Face-up to hay fever season with beauty tips and hacks

A shortage of allergy tablets and the pollen count about to rocket means itchy eyes and runny noses ruining the make-up of sufferers. Here Anna Burnside looks at some solutions

For dry flaky skin around the nose use a hydrating moisturiser

PHARMACISTS across the UK are reporting shortages of some popular hay fever tablets. And the timing couldn’t be worse as forecasters predict a rise in pollen levels over the coming weeks.

The gaps on the shelves are caused by a shortage of the active ingredient, chlorphenamine maleate.

This is also used in treatments for eczema and food allergies.

Fresh supplies are expected within the next few weeks. In the meantime, researchers at website WeThrift have come up with seven beauty tips for those suffering with hay fever this season.

A streaming nose and eyes can play havoc with makeup. Here are the workarounds.

Moisturise

Frequent nose blowing is one of the most unwelcome effects of hay fever, and no matter how soft the tissues are, it’s hard to escape dry flaky skin around the nose.

That’s why it’s essential to apply a hydrating moisturiser or gel around the nostrils to soothe the area and help soften any hardened skin.

Eye drops

Hay fever can cause redness, itchiness and soreness in your eyes, which can make wearing eye makeup increasingly tricky. In order to soothe the eyes in the summer months, find specially formulated eye drops to help relieve hay fever symptoms.

Concealer

Constantly rubbing the eyes and nose can cause skin to become red and increasingly hard to cover up with just foundation.

A full-coverage concealer makes a great base for foundation in these areas as it helps hide any redness of the skin. It’s also good to have an additional layer of coverage in case foundation gets rubbed away.

Waterproof mascara

Itchy and watery eyes are no friend to eye makeup and often result in the dreaded mascara run. So if hay fever affects your eyes, it’s best to use a waterproof mascara that will stay put and not smudge.

Cooling sheet mask

Using a cooling sheet mask at the end of each day is not only a great way to rehydrate the face in warmer temperatures, but it also soothes any irritation, puffiness and swelling that might have occurred.

Contour

If you feel as though your face is looking puffy and has lost definition as a result of swelling, then contouring is a great makeup hack to give your face back its angles.

Adding shading underneath your cheekbones, around your jawline and on your temples will help to create the illusion of a more sculpted look.

Bold lip colour

Everybody loves a bold lip colour. A striking lip is a perfect way to divert attention away from the areas of your face that are suffering due to hay fever, like puffy eyes and dried skin.