Sensitive skincare
It’s widely acknowledged that sensitivity towards others means you’ve got great emotional intelligence. But sensitive skin? Not so great. That said, once you learn the steps that work for you, like finding your signature dance moves, you won’t need to tip-toe around your sensitive skin as much. Tender faces and bodies can look and feel their best with our makeup and body care for sensitive skin. Not sure if you’re a sensitive soul? Look no further, we’ve rounded up what to watch out for, the causes to be mindful of and, naturally, our best skincare for sensitive skin.
What causes sensitive skin?
While it’s a bit of a mystery what causes sensitive skin genetically, science has some pretty good ideas as to what’s going on – and what doesn’t help.
Our skin has a naturally protective fatty outer layer, the lipid barrier. It’s this defence mechanism that allows us to retain water, while fending off anything that could do us damage – think chemicals or the elements. When this shield is weaker or thinner than usual, it means the nerve endings in the top layer of the epidermis (the outermost part of our skin’s structure) can be vulnerable to foreign matter, which irritate them – ta-da, a skin flare-up occurs.
If your lipid barrier is thinner it’s said you also absorb skincare products more deeply, making your skin more susceptible to outbreaks caused by topical products like overly harsh skincare. Conversely, this also means that moisture can be more readily lost, which is why sensitive skin is often dry too. In a cyclical turn of events, sensitivity can also be caused by dry skin or dehydration, AKA, when it’s too low on oil and/or water. Similarly, it’s no coincidence that if you are already experiencing sensitivity, you might find that a change-up in elements or internal shifts like illness, hormones, stress can heighten what your skin is already going through.
With our faces and bodies being exposed to all sorts on a daily basis, there’s a lot to side-step when your skin’s barrier is weaker by nature. And since everyone experiences sensitive skin slightly differently, there’s a spectrum of severity, not to mention different types of sensitivity to be aware of. Often skincare for sensitive skin is a bit of an afterthought, but this time no one’s putting you in the corner. Spotlighting each type of sensitive skin, we’ve also rounded up the best of our sensitive skin products.
What are the different types of sensitive skin?
Sensitive by nature
Thank your parents, and their parents before them, as sensitive skin generally runs in the family. Passed down through the generations, this constitutional tendency means your skin might just have a thinner protective barrier than other people’s. Along with this biological inheritance, inflammatory skin conditions like eczema (dry itchiness), contact dermatitis (rashes that come on after contact with triggers such as allergens), psoriasis (scaly patches or rashes) or rosacea (flushed skin with visible blood vessels) can be hereditary. Note, these conditions are typically more on-going than more sporadic skin sensitivity and something you should see a doctor for.
Sensitive to the elements
Over time skin can develop a sensitivity to factors in our surroundings like the sun’s UV rays, air quality, cigarette smoke or even temperature changes. Depending on where you live and work, these forces are pretty unavoidable as, you know, we all live on planet earth. Oh, but if your feet aren’t on the ground because you’re in an airplane, be mindful that these are typically hot spots for heightening skin sensitivity. Here, drying air conditioning can wreak havoc – not just for those with sensitive skin, but most skin types.
Internal and external sensitivity
If your skin tends to react to triggers you might be tempted to cut them out, but that could be easier said than done. Potential sensitivity prompts range from synthetic fabrics and household cleaners to dust and pets. Sensitive skin can also be caused or exacerbated by hot showers, hard water and chlorine. Even internal factors such as stress and hormone changes (think pregnancy or menopause) can cause skin drama. Lastly, a major factor for skin sensitivity can be using the wrong body care products for you, as certain harsh ingredients can bring about reactive symptoms like red and irritated patches.
A thinner protective barrier
You might not be born with thin skin, but you might develop it over time. Our skin’s natural protective barrier can weaken as we age since our lipid barrier stops regenerating so readily. The thinner the skin, the more likely it is to become irritated, creating new or heightened sensitivities, or even sensitive skin for the first time in your life. Aggravating this process, sun exposure can also thin the skin, making it more sensitive, not to mention making veins and capillaries appear more noticeable.
Sensitive Facial Care
Our best face wash for sensitive skin
Our Aloe Calming Foaming Wash is the ideal face wash for those that need a gentle clean. The lather-y suds shimmy around the skin’s surface to help lift daily grime, all while helping your skin to rock again – faces feel calmer and refreshed. A tip to help boost your use make sure your water temperature is tepid when using this face wash for sensitive skin to avoid the triggering effects of too hot H20.
Our best cleanser for sensitive skin
Gentle cleansers are the not-so-secret weapon to help keep sensitive skin feeling soothed and moisturised, while doing that all-important work of getting rid of makeup, grime and other daily impurities. Enter stage right our Aloe Calming Cream Cleanser. This sensitive skin essential has a silky-smooth no-grease texture and feels super comforting and mild when massaged into skin. Once you’ve smothered your face in this Aloe icon, wipe off with a cotton pad or our fine Muslin Cloth, or wash off with water – skin feels calmed and clean.
Our best moisturiser for sensitive skin
Ensuring your skin has enough moisture in it to help prevent drying flare-ups makes using a soothing daily moisturiser for sensitive skin crucial. Our Aloe Soothing Day Cream is designed just for this, helping skin to feel calmed and replenished. As with all new products you might want to introduce to your routine, make sure to patch test first. Try on the skin behind one ear before bed, checking in the morning to see how it’s fared. If all’s good, try the next day, next to one eye. If skin’s still irritation-free, then it should be safe to use all over your face.
Sensitive body care
Scrub: body scrub for dry sensitive skin
Our Almond Milk & Honey Gently Exfoliating Cream Scrub is a specially designed gentle exfoliator for dry sensitive skin. Buffing away older skin cells is an integral part of a good routine, getting your body ready to soak up the benefits of your next sensitive skin products. This Exfoliating Cream Scrub helps to delicately remove the nasties that skin needs to shift, while leaving it feeling softer-to-touch. Enriched with Community Fair Trade organic almond milk and honey, the scent of our beloved scrub is as pleasing as the bathroom boogie you’ll be doing when you use this little number.
Cleanse: shower cream for sensitive skin
Now your body is buffed and prepped, it’s time to get down with our Almond Milk & Honey Soothing & Caring Shower Cream. Like all of our dry sensitive skin products, it’s formulated with your skin in mind, and feels like a comforting caress. It helps to clean with a creamy consistency instead of lathering. You could even use this Shower Cream to wash off any remaining Cream Scrub. You’ll want to put your hands up and do a little jig for this tender skin treasure.
Scrub: body scrub for dry sensitive skin
For skin that needs to cool it, is there anything more satisfying than an all-over moisturising moment? Formulated just for dry sensitive skin, our Almond Milk & Honey range feels heavenly. Take one of these body lotions for dry sensitive skin for a spin. Our Almond Milk & Honey Soothing & Restoring Body Lotion helps to soothe uncomfortable, dry skin with a lightweight texture that helps to keep skin feeling moisturised for up to 48 hours. Meanwhile, in our iconic Body Butter formula, the Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter helps to restore dry sensitive skin with a more intense, unctuous feel.
Hand care: hand cream for sensitive skin
Hands can be particularly prone to skin sensitivity and dryness, thanks to being one of the most used parts of the whole body. But you’ll soon forget shoving them in your pockets – you’ll be jazz hands-ready with our Almond Milk & Honey Calming & Protecting Hand Cream. It’s a pocket-sized parcel that helps to restore moisture to your digits without any stickiness, letting you get on with whatever your day holds. Enriched with Community Fair Trade organic almond milk from Spain and honey from Ethiopia like the rest of our bestselling range, this moisturiser for dry sensitive skin is an on-the-go must-have.
“The Almond Milk & Honey scrub gently buffs away dead skin cells to leave skin feeling soft and smooth. Its creamy base is formulated to respect skin’s natural moisture barrier and pH.”
Dr. Kim, Dermatologist
Sensitive skin makeup
Think your sensitive skin can’t handle makeup? Think again. Our makeup for sensitive skin is designed just for you. Delicate faces will twist and shout for our aloe vera-enriched range. Keep the good vibes going by ensuring your makeup is kept clean and only holding onto them so long as they’re ‘good’.
Step 1: Fresh Nude Foundation
Our makeup for sensitive skin base layer, the Fresh Nude Foundation provides medium coverage with up to 24 hours of hydration and is enriched with Community Fair Trade aloe vera and English rose water. The semi-matte finish helps to create a healthy-looking glow, while feeling fresh and comfortable.
Step 2: Fresh Nude Serum Concealer
Enriched with caffeine and Community Fair Trade aloe vera, our Fresh Nude Serum Concealer is the more targeted sister to our Fresh Nude Foundation. It helps to make the under-eye area look more even and reduce signs of fatigue with a lightweight lasting coverage.
Step 3: Fresh Nude Face Base
Our Fresh Nude Face Base is like a setting powder and foundation got together to give your delicate face a mattified look. You can personalise how you use it, opting for light coverage, or building it to a more full coverage look. In one nifty little compact, it has a mirror and sponge to make touch-ups on-the-go a snap.