Fashion

One of the biggest challenges we face with lupus is that it’s mostly invisible. Aside from the scars on my face (which most people will not immediately associate with lupus) you don’t know I’m sick until I tell you. With this invisible disease comes challenges; how I look doesn’t always correspond with how I feel. It might seem strange, and I definitely can’t say it works every single time, but looking good and dressing up despite how much pain I’m in has helped me.

On days I feel the worst, days where my muscles ache for no reason, days I’m low on spoons, I try to dress up to balance everything. Sure I don’t always feel like it, but I’ve found that on days when I take a little extra time in the mirror and put on that fierce pick me up lipstick (we all have it) I feel a little brighter. And to be honest, sometimes that’s all I need.

I liken this practice to positive thinking. Be the light that you wish to emit, mentality. It can really get you through the tough days. I won’t pretend that I don’t have days that are giant pity parties but it can always be worse and I try very hard to keep that in perspective.

Lupus might kick my ass on some days but I’ll be damned if I don’t look fabulous regardless. I happen to have lupus, but lupus certainly doesn’t own me.

This is a recent picture from a trip to Portland last weekend. I love how carefree and happy I am here. 😀 Stay positive my friends!

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I love a nice day trip; it’s nice to get away and explore someplace else. Summertime means more day trips and unfortunately, for me at least, more sun exposure. While planning a wardrobe around work (if you’re at a desk all day) is easy, a day trip usually means you will be walking, exploring, and ultimately spending more time outdoors than an average day during the week.

What does this mean if you’re sun sensitive? You plan ahead. I’ll be the first to admit I never excelled at planning but now that my health depends on it, I make do. Planning means thinking about everything your day will likely include and what that means for your clothing and accessory options. How much sunscreen to pack, what clothes are both cool and breezy but also protect you.

Always check the weather, and try (if possible) to plan your outdoor activities at the earliest and latest times of the day. Activities such as museums, shopping, eating, or shows are the safest bets during peak-sun hours. Once you determine the weather you can begin the process of picking out the appropriate clothing.

Large brim hats, sunglasses, and good walking shoes are a must. The makeup and moisturizer I use also use always contain sunscreen. Currently I’m in love with SUPERGOOP! City Sunscreen Serum with an spf of 30. I’ll talk more about my favorite sunscreens in another post! I’ve tried so many brands. Talk to your Dermatologist to determine what spf suits your needs.

Here is what I stay away from: