Help - Bare Essentials allergy - what to use?

[janette]

My 16yo DD started using Bare Essentials after Christmas; I got her a couple of sets. She liked it but about 1wk ago she started getting dry itchy spots and now has hives across her face and her eyelids are swollen pretty bad.

We went the Dermatoligist and he gave her some steriod cream and pills to treat the reaction. He wasn't sure what would have caused it but I can't think of what else it could be. She uses Cetaphil face wash & moisturizer and the Dr said they are safe.

She's horrifed that she can't use makeup for a little while; the swelling & redness should ease within a day or so so it will be better then.

We'll need to try something new and I'm thinking Clinique but wanted to see if there are other suggestions. She has very sensitive / dry skin; a few breakouts but dryness is her major issue.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Christine]

Try Everyday Minerals. Bare Minerals has a known ingredient in it that many women react to (forget what it is--starts with a "B"). Everyday Minerals doesn't have it as well as some others (Jane Iredale). You may want to give it a try.

 

[janette]

I've used Everyday Minerals and she used a sample with no problems just not sure I want to go the Mineral route right now.

 

[Christine]

I've used Everyday Minerals and she used a sample with no problems just not sure I want to go the Mineral route right now.

I understand because you cannot be sure exactly what the offending ingredient is.

I have extremely sensitive skin in that I cannot use any real moisturizers (Cetaphil and Lubriderm give me welts!!) so it's just Vaseline for me. I can say that I did use Clinique foundation for years without a problem.

 

[janette]

The Dr didn't seem to think it was the Cetaphil; but she's used it for a long time. Did you react right away or was it after you'd used it? She does have welts and her eyelids are really swollen but that is were some dryness was so she made sure and put the moisturizer there.

 

[rascalmom]

I can't use Bare Minerals either - I don't know the exact ingredient that causes problems, but I am also allergic to fish & shellfish. My dermo said a lot of cosmetics use - I believe it is micca - & that is an allergen for those allergic to fish/shellfish products.

I use Clinique and have no problems with it.

 

[Miz Diz]

It could be the bismuth in Bare Escentuals - that is the b word someone couldn't remember above.

 

[JessicaR]

I got a kit for Christmas and used it recently for the first time. Immediately my face itched not terribly more just an annoyance. I have delicate skin that seems to be bothered by anything I put on it aside from Lancome products. So anyway, after about an hour I had to wash my face completely and it continued to itch and bother me for a couple of days.

I never wear foundation and having this stuff all over my face felt suffocating. I would try the Clinique, what did she use prior?

 

[jel0511]

I have extremely sensitive skin and am allergic to clinique. I've had no problems with Bare Essentials, but if your DD is, then I'd stop using it. I'd go visit an allergist, prior to trying anything else.
When I started reacting to clinique, my allergist told me that she'd be out of business, if it wasn't for clinique! She sees someone at least once a week, who has had a reaction to clinique. So, I stay away from it like the plague.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I had a similar reaction to Bare Escentuals.

 

[MomofKatie]

Everyday Minerals ingredients are inert- they won't react with skin. If your DD likes mineral makeup, EM should not have anything in it to cause any kind of reaction. The bismuth in BE and Sheer Cover is a real culprit when it comes to allergic reactions.

 

[Christine]

The Dr didn't seem to think it was the Cetaphil; but she's used it for a long time. Did you react right away or was it after you'd used it? She does have welts and her eyelids are really swollen but that is were some dryness was so she made sure and put the moisturizer there.

I'm not allergic to Cetaphil moisturizer but it is so drying on my skin that after, say, a week of using it, my face gets extremely irritated. It's awful. But it's not the only one that causes it. But, it's not an allergic "welt" that I'm getting just a dryness type of reaction.

Your daughter's reaction to Bare Minerals sounds a little bit different than what I've heard. It actually sounds like she's gotten eczema on the eyelids. My mom goes through bouts of that (started in her late 50s) and her eyelids swell, get scaly and she even get puffy and "weltish" under her eyes. Very strange.

 

[janette]

Thanks Christine; she does have eczema and this started with what seemed like dry patches. The Dr seemed to think it was allergy related and although it is worse around her eyes she has patches all over her face and on her neck but no where else. Just hard to tell; I may have her use vaseline for a bit until this gets under control jic.

 

[Christine]

Thanks Christine; she does have eczema and this started with what seemed like dry patches. The Dr seemed to think it was allergy related and although it is worse around her eyes she has patches all over her face and on her neck but no where else. Just hard to tell; I may have her use vaseline for a bit until this gets under control jic.

It does sound allergic in nature.

The Vaseline is a godsend for. Here's how I use it because any other way is sort of disgusting.

After I wash my face in the evening, I do not dry it. I leave it very damp (and also damp with warm water). I take out some vaseline and spread it on my face--not a lot, but enough to get a good shine going. Then, right before I go to bed, I get a tissue and blot some (but not all) of it off.

In the morning, after my shower, I get right out while my face is still damp and put the Vaseline on again. I walk around for awhile and start getting dressed, putting my hair products in, etc. Right before I am to apply my makeup, I use my towel that is damp and wipe off ALL the vaseline so there is no residue. I then apply makeup. This has kept my my face flake free for years. When I stop this, I flake so badly and my face actually hurts.

Since your DD won't wear makeup for a few days, I would try this vaseline routine. After her morning removal of the vaseline, she could put a light coating of Cetaphil moisturizer on--maybe even a few times a day if she starts drying out.

 

[weregoingtodw]

Oh man. I am SO upset here. I've been using Bare Escentuals for about two months now and just recently started a reaction like was described here. I too am allergic to fish. I had figured I was having a reaction to Oil of Olay, because I had picked some up while we were on vacation, after forgetting my regular moisturizer.

Ugh ugh ugh. I now have several hundred dollars' worth of it! What now?

 

[EdiePA]

Don't have any solutions, but I do have another thought. I wasn't allergic to the Bare Minerals make-up, but I was to the natural bristle brush!

I use Bobbi Brown make-up now and love it.

Edie

 

[janette]

Don't have any solutions, but I do have another thought. I wasn't allergic to the Bare Minerals make-up, but I was to the natural bristle brush!

I use Bobbi Brown make-up now and love it.

Edie

Interesting; she's never liked the brush said it feels too hard.