How Do I Take Care Of My Sensitive Skin?
If you’re an avid skincare enthusiast, chances are you’ve heard of the term “skin-types.” If not, skin-types is a term that refers to categories that fit diverse skin profiles. There are four major categories, including normal skin, oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin.
One of the most misunderstood skin-types is in fact sensitive skin. Since skin’s hypersensitivity to products often results in an array of symptoms, including increased dryness, sebum production, rashes, acne, or eczema, many often falsely assume that their skin is oily or dry, depending on the reaction.
The term sensitive generally refers to skin that is more prone to inflammation or adverse reactions, meaning that people with sensitive skin may have strong reactions to chemicals, dyes, and fragrances present in products that come into contact with the skin.
According to the Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology, in 2019 44% of the population was categorized with sensitive skin in Europe, 38% in the USA, 35% in North America, and 31% in Asia.
Since sensitive skin is so wide-spread, yet misunderstood what can those of us prone to skin irritations do regularly to keep our skin healthy?
It all starts with your products!
Begin by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Micellar Cleansing Waters work well for people with sensitive skin because the Micellar technology works to remove water and oil based dirt from the skin without over-stripping of natural oils and drying-out the skin.
Avoid over-washing your face
When you wash your face too often, you strip the skin of its natural oils on repeat. While you want a clean face, over-washing (even with a gentle cleanser) can risk damage to the skin’s sensitive barrier. Stick to washing your face once morning and night with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser with few ingredients specially formulated for sensitive skin.
Stay away from strong fragrance and long ingredient lists
Using the right skincare products for sensitive skin is very important. Make sure to avoid strong fragrance, which can contain skin irritants, and select items with few ingredients that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin. As a rough rule, these products should only include little to no fragrances, dyes, acids, or harsh chemical or manual exfoliants.
Proper hydration is more than drinking water
Keeping things hydrated is essential to maintaining the skin’s delicate lipid balance. Since skin sensitivity can be related to the inability of the skin to retain moisture, make sure to apply a high qualitative moisturizer with many minerals and vitamins after a gentle cleanse. Remember, even the most sensitive skin needs moisturizing after a cleanse!
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen all day every day
Even on cloudy days you need to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Look for physical sunscreens that have ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide rather than chemical sunscreens that may further irritate sensitive skin.
While everyone’s skin is unique and different, hopefully our tips on dealing with sensitive skin were helpful in getting your routine started or amplifying an already existing one. Hopefully now you can be on the way to achieving your ideal complexion!
