The Best Skincare Ingredients For Sensitive Skin

So, how can you tell if you have sensitive skin?

Facial flare-ups are less than ideal! This is why it is so important to understand what ingredients we should be reaching for to treat sensitivity. The different symptoms of sensitive skin include redness, dryness, flakiness, breakouts and burning. Inflammation in particular can be a big giveaway. Plus the easy development of rashes. In simple terms, if your skin is reactive, it's likely to be sensitive. Skin sensitivity can be caused by a variety of factors and underlying issues.

• Underlying skin conditions like Rosacea and Psoriasis can stimulate sensitivity and cause red, sore and itchy skin.
• Spending too much time in the sun can majorly sensitise the skin by enhancing red flushing and a sharp tingling.
• Using too much product, too often. Take face masks for instance, as much as we love them, it's important to be mindful of how many times we're using them throughout the week. Masks including active ingredients such as retinol, AHAs and BHAs should only be used once a week, otherwise, you're at serious risk of drying out the skin and causing irritation. On the other hand, masks containing hydrating properties can be used more liberally. It's all about being smart with your skincare.

Sensitive skin can be a tough nut to crack however your best bet would be finding gentle and non-irritating ingredients that will still make a difference to the health and appearance of the skin.

What ingredients can be used on sensitive skin?

Bakuchiol

Bakuchiol is the natural substitute for Retinol that caters to sensitive and easily irritated skins. Retinol can be infamous for provoking peeling and redness in the skin and therefore swapping it out for Bakuchiol could be a game-changer for your sensitivity. Like Retinol, Bakuchiol works to repair the skin overnight and promotes skin cell renewal. That is all without activating irritation.

Jojoba Oil

Due to its gentle nature, Jojoba Oil is a go-to for sensitive skins and for those suffering from reactive conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis. Jojoba matches the skin’s own natural human sebum, meaning it has the ability to actually absorb into the skin without sitting on top of it. As Jojoba deeply penetrates the skin, it repairs the protective barrier by locking in moisture and calming reactive triggers.

Niacinamide

This ingredient is well tolerated by all skin types, even by the most sensitive of skins. Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that allows the skin to become more resilient. As a result, it helps to restore damaged barrier functions. Niacinamide is a powerful antioxidant that can protect the skin against the damaging effects of environmental aggressors while improving how the skin responds to them.

Ceramides

While Ceramides can be responsible for keeping the skin smooth and supple, they also play a crucial role in protecting the skin's barrier layer against pollution. Skin lacking in Ceramides can lead to a compromised barrier and a surge in irritation and levels of dryness. A fully functioning and healthy skin barrier is at the forefront of controlling sensitive skin.

Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA)

Tell us there's an ingredient that can make the skin glow, clarify and resurface all in one go and we know we're onto a winner. There are quite a few acids on the market that can do this but not all of them are suitable for sensitive skin. Polyhydroxy Acid is a reparative exfoliant that buffs away dead skins and reduces the visibility of sun damage. It's great for sensitive skin because it obtains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In addition, in comparison to AHAs, PHAs are a lot gentler on the skin.

The best approach is to use products that have been designed to accommodate and calm sensitive skins. Here are some products to explore:

Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser

The Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser is a gentle formula that was designed to cleanse reactive and sensitised skin without stripping the protective barrier. Dermalogica's exclusive UltraCalming Complex works to counteract inflammatory triggers and minimise discomfort. Moreover, it is enhanced with a calming and cooling blend of Raspberry, Lavender and Cucumber. This cleanser is a dream for irritated and post-procedure skin.

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The Jojoba Company Australian Jojoba

Well known for its healing and restorative abilities, The Jojoba Company Australian Jojoba is rich in Vitamins A, D & E that work together to strengthen the surface layer of the skin. This Jojoba oil encapsulates moisture to repair and soothe both sensitive and problematic skin.

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HydroPeptide Soothing Serum

Not only is the HydroPeptide Soothing Serum an effective formulation for anti-ageing but with the help of 6 Peptides, it also helps to reduce the uncomfortable feeling of sensitivity and inflammation. Jojoba, Shea and Hyaluronic support the skin's barrier function and collagen production. Plus, the calming ingredient of Chamomile soothes the skin and supports recovery.

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The Beauty Chef Omega Elixir Inner Beauty Boost

Our skin doesn't only react to the skincare we put on it, but it can also have a reaction to what we ingest. The Beauty Chef Omega Elixir Inner Beauty Boost assists in fighting dryness, irritation and intense inflammation. The combination of evening primrose oil, plant-based omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 and bio-fermented algae makes for a soothing formula and a sign of relief for sensitive skin.

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