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What You Should Know About Sensitive Skin!

When it comes to skincare, we are familiar with oily, dry, acne-prone, and sensitive skin. You might hear about sensitive skin all the time, but you’re probably not sure if you have it, what causes it, and how to take care of it. What exactly is sensitive skin? And what can you do about it?

What is "Sensitive Skin"?

Sensitive skin is skin that is more reactive than average and easy to irritate. We have a protective fatty outer layer on our skin. This outer layer helps to keep water in and keep potentially damaging things like UV rays, wind, and heat, out. Having sensitive skin means this barrier is typically weaker, thinner, and more easily damaged, making our skin irritates easily by the triggers.

ANY type of skin can experience sensitivity.

As we age, our skin naturally becomes thinner, and thinner skin is more reactive than usual. There are countless internal and external factors that can trigger sensitivity, and it is hard to determine which are the triggers. The wind, sun, heat, skincare products, and even air pollution can make our skin feel uncomfortable, and the irritation usually manifests with redness, itchiness, stinging, burning, or tightness.

What can I do to take care of my sensitive skin?

1) Cleansing

  • From one person to another, sensitive skin responds differently to different cleansing methods. Generally, you would want to avoid cleansers that contain strong detergents. Try using soap-free or mild cleansers that have less potential for facial skin irritation.

2) Moisturizing

  • Moisturizing products help to keep your skin from drying and abrasion. It can also give your sensitive skin a boost to repair itself and stay healthy.

What should I avoid if I have sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid using products that contain antibacterial or deodorant ingredients, alcohol, lanolin, fragrances, colorants, retinoids, or alpha-hydroxy acids. Try look “skin-friendly” products that have fewer ingredients with little or no fragrance.

When washing your face, do not rub your skin with a towel because it will irritate your skin. Patting it gently will do the job just fine. 

For most of us, the worst enemies for sensitive skin are over-washing, over-exfoliating, and hot water. They may irritate your sensitive skin as they tend to strip away your face’s outer protective fatty later.

How do I know if the skincare product is suitable for my sensitive skin?

Using a new, unfamiliar skincare product can be daunting at times. You definitely do not want to trigger a reaction. This is why before you put a product on your skin, always test for a sensitive skin reaction.

  1. For several days, apply a small amount of the product behind your ear or on your neck and leave it overnight.
  2. If your skin does not become irritated, follow the same procedure and apply the product on an area alongside an eye.
  3. If you still do not see any irritation, the product should be safe for your sensitive skin.

Skincare is like dieting; you have to invest time and effort.

Taking care of our skin does sound like a hassle, especially when you have sensitive skin, but let’s be real – there’s no instant miracle cure for your skin.

To take care of your sensitive skin, remember the 3 keywords: gentle, gentle, gentle.