REAL RESULTS
Skincare Ingredients That Can Trigger Perioral Dermatitis (and What to Use Instead)
FROM FLARE-UP TO FLOURISH: HOW SARAH HEALED HER PERIORAL DERMATITIS IN 6 WEEKS
When Sarah first noticed the dry, red patches forming around her mouth and nose, she brushed it off as a seasonal flare or a temporary reaction. But over the next few weeks, it worsened. The itching, burning, and redness were undeniable—and persistent. After introducing vitamin C and a 0.3% retinol serum into her skincare routine, Sarah’s skin began to show the telltale signs of perioral dermatitis, a condition that can be frustrating, stubborn, and confidence-shaking.
THE BEGINNING: A SKIN BARRIER UNDER STRESS
Sarah’s skincare routine wasn’t excessive by any means. She was using Eminence Vitamin C serum, a moisturizer from the same line, daily sunscreen from Clear Skin, and the occasional foundation by MARIO. When she introduced 0.3% retinol (by SkinCeuticals), she hoped to brighten and strengthen her skin. But for her sensitive barrier, this combination proved to be too much, too soon. Within a month, the signs began: flaking, redness, and breakouts clustered around her mouth and nose.
This reaction wasn’t just cosmetic—it was emotional. Sarah began feeling self-conscious about her face. As someone who leads a vibrant life—filled with dog walks, hikes, workouts, boating, and connecting with close friends—the worsening rash began affecting her day-to-day confidence.
SEEKING SUPPORT: A HOLISTIC SKIN ANALYSIS
Thankfully, Sarah was in tune with her body and quick to pivot. She booked a holistic skin analysis, determined to understand the root of the issue and restore balance. During the consultation, it became clear that while Sarah had a strong internal foundation—good sleep (9 hours/night), an active lifestyle, and healthy stress management through breathwork, journaling, and walking—her topical routine had compromised her skin barrier and microbiome.
WHAT WENT WRONG: UNDERSTANDING THE DISRUPTION
When Sarah’s skin flared up, she did what many of us do: simplify. She began washing her face with just water in the mornings and applied beef tallow around her mouth and nose, hoping its trending reputation would soothe the rash. At night, she used a foaming cleanser (Sukin), followed by retinol and moisturizer.
In hindsight, this approach was exacerbating the issue. Sukin’s foaming cleanser, though gentle for some, can be drying on compromised skin. Retinol, while powerful, can further strip an already weakened barrier. And beef tallow, though praised in some circles, can disrupt the skin's acid mantle and microbiome, especially for people prone to perioral dermatitis. It creates an occlusive layer that may trap heat and bacteria, which fuels inflammation and throws off the skin’s delicate pH.
THE HOLISTIC HEALING PLAN: SIMPLE, STRATEGIC, SUPPORTIVE
Sarah wanted simplicity—and that’s exactly what her skin needed.
Her new routine included:
Zyderma Oat and Zinc Cleansing Bar – A microbiome-friendly, non-stripping cleanser that calms irritation and prepares the skin for healing.
NeoGenesis Recovery – A potent serum designed to reduce inflammation and redness, jumpstarting the healing process on a cellular level.
SIV Biome Balancing Serum – A topical probiotic that addresses the microbial imbalance driving perioral dermatitis, promoting a healthy skin ecosystem.
NeoGenesis Barrier Renewal Cream – This moisturizer delivers the three essential lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids) to restore skin barrier function.
Each product had a clear purpose: calm the inflammation, rebuild the barrier, and restore the microbiome.
Within 4 weeks on her protocol, Sarah shared at her maintenance appointment: “My skin is doing better! I’ve been using all the products daily. Still some redness that can flare up into dry flaky patches and little white looking pimples but that will last only a day or so and then go away. It flared up just before my last period. I’m trying to drink lots of water every day. I’ve been taking fish oil, and feeling good overall!”
THE RESULTS: CONFIDENCE, CLARITY, AND CLEAR SKIN
Within 6 weeks, Sarah noticed less redness and irritation. She shared with excitement: “My mouth area is doing so well!!!” Her skin began feeling stronger, more resilient. She was able to go out bare-faced without anxiety—an empowering milestone after months of discomfort.
Sarah’s transformation wasn’t just about swapping products. It was about respecting her skin’s boundaries, listening to its signals, and approaching healing with compassion and science in equal measure. With a holistic strategy and consistency, Sarah reclaimed her skin—and her confidence.
In Sarah's words:
“It has now been 11 months since the first signs of my perioral dermatitis flare up, and my skin looks and feels better than it did before I had the flare up! It took several months to fully disappear, however it was not at a level of making me uncomfortable or self-conscious once I got the severe irritation down in those initial few weeks. I attribute this to the specific skin care routine that Christine guided me to use, while still honouring my desire for a minimal lineup of products. I first met with Christine feeling pretty uncomfortable and defeated. She quickly inspired confidence in me with her understanding of the science behind products and ingredients that I had no idea were actually harmful, or helpful, to my skin despite the “clean” marketing. I highly recommend working with Christine for your skin concerns!”
If you can't seem to figure out what's going on with your skin and need guidance from a trusted skin professional, book yourself a Holistic Skin Analysis and let's get you on the right path to healthy skin!