10 Facial Products for Sensitive Skin
Having sensitive skin is tricky; sometimes it’s like a puzzle trying to figure out what will make it react poorly and what won’t. If you have sensitive skin (like me 😊) you know all too well that certain products or ingredients can end up causing redness, rashes, bumpy texture, and clusters of little breakouts. Having sensitive skin can make trying new skincare items discouraging and you can end up feeling limited to what skincare you can use for yourself.
This blog post is for everyone with sensitive and reactive skin who is wondering which skincare products would work best for their skin. I’ve compiled a list of items that work well for sensitive skin and deliver really nice results!
As an esthetician, I understand each one of us has different skin and specific skincare needs and what works for someone might not work for someone else. These are items I trust, approve of the ingredients, and have seen first-hand how they can help make improvements.
Cleansers for sensitive skin:
What is an ideal cleanser for sensitive skin? One that gets the job done but doesn’t strip away needed oils and lipids that keep your skin’s barrier strong. I love these cleansers because they do exactly that and also have added ingredients for redness reduction.
Indie Lee Soothing Cleanser
This creamy gel cleanser is great for if you have sensitive skin but still want a “deep clean” feeling.
Roman chamomile and oat kernel oil add hydrating and soothing properties to this cleanser. PHAs very gently soften the skin by removing impurities and dead skin cells.
Ology Essentials CBD Cleanser
A calming, creamy cleanser is ideal for very sensitive skin or if you have overexfoliated your skin.
Creamy cleansers do the job of removing surface debris and impurities without sudsing up or stripping away any oils. This creamy cleanser has added CBD isolate which is one of my favorite ingredients for reducing redness and inflammation.
scrub me secret: Dry, bumpy, or sensitive feeling skin on your body? That could be due to using the wrong kind of body wash or soap! We want to use soaps free of fake fragrance, sulfaes, and detergents. Thats why I make plantbased soaps, to keep the skin on our bodies soft and healthy.
Vitamin C serum for sensitive skin
Some vitamin C products contain types of vitamin C that, while effective are too potent for sensitive skin types. What we want is a vitamin C serum that has a form of vitamin C that is effective for protecting our skin and delivering antioxidants but won’t make our skin red or broken out.
Josh Rosebrook Vitamin C
It’s time to get scientific! Different vitamin C ingredients are better for sensitive skin vs. others. This product is a vitamin C serum that is formulated to not irritate or sting your skin.
3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid is a semi-synthetic scientifically made vitamin C that dissolves in water and oil, making it more stable than pure vitamin C. Its altered chemical structure helps it penetrate the skin more effectively than vitamin C alone. That’s why I love this as an option for all skin types, but especially sensitive ones.
Revision Vitamin C
This is a luxury vitamin C serum that a few of my clients have found to be very effective for clearing their complexion while also delivering the protection properties we want from vitamin C.
THD Ascorbate is an oil-soluble vitamin C that penetrates cells and then converts to pure ascorbic acid. This makes it highly effective but tolerable for sensitive skin types to absorb. At 30% THD, this serum is loaded with free radical fighting benefits that will protect the most delicate skin.
Retinoid options for sensitive skin
Retinoids like retinol and tretinoin are ingredients that can be hard for sensitive skin types to tolerate. We have a lot of different options when it comes to retinoid ingredients, and for sensitive skin types, we want to choose products that have low percentages of retinol or ones that contain a more gentle derivative of the ingredient. But let’s remember, not everyone needs a retinol!
Josh Rosebrook Active Oil
This oil contains a safe and sustainable retinoid that works to quickly deliver results to the skin without irritation. Sensitive skin types should be able to tolerate use 1-4x a week.
While most retinoid ingredients work slower and require several conversions when absorbed into the skin, which can result in sensitivity and irritation. This oil retinoid formulation delivers our anti-aging and complexion clearing restuls without irritation or “purging”.
Wldling MoonBounce Moisturizer w/ Bio Retinol
A bio retinol is a natural alternative to retinol. These types of retinol are ideal for sensitive skin types or those who cannot tolerate any type of retinoid. Bio-retinol is also pregnancy-safe! Bakuchiol is a popular bio-retinol and there are more of these ingredients being discovered.
This moisturizer contains a bio-retinol called Rock Samphire; this ingredient works to firm your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles without causing any irritation or photosensitivity. You can use this moisturizer every evening or cycle it into your skincare routine.
scrub me secret: If you want to learn about different types of retinoids and how they all differ, read my blog post “Retinoids: Retin-A, Retinol, Tretinoin”
Products that help reduce redness
All of these items contain ingredients that work to reduce topical redness and inflammation. I find these to be great for skin types that experience a lot of redness or inflamed breakouts.
Hale & Hush Bio Relief Powder
This magic powder is a game-changer if you experience redness that never seems to fade away. You can add it to any moisturizer, SPF, or tinted moisturizer.
This powder is made up of a blend of botanical ingredients like Beta-Glucan D, Willow Bark Extract, Calamine, frankincense, Ursolic Acid, and Totarol. This blend is quickly reduces irritation, gives the skin a sense of relief, and hides visible redness.
Ology Essentials CBD Toner
This is a popular skincare item for a wide range of skin types! I have clients with dry/sensitive skin who love it, clients with rosacea who love it, and clients with inflamed acne who find it to be very effective for reducing redness and large breakouts.
This aloe-based toner contains CBD isolate that has super effective anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains hyaluronic acid that helps strengthen and balance our skin’s barrier. The combo of aloe, CBD, and hyaluronic acid makes this toner great for daily use (AM and PM).
Patchology Calm Soothing Sheet Mask
If you have sensitive or reactive skin you know that sheet masks can be a gamble because of their wide range of ingredients. I find that the more ingredients there are, the more likely it is to irritate my sensitive skin.
This sheet mask has a nice blend of ingredients that I trust and it contains a few ingredients that are especially great for sensitive skin. Pink calamine clay gives you the detoxification you’re looking for while also calming redness. Niacinamide works to reduce unwanted pink/red/brown pigment and colloidal oats provide intensive soothing properties. You’ll love it!
The best moisturizer for sensitive/breakout prone skin
Skin types that are sensitive also oftentimes also prone to breakouts. I find that a soothing, lightweight, hydration boosting facial lotion is great for daily use, and I’ve found the perfect one!
Hale & Hush Hydrate Gel
Struggling to find a moisturizer that works but doesn’t make your sensitive skin break out? I’ve got the one for you!
This oil-free hydrator has a blend of antioxidants and botanicals that strengthen your skin, improve clarity, and calm your skin. Ingredients like neem, turmeric, and resveratrol ferment extract strengthen and clear complexion. Aloe, basil, and squalene calm and hydrate.
scrub me secret: even though I approve of essential oils in skincare products, sometimes too many essential oils in your facial moisturizer might aggravate sensitive skin. I always suggest going for an unscented (essential oil and fragrance free) moisturizer.
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