.

And I would add a hearty "yes!" to changes in diet. For me, eliminating as much sugar as possible (and this includes ground grains, esp. wheat) has made a huge difference.

kim at northerncalstyle. said...

Hostess, I appreciate you post about this as so many of us have rosacea and many just don't even know it. I do use some of the products you showed and I have also found a prescription Finacea, which is azaleic acid creme, helps a huge amount and I really couldn't cope without it. Last week I got the chance to go to a med-spa locally and try IPL (Intense pulsed light) treatment for it. I wasn't expecting much, but was so shocked at how much better my skin looked. It's tons more even and I don't flush and get red in the face hardly at all. It usually is a series of three treatments. So far I've had one. I'm going to write about it next week, but so far I think it's so worth doing!! Anyone dealing with this needs to investigate this option. I just wish I tried it sooner! Have a great walk and lovely afternoon. xx Kim

Madame Là-bas said...

Your complexion does indeed look beautiful. The regimen and the fresh air work wonders although I would suspect that heredity may also play a role. The women of Ireland and the Northern Isles (walks by the sea and healthy diet) seem to have lovely skin with a wee bit of the "high colouring" (mum's word for rosacea). Isn't today's sunshine an unexpected gift?

No Sacrifice Bags said...

You skin looks very good Hostess.
I blame the Irish side of my family for my "high colouring". I personally can't use the entire Avene line; but I do keep atomizer cans of Avene, and Evian water, on the plane. My skin is very reactive, and over the years, I've spent a fortune on skin care lines. I'm happy that I've finally found (a few) products that I can (for the moment) tolerate; although I will never have nice skin.

Susan said...

I applaud you for taking good care of yourself AND your skin. I like it that when you have a restless night, you take a longer walk. I'll remember that.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your reply.
Linda C.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I have heard a lot about Paula's Choice and the reviews all seem to be favourable.
I don't have a lot of sugar in my diet either....nor bread. WW has completely changed the way I look at food and in a good way!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I had three IPL treatments several years ago when my face was really red and inflamed...I was not too sure what to expect and the results were good but the cost is rather high, but if I were to have another serious flare up I would not hesitate to go back for more.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

My Irish background must be partly responsible for this condition...and I always though it was the Scandinavian side of the family that I inherited this condition from!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

What do you use to help keep your rosacea in check?
Readers might like to know what works for you.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Walking actually energizes me, so a bit longer walk, even if done at a slower pace seems to help.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

You are most welcome! I hope this helps.

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

Your complexion is lovely. Do you know of any moisturizers that are fragrance free, or very, very lightly scented? Now that I am older and need moisturizer more than ever, it seems to make my eyes itch.

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

Thanks for mention of Sweet Lei Lani. I remember checking out her website a few years back and I'm off to take another look!

Anonymous said...

"high couloring"! I love that description - my Welsh heritage gives me a bit of rosiness, too. Jen NY

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I like Avene and L'Occitane as they do have a light scent. You might be able to get a sample of each to test how they are on your skin. For really dry skin you might like to try a serum at night as they seem to really hydrate our mature complexions. Good luck!

kristieinbc said...

Thank you so much for this post! I've been using Sweet Lei Lani products ever since you mentioned them and have been very happy with them. I see you use the Avene foaming cleanser rather than the Sweet Lei Lani one and was wondering what the difference is between the two. I am also wondering what face cleanser you use when traveling. Foaming cleansers aren't a great choice because no matter how careful I am the containers always seem to leak.

Sherry said...

you are lovely ..
the polka dots bring a smile to my
face - ♥ dots. :)
{& yes, i'm reading through your skin care posts}

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh goodness, I thank you and i hope you enjoy your time here!