Your skin is your largest organ, so taking care of it is important—not just for your health’s sake but also for your emotional sake! Having skin that suffers from acne, redness, inflammation, dark spots, dryness, or wrinkles can be an extremely frustrating experience, especially when you don’t know how to fix it.
We all want that glow, but pinning down what methods lead to beautiful, clean, supple skin can get tricky. Many products on the market don’t cater to sensitive skin, and the slightest change in regimen can cause further irritation or a breakout. However, with patience and the right natural bodycare products, your daily skincare routine can be calming and reassuring.
This article provides concise guidelines on caring for sensitive skin and tips on creating a skincare routine that will make a major difference in appearance.
Guidelines for Sensitive Skin
To put it into perspective, a nationwide survey by Aveeno in 2015, called the State of Skin Sensitivity Report, found that out of 1,000 women and men surveyed, 71% said they have sensitive skin. And while we may never see a cure for sensitive skin, there are ways to lessen its burden on your life.
Know Your Skin’s Boundaries
Chances are, you have a list of things you know make your skin worse. If not, you should start taking notice. Triggers can be certain ingredients in skincare products (fragrance, additive color dyes, etc.), environmental substances (like smoke), poor sleep, stress, or nutritional imbalances. Once you pinpoint these triggers, you can avoid them to mitigate their impact, giving you a sense of control and empowerment over your skin’s health.
Choosing Products Designed for Sensitive Skin
Another helpful approach is to look for products with the words hypoallergenic, gentle, mild, or made for sensitive skin on the package. Opt for natural products, like vegan moisturizers or eco-friendly cleansers. These alternatives generally contain fewer skin-irritating ingredients such as fragrances, allergens, dyes, and artificial additives.
Aging also affects skincare. The layers of the skin thin out as you age, lose elasticity, and all the skin’s issues become amplified. You can still age gracefully and have a glowing skin by adjusting your skincare routine with more potent products like retinol, vitamin C, or chemical exfoliants.
Crafting the Right Skincare Routine
A comprehensive, sensitive skincare routine should preserve the skin barrier while promoting overall health. Here’s the perfect skincare routine in the order you should follow:
- Cleansing – Use a natural (cream or gel-based) cleanser for sensitive skin once daily. Skincare brushes, washcloths, and other products are too abrasive, so take a small amount of the cleanser and gently apply with your fingertips using a circular, gentle motion over the skin, then rinse with cool water and pat your skin dry with a clean, fresh towel.
- Exfoliating – Exfoliate only once or twice a week with a gentle, chemical-based exfoliant. Do not exfoliate with granules, as products containing them are too harsh on sensitive skin. Use your fingertips and apply the product gently, then rinse with cool water. You can also use a derma roller when exfoliating your skin to enhance the overall effect of the process.
- Toning – Harsh astringent toners, particularly those with alcohol as a main ingredient, can be too aggressive for sensitive skin and wreck the fragile skin barrier. Instead, consider a calming facial mist infused with soothing ingredients that will aid in maintaining a healthier balance of your natural skin pH.
- Hydrating – Serums exist to target solutions that provide a specific benefit, like hydrating or brightening, anti-aging, or evening skin tone (among others). The most notable ones contain active hyaluronic acid ingredients, niacinamide or ceramides, which are sure to penetrate deep within your skin.
- Moisturizing – Go for a sensitive-skin formulation rich in fatty acids and humectants such as coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba oil.
- Protecting – Your skin protects you, so it’s essential to protect it. Choose a physical sunblock with natural minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for a non-irritating protective barrier.
Be Gentle With Your Skin
The best approach for sensitive skin care is gentle, careful, and organized. Ready to plan out that skincare ritual with sensitive skin in mind? You have it here!
