HELP!! Allergic to fabric softener?

It's odd that the swelling is just on your face, since fabric softener would be in all the clothing on your body and there are much more sensitive areas of skin in close contact with those. Benadryl helps calm an allergic reaction, but it's not always able to control it all and make it go away entirely. Especially if you are still coming into contact with whatever set it off to start with. It may be the softener, but it could also be a combo of chemicals that you apply to your face. Although you may buy the same brand each time, the makers can and do often change formulations slightly without having to advertise the fact. Since you have used it again and not had the facial swelling, I think this may have been the problem. However, until the rash is gone it's best if you stick with non-allergenic type products entirely, and try to avoid putting anything on the skin at all. The Benadryl can help with the itch, but it can't stop the immune system entirely. To be safest, you probably should not use the fabric softener again either. It may take a week or more for the immune system to settle down again, and then the skin has to heal the rashed, damaged skin on it's own. For that, I would suggest vitamin E oil. It will help replace the lost oils in the damaged skin and help with the itch, and help with healing. You can also soak a handful of plain oatmeal in cool water, and then pat that on your face to help with the itch as well. That you can use as much and as often as you like.