Sensitive skin is an issue that many people know all too well. More than anything, it is the cause of great annoyance and frustration. People with sensitive skin are prone to acne, rosacea, eczema, and many different contact allergens. When the epidermis, which is the outer protective layer of the skin, gets damaged, your skin becomes sensitive and prone to many infections. The damage can be due to genetic, dietary, or even environmental factors. It is difficult to control your genetics or environment, but sometimes drinking lots of water and eating vegetables can help strengthen the skin. If not, there are several other important tips to remember.
1. Keep It Simple
For sensitive skin, simple is best when it comes to skin care products. You should never use more than two, possibly three, products at a time. The more different types of chemicals you put on your face, the greater is the chance that there will be a negative reaction. All you need is a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
2. Gentle is Best
It is important not to use harsh scrubs on your face, or even to not scrub harshly with gentle cleaners. Dead skin cells and oils actually help to form the barrier between your skin and the outside world. Scrubbing it off completely would just lead to more irritation on your skin.
3. Don’t Wash Too Often
No matter how you look at it, washing your face dries it out. This isn’t a big deal unless you have sensitive skin. You should wash your face no more than twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. After washing, blot your face dry instead of rubbing to minimize further irritation.
4. Read Labels
When you have sensitive skin, it is important to always know what you are putting on your skin. By reading the labels, you can see chemicals that would irritate your skin, such as alcohol, acetone, or urea, and know to avoid them. Additionally, the shorter the ingredient list, the less likely it is that a negative chemical could react badly on your skin.
5. Avoid Strong Fragrances
Fragrances and pretty colorings make everything seem more attractive, so it makes sense that more people are drawn to products with these ingredients. However, it is not the best choice for people with sensitive skin. Even if you don’t currently have an allergy to a certain fragrance or coloring, repeat exposure could create one.
6. Moisturize Regularly
Moisturizing helps to form a secondary protective layer between your skin and the outside world, a barrier that sensitive skin is in great need of. Pollution and wind can throw quite a punch, if your skin is not properly protected. Moisturizer will also help to keep your skin from drying out or being damaged by the sun.
7. Test it Out
Before using a new skin care product, it is best to test it out on a small, hidden portion of your skin first. This is a step that often goes ignored, but people who have sensitive skin don’t have that luxury. Unknown products can cause itchiness, redness, or other forms of irritation, and the last thing you want is to have all that over your face.
8. Use the Correct Makeup
Choosing the right type of makeup is extremely important for people with sensitive skin. Using mineral powders and silicone-based foundations can lessen the likelihood of a negative reaction. Pencil eyeliner is safer than liquid, due to the latex found in liquid liner. Moreover, waterproof mascara should always be avoided due to the harsh chemicals needed to remove it. If you’re following these guidelines, you shouldn’t have any more problems with picking out makeup.
9. Change with the Season
Just as the weather goes from warmer to colder, skin care also changes with the season. For example, extreme cold in the winter leaves the skin chapped and dry. So, additional moisturizing could be required during this time to keep your skin healthy.
10. Wear Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is extremely important, whether or not your skin is sensitive. Having sensitive skin just makes it that much more important because the sun has the potential to do more damage. When going out in the sun, always wear SPF 30 or higher.
