How To Look And Feel Your Best During Allergy Season

As the warm weather spikes, seasonal allergies are in full swing. Experts say that because of climate change, temperatures are rising earlier in the year and as a result, pollen counts are especially high this spring, making seasonal allergy symptoms worse. High pollen counts, paired with people spending more time outdoors is wreaking havoc on many allergy sufferers. As someone who suffers from allergies, beauty expert Christine Cho has tips, tricks and go-to products that help her combat and conceal her allergy symptoms so that she can look and feel her best and make the most of these sunny days. —Vita Daily

Hi Christine! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.

I am a Toronto-based beauty expert. I studied professional makeup training at George Brown College. My work has been featured in editorial spreads and advertisements across the world. I regularly appears on TV shows, such as The Marilyn Denis Show, to provide expert beauty advice and the latest beauty trends.

As we dive into the heart of spring, what are some of the allergies you suffer from?

Pollen is what gets me—whenever I step outside during allergy season, I start to suffer. I wake up with puffy, itchy eyes and a congested, runny nose. This is frustrating for someone that has to be camera ready. Luckily, I have found ways to conceal and combat my allergy symptoms so I can go about my day looking and feeling my best. When my allergies symptoms are bad, I take Reactine Rapid Dissolve, because they work fast, and they’re effective all day—basically, they’re the ideal coworker for working from home to combat indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms throughout the year!  Since they dissolve in seconds, without water, I can get quick relief, anywhere, anytime.

We understand that, beyond allergy meds and tissues, there are beauty products and techniques that you use to combat and conceal your allergy symptoms, so you can look and feel your best and make the most of these sunny days. Let’s start with facial tools: how can these help alleviate pressure, de-puff and increase circulation? What tools do you recommend, and how should we use them at home?

Using a cool stone tool like a Gua Sha or jade/rose quartz roller to massage around the nose and the under-eye area helps to alleviate sinus pressure, increase circulation, as well provide a cooling sensation that helps with relaxation and de-puffing.

How about scalp and neck massages using essential oils? How can these help relax and relieve tension? What are your top tips/techniques and products to use for allergy-relieving massage?

A gentle massage with light pressure from fingers in upwards and outwards motion from the inner part of the face helps facial muscles to relax and relieves tension. Applying gentle pressure in the sinus area and specific parts of the forehead/temple can assist in lymphatic drainage.  Additionally, scalp and neck massages with a calming essential oil (like lavender) mixed into a carrier oil or serum before a bath or shower really help with deeper relaxation, especially paired with practicing deep rhythmic breathing.

How can storing our skin-care products in the fridge help with allergy symptoms (like a puffy face and red eyes)?

Storing skincare in the fridge allows the cool temperature of products to help alleviate warm puffy skin in the morning. Keeping sheet masks in the fridge can also aid in de-puffing your face if you wear one while you bathe or before bed.

What are some of your other fave beauty products to care for yourself and help ease symptoms of seasonal allergies?

Using a micro vibrating tool under the eyes along with facial oils or eye creams can help skin absorb products better. The tiny vibrations also promote circulation. Applying skin matching concealer gently with light dabs around the nose area and the under eyes will help cover up any signs of redness. Keeping a skin matching powder compact and a good neutral scented lip or face balm around for midday touch-ups after blowing nose is also very handy! The balm can be applied around the nose and lips when very chapped; once that absorbs (blot any excess), reapply concealer and/or powder when needed.