Best Skincare Products for Sensitive Skin

If you have a sensitive skin type, you have to be extra careful with your skincare products.

Thankfully, I’ve put together a list of the best products for sensitive skin types that won’t cause skin irritation or damage your skin’s barrier:

Morning:

Night:

Body:

This article will explain everything you need to know about building a skincare routine for sensitive skin types.

Morning Skin Care Routine for Sensitive Skin

Step 1: Vanicream Gentle Cleanser

If you’re dealing with skin sensitivity, you may be able to get away with just rinsing your face with water in the morning. However, if you’d like to wash your face, I suggest something super gentle for irritated skin, like Vanicream.

Step 2: Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10%

Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10% is my holy grail.

The star ingredient here is glycinated azelaic acid which can effectively soothe irritation and is gentle enough for naturally sensitive skin. Generally, I find that azelaic acid is a more suitable option among active ingredients for sensitive skin than salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide because it is more gentle.

If you’re dealing with rosacea flare ups, redness, uneven skin tone or acne, this is a great morning serum for you.

Step 3: NIOD Fractionated Eye Concentrate

Generally, I love everything that NIOD makes. This eye serum in particularly has some awesome skincare technology behind it in the form of:

• Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract

• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

• Methylglucoside Phosphate

• Copper Lysinate/Prolinate

• Superoxide Dismutase

While these may sound like “scary chemicals”, I assure you they are not. These different complexes are effective to:

• Reduce expression lines

• Boost collagen production

• Reduce dark circles

It’s suitable for any skin type and easily fits into a routine for sensitive skin.

Step 4: Purito Unscented Recovery Cream

This moisturizing cream from Purito is formulated with over 50% green tea extract which is phenomenal for repairing a damaged skin barrier.

Whether you’re dealing with sensitive or dry skin, you will love this fragrance free moisturizer. Plus, it will help reduce redness and dark spots!

Step 5: La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 60

La Roche Posay Anthelios has a wonderful, lightweight texture that blends into skin easily. This mineral sunscreen product is hydrating without leaving you with a heavy, greasy feeling which is perfect for combination skin.

Night Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Step 1: Chemist Confessions Blank Slate Cleanser

This cleanser was specifically formulated as both a makeup remover and general face wash to get rid of excess oil, sweat, and dirt that has accumulated on your face throughout the day.

If you wear makeup, you can use this cleanser to replace your makeup wipes which are often formulated with ingredients that are harsh on sensitive skin.

Step 2: Laneige Cream Skin Toner

Laneige Cream Skin Toner has a lovely lightweight texture that is effective at restoring moisture after cleansing and soothing any sensitive skin conditions like dryness and irritation.

Plus, this product has a few great ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to deeply hydrate your skin. Further, it’s formulated with amino acids which are great for your skin barrier.

Step 3: Stratia Night Shift

Night Shift is a great moisturizing cream for sensitive, mature skin types.

It has 0.3% encapsulated retinol which can effectively treat signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it has fatty acids to restore your skin barrier and soothe parched skin.

Step 4: The Ordinary Rosehip Oil

Natural ingredients like rosehip oil are awesome as the last step in your skincare routine. Clinical research shows that free fatty acids are essential for maintaining your skin barrier which can help reduce sensitivity over time.

Best Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin on Body

Naturium Soother Skin Body Wash

Formulated with super gentle cleansing agents and natural ingredients like marshmallow root and oats, this body wash from Naturium is gentle enough for irritable skin and eczema prone skin.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Ultra Repair Cream is one of the best skincare products if you have sensitive skin thanks to inclusion of 1% colloidal oatmeal. It will help reduce redness and flaking skin all at once.

What is a sensitive skin type?

If you have a sensitive skin type, you are more likely to experience reactions to common allergens that include:

• Redness

• Itchiness

• Flaking skin

• Disrupted skin barrier

• Eczema

Generally, people with sensitive skin types cannot handle strong active ingredients as well as others can and are more prone to dryness and irritated skin.

What causes sensitive skin?

While some people are born with naturally sensitive skin, others may be more reactive due to their diet, lifestyle, or environment.

For example, common triggers of sensitive skin can include certain ingredients in skin care products, pollution, and specific cuisine like spicy foods.

Further, because humans produce less of our natural oils as we age, you may experience more sensitive skin as you age. This is because our natural oil, sebum, is protective and helps to keep our skin barrier intact.

When our skin barrier is disrupted, we are more likely to experience symptoms like irritation and premature aging.

Good Ingredients for Skin Sensitivity

While certain active ingredients like salicylic acid and willow bark can exacerbate sensitive skin types, other ingredients can help reduce skin sensitivity.

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectants are powerful skincare ingredients that help bind environmental water to your skin for instant hydration and plumping effects.

While hyaluronic acid is one of the most popular humectants, other powerful ones include:

• Glycerin

• Panthenol

• Bisabolol

Extra hydration will help support your skin barrier and reduce sensitivity.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is another powerful humectant that can also be used to improve wound healing and help skin retain moisture.

Green Tea

Also known as camellia sinensis, green tea is a soothing ingredient and great for skin sensitivity. Plus, it is effective at reducing transepidermal water loss and fighting dark spots.

Shea Butter

If you have dry, sensitive skin, you may benefit from thicker moisturizing ingredients like shea butter.

Frequently Asked Questions