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Do seasonal allergies change your makeup routine?


Do seasonal allergies change your makeup routine? Share! If you have no seasonal allergies… well, you lucky duck 😉

I used to get really, really bad seasonal allergies when I was younger. When I moved away to SoCal for college, they seemed to go away quite a bit, but when I came home, they would flare up again. I definitely had to take precautions like lighter eyeliners, more waterproof eyeliner/mascara formulas, and sometimes, no eye makeup (thank goodness for a bold lip!).

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Ryou Avatar

I don’t get allergies. Well, not in the last two places I live in, anyway. But my eyes (especially my left) are very watery and they don’t drain well, and it happens year-round. My precaution is to usually blot the tears very, very gently before applying eye make-up, make sure I wear primer, stick to neutral-colored eyeshadows in cream formula (less likely to go patchy, and less apparent if it does), and wear waterproof eyeliner and mascara.

Eyedrops help, and so does leaving my eyes to “rest” for a bit after waking up. Nowadays I would wake up, get ready, and leave doing my eye make-up until the very last minute. Thank heavens for bold lips! (Although I do miss wearing colorful eyeshadows)

Rae Avatar

Noooope! (Sorry :P) I have the wimpiest allergies of anyone with allergies, ever — for a few weeks at the end of winter, I get a bit of a tickle in my sinuses from the snow mould. That’s it >.<

It took me years to figure out that they were allergies (I thought for the longest time I was allergic to citrusy perfumes, as people tend to wear a lot of them in the spring!), but dude — MAD respect for anyone who struggles with allergies every year. I don't know how you guys do it!

Scoo Avatar

Seasonal allergies means nothing on the eyes. Besides, I have issues wearing perfumes (bad odor overload!) What I still do is a little highlighter to life my face.. Mac Hush cream color base looks best on me!

A Name Avatar

I started to suddenly get really bad allergies when I was 13 and moved house. I’ve found treatment that actually works, but if I do suddenly get bad allergy day, I would probably forgo all makeup as it would definitely end up in a total smudgy mess.

Lizzi Avatar

I never had allergies until I moved from San Diego to Dallas back in 2006. And now, every fall there’s something in the Texas air that knocks me on my butt. It makes it hard for me to wear contacts, which in turn affects my eye makeup.

kjh Avatar

Allergies are dreadful this year + causing ‘sinus’ headaches, despite taking both Zyrtec + Chlortrimeton. Now, if exposed to anything powdery, that could go up my nose, a mask is mandatory. Even had a car mishap, in which the car had to be lifted out of the foundation plantings, thank god it wasn’t damaged, 2nd to blinding headache. Sometimes even my lips are swelling with foods that never bothered me before. Fortunately, allergies are cyclical. Shouldn’t forget to mention that i lost my sense of smell, so don’t get that alert about potential allergens.
Makeup: Blinc for bottom lashes is a must, otherwise it’s total raccoon. Often forego all eyes except concealer, which may have to lighten up a shade, esp. if my temp goes down (95 is worse than death)+ my eyes sink in. GRRRReat! Got the Sephora Khol Crayon in Infinite beige, though it was dry in-store + I thought it could be poor: turned out to be great, + wonderful for red eye rims. Hopefully it can stay put for at least 1/2 the season. Mandatory eye drops: Similisan allergy, no rebound, only drop that doesn’t KILL (even natural tears formulas do). It’s Swiss homeopathic + available at health food stores. Also saw it at CVS in years past. Bold lippies do help distract from sick-look eyes. Think Clementine! Thanks for your A+. Blood Orange pulled a tad pinker on me, as did Timanfaya, so it was that darlin’ Clementine (‘scuse the bad pun.)

Calli Avatar

Yes! My allergies are horrible, especially in Fall and Spring. Unfortunately a lot of times this means no makeup or using ‘lighter’ mascara so my eyes are irritated any further!

Danielle Avatar

I do get watery eyes, but I don’t really change up my makeup too much. I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup on a daily basis anyway, so I guess it works out. I do struggle to find a really good waterproof mascara, though.

embeast Avatar

Waterproof everything on my eyes for sure…. I’m a pale redhead with nearly invisible lashes so I really need my eye makeup, even on bad allergy days. For me the Maybelline Color Tattoos work best as a shadow. Any waterproof mascara holds up pretty well but I still haven’t found an eyeliner that stays in place when my eyes water, especially in the outer corners. Pencil, gel, liquid…. None stay put, and I’ve tried so many brands 🙁

Brenda Avatar

I tend to use less foundation/concealer around my nose and try less around my eyes – what with all the sneezing and runny nose LOL. It looks worse once it gets rubbed off, so less is just better to begin with. I never wear mascara on the bottom lashes so I just don’t use much product near the tear ducts to avoid the makeup running off or looking blotchy.

Danielle Clifford Avatar

I definitely change my eye makeup to all very very waterproof products and try not to put anything in my waterline or close to my tear duct. I also have to make sure that my foundation around my nose is very very cemented because otherwise it will be gone!

jennifer Avatar

If I may ask, what foundation do you use? I have allergies and looking for something that will stay on my nose. I use Tarte Full Coverage. It lasts all day but not strong enough for when my allergies attack my nose.

Jacquelyn Avatar

When I get seasonal allergies, I get congested so easily that I get a bad headache from it and what’s worse is if people are smoking around me, my allergies flare up like crazy!

Valerie C. Avatar

Yes, not only do my eyes tear, they get red. The most annoying part is trying to get gel liner on. I have to blot my lid at the inner corner, but, I’m persistent.

Erica Avatar

I was born with severe allergies to specific allergens including airborne pollens, foods and products (man made and natural). In my 30’s I also started suffering from eczema. My family nickname this time of the year is “Itchy McScratchy ‘. I’ve developed a pretty good regimen with waterproof eye products and cream eyeshadows. I proceed cautiously, but I let nothing prevent me from wearing my makeup!

Eileen Avatar

I get seasonal allergies twice a year with some years being worse than others. When things are bad, my nose drips like a faucet and gets red around the nostrils. I use Clé de Peau concealer to cover the redness when I go out and about. If I’m at home, I don’t bother.

Frenchie Avatar

My allergies are so bad right now, I’m confined to a foundation/powder combo, gel eyeliner on my top lid only, and a tiny bit of Benefit They’re Real mascara on the tips of my upper lashes only. Color Tattoo by Maybelline is ok sometimes. Unfortunately, all my lovely eyeshadow palettes are away until June.

Karen Avatar

I deal with allergies year-rounds so no seasonal allergies don’t change my makeup choices much. I might opt for more waterproof or no make up at all on a very bad day.

Astrild Avatar

Not really. I have watery eyes all year round so I need waterproof mascara and I always tend to minimize makeup in my lower eyelid, but there’s no seasonal change.

brittney Avatar

my eyes get extremely watery, itchy and burn. so on a good day, my eye makeup lasts 7 hours ugh. it helps when i use good eye makeup (cheap brands burn when you get it in your eyes). otherwise, if it gets too bad i swipe vaseline on my eyelids, waterproof mascara, and just do a bold lip that day 🙁

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