It’s our annual predicament: summer arrives and with it persistent sneezing, a scratchy throat, and headaches. It’s estimated that 16 million UK adults suffer with hay fever, the misery compounded by scientific proof that, yep, our allergies are actually getting worse. “The length and intensity of pollen seasons are growing – one theory is that climate change is to blame,” says Shabir Daya, pharmacist and co-founder of Victoria Health.
Factor in pollen, souped up with pollution, and it’s the perfect storm. “Pollution can lead to the creation of ‘super pollen’,” says Shabir. “When pollen flies through the air, it picks up diesel fumes – making it stickier when it enters our noses and a more potent allergen.”
Hay fever is also a topic that inspires fervent debate when it comes to how to treat it. Some espouse the benefits of local honey, others swear by a salt water nasal ‘douche’ and some will tell you that enthusiastic antihistamine popping is the only way to go.
If even a stolen glance at a daisy brings on a sneezing fit, here’s how the experts recommend you fight back…
Look after your nose
“The reason you sneeze when pollen reaches your nasal passage, is because it causes an itchy feeling and your body’s defence system kicks in to get rid of it,” says Shabir, who recommends smearing a non-petroleum based balm around the opening of each nostril to create a physical barrier. Try Steamcream Eucalyptus & Tea Tree Moisturiser to help you breath more freely.
Other options include an anti-inflammatory nasal spray (Weleda’s Rhinodoron Nasal Spray is good) or a ‘nasal cleanse’, which, you’ve guessed it, is about as glamorous as it sounds.
Use a saline solution, tip your head over the sink and either sniff it into each nostril from your cupped palm, or shoot the solution up your nose with a syringe. “The benefit is that it dislodges pollen, which has attached itself to the lining of the nose,” Shabir explains.
Soothe your eyes
Allergy-ridden eyes can look so red they’re practically a danger sign. Cue hydrating eye drops to flush out pollen. But you might also be battling ‘allergic shiners’ – a combination of puffiness and discolouration from dilated blood vessels.
“To make matters worse, we tend to rub the inflamed skin around our eyes so it appears bruised,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall. Lean on an eye gel with an ultra-cold, metal-tipped rollerball such as Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum. A combination of caffeine and a glacial soil extract attend to dark circles and feel deliciously cooling on the skin.
Keep your skincare simple
Hay fever is a hazard to our vanity, too, so now is not the time to start experimenting with retinol. As Dr Hextall explains, “When exposed to allergens, histamine is produced by cells in the respiratory system but also in the skin.” This histamine reaction causes an uptick in redness, swelling and sensitivity.
“When skin is irritated we tend to scratch, causing further histamine release,” adds Dr Hextall. “Over time this thickened, scratched skin results in non-allergy related inflammation and an itch-scratch cycle.”
So you’ll want to ensure your skincare is as supremely gentle as possible – starting with your cleanser. Dr Hextall advises using the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, followed by hydrators such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides to repair the skin barrier and prevent pollen from squeezing into any microscopic cracks. For convenience, both are found in the CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Cool to depuff
A puffy face is no match for the cold. Face mist, better still one that’s been kept in the fridge overnight, isn’t just sensorially pleasing, “it actually washes away pollen particles that have become stuck to your skin,” says Dr Hextall.
You might also want to consider investing in a pair of cryo balls – those drumstick-like tools that are Instagram-bait. Kept in the freezer, Fraicheur Ice Globes provide immediate relief when rolled over the face and eyes, draining away fluid build-up and constricting blood vessels for less redness.
She even inspired the Euphoria cast and crew to buy one, too.
Make your home a pollen-free zone
Pollen particles are teeny and can travel through open windows – which means your sofa, bed sheets and curtains can become prime real estate for the yellow stuff. According to the Met Office, on sunny days, the pollen count is highest early evening, so it’s worth sleeping with the windows closed.
Overnight relief comes in the form of an air purifier that doubles up as a fan. Yes, the Dyson Purifier Cool is super bougie and will set you back a cool £399.99 – but it has a filter system that removes 99.95 per cent of pollen particles before they have a chance to enter your system.
Take supplements
It may seem obvious that antihistamines help to curb all hay fever symptoms, including a puffy, itchy face. But it’s how you take them that counts.
“Ideally start a course of antihistamines before the start of hay fever season [typically late March] to dampen your immune reaction,” says Margo Marrone, co-founder of The Organic Pharmacy, who recommends 15 drops of the Sneeze Away Tincture with chamomile, nettles and elderflowers – all natural antihistamines.
Likewise, Shabir recommends perilla, a member of the mint family, found in DaVinci Laboratories of Vermont Aller-DMG tablets.
Also lower your intake of beer, wine and other spirits as these also contain histamine.
Don’t fall for the honey hack
According to Shabir, it’s a myth that a spoonful of local honey stimulates the immune system. “It’s considered ineffective for hay fever sufferers because bees feed on flower pollen not grass or tree pollen, which is what the vast majority of people are allergic to,” he adds.
How to use makeup to disguise hay fever face
- Use a long-lasting foundation formula that won’t budge in the face of tissues. Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation is unbeatable.
- Stick to makeup artist Bobbi Brown’s legendary advice of only drawing along the top lash line to make eyes look bigger and more defined. And switch to matte eyeshadow – anything shimmery highlights puffy lids (Victoria Beckham EyeWear eyeshadow stick in Trench is a universally flattering, long-lasting shade).
- When it comes to mascara, choose one that’s waterproof and designed for sensitive eyes – L’Oreal Paris Paradise Waterproof Mascara ticks both boxes.
- Disguise redness around the nose with a minty-green colour corrector (opposite of red on the colour wheel). To avoid looking like you’ve been hit with a bad case of food poisoning, use a concealer brush to work the product into your skin, then top with skin-toned concealer and foundation. Try NYX Professional HD Photogenic Concealer in Green or Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Corrector in Green.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
