There’s nothing wrong without being a little bit sensitive. Whether it’s getting teary when you hear John Legend’s ‘All Of You’ on the radio or blubbering over The Bachelor finale, it’s okay to be a delicate petal sometimes. It’s all part of being a belle, if you ask us! But what’s not quite so fun is having sensitive skin. We’re talking about the kind of skin that gets red, irritated or itchy if you so much as look in the direction of a product it’s not used to.
While some people inherit sensitive skin from their parents, it can also be triggered by environmental factors. Exposure to UV radiation and pollutants can create free radical damage, which over time can weaken your skin’s moisture barrier and lead to dry, irritated skin. The good news is, there are a few simple steps you can take to protect and soothe your sensitive skin. Here’s how:
1. Turn down the heat
There’s nothing like a nice, hot shower to wake you up in the morning or to help you unwind at the end of the day. Unfortunately, these aren’t so great for your skin as the scorching water can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to a dry, irritated complexion. By turning down the temperature to lukewarm, you’ll be doing your sensitive skin a massive favour (plus, it’s so much more refreshing in the warmer months!)
2. Avoid harsh skincare products
Heavy duty skincare products like Retinol, AHAs and BHAs are all the rage in the beauty world at the moment. However, if your skin is on the sensitive side you’ll want to steer clear of these as they can trigger irritation and breakouts. The same goes for heavily fragranced skincare products and abrasive exfoliants such as apricot kernel or walnut shells. Our Smooth & Glow Exfoliator is a great alternative, as it uses super fine adzuki bean and bamboo powder, plus fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells.
3. Check your diet and pay attention to gut health
Not only your skin needs to avoid inflammatory ingredients, so does your body. Have your breakfasts been coffees only as of late? Celebrated 3 birthdays in a row this week? Chances are the pimples you're looking at RN are likely caused by those cakes and drinks! So what to cut out, you ask? Dairy, sugar, coffee & alcohol! Reduce anything that causes internal inflammation, instead, fill your plates with fresh veggies, nutrient-dense food and replace your coffees with herbal teas. It's ok to have fun but your skin & you gut don't have to suffer because of that!
4. Try these soothing ingredients
You can make a super soothing mask with the ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Cucumber and aloe vera are your best friends as they’re cooling and gentle, perfect for an after-sun mask. Washing your face with chamomile tea is another great natural remedy for calming red, irritated skin.
Not keen on DIY? Our Tea Cleanser can help soothe redness and breakout with aloe vera, green tea and cucumber extracts. To calm sensitivity and smooth out fine lines, our Seed Face Oil is all your need with all the skin-loving ingredients such as sea buckthorn extract, rosehip, prickly pear and buriti!
5. Opt for all-natural, gentle skincare
Believe it or not, there is an advantage to having sensitive skin. It’s like having a natural radar for products that aren’t so good for us as if a product irritates sensitive skin, it’s usually because it’s loaded with chemical nasties and strong fragrances. For this reason, it’s best to stick to natural ingredients. Our range of all-natural skincare products is just as gentle as they are effective since they harness the power of natural plant oils to soothe and moisturise sensitive skin.
Not sure where to start? We have two cute Starter Sets just for you:
- by Emma N.
