11 Tips On How To Care For Your Sensitive Skin

Una B.
29. Apr. 2015
4 Min. Lesezeit

Sensitive skin is very difficult to take care of. While I was working as a fashion model, it was extremely difficult for me to keep my skin healthy, as all the make up and products I was using would irritate my skin and make it red and inflamed. I have a very sensitive skin and am a natural redhead. People with sensitive skin usually cannot use majority of the cosmetics available in the drugstores or pharmacies, and are often disappointed even with the cosmetics aimed particularly for that type of skin, as I was. At one point I was literally changing my skin care routine every week because of my disappointment and frustration. In this article I will try to explain some of the issues and offer some practical advice on how to care for your sensitive skin. :)

Sensitive skin is often dry, but not necessarily. Combination and oily skin can also be sensitive. You might blush easily and get irritated from products you put on your skin. The most important thing is to find products that are REALLY suitable for sensitive skin. Even though some products claim to be for sensitive skin, if they contain denaturated alcohol (Alcohol denat.) or fragrance - they are NOT! So, this is the first rule in how to care for your sensitive skin.

1. Search for cosmetics without denaturated alcohol (Alcohol denat.) and fragrance, especially if it´s on the top of the ingredient list

Paula Begoun, the skin care expert, or better-known as a "Cosmetics Cop", talks about it on her website as well

http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/sensitive-skin/

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2. Test the products on small areas before applying it on the whole face

Even though some products don´t contain alcohol or fragrance they can still be irritating for your skin if they contain other irritating ingrediants, such as menthol. So before you apply the product on your entire face, test it on the area of your neck, under the ear for a few days. If there is no reaction, then you can apply it on your entire face. If you notice burning, itching, redness, dryness or anything like that - ditch the product immidiately. Make-up artist Lisa Eldrige talks about it in this great video.

3. Don´t over stimulate your skin

Don´t slather your skin with various cosmetics products. Let it rest and breath. A gentle cleanser and a moisturizer with an SPF should be enough. Foundation should not be applied every day. Cleanse and moisturize your face twice a day for optimal results.

4. Don´t touch your face!

Avoid touching your face. You hands are full of bacteria and if you touch your face frequently you will transfer the bacteria to your face which can cause breakouts and irritation.

5. Keep it clean!

If your hair is greasy, that would most likely cause breakouts on your face.

6. Apply compress

If your skin is irritated, consider applying cold compresses from either chamomile tea or, as dermatologist dr. Schultz suggests mixture of water and milk.

7. Be careful with exfoliation!

People with sensitive skin should be VERY careful when exfoliating their skin because they can easily over-exfoliate it and damage it. If you are using mechanical exfoliants be sure to use gentle pressure. You can consider using natural exfoliants, such as yogurt or milk. They are super gentle and won´t harm your skin. If your skin is extremely sensitive, consider not exfoliating it at all.

8. Use natural oils

You can try using natural oils aimed particularly at sensitive skin, such as almond oil and olive oil. I found it very useful in calming my skin. Almond oil also has antimicrobial properties, so it also kills bacteria in a very gentle way. I don´t use it every day though.

9. Use only mineral sunscreen

When choosing sunscreen, choose the one that contains only mineral filters, such as Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide. Those are physical sunscreens that prevent the sunrays from getting into are skin, instead of changing the chemical make-up of our skin, as chemical sunscreens do. Mineral sunscreens are natural and are considered completely safe for sensitive skin. The only drawback is that it can leave a white cast on your skin, but if you know how to apply it correctly, that shouldn´t be an issue. The thing is, since the mineral filters are very strong, you should apply only a small amount of it (not like you would apply a chemical sunscreen). For more visual instructions on how to apply a mineral sunscreen check out this video by dermatologist dr. Schultz.

10. Stress less

Positive stress is good for us because it keeps us fit for new challenges. A life with no stress would be very boring, but negative stress can show itself on your skin. It can accelerate aging and even be detrimental for our health! Ditch the people that stress you out, change the job you hate....you will notice a huge difference! :)

11. Healthy lifestyle

Lead a healthy lifestyle. Eat well, sleep well, exercise, drink a lot of water, go out in the nature. This will help your skin look its best. :)

As you can see on this pictures, this is my skin before and after. I have no make up on either of them.