I Have PCOS – Here’s the Foundation I Swear By to Hide Facial Hair

I have Polycystic ovary syndrome – also known as PCOS.

PCOS is a hormonal disorder currently affecting between 5 – 6 million women in the United States. Though the root cause of PCOS is still unknown, the millions of us living with it know the symptoms all too well, with excessive hair growth (especially around the chin) being one of the major drawbacks of the condition.

I shave. I pluck. I wax. But, when it comes to hiding the small imperfections of my face, including stubs and acne caused by PCOS, I found the perfect foundation brand to give me back my confidence: IT Cosmetics!

I’d like to tell you about it!

My Journey With Makeup

Despite my love for makeup now, I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t always placed a huge emphasis on quality.

I’m part of that generation that used my fingertips to apply foundation and shopped at discount stores for makeup that rarely blended in with my skin. Have I been personally victimized by my neck and face being two different shades? Yep, sure have.

Now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve realized the importance of investing in quality makeup and practicing overall good skin hygiene. This led me to stop in Ulta last summer for a new foundation. That’s where my story starts.

Finding My New Favorite Foundation For PCOS

This time last year, not only was I struggling to get pregnant (a reality for us with PCOS), but I was struggling with everything that came with my new diagnosis: facial hair growth, acne, weight gain, and, if I’m being honest – fear. 

On top of the side effects of PCOS and the skin-related issues that stem from it, I also suffer from a lot of redness due to having extremely sensitive skin. My skin has a very rosy undertone, which has been hard to hide with foundation, especially around my nose. There always seems to be this disconnect between the foundation I put here in comparison to other areas of my face.

So, instead of continuing to wander around Ulta, not knowing which products would work well for me, I asked one of the employees for help. She immediately recommended IT Cosmetics, specifically the CC+ Cream with SPF 50+.

Why I Love It

The IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ is so much more than a foundation. It’s also a color corrector, sunscreen, and anti-aging serum, which is one of the main reasons why I recommend it for anyone suffering from PCOS.

Here are a few reasons why I love it.

Hides My Redness and Acne

From a color-correcting standpoint, it helps camouflage my redness, especially in problem areas like my nose, which has always been difficult to blend.

Plus, it helps to hide my acne. One of the symptoms of PCOS is adult acne, which can occur anywhere around the face, neck, and back. While I don’t use foundation on my back, this foundation has done a wonderful job of covering small blemishes and drastically minimizing the redness of those I’ve picked at or popped.

This foundation also comes in 22 shades, which is great for meeting the needs of a diverse population suffering from the skin-related side effects of PCOS. I wear Light Medium, which is designed to offer maximum coverage for individuals with light to medium complexions and cool, rosy undertones.

Protects My Skin Against the Sun

I recently relocated to Florida from the East Coast, so my skin has been rapidly adapting to near-constant sun exposure. The SPF 50+ in this creamy foundation helps give me peace of mind that my skin is partially shielded from sun damage.

Women with PCOS are already at an increased risk of developing uterine cancer, among other ailments, so a makeup that can help reduce my risk of skin cancer is great.

Full Coverage

My favorite aspect of it, though, is how much full coverage it provides for someone living with PCOS, like me.

Unless I’m waxing, it’s nearly impossible to remove the tiny hairs on my face, meaning that I’m usually leaving the house with some sort of stubble or missed strands. It’s quite embarrassing, especially when I’m talking close to someone. Applying the smallest amount to my face helps conceal these stubbles so they don’t immediately draw the eye.

This Foundation Has Given Me Back My Confidence While Adapting to Life With PCOS

I’ve tried a lot of different foundation brands over the years, including NARS, IL MAKIAGE, Maybelline, and e.l.f., but I can’t see myself ever turning my back on the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ for a few reasons.

First, it gave me back my confidence. I don’t feel ashamed to have a hormonal condition like PCOS – it’s out of my control – but I’d be lying if I said that the side effects that come with it haven’t affected my self-esteem and self-image; they have.

Having to constantly shave my chin before I leave the house doesn’t exactly scream femininity to me. Oftentimes, just the opposite. This excessive hair growth, oftentimes makes me feel really insecure, especially if I forget to take care of it before I leave my house…which has happened before. The last time it happened, I was visiting my dentist. There’s no real easy way to hide facial hair in that kind of position, you know?

As for how I can forget, sometimes it just slips my mind because I work from home. Without the pressure of on-camera Zoom calls, I usually just work in my sweats, makeup-free. So if I have to run out expectedly, it’s easy for it to slip my mind until I’m already at my destination.

The second reason why this foundation has given me my confidence back is that a lot of it has to do with the foundation’s formula itself. Despite my love for makeup, I don’t actually like the feel of most products. Oftentimes, they feel too heavy or greasy, especially if I’m sweating (which is now my new normal here in Florida). But that’s not the case with this foundation. It’s very lightweight and still provides great coverage with just a dollop or two on the foundation brush.

Because this is so lightweight and easy to wear, it makes me want to put it on, whereas other foundations I’ve used in the past made it feel like a chore. Finding a foundation that feels good on my skin and one that I can physically tolerate just adds to its appeal.

Makeup can give you confidence, and when you’re living with PCOS, finding it in a foundation is absolutely amazing. It’s given me back my confidence and reignited my love of makeup at a time when I need it most. I’m hooked on their brand, even if it does cost me $47 in-store.

This will be our little secret, but order it from Amazon for less than half the price of what it sells at Ulta. Full coverage and feeling great don’t have to cost a lot of money.