Skincare Guide For Sensitive Skin

How do you know if your skin is considered sensitive

About 60% of women and 40% of men see themselves as having sensitive skin. There isn’t a single definition for this condition as it is self-diagnosed but generally, people with sensitive skin consider their skin to be highly reactive, itchy, red, dry and easily affected by their environment such as pollution, sun, UV as well as the topical products applied.

Reasons for sensitive skin include compromised skin barrier, inflammation and sensory nerve abnormalities. When the skin barrier is compromised, it allows irritants and allergens into the skin and inflammation continues. People with sensitive skin includes those with dry or injured skin, disorders such as eczema, rosacea or skin that’s been excessively exposed to damaging environmental factors such as sun, extreme heat or cold.

How do you treat your irritated, overly sensitive skin

The best way to treat sensitive skin involves a lot of time and patience as it is never a quick fix. Generally, it requires the following:

1. Repairing and maintaining the skin barrier function
2. Reducing inflammation

To repair and maintain the skin barrier barrier function, use ingredients such as ceramides, peptides, fatty acids, niacinamide and humectants to hydrate the skin such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and natural extract snow mushroom. Don’t forget to seal all the moisture in by prevent transepidermal water loss with occlusive ingredients such as plant oils. Apply antioxidant rich ingredients such as green tea which contains a unique compound epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) that can protect the skin from environmental damages, and it also has an amazing calming effect on the skin.

What should your skincare routine look like?

It’s best to adopt a basic skincare routine that protects and prevents further damage: SPF, cleanse and moisturize.

1. Apply SPF to protect your skin and prevent further UV damage,
2. Cleanse using a gentle pH friendly cleanser; and
3. Moisturise to repair and protect the skin barrier.

Just remember that the process of healing and maintaining a healthy skin barrier isn’t an overnight process and it takes some trial and error to figure out what works for you and a lot of patience and discipline to be consistent with the use of these skin repairing ingredients.