The 4-Step Guide To Choosing Sensitive Skin Care Products

If you suffer from sensitive skin, then it’s likely you simply can’t afford the luxury of buying whatever moisturizer or foundation on sale for the week. Sensitive skin care products need to be carefully chosen, as any odd ingredient or excessively heavy texture may immediately trigger a dozen new zits or a few days looking.

Despite the large amount of products labeled “for sensitive skin”, as there is no exact regulation on those words, it can often be an empty term. Furthermore, not all sensitive skins react the same way, so the right set of products that works with you will probably be unique. It will be up to you to explore and find your dream team, but this task doesn’t need to be daunting: these four steps can help.

Traditionally, skin types are divided in dry, normal, oily, mixed, and sensitive. This classification is rather unhelpful to people with sensitive skin, as in most cases, sensitive skin will also be one of any of the other four types. Although only a dermatologist can classify your skin with 100% certainty, some of the most visible signs you should assess include:

• Frequent acne breakouts and zits are often linked to oily skin and easily-clogged pores.
• An easily reddened nose, flaky spots around the temples or near the scalp, and a grainy texture are typical of dry skin that’s sensitive to weather damage.
• Frequently flushed cheeks and nose, stinging eyes, or the sensation of “heat around the face” indicate rosacea.

Depending on the specific behavior of your skin when it’s irritated, the sensitive skin care products you will need will be different.

2. Trim Down The List Of Essentials

One constant of sensitive skin is that the fewer products you apply on it, the better it will be. However, some products, such as sunblock, cannot really be safely skipped for the long term. As for make-up, the truth is that we can’t all afford to go around with zero make-up, making rational choices all the more important. This can seem hard at first, as many women with sensitive skin often use extra make up to try to cover up their problem, eventually worsening it.

If your sensitive skin doesn’t allow you to go for the full works, from contouring the foundation and blush, on a regular basis, then reserve that for special. For daily wear, a tinted moisturizer or BB cream will provide just enough coverage for your zits and reddened patches without creating more, and will substitute sunblock and foundation. Add some eyeliner or a bright, statement lipstick to complement the look.

3. Studying The Labels And Ingredients

Regardless of your skin’s unique affliction, there are some ingredients that all skin types should avoid. Alcohol heads this list, which also includes microbeads and harsh astringents such as menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus oils. Added fragrances, even natural ones, also tend to be irritating and are better skipped.

4. Journaling The Results

When it comes to finding adequate sensitive skin care products, it’s best to think long term. Your goal should be to identify what is safe to buy from any drugstore shelf, even if you move to another country or your favorite brand disappears. In order to identify the ingredients that suit you better, the best way is to spend a month or two carefully monitoring the way your skin reacts to different products.

Creating a skin journal can help immensely in this regard. It will not only help you identify which cleansers and sunscreens work best for you, but it can even let you gauge exactly how often you can push the envelope – for example, it may be that you can only stand mascara once a week, or that all you need is to let your skin rest completely every few days.

Sensitive skin is a lifelong struggle for many, but with patience and some empowering knowledge, you can find a set of tools to manage it. Check out LaLa Daisy’s full catalog of to find affordable brands of gentle skin care, makeup and sunscreen.