Sensitive skin is no longer uncommon and should be taken seriously. Your skin health should also be important to you. Luckily, there is a wide range of skin care products and brands to choose from, so even sensitive skin can find the right care.
We want healthy skin, not perfect skin!
How do I know I have sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin can occur regardless of age or skin type. Sensitivity can be genetically favoured, but it can also result from external influences. It can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms and can occur in phases or in flares. We have summarized the most common symptoms for you:
- tight, dehydrated skin
- Dry patches
- itching
- redness
- Sensitivity to heavily scented skincare products, retinol, or exfoliants containing BHA or AHA
- skin texture
Depending on the severity of the skin sensitivity, we ask you to consult a dermatologist in order to be able to determine the cause of your skin reaction.
What Caused Sensitive Skin?
The big question here is: is this a skin condition, or did I unknowingly cause the sensitivity with my own behavior?
The main cause of sensitive skin is a compromised skin barrier. Your skin barrier protects you from moisture loss and also prevents bacteria, viruses or other substances from entering the body. If the skin barrier is damaged, this can lead to the symptoms mentioned above. You can support your skin barrier with care products and by avoiding certain habits.
Rosacea is a non-contagious, chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes reddening of the skin. Rosacea can also be associated with pimples and sufferers also suffer from a compromised skin barrier. This skin condition should only be diagnosed by a dermatologist.
Eczema also refers to a non-contagious skin inflammation that can itch or weep. Depending on the severity, this skin disease can also severely affect the life of those affected and is accompanied by a weakened skin barrier. Again, it is important to have a dermatologist make the diagnosis.
What should I watch out for if I have sensitive skin?
Unfortunately, we can also trigger or encourage sensitivity through our own behavior. In the following we have put together what you should avoid and what you should actually do to promote your skin barrier.
Avoid:
#1 Too many products in a skin care routine may increase the risk of skin irritation. We therefore recommend limiting your routine to one cleanser, serum and moisturizer until your skin recovers.
#2 Please definitely no physical peels , i.e. use peelings with coarse pieces such as sugar, salt or nut shells, as well as facial brushes. These can increase the inflammation of the skin and also cause invisible wounds.
#3 Even if you have pimples or blackheads, never try to dry them out, as dry skin is more prone to further irritation and inflammation.
#4 Avoid perfume, essential oils and menthol on your skin. This applies to your facial and body care products, but also to perfume itself. Instead of applying perfume directly to your skin, try spraying it onto your clothes.
#5 Avoid hot showers or baths , because this increases the moisture loss in your skin. Because even a low moisture content in the skin promotes inflammation.
#6 Sensitive skin tends to react to contact with hair products like shampoo, conditioner and leave-in. Even if the product only runs over your face or body for a short time during washing out. Try rinsing out the shampoo and conditioner overhead.
#7 products with high concentration of AHA/ BHA, retinol or vitamin C can increase skin irritation, so we recommend pausing these ingredients in case of acute sensitivity. Once your skin has recovered, use lower concentrations of these ingredients and start with once a week.
Make that:
#1 Use skin care that anti-inflammatory ingredients such as panthenol, allantoin, adenosine, ceramides , centella asiatica or green tea.
#2 While it's tempting to smear your new skincare all over your face, test a new product on a small area first and wait 24 hours to see if your skin shows any redness, itching, or tingling.
#3 We recommend checking with a dermatologist to see if you have a Contact allergy to certain ingredients owns. After a contact test, ask your dermatologist for a list of ingredients to avoid.
#4 Sensitive skin often responds better to physical sunscreen with sun protection factors such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide than to chemical sunscreen.
#5 Instead of treating pimples, blackheads or pigment spots with AHA/BHA, retinol or vitamin C, we recommend trying niacinamide , azelaic acid and PHA.
#6 Use one mild, lightly to unscented facial cleanser , because the cleansing process can be very drying for your skin, depending on the cleanser. In the case of acute sensitivity, only wash your face with a cleanser in the evening and with a little water in the morning until your skin has regenerated.
#7 Finish off with a moisturizer every morning and evening as this creates a protective moisture barrier that prevents your skin from losing any more moisture due to the compromised skin barrier.
Our most popular products for sensitive skin
Benton Deep Green Tea Lotion
Treat your skin to pure relaxation plus hydration with 50% green tea. Green tea is an excellent ingredient for dry, cracked areas as it has anti-inflammatory, soothing and antibacterial properties. Green tea also supports your skin in regeneration and protects it from environmental influences. Centella Asiatica and Houttuynia Cordata Extract also relieve irritated skin, redness and swelling.
Barr Centella Calming Gel Essence
Centella Asiatica and adenosine calm inflammation, can accelerate wound healing and are very suitable for irritated or dry skin. The skin's moisture content improves, giving the skin more elasticity, giving you a smoother appearance. Panthenol and urea strengthen your skin barrier and also support wound healing and soothe irritated skin.
iUNIK Tea Tree Relief Serum
2% Niacinamide promotes renewal and regeneration of the skin's surface. It also prevents moisture loss and thus dehydration of your skin as it stimulates the natural production of skin-strengthening ceramides.
20% Centella Asiatica it calms inflammation, can accelerate wound healing and is very suitable for irritated or dry skin. It can promote collagen production, which makes skin feel plumper and smoother. The moisture content of the skin improves and gives the skin more elasticity.
67% Tea Tree Oil Extract can calm redness, irritation and inflammation and promote wound healing.
This serum is also excellent for preventing irritation. (For example if you use BHAs, AHAs, retinol or vitamin C)
Barr Centella Calming Barrier Cream
This moisturizer is absolutely uniquely formulated to effectively soothe even the most sensitive skin. But even if you don't have a problem with sensitivity, this powerful cream is wonderful for you.
Because we all want active, effective ingredients in our skin care routine to be our best selves and have healthy, glowing skin. If you are new to the skin care world or use a lot of active ingredients, this can certainly lead to slightly sensitive skin.
That's where Centella Barrier Cream comes in: prevent sensitivity with this cream, so you can continue to enjoy the full benefits of active ingredients for your skin while staying optimally hydrated.
For the sake of simplicity, only “a dermatologist” was mentioned in this article. Of course we love dermatologists of all genders and are grateful that you exist.
