It's because of this that I've picked up a few tricks along the way to ensure that I look semi-healthy under the life-sapping, skin-sallowing fluorescent lighting that comes with working in public health. I am forever indebted to a couple of products which I find really useful and easy to use, so even if my hands are more painful than usual I can still manage to make them work.
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector
Man, I don't know what I did before this stuff. It's a tinted moisturiser (comes in Fair-Medium or Medium-Dark), and also a BB Cream (which is short for Blemish Balm, basically one of the buzz terminologies of the beauty world at the moment). The end result is a cream that a) adjusts itself to your skin tone, b) covers imperfections, c) leaves you with dewy, radiant (but not shiny or greasy) skin, and d) moisturises at the same time! It is SPF15 so if you're heading outside you will need to use a sunscreen as well (particularly if you're on any DMARDs that increase your sensitivity to the sun!), but ultimately it's really quite inexpensive and despite my having relatively sensitive skin, I find it fantastic.
Garnier Roll-On Caffeine Concealer for Eyes
It's not the best coverage concealer I've ever used, but I really like it because it doesn't drag on the delicate skin under my eyes, and it really does seem to lessen the dark circles with repeated use. I wish I didn't need to use it (read: I wish I got enough sleep that I look perennially bright-eyed!), but it's not a chore to use.
Lip balm... yes, there are millions. Literally, millions. And everyone has their favourites, but here's why Alpha Keri is mine. Firstly, it doesn't taste bad. We all know that at least 20% of lip balm applied to lips somehow ends up in your mouth - even if we don't intend for it to. It doesn't really have a 'taste' or 'flavour', just a menthol-y fresh one which isn't unpleasant or minerally like some other balms I've used. Secondly, it stays on. I HATE having to reapply my lip balm or gloss every twenty seconds (which, coincidentally, is why I am the Queen of Lancome's Juicy Tubes - Melon is a fantastic everyday pink), and this little balm has really good staying power. Thirdly, it's great even if you have those annoying I'm-really-run-down-and-the-corners-of-my-mouth-have-cracked cracks, and helps to heal them up pronto. Fourthly, it's SPF30+ so it protects your poor, sensitive little lips from dryness AND sun. Fifthly, despite my very sensitive skin, my lips are even more sensitive to products (if that's possible), and this doesn't upset them. Win!
KMS Hair Play Makeover Spray (Dry Shampoo)
I love this product for many reasons. Firstly, I have dark hair (this week) so there is the usual drama of dry shampoo being 'visible' even after you brush it out. Not a problem with this one, and it has the added bonus of being the yummiest smelling dry shampoo I've ever smelled! The other thing I love about this dry shampoo over others is that it's still very light, so you can use it to add some body to freshly washed hair if you need to.
This one isn't so much cosmetic as it is therapeutic, but it fits here ok! It smells of lavender, and as anyone who has ever needed massage oils will attest, smell is kinda important. There's the somewhat icky oil smell, or the Deep Heat smell, or those herby oil smells... this doesn't fit into any of those categories. It's not strong, so you won't walk away smelling like Grandma, but it's not unpleasant either. Added bonus is it is very moisturising, so whenever I have flares in my feet, knees, hips, back, shoulders, neck, elbows or wrists, I crack open the bottle and let it do its work. I had always been pretty sceptical about Arnica, but I'm a convert!
The Body Shop Shea Whip Body Lotion
I've always had dry skin and used a lot of moisturisers, and since starting DMARDs my skin has been drier than ever. Enter Body Shop's Shea Body Whip. Not only does it smell delicious, but it's also a really nice balance of super-moisture combined with non-greasiness, which is really important to me (because my slow-moving body generally means I'm running late any time I'm applying moisturiser, which means I don't have the luxury of waiting for it to soak in before I get dressed!).
Anyway, they're some of my favourite products. I have plenty more (you should see my bathroom!), but these ones are ones I simply couldn't trade. Other tricks I find really boost my looking healthy include:
- Mascara. I'm not much good at applying it when my hands are flaring (and I like being able to see, so tend to avoid mascara if the likelihood of poking my own eye out is high), but it makes a world of difference and definitely makes you look awake! Even better if you can negotiate an eyelash curler too... but let's not get too carried away!
- Pearl white eyeshadow. Dab a little bit in the inner corner of your eyes for instant lift. Honest. If you're feeling really adventurous/steady-handed, using it as an eyeliner will make you look even more awake.
- Blusher. Honest to god, nothing puts colour in your cheeks like some colour in your cheeks. Bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?!
- Water. Water. Water. Go nuts. I know that with all that fluid build up in and around your joints, it's tempting to go easy on the water - but dehydration is never good for you, and nor is it a good look. Lots of water means happy skin, happy kidneys, and happy you.
- Skin care. Find what you need, and what works for you - and go with it. As someone who has battled eczema all her life, I am a big, big advocate for finding products that suit your skin and sticking with them. It doesn't matter what your skin type is, or what your budget is - there will be something out there, I promise! Just promise me that you will use your face products (ie. cleanser, toner, moisturiser) all the way down to your cleavage... believe me, a nicely moisturised face with a wrinkly neck and decolletage will give away your age quicker than Tim Shaw will give away a set of steak knives!
If you're inspired to find more handy tips and tricks, you should check out Amazing Face by the lovely Zoe Foster. While I got lucky with a mum who taught me a lot of what I needed to know, and then working at a cosmetics counter through uni - I know not everybody has that luxury. And hey, I still learned things from Zoe's book - in fact, I read it and went out and bought a bottle of Rosehip Oil (Cheap! Natural! Brilliant!) on her recommendation and my skin hasn't looked back!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the images above. All of my recommendations are things you will find in my bathroom, handbag or bookshelf. I paid for all of them - but will happily receive gifts from the companies whose products I have so glowingly endorsed in this post. Or I will happily hang out with Zoe Foster until such time as her effortless elegance, beauty and togetherness rubs off on me...
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