Looking for tips for sensitive skin? We’ve rounded them up for you!
If you have sensitive skin, you’d know the struggle of bad reactions to skin products or environmental factors, or even the unpredictable trigger. One moment you are good to go then the next, you are suddenly plagued with redness, dryness, rashes, and more. It can get you thinking, ‘was it the primer I used this morning?’ or ‘was it that bagel I ate for breakfast?’ There are tons of factors that cause skin sensitivity, including stress, allergies, harsh skin care products, and even the sun.
Tips for Sensitive Skin
And while it’s true that we can’t totally avoid all of these, it doesn’t mean that we can’t take measures to calm and safeguard our skin. Here are helpful tips for sensitive skin to make life easier.
Less is more
For those with sensitive skin, it is highly recommended to apply the universal quote, “Less is more.” This can mean downsizing your skincare routine products to those that really matter or choosing beauty products that have fewer ingredients in them.
When you use fewer products, this means your skin has fewer ingredients to react to. And truth to be told, you don’t need a bazillion of skincare products to achieve your desired skin. The basics of the skincare routine are simple, as long as you have a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen that works best with your skin, you are already covering the foundation.
It’s also ideal to avoid products with harsh ingredients in them and stick to gentle cleansers like micellar water.
Remove makeup gently
Sensitive skin is highly prone to redness and irritation that is caused by friction. This is why it is important to use high-quality makeup removers that are formulated with the right ingredients that dissolve and lift makeup products off the face without intense rubbing.
It is also best to research and look for makeup removes that have anti-inflammatory properties and are packed with essential ingredients like Pro-Vitamin B5 that helps soothe sensitive skin.
Micellar water for cleansers
Foaming cleansers are not recommended if you have sensitive skin. Instead, try and use micellar water which is powered by tiny oil molecules that help lift dirt, oil, and makeup away from the skin. It is a gentle cleanser that requires no rinsing. Most micellar water also hydrates and soothes the skin and is void of any alcohol, soap, or oil.
When cleansing, keep in mind to rinse with warm (not hot) water and gently pat the skin to dry.
Always moisturize
There are a lot of factors that trigger sensitive skin. It could be environmental factors like dust, pollution, the sun, and the weather, using beauty products that contain harsh chemicals, or food allergies. So when choosing a moisturizer, get one that not only keeps moisture inside the skin but will also protect you from external aspects.
A general rule of thumb for choosing a moisturizer is that it should be free of dyes, fragrances, and scents. In addition, it should also contain fewer ingredients, ideally less than 10.
Do not overwash or over-exfoliate
It can be tempting to overwash the face, especially when you know you’ve been out and about and are exposed to germs, dirt, and dust. However, overwashing can strip essential lipids and proteins that serve as a protective barrier off the skin. In fact, washing once a day with plain water or the appropriate cleanser is enough.
The same goes for over-exfoliating. Over-exfoliating thins the protective barrier and allows irritating chemicals to penetrate the skin easily. For most, exfoliating once or twice a week with a gentle exfoliant is more than enough.
Patch-test new products
People with allergies would know how important patch-testing new products are. For people with sensitive skin, it’s important to get on to this habit as well. Before applying a new product all over the skin, always apply a small amount first on the inside of the arm overnight and observe your skin’s reaction.
It’s also important to give your skin time to adjust so apply thinly at first and gradually increase application.
Know the ingredients
You know what they say, prevention is better than cure. The best way to handle sensitive skin is to know what triggers it and avoid those entirely. If you noticed that your skin has been reacting negatively to several beauty products that have similar ingredients, you might want to stop using them altogether.
A few of the most common irritants that you can catch from beauty products are dyes, fragrances, and preservatives, like parabens. So it is highly recommended to purchase products that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, contains natural ingredients as much as possible.