What It Feels Like To Have An Allergic Reaction On Your Face
I've been obsessed with beauty since I was little. At 5, I used to raid my mum's makeup drawers to sneakily apply red lipstick, only to have my dad make me take it off before I left the house. I've worked in the beauty industry for the last 15 years, and I have been at Adore Beauty for seven of them.
La Roche-Posay helped my cousin recover from a severe allergic reaction on her face within a month, calming intense redness and restoring her confidence. Here I share the routine we followed, including swapping tap water for Thermal Spring Water, and using Rosaliac AR Intense Serum, Toleriane Ultra and Cicaplast Baume B5+, plus the simple steps that helped her heal.
The Essential Points to Remember
- Skip tap water for sensitive flare ups and cleanse with La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.
- Spritz the mist onto a cotton pad and wipe until skin feels clean and hydrated.
- Apply La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum to calm and reduce redness at the source.
- Use Toleriane Ultra morning and night, and Cicaplast Baume B5+ on very dry, red spots.
These practical swaps and targeted products show how small daily changes can visibly reduce redness and speed recovery for reactive skin. Follow the order and frequency outlined, use the richer Baume on stubborn spots, and see a dermatologist if the reaction does not improve.
Sensitive skin - it’s a bitch. There's no denying it. When you have a serious skin reaction, it doesn’t just affect your appearance, it takes a toll on your mood, self-confidence and quality of life. If you've ever experienced a chronic skin condition, I'm sure you'll relate. Growing up, I suffered from terrible eczema which left me feeling isolated and helpless.
So when my cousin Nicola was going through her own serious skin reaction, my first instinct was to make sure she didn’t feel alone, and that I would do whatever I could to help her skin recover. She told us her story below.
The Journey To Happier Skin:
The first step was to eliminate anything that could be aggravating her skin, and to her surprise, I suggested avoiding tap water. Instead of washing her face the way she had done for her entire life, she began using the La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water. This lightweight hydrating mist is infused with antioxidant properties and natural prebiotics to help soothe and calm skin.
We then wanted to combat the intense redness in her skin. Her complexion looked so uncomfortable and aggravated, so it was important we found something to calm and soothe, as well as repair and protect. The La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum is an intensive concentrate to help reduce redness at the source while preventing it from reoccurring. This gentle formula relieves discomfort, while soothing and nourishing skin.
Every day, I would ask Nicola for an update on “our” skin (we were in this together after all). She would send me selfies so I could see the progress, and at first, I was seeing sad, frustrated, miserable versions of my beautiful little cousin. And then, slowly, I could see her coming back to life. A smile was starting to creep into her photos, and then BOOM, my girl was back to her old self - happy, smiley and confident!
Nicola’s Skincare Routine
Within a month of using the routine below, Nicola's skin had recovered from being blotchy, red and irritated, to glowing, calm and healthy.
Step 2
To wash her face, Nicola applies the Thermal Spring Water (instead of tap water) directly onto a cotton pad and wipes it across her complexion until her skin feels clean and hydrated.
If her skin is flaring up, or she’s got some reddness in her complexion, Nicola applies this serum after cleansing her skin.
Step 4
La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Ultra Cream is Nicola's everyday moisturiser that she uses morning and night.
If Nicola has any really dry, red spots, she applies this rich nourishing moisturiser which is thicker and more restorative than her everyday moisturiser.
Why Did I Choose La Roche-Posay?
I liken La Roche-Posay to my knight in shining armour. Whenever I’m desperately trying to recover from a skin reaction, it’s La Roche-Posay to the rescue. This French pharmacy range is made specifically for sensitive skin, so it’s no surprise that this is the brand I recommended to Nicola to help her on her road to recovery.
