Sensitive skin can feel like a mystery you’re constantly trying to solve. One moment your face feels fine, the next it’s red, itchy, or tight. It’s estimated 60-70% of women struggle with sensitive skin, you’re not alone.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the basics of sensitive skin: how to recognize it, what causes it, and most importantly; how to calm, nourish and protect it.
What Is Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin isn’t a clinical diagnosis, but rather a description of skin that’s more reactive than usual. You might get:
- Redness or blotchiness
- Burning or stinging sensations
- Dry, flaky patches
- Reactions to skincare, fragrance, or even water temperature
It can be caused by genetics, over-exfoliation, stress, allergies, environmental triggers or a combination
1. Calm: Reduce Inflammation & Soothe
The first step is to calm your skin. That means cutting back on anything harsh or stripping.
DO:
- Use fragrance-free, alcohol-free cleansers
- Look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, calendula, panthenol or centella asiatica. Do a patch test if you try new products
- Apply cool compresses when irritation flares
DON’T:
- Use strong exfoliants, scrubs, or harsh actives (like high % acids)
- Switch products too often
- Use hot water on your face
- Pro tip: Less is more. Simplify your routine and introduce new products one at a time.
2. Nourish: Build Back the Barrier
Sensitive skin often means a compromised skin barrier — your skin’s natural shield. To help it heal, you need hydration and nourishment.
Key Ingredients to Look For:
- Ceramides: restore skin barrier
- Hyaluronic acid: hydrate deeply
- Squalane: mimics skin’s natural oils
- Oat extract: calms and protects
Layering a gentle serum followed by a rich but non-comedogenic moisturizer is ideal. Think creamy textures over gels.
3. Protect: Shield from Triggers
One of the biggest triggers for sensitive skin? The environment: UV rays, wind, pollution, even blue light. Protection is essential.
Daily protection includes:
- Mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) – less irritating than chemical sunscreens
- A barrier cream or balm in harsh weather
- A silk or cotton pillowcase (less friction = less irritation)
- Avoiding over-cleansing (2x per day is enough)
And remember: stress impacts your skin too. Your nervous system and your skin are deeply connected. Taking care of your mental self is skincare too.
A Sample Routine for Sensitive Skin
AM
- Gentle milk or cream cleanser
- Hydrating mist or essence
- Serum with ceramides or HA
- Moisturizer
- Mineral sunscreen
PM
- Cream cleanser
- Soothing serum
- Barrier-repair moisturizer
- Optional: calming mask (2x a week)
Final Thoughts
Sensitive skin can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach, it can be calm, balanced, and radiant. The key is understanding what your skin is asking for and giving it the tools to heal.
Stay gentle, stay consistent and let me know how you get on!
