Do you wear make-up?

[ofwarren]

I wear it very occasionally. I'm aware of it on my face which is annoying, but I do prefer the look of my face with it on.
To be honest, I hardly ever look in the mirror. Not because I hate the way I look, but because I dont really feel the need to.

Yes i wear makeup most days.

I generally just wear eye makeup, I wear a tinted moisturiser sometimes because I don't like how foundation feels on my skin

No. I can't tolerate eyeshadow or mascara. Mind, I do have MCAS (Mast Cell Activation syndrome) so I'm allergic to most things.

I've never heard of that @rainbowzebrawarrier so I googled it. Does it mean you are allergic to lots of things?

I can't wear anything on my face because I have allergic blepharitis.

@ofwarren good make-up looks fabulous, but I have tried over the years and do look ok, however I am very conscious of this 'stuff' on my face so wear it rarely.

• plus allergies besides hay fever, asthma and the usual shit (most of my family are like this), my skin allergies have got far worse (am waiting to see a dermatologist) after a flare of urticaria last year and continual psoriasis at anything my skin decides it does not like, so it is better not to wear. I save up for good skincare instead that I know will not upset my skin.

@RainbowZebraWarrior - I had never heard of this, sounds bloody unpleasant. Is there a therapy or treatment or just the usual steroids and antihistamines?

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation ouch! Painful!

we all sound like we are continually in the wars with our health notwithstanding anything else

Just a thought, is it quite common for Auto Immune Disorders to have a co-morbidity with Autism and ADHD?

I got out of the habit when DS2 was a baby, then was doing a video shoot for MN, picked him up from school and he cried because I didn't "look like Mummy". I don't know if he'd be OK with it now he's 14.

No. Ive never ever worn any make up. Apart from a lip balm occasionally.

Oddly I have asthma and autism, and I have severe allergies to just about everything, I only use a specific shampoo and conditioner, I can't use lynx at all and I wear makeup about twice a week but have to wipe it off well before bed as I have a specific routine and it irritates my skin ( I also sleep in inside out clothes so there are no seams, two pillows and the room a perfect temperature aswell as no noises like a clock ticking or lights on)

I colour my eyebrows and wear mascara when I am working because they are all totally blonde.

I don’t wear any make up if I’m not working.

I can’t stand the feel of foundation or lipstick.

I love makeup brand Catrice, I have struggled with so many different types of makeup, but for some reason their stuff seems to be very gentle on the skin. I don't like lipstick or lip balm at all though, never like the sensation of wearing anything on my lips

Yes, I like to wear makeup and certainly experimented with it a lot in my younger pre-diagnosis days. It was another layer to my masking. I still wear it but don't bother when WFH as nobody sees me. And I have to be super careful with foundation, etc. due to rosacea.

@ofwarren and @LilyRed

So Mast Cell Activation syndrome is basically mast cells which react angrily to environmental factors. Could be chemicals, heat intolerance etc. So symptoms can vary such as asthma type reactions, skin sensitivity or allergic reactions to foods. At the extreme level, it can cause anaphylaxis.

It is interesting as I've read a lot about allergies/ asthma being closely linked with ASD. I also have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and 40% of patients also have ASD. I find it fascinating, although obviously hugely bloody frustrating at times too.

Treatment for MCAS is antihistamines and other meds, EpiPens if necessary. The biggest factor is to avoid the triggers so is a very limited diet with as little exposure as possible to chemicals and other irritants.

@Ricekrispiebun

I love makeup brand Catrice, I have struggled with so many different types of makeup, but for some reason their stuff seems to be very gentle on the skin. I don't like lipstick or lip balm at all though, never like the sensation of wearing anything on my lips

If I put on make-up, I also don't put anything on my mouth.

Yes, pretty much a full face (foundation, powder, blush, brows, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick) every day unless I'm not leaving the house in which case I wear none.

It's my actual mask.

Despite having ASD (I know lots of people find them difficult from a sensory perspective) I also like wearing face masks, I can hide behind them!

Never, I find it so gross. Not on others, I think people look lovely with good makeup and I wish I could look good too and watch makeup youtubers!
But it's a thing on my skin/eye lashes, the feeling of putting it on/having it on on the few times I wore it just felt so gross to me, I was just obsessing over I had these things on my face, I struggle with moisturiser and sun cream too, same gross icky feeling for me.
I do like a facemask though same as watchtheglitter, even though it touches my face.

The worst is false eyelashes. I've no idea how women put up with that feeling on your eyes all day.

I can't be arsed mostly. I can't wear lipstick though as I have eaten it off within about five minutes as I can not stand the feel on my lips.

I never ever wear any lip make-up.

On special occasions I stick to eye shadow, mascara, and either blush or bronzer.

I wish I was better at applying make-up.

Quite often I will put makeup on because I like how it looks, having somehow miraculously having forgotten how awful it feels.

Then spend the entire time from about ten minutes after applying it to the time I can take it off, wholly aware of it, very uncomfortable and massively regretting putting it on in the first place.

I started this approximately weekly cycle when I was around 13/14. I am now 31.

I have absolutely no idea why I still do this to myself.

Yes, I wear it most days. I don’t wear it if not planning on leaving the house. I love beauty products and enjoy applying it.

@Salaro totally understand where you are coming from re sunscreen.

If anyone has found one that doesn't feel sticky and gross but actually works my ginger self is very much open to suggestions.

The choice between gross feeling sunscreen, sun burn and hiding from the sun in summer doesn't feel like much of a choice at all sometimes

less and less! used to wear it most days, these days once in a blue moon! (I don't have anywhere to go, WFH, LP). I do feel better when I wear it but it's a faff and I don't see the point.

[quote RainbowZebraWarrior]**@ofwarren* and @LilyRed*

So Mast Cell Activation syndrome is basically mast cells which react angrily to environmental factors. Could be chemicals, heat intolerance etc. So symptoms can vary such as asthma type reactions, skin sensitivity or allergic reactions to foods. At the extreme level, it can cause anaphylaxis.

It is interesting as I've read a lot about allergies/ asthma being closely linked with ASD. I also have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and 40% of patients also have ASD. I find it fascinating, although obviously hugely bloody frustrating at times too.

Treatment for MCAS is antihistamines and other meds, EpiPens if necessary. The biggest factor is to avoid the triggers so is a very limited diet with as little exposure as possible to chemicals and other irritants.[/quote]
Being nosy, do you have any symptoms of dysautonomia too?

I have EDS, and MCAS, no diagnosis of ASD but I've been told I'm "odd, quirky, different" so many times I've lost count. My son is the same. I had no idea so many people with EDS also have ASD.

Dysautonomia for me effects digestion, sleep, I'm always cold even in very hot weather, low blood pressure, brain fog, migraine, feeling dizzy, POTS.

I've never pursued an ASD diagnosis, but I'm almost tempted to.