My hayfever survival kit

Every May, my hayfever arrives in full force and if you're a fellow sufferer, you'll know how much of a nightmare it is: Painfully itchy, puffy eyes, sensitive runny nose and stomach wrenching sneezes. I don't like popping pills too often especially as most of them make me feel queasy, so I only take an antihistamine when my symptoms become unbearable. Otherwise I try my best to manage them with other methods.

My eyes are the most affected and keeping them soothed is what I prefer to concentrate on.

• During hayfever season I always tend to wake up with puffy irritable eyes and using a cooling eye gel really helps. I have been using this Dr Nick Lowe gel and the cooling effect is instantaneous. It also tightens the skin around your eyes, getting rid of the puffiness.

• I try not to rub my eyes too much so when my eyes get really itchy, I wash them out with water (hopefully washing away any pollen too) and put on a chilled gel eye mask. My mask is from Anatomicals but you could also use cotton pads soaked in cool water, or good old cucumber slices. I should probably buy some eye drops too but I'm terrible at putting them in (think Rachel from Friends).

• And lastly the best prevention method I have, a pair of sunnies! It keeps pollen from entering my eyes and though it won't stop EVERY single particle of pollen, it makes a remarkable difference to me.

Any more tips from other hayfever sufferers? What's in your survival kit?