Treating yourself is a great step toward treating your rosacea. However, while spas, salons and cosmetics counters provide plenty of pampering and products to improve your appearance and mood, they come with caveats. Here are a few suggestions on how to avoid potential physical and mental stressors found in certain beauty regimens and environments.

Spas are supposed to be soothing and tranquil places. Yet, as a rosacea patient, the idea of entering a space offering hot and cold treatments, facials, steam baths and other potential triggers may stress you out. Call ahead to find out if there’s a licensed aesthetician on staff who knows how to handle rosacea-prone skin. Ask what products they use and research their ingredients. If they contain materials that provoke flare-ups for you, ask about substitutes. Of course, some spa offerings—like massages, cool drinks and meditation—are both relaxing and risk-free.

Cosmetics enhance your best features, making you feel more attractive and confident. On the other hand, if they contain irritating ingredients, they may induce flare-ups. Before purchasing a new blush, eye shadow or lipstick, do a little experiment. Ask for a sample and try it out on your wrist, neck or forearm and note any negative reactions. Combination products, such as tinted moisturizer or cosmetics containing sunscreen, can reduce the number of products you use, simplifying your routine and reducing the potential for triggers. Stick to a skincare routine that works for you and try not to deviate from it.

Staying hydrated and watching your interactions with water go a long way toward feeling good about your body. There’s simply no drawback to drinking more water: it keeps skin cells happy and healthy, fends off fine wrinkles, and flushes out toxins. Looking from the outside in, take lukewarm or warm rather than hot, steamy showers and baths, as hot water can cause a flare-up for many people. Conversely, many rosacea patients report a cool to cold shower provides a bracing and cleansing follow-up to a sweaty workout without triggering an attack.

Rosacea requires caution in choosing beauty products and planning a little “me time” at the spa or salon, but it doesn’t mean skipping them. Keep these suggestions in mind while booking your appointment or updating your look.