Living with sensitive skin means adjusting your skincare routine to incorporate only the products that won’t agitate your skin. It’s not that easy to figure out when it comes to redness outbreaks or situations when you need to wear sunscreen (one of the top skin irritants). This guide provides the skincare routine examples you could try for each sensitized skin situation.
When Your Sensitive Skin Is Freaking Out
If you have sensitive skin, you can’t avoid the situations when something goes wrong, and your skin is having an outbreak. Whether it’s skin redness, flakiness, or even itchiness, choosing the gentlest skincare can help soothe your skin and make it feel more comfortable.
Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Enzyme Cleanser
This gentle foaming cleanser from the cica line features a rich, foamy texture which is ideal for sensitive skin. It’s one of the most delicate cleansing products you want to use when your sensitive skin is having a moment.
Perricone MD CBD Rebalancing Elixir
This lightweight texture toner is a rebalancing treatment that brings your skin to its optimal pH to eliminate redness and calm down the skin. CBD and hemp skin products are known for their redness-relieving properties, but this particular essence is the most efficient one I’ve ever tried.
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Redness Relief Serum
Many products designed for sensitive skin look dull and have that prescription cream vibe. But this fun and effective serum is a rare exception. Not only it’s packaged lovely, but it’s also filled with skin-calming ingredients that help to reduce irritation—bonus feature: lightweight and delightful texture that absorbs into the skin in no time.
La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair UV 30
One product I recommend for everyone to try over the last few years is this sensitive skin-approved moisturizer and sunscreen combo. It’s gentle, hydrating, and features the most delicate, smoothing texture you’d want to prep your skin for makeup. If I have to pick, that would be my number one daily sunscreen recommendation of all time.
When You Are Going to the Beach
Salty water and sun are potential irritants for sensitive skin. The trick here is to find the right sun-protection products that won’t irritate it further and protect it from harmful UV lights. With these gentle skincare products in your collection, you’d enjoy your time on the beach without irritating your sensitive skin.
Elta MD Clear SPF 46 Sunscreen
This dermatologist-approved mineral sunscreen is the gold standard for mineral sunscreens. This non-irritating formula blends perfectly into the skin without streaks and a white cast typical for physical sunblocks. You’ll find this product in any beauty editor’s collection as it’s simply the best sunscreen on the market.
Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35
One of the things people forget to protect from the sun is the under the eyes area. Yes, you’ve heard me right: just sunglasses are not enough. Regarding direct sun situations like the beach, I recommend adding an extra level of protection for that area. Next time you go to the beach, instead of applying a concealer, use this Colorescience 3-in-1 gem: sunscreen, concealer, and eye cream.
Fresh Beauty Sugar Rose Lip Balm SPF 15
Your lips need some extra TLC when hitting the beach too. The thing is, most lip balms and glosses you have in your makeup bag are not likely to contain SPF. But the sun spots around the lip lines are not a joke – and it’s a problem that is so easy to prevent. Instead of your typical lip product, bring this luxurious tinted lip balm with SPF. It will refresh your look and protect you from harmful sun exposure.
Revive Skincare Soleil Supérieur Body SPF 50
I never understood spending too much money on body sunscreen, mainly because I always somehow lose it on the beach. But this body sunscreen is so good I’d put an AirTag on it to preserve it. The formula is so luxurious that it blends into your skin like butter, providing added antiaging benefits. It smells lux; the pump is more convenient than your typical body SPF.
When Your Skin Feels Dehydrated
There is a big difference between having a dry skin type and experiencing dehydration. Dry skin type is something you can’t change: it’s just how your skin is naturally designed. The dehydration type is typically caused by environmental factors like damaging the skin barrier by over-exfoliating, which is typical for people with skin sensitivities. Don’t worry; with a suitable skin barrier restoring skincare routine, it’s possible to re-plump your quenching skin.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator
Even when your skin feels dehydrated, exfoliation is still necessary. You’d have to be particularly careful, though, when picking the exfoliating products. This best-selling enzyme peel is one of the gentlest on the market. It delicately smoothes the skin and improves the texture without irritating your sensitive skin.
Eve Lom Moisture Mask
What I figured works the best for me when my skin feels dehydrated is to incorporate as many moisturizing face masks in my skincare routine as possible. Hyaluronic acid-based sheet masks are perfect for it, but I’m still a fan of an old good moisture mask by Eve Lom. This gentle treatment deeply hydrates your skin and can also be a sleeping mask.
Dermadoctor Calm Cool + Corrected HA Serum
This Hyaluronic Acid-based serum is specifically designed for people with irritated and sensitive skin. The formula is so gentle you can even use it on skin with an eczema outbreak and when the skin is red and chapped from irritation. The key ingredient of this product – dermatologist-recommended humectant Hyaluronic Acid – soothes parched skin and assists in deeper penetration of other skincare products.
SkinFix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Gel Cream
Finally, your dehydrated skin will benefit from this skin barrier restoring cream. In the second reincarnation of this best-selling formula, the cream features a gel-like consistency that provides quenching skin needed hydration. At the same time, niacinamide and a peptides blend balances the skin microbiome and protect the skin barrier.
Navigating sensitive skin moods is not an easy assignment, but with the right products in mind, you can get to a comfortable state of minimal flare-outs.
Check out these skincare guides to learn more about how to navigate your sensitive skin:
