I know this seems trivial with all the other things we have to deal with, but I was wondering how/what some of the females do for the cosmetic aspects of SJS.
My eyes always look red and puffy (especially lids) as well as red rimmed. My skin of my face and lips have too many issues to name. Any time I have gotten the dryness somewhat controlled, I break out with major acne due to too becoming too oily (RARE)! I have found putting just the right tint of cover up to my eyes helps the redness appearance, but of course then my eyes become drier.
It seems like we give up so much just for comfort but on the rare occasions I go out to socialize, I would like to look and feel 1/2 way decent. I am not a vain person but would like to give the appearance of normal to avoid questions and/or assumptions about my health. I also sometimes feel taking care of my appearance in the years leading up to all these symptoms was a huge waste of time.
Any suggestions or sharing of info would be appreciated. Due to allergies, sensitivity to ANY fragrances makes it difficult to use some products on my face. With spring/summer coming, I want to get out more and take part in life again.
Personally I have found Clinique or BeautiControl brands to be the least irritating with the best results.
I don't wear makeup on my face at all -- I do *fix* my shaggy eyebrows so they look cared for, and if I could find one of those hand-held pencil sharpeners I would use it on an eyebrow pencil to cover the bare spots that too-zealous weeding produces.
Anyway, what works for me (YMMV) is using almond oil on most of the skin of my face. It is *safe* near the eyes, but annoying, as it blurs vision. Te result is an even tone to my face -- red though it may be today from too much sun!
I also use almond oil on those chapped hands we get in the winter. A couple of drops after I wash my hands, and I haven't had a "paper-cut" all winter.
Soycoffee
Where do you get your almond oil? thanks!
I was going to recommend Clinique, but see that you have already tried it :) I have sensitive skin, and love Clinique's Super Balanced liquid foundation. I think all of their makeup is hypoallergenic, so I stick with all Clinique products. I haven't used anything else in many years, so I'm afraid I have no other suggestions.
Hi Jackie,
I use a brand called Gabriel. I buy it at the natural food store. I even think Whole Foods carries the line. Hardly any ingredients. I use the face powder, eyeshadow and mascara.
My sjs symptoms started with skni and eye sensitivity, si I have tried a jillion brands. Goid luck, we all need to feel pretty
I use Bare Minerals. It works well..but no matter what I use these days, I look pale & sickly within hours.
Not to mention all of the wrinkles that have happened because of a lack of moisture in my skin.
I was recently asked (when checking out at the register of a retail store) if I wanted the Senior Discount. What!
Hey, I'm not that far off in age for qualifying for that...but I'm not there yet. I considered that another 'Sjogren's reality slap' in the face :-[
Quote from: gold55 on February 21, 2012, 04:22:11 AM
Where do you get your almond oil? thanks!
I get it either from Amazon or from iHerb, and the brand I order is NOW (haven't tried any other). Right now, iHerb is $2 cheaper for 16 oz. and also has up to a gallon size. The $5 coupon code at iHerb -- for first orders only -- is SIG531 -- and their shipping is fast and cheap, though nobody can beat Amazon Prime.
I think you'll like it.
Soycoffee
Clinique is great.
DHC has some great stuff too, no fragrances, many products with all natural ingredients, and the olive oil cleansing line is wonderful.
I lost the ability to wear make up and wear contacts long before sicca came along. I constantly had "eye inflammation or infections" for about a two year period. It finally got better after eliminating eye make up. I wouldn't think of using make up again. I definitely don't want infections. I use a lot of eye drops so it probably would be irritating. Hope you get some good suggestions.
Winnie
I gave up wearing a long time before I knew I had SJS. I do wear eyebrow pencil and a little lip gloss when I want to dress up. Which is very often anymore. Someting in most makeup makes my eyes worse.
I use Cetaphil face wash. Oil of Olay with SPF 15, loose powder over top (Bare minerals ), lip liner with lipstick, keep eyebrows in shape.
I no longer use eye liner or mascara. To moisturize my eye area..Burts Bee royal jelly eye cream.
when at home I go without make up. I use one drop in each eye of "Visine gets the red out" only on days I work. it will last 6 hours. I hate going to work with blood shot eyes. I only use it sparingly d/t the preservitives in it.
trial and error to get your "beauty care" regime like you like it.
eye2dry
I had permanent eyeliner tatooed about seven years ago because almost any kind of product near my eyes makes the burning worse. Even though I paid about $300 for this, I think I've gotten my money's worth! :)
I use CVS store brand Cetaphil for cleansing (in the shower each morning) and follow with a light moisturizer. Clinique Dramatically Different is my fave, but it's a little spendy at $21 so I usually use Olay with SPF 15 which is $8 for the same amount of product.
I sometimes use Garnier eye roller (with caffeine) for puffiness and dark circles.
Nivea "A Kiss of Smoothness" is my favorite lip moisturizer. If I feel a need for some color I use Burt's Bees lip shimmer (Rhubarb is my fave).
Just about any other type of cosmetics gives me what looks like a "chemical burn" on my face. Mary Kay is the worst offender.
I use Clinique lipsticks, the only one that doesn't irritate my lips. I use Lancome waterproof mascara. I use cetaphil to wash my face and Cetaphil has a moisturizer that comes in a jar with a blue lid. I use it on my body and face and it gives and retains moisture all day. Everyone I've recommended the Cetaphil to loves it.
Anna
I don't wear makeup very often but when I do it is usually organic. I'm from the UK but Lavera is a pretty good brand. I think you can get it in other countries too. Might have to get it mail order. Bit more expensive than most but worth it.
I am interested in the eyeliner tatto, too. I am worried that it will look too harsh. How much does it hurt?
Also, do they have to shave off your eyelashes to do it? Tattoos usually require complete hair removal, and I'm not sure I want to go 6 months with no eyelashes.
Read product labels to avoid PARABENS. They are NOT good for us (or anyone!).
Right now I'm only using lipstick and an eyebrow pencil. I usually use mascara, but after my inflamed eye of last week, I haven't been able to use it. I look so ILL without it! UGH!
Soy... does the almond oil have a strong fragrance? Wondering if that would work for me or not. I'm very sensitive to odors. I've tried olive oil and coconut oil and both made me itch. GRRRR.
PS .. The very best (gentle!) facial cleanser I've found is Aubrey Organics Seaware with Rose Mosqueta. It is awesome! Vitacost has it.
up for Soycoffee
I wash my face with " Purpose". Can be found at Walmart and most grocery stores. It only takes a drop and is quite inexpensive. Olay with spf 15 works well for me..
I have very fair skin, light eye lashes and brows--always had to wear mascara and shadow so people wouldn't ask me if i was "ok". Now I can't wear any makeup- it all irritates my skin and eyes. Now i just have to settle with being pale and sick looking--ugh.
Can't even with tinted lip balm--my lips will chap and get sore in a matter of minutes.
I use Murad skin creme, orange line, with SPF and Vitamin C for dryness. Helps. For occasional pimple, I use my daughter's Murad (blue line) and it works great. I like Jane Iredale for a light powder cover up, covers up my blemishes, and it isn't heavy or irritating. Mascara is hard as my eyes are so irritated and I just had a big inside eyelid infection and abcess.
Quote from: eye2dry on February 21, 2012, 05:28:35 PM
I use one drop in each eye of "Visine gets the red out" only on days I work. it will last 6 hours. I hate going to work with blood shot eyes. I only use it sparingly d/t the preservitives in it.
eye2dry
eye2dry - I've been warned by my Ophthalmologist and other doctors to never use those "get the red out" products ever if you have dry eyes - you'll even see these warnings in Sjogren's and Ocular Rosacea literature for patients. Please check this information out with your physicians if it's okay for you to use. To be honest I find sometimes information that isn't accurate gets pushed by doctors and then copied on all kinds of websites and then ends up as TRUTH - maybe my understanding of the "get the red out" products is like that - maybe it is okay?
I have extremely sensitive skin - LOL I'm a walking textbook of skin disorders. I've had great success following the advice of Paula Begoun - I buy some of her products and use her beautopia (on her website) to choose my other makeup products. She is known as the cosmeticscop.com If you go to her website you'll find many of the products mentioned here, like Cetaphil are recommended on her site. What I like is you can find cheap versions of the pricey items without sacrificing quality - after all there are actually only a few manufacturers making all those make up and skin care products that we buy - things are just packaged and marketed to different segments of the population. For example - with eye brow pencils, there are only two manufacturers - one in Germany and one in Korea - so no matter what name is on your product, it came from one of these two places.
I also found switching from the common Standard American Diet that most people eat to Dr. John McDougall's starch based whole food diet made an amazing improvement in my skin and eyes drmcdougall.com For the rest I see a dermatologist.
I also love sweet almond oil on my skin - it has a very mild sweet almond smell - but it's kind of pricey so I switched to Jojoba oil that I buy at Trader Joe - it doesn't have any aroma that I can detect. I also like olive oil, but it does smell like salad dressing LOL
I can't use Bare Minerals make up -I'm allergic or sensitive to the Bismuth Oxychloride. I use l"Oreal's version which is Bismuth Oxychloride-free on those rare days when I want to look a little more polished. Mostly I just apply sunscreen and call it a day.
Hi Skylar.
I don't know what to think anymore.
At my last GP appt for a thyroid check, we talked about my eyes. He wrote me a script for flurbiprofen and I filled it. It came with a info sheet in the box and I read it of course.
It said people with rheumatoid arthritis should not use this medication. So, I put it away in my closet and at my next eye dr appt I am going to show it to him and ask why not.
The reason I won't ask my GP who rx'd it is...he knows I have RA and he still gave it to me.
eye2dry
Quote from: eye2dry on February 26, 2012, 07:45:57 AM
At my last GP appt for a thyroid check, we talked about my eyes. He wrote me a script for flurbiprofen and I filled it. It came with a info sheet in the box and I read it of course.
eye2dry
Okay - then you don't have to worry -
Visine is a vasoconstrictor - and that is what we shouldn't use.
Flurbiprofen is an NSAIDs - big difference - that you can use with care.
I'm not sure why the information sheet would say flurbiprofen shouldn't be used by people with RA, since it's one of the old school first line RX for RA.
Definitely something to check out with your rheumy.
Re: Permanent eyeliner --- the best thing to do is to find others in your area who've had it done. I used a girl in my hometown who's been fully trained and licensed. She'd been doing permanent makeup for about three years when I found her --- I knew she'd done at least a hundred others. Also, there were several girls in my circle of friends who'd had it done by her.
Every year when he examines my eyes my optomitrist comments on what a great job this particular artist does, so that might be a good person to check with when you're making your decision.
I went to the shop and interviewed the tattoo artist -- who's also a beautician and cosmetologist -- and looked through her before-and-after scrapbook.
I checked out her equpiment and her sterilization procedure. I picked out the color I wanted (deep black-brown) and the width of the line (medium) and made my appointment for a Saturday morning. (I got the darker brown and the medium width line because I didn't want to have to have it done again. Cheap!)
She said that she guarantees her work and that she'll re-do the tattoo as many times as necessary for up to six months. She said that sometimes she has to go back over a section if she happened to miss a little bit. She sent me home with written instructions and a cute eye-shaped cool pak to put in the fridge for when I got the liner done.
On the morning of my procedure she numbed both eyes then started on my right eye. It felt like an annoying buzzy feeling but it didn't hurt. It did swell up right away. She did it among my lashes. Because I've had my tear ducts cauterized, the numbing drops rolled out of my eyes and the second eye wasn't as numb as the first. Stupidly, I was too shy to ask her to stop and re-numb so I just soldiered on. It started out being just annoying but by halfway through the second eye it hurt more than I thought it should, but it wasn't unbearable.
My eyes swelled up and looked as though I'd had a good, hard cry for about three days. I didn't tell anyone I was having this done because I didn't want to be talked out of it. My husband was out of town for three days and when he got home he asked me if I'd been crying, but didn't notice the eyeliner right away. ;D
I had to hang around the house for a day and place cool compresses on my eyes for ten minutes out of every hour the first day. The second day I was fine -- I even painted the living room. Also, I had to keep antibiotic ointment on my eyelids for a couple of weeks. It took about three weeks for it to heal completely.
As I said, it's been about 7 years, and the color has faded a little -- just like any other tattoo it's a little more blue-ish than I would like, but it's still OK.
If I had to do it again, I'd have opted for a thinner line and a lighter brown. Oh, and of course, I'd have stopped her and asked her to re-numb my left eye.
Hope this helps!
Eeks! I am so lucky. I wear the brands I want, mostly MAC. Nothing bothers my face very much, thank God and I hope it lasts.
Don't forget to check for Parabens! :P
http://www.naturalskincaresecrets.com/parabens-and-cancer.html
A66beyroad, thank you for that description. You gave me a lot of good information!
Meow, I'm glad I could help!
You wondered if it might look too harsh -- this reminded me of when I told my daughter (then college-age) I had gotten my eyeliner tattooed. She said, "Oh no! Do you look like Michael Jackson?"
I told her no. But really, I do! :D
(I bet he paid a whole lot more for his than I paid for mine!)
LOL!!!!