A ‘hay fever face’ is really a thing: here's how to prevent it

Now that the days are getting longer and the sun is starting to shine more, it seems like we are all slowly waking up from our winter sleep. Personally, I can't wait for long evenings on the terrace, picnics in the park, and I'm even looking forward to complaining that it's too hot. In that respect, I am really a summer person. However, there is one thing I would really like to get rid of this summer: hay fever. That terrible itch all over your face, watery eyes, and sneezing so often that everyone is a bit fed up with your ‘health’ wishes; what a misery. Fortunately, I'm not alone in this and I even came across a study recently where experts explain how to combat that itch, your swollen face, and red eyes, also known as a hay fever face. If you can still read this despite your watery eyes, could you pay attention?

Take good care of your nose
When pollen reach your nose, your body goes into defense mode and tries to remove the pollen by making you sneeze. Prevention is better than cure in this case, so make sure that pollen cannot reach your nose. You can do this by applying an ointment or balm around the opening of each nostril to create a physical barrier and keep the pollen out of your nose. A nasal spray or saline solution can also help to loosen pollen that has managed to get in.

Soothe your eyes
If you ask me, those red, itchy eyes are one of the worst things when dealing with hay fever. This is also because the pollen have managed to get into your eyes, and since you unfortunately can't protect your eyes with a balm or ointment, it's important to rinse the pollen out of your eyes regularly. Moisturizing eye drops can help with this. Experts indicate that people with hay fever can also experience ‘allergy bags’, a combination of swelling and discoloration of the eyes due to dilated blood vessels. If you rub your eyes because they itch, it only gets worse. An eye roller with a cold, metal rollerball can be a solution.

Keep your skincare simple
Hay fever is also annoying for our skin, and therefore experts say it's not the time to experiment with products like retinol. Here's the thing: when exposed to allergens, histamine is produced by cells in the respiratory system, but also in the skin. This histamine reaction causes an increase in redness, swelling, and sensitivity. When the skin is irritated, we tend to scratch, which releases more histamine. Over time, this thickened, itchy skin results in inflammation that is hard to get rid of. So you want to make sure your skincare is as gentle as possible.

Cool to reduce swelling
A swollen face from the itching is incredibly annoying and is yet another sign that the pollen have stuck to the skin on your face. Rinse the pollen away with a moisturizing facial mist, preferably one that has been in the fridge overnight. This washes away the pollen that have stuck to your skin and reduces itching and swelling. You can also relieve discomfort in your face with an ice roller. The cold helps to drain fluid buildup and constrict blood vessels, which reduces swelling and redness.

Use the right makeup
Have you tried everything but still suffering from swelling and redness in your face? Using the right makeup can help you camouflage the signs of a hay fever face. Switch to matte eyeshadow (anything shiny emphasizes your swollen eyelids) and choose a waterproof mascara made for sensitive eyes. Conceal redness around the nose with a mint green color corrector; this neutralizes red spots, and then apply your concealer and foundation. It may take some practice, but with the right technique, no one will notice that you've actually been trying to hold back your sneezing for twenty minutes.

Source: Glamour Magazine