I’M A YOGA INSTRUCTOR: THIS IS MY ROSACEA STORY

We asked the Pai team’s favourite Yogi Lauren Wilkie to tell us all about her skin journey…

IN THE BEGINNING

Growing up, I never had any problems with my skin, but when I hit my twenties, it all went downhill. I developed red patches around my nose and onto my cheeks, with small spots that looked like pimples. This was diagnosed as Rosacea. After using topical antibiotics (the first left bleach spots all over my towels, the second only worked sporadically), I started researching the causes of my condition.

CONTROL-ALT-DELETE

I tried to control it by limiting or eliminating certain foods (dairy, coffee, red wine, anything spicy), and avoiding environments that might cause aggravation; hot weather, cold weather, Hot Yoga. None of these measures seemed to have an impact.

I started to feel guilty if I enjoyed a glass of wine, or anxious if I couldn’t control what I was eating – and really felt like I was missing out on the fun things in life. The worst thing was that my skin wasn’t any better. It seemed that the more I tried to control it, the worse it got – not knowing what would cause a reaction was the worst part.

SILVER LINING

I stumbled on Pai through a friend, and rejoiced when I found that they created skincare products specifically for Rosacea and sensitive skin. I was even more excited when I discovered that the products didn’t contain any nasty ingredients like Parabens and Methyl Alcohols (chemicals which I was trying unsuccessfully to avoid). I wasn’t willing to compromise on luxury and it seemed like there was no other option, until Pai.

LAUREN’S REGIME

After using the Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, and Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream for less than a week, I noticed a marked difference on my face. The redness was much calmer, and the unaffected areas had a healthy glow. A few weeks later, I decided to simplify my routine (no more topical antibiotics) and just stick with products from Pai. The red patches cleared up and not even a trip to India which entailed hot weather, spicy curry and lots of milk caused a reaction.

Eighteen months later, and I now feel totally liberated! My skin reflects the healthy lifestyle I lead, and I don’t need to worry about the occasional coffee or piece of cheese. Best of all, I feel much more confident in how I look – yes, even without make-up! Pai has allowed me to love my face again, and given me the confidence to feel like myself.