Dealing with sensitive skin is no easy task. Even the slightest alteration in your skincare routine or your environment can cause your skin to flare up and become inflamed. If your skin reacts adversely to ordinary products, suffers from common skin conditions, becomes bumpy upon contact with detergents, or troubles you even when you’re doing everything right, you might have sensitive skin.
But the truth is, anybody can have sensitive skin. In other words, sensitive skin is not a type, it’s a condition—your skin can be sensitive along with being oily or dry. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to reduce adverse reactions if you have sensitive skin. Here are 5 essential skincare steps to follow:
Step 1: Cleanse
To start with, you need a cleanser that will rid your skin of impurities and dead skin cells. When this gunk is left on the skin, it can clog the pores and irritate sensitive skin.
There is a variety of mild cleansing agents available for sensitive skin. A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser is a great pick! Besides, all that rich lather can be especially irritating for sensitive skin. Such cleansers are spiked with Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)—an ingredient that is not suitable for sensitive skin.
Step 2: Tone
A toner will cleanse away any leftover traces of dirt, tighten your pores, and restore your skin’s pH levels—these are often thrown out of whack in cases of sensitive skin. A balanced pH level is essential for keeping toxins out and retaining moisture.
Ideally, we’d recommend steering clear of toners with high concentrations of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Moreover, toners comprising of bad alcohols such as SD alcohol and isopropyl alcohol aren’t advisable for sensitive skin. So, watch out for these ingredients!
Step 3: Exfoliate (just once a week)
The term ‘exfoliation’ is often associated with abrasion and scrubbing—processes that don’t sit well with sensitive skin.
However, chemical exfoliants are non-abrasive, and can hugely benefit sensitive skin. A good chemical exfoliant will unclog pores, smoothen the skin, and keep it looking fresh and vibrant.
Ingredients in exfoliants such as Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) have natural skin-calming properties, and are very compatible with sensitive skin.
“Chemical exfoliants are non-abrasive, and highly compatible with sensitive skin! Steer clear of physical exfoliants to avoid irritation.”
Step 4: Face Serum
Face serums are packed with nourishing active ingredients. What’s more, serums are equipped to penetrate into the skin’s deeper layers.
Hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient to look for in face serums! It is suitable for most skin types, and for sensitive skin too. This skincare active is very efficient at hydrating the skin, which dry skin is in dire need of. As for oily skin, this hydration prevents oil glands from overproducing oil. What’s more, hyaluronic acid isn’t prone to causing irritations and reactions.
Step 5: Moisturise
Each skincare routine must end with a moisturiser. Also note that sensitive skin is extremely prone to UV damage. So, your daytime moisturiser should include SPF if you’re not applying sunscreen separately.
Moreover, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are great ingredients for sensitive skin. They’re gentle, calming, and produce remarkable results.
Over to You!
Caring for sensitive skin is a lot about keeping close tabs on your skincare products. With a disciplined skincare routine bursting with skin-calming ingredients, sensitive skin can thrive!
If you’re looking for a fail-safe solution for your sensitive skin, try us! We’ll account for your lifestyle and environment while keeping the potent ingredients out.
