Sensitive skin guide: What is it and how to care for it

Sensitive skin can affect anyone of any age or skin type. While it’s typically a temporary condition, it can feel both unpredictable and overwhelming to manage. Your skin may feel calm and normal one day, and irritated the next. Skincare for sensitive skin should be both gentle and balanced to help support and soothe your natural barrier.

In our guide, we’ll explain exactly what it means to have sensitive skin, the possible causes to help you better understand the condition, and how to manage it with a simple yet effective skincare routine.

What is sensitive skin?

Although widely considered to be its own ‘fixed’ skin type, unlike dry skin, oily skin or combination skin, sensitive skin is actually a temporary skin condition. 

Sensitive skin is defined as skin that’s more reactive to certain products and ingredients. But it can also react to weather changes – whether it’s too hot, too humid or too cold and windy – and even stress and dietary changes. 

While it may seem impossible to narrow down, understanding what your skin is reacting to, along with your underlying skin type, is the first step to managing it effectively. Once you learn what your skin needs, it becomes much easier to give it the TLC and nourishment it needs.

Signs of sensitive skin

Think you’ve got sensitive skin? Here are some of the signs and symptoms you might experience:

• Redness 

• Dryness 

• Flaking 

• Mild swelling

• Tightness 

• Stinging (often immediately after applying products)

How to know if you have sensitive skin

There are several at-home methods you can try to test your skin type and find out whether you have sensitive skin or not. 

The most popular way to test your skin is simply to watch and wait. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, then leave your skin bare for 30 minutes and observe how your skin looks and feels afterwards. If it looks red, irritated or stingy, it’s likely you have sensitive skin.

With sensitive skin, it’s a good move to only introduce one new product at a time to test if your skin reacts to it. If it does, it means it’s not the right product for you. With sensitive skin, a lot of trial and error is required, but once you have a solid routine with products that work with your skin, rather than against it, the effort will all be worth it.

What causes sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin can be caused by a variety of reasons. While genetics play a role, with some people born with naturally sensitive skin, anyone with any skin type can develop sensitivity. The most common causes include:

• Exposure to an allergen or irritant like fragrances, harsh soaps, dyes and preservatives.

• Weakened skin barrier, where the outer layer of your skin has been damaged.

• Environmental factors like exposure to harsh weather conditions, pollution or even unfamiliar environments like aeroplanes or countries with different weather.

• Over-washing, which can strip the skin of natural oils and trigger reactions.

• Hormonal changes, including puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

While it may be disheartening to suddenly develop sensitive skin, it’s important to remember that, more often than not, it’s temporary. And with the right care and a consistent routine, your skin will look and feel healthy and balanced.

How to care for sensitive skin

The key to caring for sensitive skin is to keep things simple, soothing and gentle with specially-formulated sensitive skin products. These are designed to calm and protect your skin, not overwhelm it. Make sure you use a mild daily cleanser that avoids stripping your skin’s natural oils, regularly moisturise to help hydrate and strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, and don’t forget to use sun protection.

For dry, sensitive skin, our Aloe Vera range is soothing, comforting and protecting. Enriched with Community Fair Trade aloe vera, it's wonderfully hydrating and gently effective. For oily or combination sensitive skin, our Vitamin E range is perfect. Suitable for all skin types, these lightweight essentials are enriched with natural-origin hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and raspberry seed oil, leaving your skin feeling softer, smoother and hydrated. 

For a way to gently remove makeup after a long day without irritating sensitive skin, our Camomile range helps gently melt away makeup, leaving skin feeling fresh.

Best ingredients for sensitive skin

When it comes to choosing products for sensitive skin, the best ingredients include ceramides, which help to strengthen your barrier, lock in moisture and prevent sensitivity. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin can also provide deep hydration while being suitable for sensitive skin. There’s also niacinamide, which can help to calm inflammation and manage skin tone.

It’s important to avoid products with synthetic fragrances –  one of the most common triggers for sensitive skin. Alcohol-based products and products with essential oils, including peppermint and tea tree, should also be avoided as they are often too powerful.

Sensitive skincare routine

An effective sensitive skincare routine should focus on being simple and gentle. Sticking to a few, well-trusted products is often more beneficial than layering multiple different products.

Step 1: Cleanse

Using a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, like our Vitamin E Gentle Face Wash or Aloe Soothing Cream Cleanser, morning and night will leave your skin feeling refreshed and soft while removing impurities, excess oil and environmental pollutants that may trigger your sensitive skin.

Step 2: Tone

A toner will help rebalance your skin after cleansing, preparing it for the next step while removing any post-cleanse dirt or grime to ensure your skin is squeaky clean. Our Vitamin E Moisturising Toner is light and hydrating, helping to prep your skin to absorb other products.

Step 3: Treat

Serums are light and highly concentrated, tackling specific skin concerns like dryness or redness. While these are an optional step in your routine they’re well worth the time, helping give your skin a boost of nourishment. Suitable for dry, sensitive skin, our Vitamin E Bi-Phase Serum is a great way to give your skin an ultra-lightweight hydration boost.

Step 4: Moisturise

Moisturising is essential for all skin types, maintaining a healthy skin barrier and preventing moisture loss. It can also provide soothing relief for people with dry, sensitive skin. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a gentle, hydrating moisturiser that locks in hydration without clogging up pores, like our lightweight and unscented Aloe Soothing Day Cream, which leaves your skin feeling calmed and soothed. 

Unsure if this is the right product for you? Discover the best moisturiser for your skin type.

Step 5: SPF

SPF is a non-negotiable step in every skincare routine – especially for anyone who already suffers from sensitivity as sun exposure can worsen the condition. Applying a daily SPF is essential for protecting your skin from harsh UV rays as well as indoor and outdoor pollution. Try our Skin Defence SPF50. Its lightweight, non-irritating formula helps shield your skin from discomfort.

While sensitive skin may need a little extra graft and care, it’s easy to love with the right approach. By understanding your skin and choosing gentle ingredients and a simple, consistent routine, you can help your skin feel calm and balanced. 

Explore our full range of skincare for sensitive skin to find products that’ll work with your skin.