How to Soothe and Strengthen Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is on the rise. More of us than ever before are complaining of redness, irritation and flaking. So what’s making our skin so reactive, and how can we build a sensitive skincare routine that keeps it calm, hydrated and protected?
Here’s everything you need to know, from the ingredients to avoid to how to build a replenishing routine that keeps skin calm and protected.
What is sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin happens when the natural protective barrier is damaged and can’t do its job. Skin becomes easily irritated and prone to redness, tightness, flakiness, stinging, rashes, breakouts and discomfort.
What makes skin more reactive?
Triggers include hormones, medication, age, cold weather, sun, wind, cigarette smoke, pollution and genetics. People with dry skin that lacks protective lipids, or conditions like eczema or rosacea, are naturally more likely to suffer from sensitivity. The other big trigger? Skincare. Product overload and routines that over-cleanse, over-exfoliate and over-use powerful ingredients like AHAs and retinol destroy the barrier and make skin more reactive.
How to calm things down and build your barrier
Stressed skin needs a regime that gently calms inflammation, hydrates and protects the barrier. Strip your routine back to basics and keep things very simple until your skin feels happy again. Reintroduce products slowly, one at a time – it’ll help you pinpoint any that were causing flare-ups.
Start with a gentle cleanse
Washing too often is a key culprit for dryness and irritation. Once a day remove makeup, grime and debris with lukewarm water and a hydrating soap-free cleanser formulated without SLS / SLES. Avoid using hot water as it strips away the precious natural oils that keep skin soft and strong. Gently pat your face dry – no rubbing or scrubbing!
Then layer in a barrier-building serum
Follow with a serum that drenches skin in comforting hydration. Look for calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Make sure the serum is free from actives as hyaluronic acid can increase the absorption of other topical ingredients that might irritate.
Add a lightweight, nourishing moisturizer
To rebuild and maintain the skin barrier look for a non-comedogenic lightweight moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, plant-based emollients, replenishing fatty acids and soothing, protective antioxidants.
Don’t skip SPF — but choose mineral over chemical
Chemical sunscreens are a known trigger for finicky, reactive skin. Look for non-irritating UV-blocking physical shields formulated with titanium and/or zinc oxide.
These ingredients are your skin’s best friends
The best ingredients for sensitive skin include glycerin, niacinamide, hydration-boosting hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids, healing ceramides, anti-inflammatory licorice, aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal, and plant-based, fatty acid-rich natural lipids like squalane, and evening primrose, rose hip, apricot kernel, and jojoba oils. Pre and probiotics are great options that can help rebalance and strengthen the microbiome, and antioxidant-spiked products can soothe and protect.
And these are better off avoided
If your skin’s reactive, it’s smart to avoid ingredients known for irritation. Keep these ingredients off-limits: artificial fragrance, dyes, alcohol, SLS/SLES, retinol, glycolic and salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, comedogenic mineral oils, chemical sunscreens and physical scrubs.
Keep your barrier strong with these 3 golden rules
A healthy barrier is critical for resilient skin. To support your barrier and keep it strong, follow these three golden rules: don’t cleanse more than twice a day, don’t over-use chemical exfoliators (once or twice a week is plenty) and hydrate daily even if you have oily skin.