I'm delighted to share my monthly guest post with Cottonique, a company that specialises in creating beautiful latex free, allergy friendly clothing, basics and underwear. Read to the end to receive a 50% discount for Naturally Healthy readers.
Disclaimer: I received package of items to review and I'm delighted to be a contributor to their blog. I've loved their products for years and all of my opinions are my own.
Hello I’m Izennah, an Aussie graphic designer and allergy health coach. My lifelong allergies lit a passion for natural living, and I’ve been so thankful for allergy-free companies like Cottonique.
Before discovering their beautiful products, I was more flared than I realised. Now I feel spoiled, comfortable in my own skin and wonderfully normal every day. So it’s a dream to collaborate with the Cottonique team to share my tips to make life with allergies simple, affordable and lovely. This month is all about intimate items for women with allergies, particularly latex allergies, including underwear & bras, sleepwear, period products, ways to spoil yourself and communicate with your loved ones.
I’m delighted to share tips and encourage allergy women to feel gorgeous in their own skin, because when flared up or with a rash, I know it can be difficult to feel that way.
Items that touch my sensitive skin, need to be special, and finding simple things, like a gorgeous matching bra and panties, has made all the difference to my confidence.
Cottonique Underwear & Bras
Before I found Cottonique I didn’t own underwear and supportive bras that I could wear without reactions as most intimates contain elastane and latex. They have so many styles to choose from, in a range of support levels, suitable for day, work, gym, sleeping and intimate time as well.
It feels so special to wear these pieces which are made with such care, just for women with allergies.
I was delighted (and spoiled) to receive these two styles in Melange Grey from Cottonique, which are 100% organic cotton, with no spandex or latex, and feature latex-free elastic:
The HIGH CUT PANTIES are comfortable, soft, well fitted with a little stretch, and easy to care for, they are so flattering and give me a little lift.
The RACERBACK PULL-OVER BRA is a dream to move in, comfortable, easy to put on, doubly lined, underwire-free, and smooth under clothes.
After years of wearing them, I couldn’t live without my Cottonique and look forward to trying more of their range in the years to come.
Cottonique Lounge & Sleepwear
Cottonique’s range of basics make lounging and sleeping with allergies so comfy. I love the following pieces but there are many to choose from, and a range for the men in our lives too.
The ADULT BOOTIES feel secure and comfy, like a sock and a slipper, perfect for home.
The THERMAL LONG SLEEVES AND PANTS are soft, warm and luxurious, with a relaxed fit and honeycomb texture, feminine scoop neck and cosy ribbed cuffs.
The WOMEN’S LOUNGE SHORTS are so comfortable with their non-elasticated drawstring waist, and soft, soft fabric which match the bra and high cut panties.
Intimate Items & Periods with Allergies
Finding simply natural intimate items has been an important part of my allergy journey, and I’m delighted that more options are now available, which are healthier and more eco friendly for everyone.
Tampons, pads and other menstrual products can contain latex and chemicals unsuitable for allergic women. Fortunately there are many companies such as TOMS Organic that create organic cotton items, available at most supermarkets and chemists.
Though a little less convenient, I like to use un-dyed, organic, reusable cotton pads, which work well and clean fairly easily. Drying them in the sun helps to keep them fresh.
Silicone menstrual cups are another lovely option to try and see if they suit your body.
Most importantly, find a female doctor that understands your unique allergies and needs.
They will be able to navigate check ups with hypoallergenic and latex free options including gloves, and be aware of issues that go hand in hand with your allergies and a hypersensitive immune system.
Spoiling yourself, with allergies
Doing small things to spoil myself, even when my body is seemingly waging an allergy war against me, helps me feel more in touch with myself in body and mind and more able to care for myself.
I love my simple lineup of allergy friendly body and beauty essentials and taking time at the end of the day for a relaxing shower and pamper session. I’m quite minimal and love to DIY with ingredients such as Manuka honey, bentonite clay, charcoal and oils. I’d be delighted to share more affordable tips in my ebook.
Touch your body and apply simple allergy friendly moisturiser or oil (I love emu oil) before popping on an old pair of pyjamas and socks overnight. It’s such a special way to connect with your flared up body and calm your skin.
Create a space at home where you feel inspired to relax and unwind on days when your allergies are flared. I feel so lucky to have a beautiful nook where I can practice yoga or have a lie down, but yours might be a corner of the garden, a chair or your bedroom.
Moving my body is my favourite way to spoil myself, so going for a walk in the fresh air, dancing in the living room, or some simple relaxation exercises and yoga poses can be wonderful for calming the nervous system and potentially reducing allergy symptoms.
Lastly find things you love to replace the things you can no longer use, or at least not for the time being.
A great example is in the kitchen if you have found out you can no longer have eggs and gluten. Start by trying new ingredients such as gluten free grains, try new recipes like muffins for breakfast with chia or flax meal to replace the eggs, go to the markets to find new produce and of course keep dark chocolate in the house at all times!
Communicating with your loved ones
Living with allergies can be challenging, and it can be challenging for our loved ones too as they often need to make changes to their lives and routine. It can be frustrating and without clear communication they might be confused as to why some days we seem to be able to handle more than others, or why a product we've been tolerating, suddenly flares us up, particularly if we are in the midst of figuring it out ourselves.
My number one tip is to tell them how much you appreciate them, and notice when they remember to do the little things that make a big difference to you.
A great example is when your loved ones do things to keep your home an allergy sanctuary, such as buying a particular type of deodorant or cleaning product.
On the other hand, if you have a loved one that you are a little allergic to, or they are unaware of your sensitivities, it can feel daunting to talk to them and find what it might be that they are using in their home, body or beauty routine, that's causing the reaction.
If it is someone you love and will be spending a lot of time with in the future, remember this person loves you too, they will want to help and they will feel terrible if you don't say anything and continue to flare up in quiet.
Having a great sense of humour about allergy life, and offering to share samples of all the lovely allergy friendly things you have found also helps a lot!
You never know, this person might become your new allergy ally and help make your world more allergy friendly.
The most intimate conversations about allergies will be with your partner as they will need to be aware of your allergies in a much deeper level. Luckily latex free and allergy friendly intimate items are also becoming more available, and while it might take some trial and error to find what works for you both, at least it will be fun!
I'm so lucky to have the most understanding and supportive boyfriend imaginable and he is always teaching me to feel safe talking to him about my allergy needs.
I’d love to know, what is your advice for allergy intimacy?
Awareness, availability and affordability of allergy-friendly intimate items is increasing each day. Even if you are new to allergy living, hang in there and keeping looking out for allergy friendly companies such as Cottonique, to help you spoil yourself.
I’m so looking forward to sharing next month’s blog on creating a Capsule Wardrobe (and sparking Joy!)
Hi I'm Izennah, a Graphic Designer, Health and Nutrition Coach. Lifelong allergies and endometriosis lit my passion for Allergy Living and Simply Natural Food, Home and Products. If you are a small business, I'd absolutely love to work with you to create Social Media content, Photography and Graphic Design. See my design work at izennah.com and email me at izennahhogan@gmail.com
I'd be delighted for you to come say hello, subscribe to my email and get in touch with me here at www.naturallyhealthyxo.com or on Facebook and Instagram @naturallyhealthyxo
My ebook contains all of my Allergy Living must haves in Health, Food, Home, Body, Beauty and Style. I’d love to offer the Cottonique community a discount with the code CottoniqueLOVE.
Cottonique have also generously offered a 50% discount for Naturally Healthy Readers on the following products in the Amazon store with the code COTTONIZE50