Sensitive Skin Care Routine
Filed Under: Face, Hair, Organic, Skin on September 29, 2009
Sensitive skin can be a very annoying condition to have to live with. Even the smallest things can lead to severe irritation of the skin. Even basic skin care products like moisturizers cause a severe sting and can leave behind nasty rashes. Shaving or otherwise removing is pretty much impossible without causing major side effects. Even just being outdoors at the wrong time or without the proper protection can lead to severe problems. People suffering form sensitive skin must come up with an effective routine to ensure that their skin stays healthy.
The first step in building a good sensitive skin care routine is to switch out the products that you use. There are various soaps and other skin care products that are formulated specially for people with sensitive skin. Just read the labels of any skin care product you’re thinking about buying, it’s usually clearly spelled out on the front. If you want to be certain, you can check the list of ingredients as well. If the product has any alcohol in it, you want to avoid using it. Your best choices will be products that use natural skin care elements, aloe for example.
For people with sensitive skin who usually wear makeup, finding the right makeup remover is important. Finding a makeup remover that doesn’t have any soap in it is going to be the best for sensitive skin. As with other skin care products, it might say “for sure with sensitive skin” or simply “gentle” on the label. The way that you apply the makeup remover is also important. Avoid using washcloths, which can be harsh on the skin; instead, use gentle cotton swaps.
Another type of product to be careful when buying if you have sensitive skin is any sort of exfoliating product. Most products exfoliating products have tiny little grains that are used to open up the pores. These work great for most people, but are often too hard on people with soft skin. However, it’s still important for people with sensitive skin to exfoliate, especially if they are prone to acne. Alternatives to grain-based exfoliating products include solutions that contain a certain type of mild acid. It may sound harsher, but it’s actually safer for sensitive skin.
Toners are another skin care product that can be problematic for people with sensitive skin. Toners are designed to clean out any excess cleaning agents or oils left over from other cleansers, and also to provide the face with a nice, fresh feeling. However, even light toners can be very dangerous for people with sensitive skin. You can look for skin toners that are made with all natural elements, or you can just use water. Just make sure that when you dry off, dab a towel instead of rubbing it, as rubbing can cause irritation.
The final step in a sensitive skin care routine is to apply sunscreen. The same problem exists with sunscreens as with the other products – some sunscreens are just too harsh. To find one that works for sensitive skin, look for a sunscreen with titanium oxide or zinc as some of the ingredients. These will give you good protection against the sun without irritating the skin.