Sensitive Skin

This is for my sensitive skin gals! 

What are the characteristics? 

If you have sensitive skin you have probably found that skincare or makeup products are very hard to use, creating itching, flaking, reddening, or flushing. 80% of women think they have sensitive skin when actually only 10 to 20% of women actually have the characteristics of it. If you are in that 10 to 20%, you probably have fair skin and/or red hair and/or suffer from other allergies like asthma which cause the release of histamines which makes your skin more reactive. Stabilizing your skin and treating it with products that won't cause these reactions is the way to get your beauty shining through!

How to care for sensitive skin..

1st eliminate any unnecessary products from your skincare regime. Most women use 5 or 6 different skincare products which exposes their skin to over 100 chemicals per day. If you have sensitive skin, you need to find a skincare line that is specially formulated for sensitive skin and is allergy and dermatologist tested. However, the most important products are a good cleanser, a moisturizer with sunscreen, and an eye cream. 

2nd avoid products containing ingredients most likely to cause sensitivity. These are usually fragrances, colors, and preservatives, but remember, you could be sensitive to anything. Again, try and find products that are natural and allergy and dermatologist tested. Natural products often contain calming ingredients like lemon, milk, licorice, and chamomile. 

3rd really treat your skin with care. Make sure you are gently cleansing and that you are removing your makeup at the end of the day. Your skin is more likely to react when it is over-exposed to a product, like if you leave your makeup on. Use very light, creamy cleansers and soft, soothing wipes. Restrict cleansing to once a day. I would recommend doing it at night before you go to bed. 

Lastly, moisturizing is important. The more dry your skin is, the more susceptible it is to sensitivity. Apply a moisturizer with sunscreen in the morning to prepare your skin for the day and then apply a light moisturizer at the end of your day and as the last step in your skincare routine (the above linked moisturizer has chamomile as it's main ingredient which is known to be soothing and calming). Once a week try and use a hydrating mask to re-hydrate your skin and to infuse it with a long-lasting moisture.

When treating other problems like aging or pimples try and stick to one brand that claims it is allergy and dermatologist tested for all your skincare products (the above linked skincare line for pimples has chamomile as it's main ingredient in almost all products which is known to be soothing and calming effects). This helps keep your skin from being exposed to too many harsh chemicals. 

Top 5 Tips for Sensitive Skin

• Use products with fewer than 10 ingredients to reduce the risk of coming across something you might react to. Research has shown that applying too many ingredients to the skin can send the skin's immune system into overdrive.
• Wear products with sunscreen! Whether your moisturizer has spf or your foundation has spf, it is important to protect your skin from damaging uv rays
• Find two different skincare lines that really work for your skin and alternate them each week. Sensitive skin is prone to become sensitized to things it encounters often. 
• Make sure you read labels and know what you are more sensitive to and avoid those ingredients in your products. 
• Find a good hydrating mask to you once a week and really give your skin the deep hydration it needs. 

5 Key Products for Sensitive Skin

Soothing, calming facial wipes

Products with chamomile

Light moisturizer

Products with spf

Light Foaming Cleanser