If you experience out-of-the-blue inflammation, dryness or irritation on the skin – you most likely have sensitive skin. Sensitive skin is not an underlying concern but a skin type with several internal and external triggers. In this blog, we help you understand this skin type, list its common triggers, and help you with the best sensitive skin care products.
How To Recognize If You Have Sensitive Skin?
The best way to decipher whether you have sensitive skin is by consulting a dermatologist. Having said that, here are some symptoms of skin sensitivity that you can look out for
1. Irritation or itchiness
2. Redness or inflammation
3. Hives
4. Flakiness
5. Dry and rough patches all over the skin
What Skin Conditions Tie With Sensitivity?
Certain skin types (or conditions) are more prone to sensitivity and hence, flare ups.
1. Dry skin: Dryness occurs when your skin rapidly loses water to become dehydrated. This lack of moisture content makes the skin vulnerable to irritants and other aggressors.
2. A weakened skin barrier: In most instances, sensitive skin is characterized by a weakened lipid barrier. For those unaware, the lipid or skin barrier is the first line of defence for your body. It plays a crucial role in shielding the skin against aggressors, pollutants, dirt, grime, etc. Moreover, the barrier preserves hydration in your skin for its soft, supple appearance. So, when this shield (if you may) gets damaged or marred, the skin is more prone to sensitivity.
Does Sensitivity Occur Only In Dry Skin?
Contrary to common belief, all skin types can experience sensitivity. If you are grappling with underlying concerns, we recommend tweaking your daily skincare accordingly.
What Are Some Triggers For Sensitive Skin?
Before you build a sensitive skin routine – it's important to recognize the triggers that cause the bumps, hives or inflammation on the skin. Ahead, we list the most common sensitive skin triggers.
1. Extreme temperature or weather conditions: Cold weather can zap the moisture from your skin, making it dehydrated. This may give rise to inexplicable episodes of skin sensitivity.
2. Pollution and other aggressors: Continued exposure to pollutants, UV rays and other aggressors can marr the barrier over time, resulting in sensitive skin.
3. Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes during pregnancy or menstruation can make the skin more prone to sensitivity.
4. Certain skincare products: Alcohol-infused skincare, heavily fragranced formulas and specific preservatives can irritate the skin, leading to flareups.
5. Overwashing or over-exfoliating: Over washing can dislodge natural oils from the skin, making it dry and uncomfortably tight.
6. Stressful life: Stress can wreak havoc on your skin, leading to hives, bumps, redness and other concerns.
7. Clothing and accessories: Clothing and accessories in contact with your skin may lead to sensitivity.
What Are Some Tips And Tricks To Maintain Sensitive Skin?
Before we reveal the best routine for sensitive skin, here are some tips and tricks one should bear in mind -
1. Simplify your skincare: Folks with underlying sensitivities should revisit their daily skincare routine. We recommend steering clear of redundancy or multiple formulas that don’t bear favourable results.
2. Gentle, pH-balancing formulas: The lipid barrier or acid mantle boasts a slightly acidic pH. To uphold this wall of defence, we recommend using gentle, pH-balancing formulas.
3. Pick alcohol and Sulfate-devoid products: If you struggle with skin sensitivity on the reg, discard formulations with alcohol and Sulfate STAT. These ingredients can marr the barrier, dehydrate the skin and cause inexplicable flare-ups.
4. Always conduct patch test: Before introducing a new serum or active-infused formula to your routine, we recommend conducting a patch test on the neck.
5. Use hydrating skincare: Use humectant-powered formulas that prevent dryness and reinforce the lipid barrier. This little addition to your routine will reduce flare-ups, inflammation, irritation and more. We recommend ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Lactic Acid and more.
6. Breathable, non-comedogenic moisturizers: Complete your skincare routine with a lightweight, breathable and non-comedogenic moisturizer. Clogged pores pave the way for menacing blackheads, whiteheads, and even acne.
7. Always remove makeup before bed: To avoid flare-ups or inflammation on the skin – remove your makeup before sleeping. Moreover, the skin slips into repair mode at night, shedding cells and cueing healthy regeneration. A layer of makeup on the skin can hamper this renewal process.
The Best Skincare Routine For Sensitive Routine
1. Start by cleansing: Cleansing removes dirt, grime and dead cells from the pores, ensuring a healthy skin microbiome. For sensitive skin, we recommend Foxtale’s Hydrating Face Wash. It contains Sodium Hyaluronate and Red Algae Extract that replenish your skin’s moisture reservoir. The innovative face wash is gentle and doesn’t disrupt your skin’s natural pH. The best part? This cleanser also doubles as an efficient makeup remover. Its formula is packed with gentle surfactants that remove every trace of makeup and SPF.
2. Move to treatment: Once your skin is dry, apply a treatment of choice. For sensitive skin, you may pick between Foxtale’s Daily Hydrating Serum and serum Niacinamide. Take 2 to 3 pumps of the formulation and dab it on your skin.
3. Moisturize and Seal: After the serum absorbs into the skin, apply a dollop of a nourishing moisturizer. Pick a non-comedogenic, lightweight and hydrating formula that helps counter flare-ups. We recommend Foxtale’s innovative Skin Repair Cream for your daily routine. It uses ERS or Enhance-Replenish- Seal technology to hydrate and heal the skin.
E- Humectants bind water molecules to the skin and uphold the lipid barrier
R- NMF or Natural Moisturizing Factors transfer moisture content from the skin’s deepest layer to the dermis
S- Emollients in the cream form a protective barrier on the dermis, preventing TEWL or transepidermal water loss.
4. Sun protection: Sun protection is vital for all skin types and sensitive skin is no exception. Foxtale’s Dewy Sunscreen provides formidable protection against harmful UV rays. Moreover, D-Panthenol and Vitamin E ensure long-lasting hydration for the skin while preventing episodes of photodamage.
