Allergy to face products/makeup

[Ceriane]

I think I have developed an allergy to either my makeup or some kind of product I have been using on my skin even though I have always had a skincare routine and have worn makeup every day since I was a teenager with no problems.

I’m 43 so this could be related to peri menopause. Just after I had Covid-19 I developed an allergy to hair dye and have accepted that I will be embracing the grey. I also have had problems with lipsticks, so haven’t used it for nearly 3 years. It’s fine, I can live without hair dye and lipstick.

About 2 weeks ago I stupidly tried a lipstick to see if it really was all of them and I had itching, tingling, swelling and my lips became extremely sore and dry. It took a week for this reaction to go down and I am waiting for tests from my GP to test my IGE to certain chemicals to see what I reacted to.

The problem I’m having now over the last week is that I now have a stinging sensation on my face and I can’t work out what is causing it and I’m worried that I have now developed an allergy to other products I’ve used on my face and I don’t know where to start. There is no visible redness or anything just the sensation.

I use simple cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Maybelline foundation, Rimmel concealer, rimmel bronzer or Laura teller baked foundation, rimmel eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and blusher. I don’t know how to work out which products I could be reacting to. I really don’t want to have to not wear makeup and this has only been a problem over this past week. It could even be the cold weather or just my face being more sensitive because of peri menopause.

I no longer use lip balm, lipstick or lipgloss in case I react to that.

I can happily live without hair dye or lipstick but I really really don’t want to go without skin care or makeup.

I’m now in quite an anxious state about all of this and don’t know what to do.

100% get it. I’ve been here.
BTW my hairdresser says a lot have people have had the issue with hair dyes since Covid.

skincare/makeup: yes, get an allergy test to identify specific ingredients and be really strict on sticking to it. I had full patch testing via a dermatologist- push for this with your GP.

Really you do need to cut everything out and go back to basics. Then introduce one product at a time for a good few days. I get this is difficult.
I initially I used Aleppo Soap as a cleanser and a big emoliant moisturiser like Epaderm (awful and hated it but recommended and did calm things down short term).
once I’d been through the testing I began to switch to nicer products and I did this slowly.

its expensive and painful to cull your whole collection of product and replace, I took a deep breath and did it. I now spend a lot less than I did because so many products aren’t suitable and so I’m limited but focused.

whilst waiting for any results, key known allergens that will be listed in ingredients on such products and you may want to avoid are: limonene, linalool, hexyl cinnamol, rosemary extract, jasmine extract, citrus extracts, sulphates. Also avoid anything fragranced for now and until you know more.

re foundation, may be look at a lighter option for now. A tinted serum or foundation with minimal ingredients.
Xx

Thank you. This is exactly what I will do. I'm getting allergy testing soon and have taken all my make-up off and will introduce products gradually, until I find ones I can use. It's just so frustrating.