8 Quick Tips and Tricks for Caring for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin as I do, you probably also have a hard time finding the right beauty products to use. After many years of personal experiences, I can give you eight tips that might also help you taking better care of your sensitive skin.

#1 Tread carefully with new products

The skincare solutions your friends swear by might be a disaster for you. Read labels to make sure the product is friendly to sensitive skin.

Alcohol, fragrance and exfoliating beads could irritate your skin. Therefore, you should avoid them.

Other products to avoid include foaming cleansers; those bubbles are created by sodium laurel sulfate, which will grind down the natural lipid barrier that protects and moisturizes your skin.

Look for Niacinamide, a vitamin that encourages the production of ceramides; the lipid molecules that hold surface skin cells together. Linoleic acid; a component in some moisturizers, is a great omega-6 fatty acid for sensitive skin. If your skin problems are caused by allergic reactions, seek out products labeled “hypoallergenic.”

Remember that you should always test a new product on a small patch of your skin before applying it all over your face. If you experience inflammation and painful tightness, stop using it immediately.

#2 Wear Sunscreen Every Day

Sunscreen should be the most crucial step of your morning skincare routine. Sun damage is the biggest danger to your skin barrier. Even on cold and cloudy days, UV rays are strong enough to make an impression.

Use a sunscreen intended for sensitive skin: no dyes, no scent, and no pore-congesting agents. Make sure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Many moisturizers and concealers also include sunscreen. On an average day, wear SPF 30-45 on your face, and 15 on the rest of your exposed body parts.

In addition, make sure to stay out of the sun between 10 AM and 2 PM. If it is extra sunny and you plan to be outside for awhile, up your SPF levels and re-apply every 2-3 hours. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and long sleeves shirt for further protection.

#3 Give your Skin a Makeup Break

Just like too much sun, too much makeup can also be bad for your skin. Every once and awhile, put away your foundation brushes and let your skin breathe. Even if you wash your face every night, makeup accumulates on your face and clogs your pores. On your sensitive skin, this makeup overload can cause acne and dryness. Some dermatologists suggest a 5/2 rule: wear makeup five days a week and go barefaced for two.

#4 Avoid harsh facemasks

The internet is flooded with DIY face mask recipes. It can be fun to experiment but do not believe everything you read.

Lemon juice, which is often used to fade scars and dark spots, is extremely acidic and will disrupt your skin’s pH levels. Treating pimples with chemical-heavy toothpaste has a similar effect. Sugar and salt exfoliants are made of tiny rocks that roughly tear your skin cells, destroying your lipid barrier over time.

If you want to make your own mask, choose kinder ingredients like oatmeal, honey, and banana.

#5 Use Tepid Water

Long, scalding hot showers and baths strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving you all dried out. Turn the taps to lukewarm, and limit yourself to 5-10 minutes in the water.

We have all heard that hot water opens the pores, and cold water closes them, but this is a myth. The water of either extreme temperature only dehydrates and irritates your skin. A modest amount of tepid water is the best bet for cleansing sensitive skin. On the other hand, try a splash of cool (but not freezing cold) water If you have redness.

 

#6 Eat (and Drink) Right

A healthy diet is important for everyone, and those with sensitive skin should pay extra attention to what they consume. Too many dairy and sugary snacks will make your skin dull and acne-prone. Buy a large water bottle and keep it near you all day. Water intake rids your skin of toxins and gives you a healthy glow.

To improve the surface of your skin, try omega-rich foods like…

• Tuna
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Walnuts
• Chia seeds
• Flaxseeds

You may also consider supplementing your diet with fish oil vitamins and oral ceramides.

#7 Track your Skin Progress

Buy a cheap journal. Make a habit of writing down what you ate and drank every day, and what soaps, cleansers, and lotions you used. This makes it easy to determine which products are causing trouble.

#8 Be Gentle with Yourself

There is a lot you can do to reduce the daily wear and tear on your skin. Do not scour and scrub your skin aggressively. Avoid skin-picking, scratching, and popping pimples. Replace your rough washcloth with a soft sponge.

When applying products by hand, do not rub and tug. Only touch your face with your fingertips, moving them in light concentric circles. Your ring finger applies the least pressure; use it to gently “tap” product onto the delicate under-eye area.

Invest in satin pillowcases. Change your pillowcase regularly to prevent the buildup of dead skin particles, dirt, and oil where you rest your face.

Above all, avoid stress as much as possible. Keep your skincare routine simple. In addition, take a ‘make up break’. Remember that your sensitive skin deserves tender treatment and love. If you are vigilant about treating your skin right, you will see results in no time.

I have been using these tips in my beauty routine for years now, and they have helped me take better care of my sensitive skin. Some might sound straightforward like ‘don’t stay in the sun too long’ or ‘do or don’t eat certain foods’ but they can be vital in your skin care routine. I am looking forward to reading your comments to see who are already using these tips and how they work for you.

Sally Wong is a manual therapist with 15 years of experience. She was born in China and moved to Canada at age 12 with her mother, who was also a manual therapist. Wong is passionate about holistic healing and sharing the knowledge passed down from her family. She currently resides in Vancouver. Follow her blog at ThinkOily.com