Sensitive Skincare Routine: How to Care for Reactive Skin

Caring for sensitive skin can be challenging, especially when it reacts to the most gentle products or weather changes. If your skin tends to flush, sting, burn, or break out without any warning, it’s time to take a look at sensitive skin care.

Keynotes:

• Sensitive skin is marked by frequent stinging, burning, tightness, or redness.
• Sensitive skin is very vulnerable to products, weather, and stress due to a weak skin barrier.
• Stick to a gentle, fragrance-free routine with hydrating, calming ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin.
• Avoid harsh actives, products with harsh fragrance, and physical exfoliants that can trigger irritation or flare-ups.

Sensitive skin is not a skin concern, but rather a type of skin that is easily irritated due to skincare products, temperature fluctuations, and environmental stressors. If you have sensitive skin, you may experience stinging, burning, tightness, or redness, especially after cleansing, using makeup, or in dry seasons. Skin concerns like rosacea, eczema, and allergic contact dermatitis can overlap with sensitive skin.

Largely, sensitive skin occurs due to a weak skin barrier, which makes your skin more vulnerable to allergens and irritants. You may notice that your skin reacts to fragranced products, alcohol-based cleansers, or even after exposure to sunlight. Sensitive skin can also occur between seasons, have particular triggers, or be caused by physiological factors like stress, genetics, and hormones.
 
If you find yourself consistently reacting to skincare, or if your skin becomes red and inflamed without an obvious cause, it’s time to visit your dermatologist and look into your sensitive skin care routine.

When it comes to sensitive skin, less is more. Dermatologically-tested, fragrance-free products are usually suggested for sensitive skin types. A simple, well-structured skincare routine that strengthens your skin barrier is crucial. Instead of layering multiple actives and exfoliants, go with a minimal approach. Here’s how:

Step 1: Gentle Cleansing: Start with a gentle, gel-based cleanser that does not over dry your skin. Make sure that it uses actives in low concentrations to avoid any irritation.
Explore our gentle face cleanser for sensitive skin

Step 2: Toning: A toner is crucial to any skincare routine, even sensitive skin care. It balances the pH of your skin and helps you moisturise it while removing residual impurities.
Discover our soothing toner for sensitive skin

Step 3: Serums: Serums can be a tricky product to use for sensitive skin. Not all skin actives may cater to your skin, which is why using the right sensitive skin care ingredients becomes crucial. Stick to clinically researched and dermatologically tested ingredients like hyaluronic acid, Thiamidol, or glycerin.
Shop serums for sensitive skin  

Step 4: Moisturising: Moisturising is essential for sensitive skin care. Using day creams helps you add a layer of hydration and strengthens your skin barrier to shield you from any aggressors you may face throughout the day. Night creams are just as crucial, helping you with skin regeneration and repair.  

Step 5: Sun Protection: Sunscreens may feel heavy or irritating on sensitive skin, but they simply can’t be skipped. The trick lies in finding the right formula catered to dry or hypersensitive skin. Look for sunscreens that are labelled so and check for broad-spectrum protection.
Find the perfect sunscreen for sensitive skin

Certain ingredients commonly found in skincare can trigger or worsen sensitivity. If you have sensitive skin, try to get into the habit of reading product labels and performing patch tests before using any product. Patch test on your upper forearm or inside the elbow and wait for 24 hours to see how your skin reacts.  

However, if any of the products have these on their list, you may want to reconsider using them. 

• Fragrance: Fragrance is among the most common irritants, whether synthetic or naturally derived. Even your essential oils, like lavender, citrus, or peppermint, which are often included for their scent, can cause burning or redness in sensitive individuals.
 
• Alcohol: Products with alcohol and ethanol can severely dehydrate your skin and compromise its protective barrier, making your skin even more sensitive over time.
 
• Physical Exfoliants: Harsh exfoliants, such as physical scrubs made with walnut shells or sugar crystals, can cause micro-tears in the skin.
 
• Harsh Cleansers and Exfoliants: Strong surfactants like sulphates are also best avoided, as they can leave your skin feeling tight and raw. High concentrations of exfoliating acids, such as glycolic acid peels or salicylic acid peels, may further damage your sensitive skin.

Pro Tip: It’s important to note that labels like ‘hypoallergenic’ are not regulated by any standard, so always rely on your own skin's tolerance and consult a dermatologist when in doubt.

Despite the challenges of sensitive skin, there are many ingredients specifically known for their soothing, hydrating, and barrier-repairing properties that fit right into your sensitive skin care. 

• Niacinamide: Derived from vitamin B3, it is one of the most well-tolerated actives and can help calm inflammation, strengthen the skin’s barrier function, and regulate sebum production.
 
• Hyaluronic Acid: As a humectant, hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in your skin, known for its water-binding properties. It draws moisture to the outer layers of your sensitive skin and helps reduce dryness and tightness, while strengthening its barrier. Its lightweight texture and gentle formulation make it a key ingredient for your sensitive skin care.
 
• Glycerin: Glycerin is another dermatologically trusted humectant that supports long-lasting hydration. It adds softness and resilience to your sensitive skin, reducing the risk of irritation caused by dryness or environmental stress.
 
• Thiamidol: Thiamidol is a patented active that effectively reduces hyperpigmentation by regulating melanin production at its source. It is especially suited for sensitive skin types as it shows limited and rare side effects.
 
• Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): Panthenol is a soothing ingredient that supports your skin’s natural regeneration process. Look for night creams with panthenol as they help calm irritation, reduce redness, and promote barrier repair.

Despite your best efforts, flare-ups may still occur. Whether triggered by a new product, hormonal changes, or environmental stress, knowing how to soothe these flare-ups is key. Here’s all you can do:

• Start with discontinuing all actives and focus on restoring and hydrating your skin barrier. 
 
• Apply a cold compress to help soothe inflammation. Try and take short showers if you are using warm water.
 
•  Avoid makeup, especially products containing alcohol or synthetic dyes.
• Track changes in your routine, diet, stress levels, or environment to identify what has triggered your sensitivity. 
 
• If a flare-up lasts longer than a week or becomes worse, consult a dermatologist to rule out any conditions such as dermatitis or rosacea.

Caring for sensitive skin involves more than just choosing the right products; it requires a consistent, gentle approach rooted in understanding and patience. Always listen to your skin, introduce new products cautiously, and seek dermatological guidance when necessary. For trusted, dermatological skincare, turn to Eucerin.

1. What ingredients should I avoid in a sensitive skincare routine?

   Try to avoid products with harsh cleansing agents, drying products, comedogenic formulas, and products using strong fragrances. Try to use dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic products for sensitive skin.

2. How do I know if my skin is sensitive?

   If you’re experiencing redness, stinging, itching, and rashes frequently, you may have sensitive skin type. Make sure that you’re consulting a dermatologist if your skin seems vulnerable.

3. Can sensitive skin tolerate active ingredients?

   Gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide are better suited to sensitive skin. However, it’s crucial to consult your dermatologist before adding any products to your skin care for sensitive skin.

4. Is fragrance-free always better for sensitive skin?

   Yes. Added fragrances may lead to irritation and allergic reactions in sensitive skin, which is why it’s best to prevent added fragrances during sensitive skin care.

• PubMed - Efficacy and safety of a cream containing panthenol, prebiotics, and probiotic lysate for improving sensitive skin symptoms
• Web MD - 20 Common Questions About Sensitive Skin