Beauty tips for Lupus!

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different parts of the body, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

The majority of people with lupus experience some type of skin issue during the course of their illness. One of the most visible is a butterfly-shaped rash that appears over the bridge of the nose and on both cheeks. It can occur suddenly or appear after exposure to sunlight. Sometimes the rash appears just before a flare-up, usually on the face, but it can also appear on the arms, legs or elsewhere on the body.

Lupus can also cause non-irritating lesions on other parts of the body. Many people with lupus are sensitive to the sun, or even to artificial light. Some experience discoloration in the fingers and toes.

Lupus rash symptoms include red or coin-shaped rings, scaly patches of skin on the cheeks, nose and ears. These rashes leave little or no scarring once they clear up, but they often leave hyperpigmentation and discolouration that is challenging to conceal.

Skin care

The first important thing before even applying makeup is to take good care of your skin. There are 4 things to consider when talking about lupus and skin care:

• SPF protection: it is important to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 under your makeup every day. To reapply sunscreen every 80 minutes, look for a highly pigmented mineral powder with zinc oxide SPF protection and added antioxidants that minimise inflammation and neutralise free radicals.
• Ask your doctor if corticosteroid creams, foams, lotions, ointments, gels or injections can help.
• Lightening creams may help with dark spots, but in some cases it may not be as efficient. You may want to consider laser treatment if your lupus is in remission. The dark discolouration typically does not respond to lightening cream with hydroquinone because the hyperpigmentation is too great. Don't hesitate to discuss with your doctor about whether laser technology is an option for you.
• Moisturising creams: make sure they won’t make things worse! Check to make sure the formula is non-irritating, fragrance-free and does not contain gluten. Many people with lupus use turmeric creams, face masks and other products because this spice can reduce redness and inflammation.

Make-up tips

Putting make-up on lupus can be tricky because you need a non-irritating, highly pigmented formula with SPF protection. This can be harder than it sounds, because you want maximum coverage that also does not look "cakey" and that stays in place all day. Fortunately, with the right products and order of application, this “tricky matter” can be conquered!

The first step is moisturise. You may prefer to use a spray moisturiser, which is easier to apply, or opt for an anti-inflammatory moisturiser. 

The next step is to apply a face primer. Go for a green-toned primer to reduce redness. Face primers also help to blur pores, even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of fine lines while prepping the skin for makeup. Ask an in-store makeup artist to help you choose the right shade - the shade of green you use will depend on your skin tone. A great tip from Beth, a lupus advocate and beauty vlogger, is to put your primer in the fridge, that way it can cool the skin and also help the foundation stay better. 

Concealer is also a great weapon against redness. Be sure to always apply it after your primer and only if you are still not satisfied with the results from the primer. You should apply a small amount to the zones you want to cover more, then blend with a brush. 

Then, your foundation comes in! You can choose texture that suits you best. If your rash isn't too pronounced, you can use a light foundation like a BB cream. Conversely, if you find that your rash is really pronounced, you can use a product called "Dermablend" which is often used by professionals to cover tattoos. Because of its high pigmentation, you can use it not only as a foundation, but also on other parts of your body if you wish. 

To make your make-up last all day long, you can use a setting powder to set it in place. You can opt for translucent powder or a flesh-coloured powder if you need additional pigmentation.

After you've established your base, you can apply as much or as little additional make-up as you want, now that your rash has been concealed.

Another final tip: try to use the appropriate make-up brush at each step. It makes more of a different than you might think! If you're not sure what brush to use, don't hesitate to ask an in-store make-up artist about which brushes are appropriate for concealer versus foundation versus powder, etc.

If you want to watch a full tutorial feel free discover this one below:

Every person is different, so a large part of make-up is not only about finding what makes you feel good in terms of appearance, but also what works best for you in terms of products. Don’t be afraid to try something new, experimenting can only help you to find what works for you and your skin! 

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Take care!