Break Up With Your Makeup

You may find this a hard pill to swallow, but I really don't believe in foundation and concealer. I try to keep my skin super clean and clear, which I find actually HELPS to cut down on the amount of blemishes and redness on my skin in general. Now, to be fair, I don't suffer from a skin problem such as rosacea or cystic acne, but I really do think it's best to do as little to your skin as possible and let it breathe.

Rosacea is definitely a problem that affects many people -- it actually affects an estimated 16 million Americans, while 24 percent of rosacea sufferers say that redness was their first symptom. Of these 16 million, over 4 in 5 (that's 82 percent!) rosacea sufferers have used cosmetics to cover up the redness that occurs. 65 percent of these rosacea sufferers also wear makeup to work, while only 35 percent of Americans without it do (AKA me).

Redness is the main reason people with rosacea want to cover up their skin. Mirvaso® (brimonidine) topical gel was designed to treat just this problem. Mirvaso is used for the treatment of persistent facial erythema of rosacea. Each gram of gel contains 5mg of brimonidine tartrate, equivalent to 3.3 mg of brimonidine free base. It's easy to use and lasts for up to 12 hours. If you have rosacea, this might be the product for you! You can check out their website here and decide whether it's right for you. If so, you'll need to get a prescription from your doctor.

I think the website is very helpful and full of interesting information, including these skincare tips from Dr. Doris Day of the New York University Langone Medical Center:

Plus, you could even win a trip to the Emmys!

Important Safety Information:
Indication: Mirvaso® (brimonidine) topical gel, 0.33% is an alpha adrenergic agonist indicated for the topical treatment of persistent (nontransient) facial erythema of rosacea in adults 18 years of age or older. Adverse Events: In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions (≥1%) included erythema, flushing, skin burning sensation and contact dermatitis. Warnings/Precautions: Mirvaso Gel should be used with caution in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, thromboangiitis obliterans, scleroderma, or Sjögren’s syndrome. Alpha-2 adrenergic agents can lower blood pressure. Mirvaso Gel should be used with caution in patients with severe or unstable or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease. Serious adverse reactions following accidental ingestion of Mirvaso Gel by children have been reported. Keep Mirvaso Gel out of reach of children. Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.