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Skin type
Sensitive skin
Sensitive isn't really a separate skin type but a trait. Any skin, whether dry, oily or combination, can also be sensitive. It then reacts more easily to products, weather or stress. Here, less is almost always more.
Sound familiar?
- New products sting, burn or cause redness.
- You flush easily with heat, cold or wind.
- Your skin itches or feels tight for no clear reason.
- Fragrance or certain soaps often trigger a reaction.
What causes it?
Often the skin's protective outer layer, the skin barrier, isn't working as well. Irritants get in more easily. Genetics, dry skin, too many active ingredients, fragrance and weather all play a part. Sometimes a skin condition such as eczema or rosacea is behind it.
A simple routine
Morning
- Lukewarm water or a very gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
- A calming serum or cream with, for example, panthenol, centella or a low dose of niacinamide.
- Sunscreen with mineral filters (zinc oxide), fragrance-free.
Evening
- Cleanse gently and pat dry instead of rubbing.
- A simple, fragrance-free cream with ceramides.
- Introduce new products one at a time, and test on a small patch of skin first.
Start with the basics and add new products one at a time. Give each product a few weeks before judging whether it works.
Ingredients that suit it
Best avoided
- Fragrance and essential oils, including 'natural' ones.
- Toners high in alcohol.
- Scrubs and strong acids.
- Lots of new products at once.
See your GP if…
- Persistent redness on cheeks and nose, possibly with spots (this may be rosacea).
- Itching, swelling or blisters after using a product.
- Symptoms that affect your sleep or daily life.