Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Finding the right skincare routine for sensitive skin can be difficult to navigate.  Sensitive skin is a common condition where your skin has a heightened reactivity to different external factors or topical products. Sensitive skin can look like redness, chronic dryness, itching or flaking skin. If you have reactive or easily irritated skin, it's important to  implement a skincare routine that's gentle and soothing, but it is also critical to be diligent at identifying the triggers unique to your skin so you can minimize exposure or avoid them altogether. 

A Sensitive Skincare Routine 

The best skincare for sensitive skin is minimal and focuses on gentle products that work on repairing your skin barrier, reducing redness and doesn't contain irritants like fragrances or alcohol. Some key skincare ingredients to look for are ceramides, hyaluronic acid and soothing botanicals like chamomile or aloe. 

Here are the core pillars of a simple skincare routine for sensitive skin: 

1) Gentle Cleansing:  use a gentle cleanser that is mild, milky, non-foaming and doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulphate as this ingredient can strip the skin of natural oils.  Try to find cleansers that balance your pH and contains ingredients like ceramides or glycerin.

2) Hydrate: well hydrated skin is less likely to become inflamed or irritated. As the first line of defense on your face, a compromised skin barrier can allow irritants to penetrate your skin more easily and cause a reaction. Focus on rich moisturizers that are calming and seal in moisture. Another key ingredient to incorporate into a sensitive skincare routine is hyaluronic acid because it can hold 1000x its weight in water, resulting in more hydrated, plump looking skin.  

You can also include a hydrating toner into your skincare routine to help replenish moisture after cleansing. 

3) Skin Barrier Repair: find a serum or cream that you can apply in the evening to repair and soothe your skin barrier with ingredients like cica (centella asiatica), panthenol and squalane.  

4) Protection: sun exposure is a large factor in causing skin flareups and daily sun protection is critical if you want to manage your sensitive skin effectively.  Choose mineral/physical sunscreens over chemical sunscreens as physical sunscreens reflect UV rays while chemical sunscreens absorb the rays which can cause irritation, although there are some sunscreens for sensitive skin and are formulated to soothe. 

When building a skincare routine for sensitive skin, try to avoid common irritants like alcohol, fragrance and harsh exfoliants. If you wish to incorporate a vitamin C or retinol, try to find lower concentration formulas safe for sensitive skin.  The simpler your routine, the lower the risk of irritation.

Whenever trying new skincare products, you should always patch-test by applying a small amount on your inner arm or behind your ear and wait 48 hours to ensure you don't react before applying the product to your face. 

Its important to note that your skincare routine is only part of the solution.
Stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep in your lifestyle can all contribute to irritated and reactive skin. Prioritize staying hydrated throughout the day to support your skin from the inside out, and getting at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep.

If you find that your skin is consistently reactive, we recommend visiting your dermatologist. They can help identify if you have any allergies or underlying skin conditions like eczema or rosacea.  

Discover our medical-grade skincare products for sensitive skin here.