Sensitive Skin? Here’s A Skincare Guide For You

You’re not alone in this unfair, expensive, reactive and difficult skincare routine world.

When you have sensitive skin, it can be difficult to choose which products will be good for your skin. There’s always the worry that your skin will react negatively to the products you use. Thankfully, this article is a comprehensive guide on how you can have fun trying new products and still enjoy healthy and sensitive skin!

Simple skincare routine for sensitive skin

Step 1: Knowing why you have sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is not a medical term. Rather, it is a general term that refers to skin reactions to skincare products. If you experience the following reactions, you might have sensitive skin.

• Redness
• Itchiness
• Dry skin
• Rashes
• Frequent pimples and breakouts
• Sunburn
• Tenderness
• Tingling
• Small hives

Overall, sick skin is an indicator of your general health and wellbeing. More often than not, delicate skin is only a symptom, and it can have underlying medical causes behind it. It’s important to get in touch with your doctor and health provider to diagnose the possible causes of your sensitive skin.

Step 2: Avoid common irritants

It’s best to identify what specific ingredients trigger your adverse reactions. The most common irritants are the following:

• Fragrances
• Essential oils
• Harsh chemicals
• Alcohol
• Retinoids
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Apricot kernels

In choosing and buying skin care products, you should be careful in checking the ingredients on the label. If you’re not sure which product causes your adverse reaction, you can try a skin test on a small part of your skin. Use the product for at least a week and observe how your skin reacts. If there is irritation, you should stop using the product immediately.

Step 3: Cleanse gently

Now that you know why you have sensitive skin and what products you should avoid, let’s discuss what products you should use. We recommend non-irritants and all-gentle products. These will ensure that you get rid of dirt, bacteria, irritants, without removing the natural protective layer of the skin.

Use hypoallergenic products that have hydrating properties to maintain healthy skin! You should also use products with lower pH levels to restore the skin’s natural balance. Use a cleansing lotion or face wash once in the morning when you wake up, and again before bed.

Here’s a pro-tip: try products that contain any or a combination of the following ingredients:

• Rosewater
• Cucumber
• Olive
• Antioxidants
• Hyaluronic acid
• Ceramides
• Water
• Glycerin

Step 4: Use a hydrating toner

Hydration is skin food that keeps your skin healthy, glowing, and free from irritation! After cleansing your face in the morning and night, use hydrating toner to remove finer impurities from your skin. This also helps in extra hydration for your skin.

Toners that work for sensitive skin are usually plant-based and focused on retaining moisture in your skin. These include:

• Aloe vera
• Jojoba oils
• Coconut oil
• Cocoa butter
• Vitamin E

Step 4: Moisturize with fragrance-free products

Regular use of moisturizers is one of the key rules in dealing with delicate skin. We recommend using emollients type moisturizers, which speed up the process of restoring your skin’s natural barrier against irritants.

Products with hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic labels can also be trusted to prevent irritation and adverse reactions.

It’s also safe to check the label for fragrance and propylene glycol!

Also, remember to use a moisturizer with SPF during the day, and regular moisturizer before bedtime.

Step 5: Use SPF Sunscreen

The sun’s UV rays can be one of nature’s irritants to the skin. For those with delicate skin, being in broad daylight can cause redness, inflammation, and even itchiness in exposed parts of the skin. The catch is, most sunscreens also trigger skin irritation.

The trick here is to avoid sunscreens that use chemical UV blockers. Aside from being an irritant, it’s also found to cause premature ageing of the skin.

We recommend going for physical sunscreens, especially those that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide! Physical sunscreens can feel heavy, but they offer protection from irritants as well as UVA and UVB.

Step 6: For sensitive skin in the genitals

Although the face is one of the most sensitive parts of the skin, the genital area can be sensitive as well. This is especially true when women are on their period. Causes include wearing tight clothing, moisture due to sweat, and irritation from sanitary products.

If you experience this, we recommend that you try using period underwear! This eliminates skin irritation from sanitary napkins or tampons while keeping your genital area dry and safe.

Period underwear also has a protective layer that prevents period leaks, and it works well on light period days.

Step 7: Use environmentally friendly products

Believe it or not, it is possible to maintain healthy skin while doing our apart to save the environment! Beauty and skincare companies are taking steps to achieve net-zero emissions, making the switch to clean energy, and working with environmental organizations to further the cause.

Eco-conscious brands are also more careful with the ingredients they use for their products. They steer away from sulfate and hard chemicals and prefer natural ingredients.

For net-zero emissions products that are good for sensitive skin, we recommend Neighbourhood Botanicals’ Simmer Down serum. The serum works well with irritated skin, and it instantly takes away the redness, removes blemishes, and hydrates the skin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, taking care of your sensitive skin can be hard work, but if you find a skincare regimen that works for you, the hours of research pay off instantly! Generally, skincare routines for sensitive skin involve knowing what products to use and not to use. Remember the ingredients, check the label, do a skin test, and have fun with your skincare routine!