Sensitive skin requires extra attention and care to maintain its health and beauty. If you're one of the millions with sensitive skin, you know that the wrong product or harsh treatment can lead to irritation, redness, or breakouts.
Having sensitive skin can make it hard to try new products, wear makeup, and even protect your skin with sunscreen. Thankfully, we have more skincare products formulated specifically to work for even the most sensitive skin types today than ever before! In this blog, we’ll explore the best ways to care for sensitive skin and keep it calm and radiant.
What Is Sensitive Skin?
The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes five different skin types.
- Oily skin. This skin type produces more sebum (natural oils) than others and may be prone to breakouts.
- Dry skin. Dry skin usually has very small, almost invisible pores and may flake or feel tight.
- Combination Skin. Combination skin types may have areas that are oily and other areas that are dry.
- Normal Skin. Normal skin is neither oily nor dry. You may have some patches that are more oily or dry, but overall, your skin is calm without major variations.
- Sensitive Skin. Sensitive skin types react differently to skin products and external stressors like the sun and/or makeup. If you have sensitive skin, you may often develop red, irritated areas or even develop rashes when using new products.
Sensitive skin is a hybrid. While the remaining four skin types mostly pertain to moisture levels, sensitive skin types refer to your skin sensitivity level. So, it’s possible that you have dry, sensitive skin or oily sensitive skin. Either way, you’ll need to tailor your routine to be calming and soothing.
Characteristics of Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you may have skin that burns, stings, or itches after you apply a product. You may develop:
- - Rashes
- - Itching
- - Cracks in the skin related to dryness
- - Rough patches of uneven skin texture
- - Redness all over the skin or in certain places
Sensitive skin types often find the best skincare solutions with fewer ingredients and more hydrating, natural ingredients supporting the skin’s moisture barrier. Here are the best ways to care for your skin and a few product recommendations to keep your skin healthy, radiant, and calm.
1. Cleanse
It’s often overlooked or not given much thought, but skin cleansing is essential to keeping your skin healthy. Your skin barrier, the outer layer, is home to an essential colony of microflora that helps protect your skin.
Some cleansers contain harsh ingredients that can damage or alter the levels of healthy bacteria on your skin. For sensitive skin, NuFACE recommends an oil-free face wash (if you have acne-prone skin or will be using microcurrent post-cleanse) or a combination makeup remover and exfoliant.
NuFACE Prep-N-Glow® Hydrating and Exfoliating Facial Wipes do the job of three products in one. One side cleanses the skin and removes impurities and makeup, while the other exfoliates. It’s a cleanser, makeup remover, and exfoliant in one tiny towelette that makes cleansing sensitive skin a breeze. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, it’s designed safe for even the most sensitive skin types.
2. Boost
If you’ve struggled with sensitive skin for a while, you may feel like using a serum is out of reach. Serums deliver concentrated ingredients that target specific skin concerns, like fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, or dryness.
We recommend two boosters for sensitive skin.
- NuFACE Super Antioxidant Booster Serum. Antioxidants protect your skin from free radicals when exposed to external stressors like UV rays or pollution. Keeping your skin loaded with antioxidants is an essential part of any skincare routine, and this Booster Serum is particularly great for sensitive skin because it’s nourishing and protecting. Green Tea extract helps calm and reduce irritation, while hyaluronic acid and IonPlex® keep skin ultra-hydrated.
- NuFACE Super Peptide Booster Serum. Sensitive skin in your 40s and 50s can make it super challenging to use anti-aging formulas. Thankfully, there is a solution. Super peptide Booster is formulated with gentle yet powerful ingredients to target fine lines and wrinkles. A gentle blend of botanical extracts that aims to nourish and condition provides repairing and firming of the skin, benefits with natural, non-irritant ingredients.
3. Activate
One of the best tools you can use if you have sensitive skin is Microcurrent Therapy. Microcurrent uses a low-level electrical current to stimulate the skin down to the MUSCLE, targeting the areas where the skin begins to show the signs of aging the fastest. Microcurrent is effective for sensitive skin because it delivers current beneath its surface, and designed to stimulating it and adding tone, lift, and contour. without irritating the epidermis.
Before you begin any microcurrent treatment, using a Microcurrent Activator is a must. NuFACE Aqua Gel Activator has a lightweight, water-based gel formula to provide even the most sensitive skin with 24-hour hydration.
4. Deliver the Current
Once you’ve applied your microcurrent activator, you can use any NuFACE Microcurrent Device to deliver effective microcurrent therapy to your skin. Working in sections, perform glides and holds on your skin for five minutes per section to tone, lift and contour without using harsh, irritating ingredients.
5. Use SPF
Sun protection is a must-have for every skin type - including sensitive skin. AN SPF of 30 or more is generally recommended for daily use, and SPF of 50+ for direct sunlight - like days at the beach.
If your skin is sensitive to sunscreen, try using a hypoallergenic formula that contains only mineral sunscreen instead of chemical sunscreens. These generally offer better protection and are formulated primarily for people with blemish-prone and sensitive skin.
6. Moisturize
All skin types need moisture. If you struggle to find a moisturizer that doesn’t burn when applied to your skin, look for one that is fragrance-free and contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides. These ingredients are found naturally in your skin and help protect your skin’s natural moisture levels.
7. Avoid Irritants
Plenty of ingredients are safe for sensitive skin, but some are almost certain to cause sensitivity issues. Retinol, salicylic acid, and alcohol-based toners have been known to be drying and cause redness, skin peeling, and sensitivity. Avoid using these ingredients, or chat with a trusted dermatologist about formulations that won’t irritate sensitive skin.
Soothing Sensitivity
Caring for sensitive skin requires patience, vigilance, and a gentle touch. By understanding your skin, using the right products, and following a careful skincare routine, you can keep your sensitive skin looking its best.
Sources:
Skin care tips dermatologists use | AAD.org
Sensitive Skin: Symptoms, Common Triggers & How It's Treated | Houston Methodist On Health
