5 Simple Ways to be Gentler to Sensitive or Easily Irritated Skin

Got fussy skin? Patch testing, label reading and extended product research (a.k.a Googling) comes with the package! If your skin is no stranger to irritation, flare ups or breakouts, here are some tips you can follow in order to be gentler with your delicate skin:

1. Skip the cotton pads

Instead, pour your skin care products onto clean hands and pat it directly to your face. By skipping your cotton pads or cotton balls, not only will you prevent irritation from the cotton rubbing against your skin, you will also get more product on your face!

2. Always apply a layer of protection

It's no surprise that the sun, heat, cold or wind can be tough on skin, especially on sensitive skin. In order to prevent flare ups, the key is to keep your skin covered and protected at all times. During summer, make sure that you're applying a suitable sunscreen and during winter, layer up on your moisturiser before and after heading out. One of our customer-favourite moisturiser for sensitive skin is the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream!

3. Skip the cleansing wipes too!

While cleansing tissues or wipes can be a lifesaver for those lazy days, they don't make the most effective or gentle cleanser, especially for sensitive skin types. The physicality of the wipe can lead to over-exfoliation and strip your skin of its natural oils. Let's not even started on how many low-end or cheaper wipes tend to be formulated with various forms of drying alcohol and harsh chemical cleansers!

We would always recommend going for a proper cleanse every time you can to ensure your skin is getting the deepest and gentlest cleanse possible. You can consider a cleansing stick like the Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick to tackle double cleansing and exfoliation in one, or a hydrating cream cleanser like the Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser, which is gentle on skin but harsh on dirt and sebum pore-clogging elements. 

4. Be careful with exfoliation

The goal of exfoliating treatments is to break down and resurface your skin barrier, but sensitive skin is sensitive because the barrier is already very fragile. Whether you're at home or at the spa, if you're looking to exfoliate, make sure to opt for milder products—ideally gentle peels with ingredients you know are safe for your skin.

You can browse all our sensitive skin-friendly products here!

5. Be kind to yourself

You might have your skin care regimen sorted, but if you don’t have a handle on other things going on in your life, it can wreck havoc on your skin too! It’s now no secret that anxiety, stress, poor diet or lack of sleep can cause your skin to become more reactive and underlying conditions can flare up. So make sure that you're taking important breaks for yourself, eating and sleeping well, and surrounding yourself with people and things that bring you joy instead of stress.

What other tips do you have on preventing skin irritation? Share them below!