If you suffer from sensitive skin, you already know the dilemma. Redness, burning, and breakout. Even your skin feels tight for no reason after trying new products. You maybe dealing with sensitive or sensitized skin. The difference matters, but what both require for sure is one thing alone: a careful skincare routine.
In this post, we’re breaking down the top things to avoid in your skincare routine so your skin can finally breathe, repair, and glow. Especially if these skin sensitivities are caused by products labeled as gentle.
Many skincare products labeled as safe actually cause irritated skin a fact that's majorly ignored by mean and later leads to sensitive skin condition?
In this guide, we'll expose:
The top skincare ingredients to skip and the common skin care products errors that will make skin sensitivity worse. We will also give you give you tips to calm and heal your skin barrier.
So What Makes Skin Sensitive?
The skin becomes sensitive or is referred to as sensitive, when it is easily irritated by substances that causes slight inflammation or other kinds of discomfort to the body like itching etc. This leads to a compromised skin barrier. Frequent & common triggers of sensitivity are harsh chemicals like alcohol & perfume, external factors like pollution and hard water and over-exfoliation.
Fun Fact: Did you know that 60% of individuals have reported themselves as having sensitive skin, the truth is that majority of them have sensitized skin and don’t even know which skin care products to keep away from it.
Top 6 Ingredients to Avoid for Sensitive Skin
- Denatured alcohol, Ethanol, or SD alcohol- Although they have a role to play in skincare and are mostly found in toners, astringents, certain sunscreens. These common irritants should be avoided because they strip the skin of natural oils, causing dryness and skin irritation. Safer alternatives like fatty alcohols also known as cetyl alcohol is better and more hydrating. So, learn to read your skincare labels
- Synthetic Fragrances and Essential Oils- These common ingredients are normally available in body lotions, cleansing products, and serums. They have their role to play too but they can cause allergic reactions and redness. Please note that “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe.” Because Natural fragrances like citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus can be a major trigger for sensitive skin. So look for safer alternatives with fragrance-free products or naturally occurring scents like rose or chamomile.
- Sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate SLS & SLES -These are usually used in foaming cleansers and shampoos, we would not term them as exactly wrong ingredient as they give you that squeaky-clean feeling. But that means that your skin’s protective oils are also cleaned off that’s why they are considered harsh detergents that destroy the skin's barrier. Safer alternatives for sodium laureth sulfate, SLS & SLES are cream, gel, or milk cleansers with calming ingredients like oat or aloe vera. You can also consider gentle surfactants including coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside.
- Scrubs -We are talking about Apricot Scrubs, other chemical scrubs like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and high percentage AHA/BHA peels. We understand that with exfoliation and removing dead skin cells, you may feel like you just got a fresh start. But overdoing it is one of the fastest ways to break down your skin barrier. Too much exfoliating can cause micro - tears and in turn lead to inflammation. So, for safety use physical exfoliant in moderation and Chemical exfoliants that have low concentrations of PHAs & lactic acid. You could also switch to gentle enzyme exfoliants, one time a week maximum.
- Retinoids- We are talking about retinol and tretinoin for anti-aging creams and acne treatment products. Most people with acne prone skin, use these skincare products without a prescription or proper guidance. Unfortunately, retinoids can be too much, too fast and cause peeling, redness, flakiness, skin irritation, sudden breakout and even inflamed skin. If you're sensitive, its better to start with a low concentration of between 0.1 and 0.3% retinol mixed with moisturizer or applied over a lightweight moisturizer once or twice a week. If you really must go hard, consider Bakuchiol, it is a gentle retinol alternative that is plant based designed for ultra sensitive skin
- Concentrated Doses of Vitamin C Although L-Ascorbic Acid can be good, It can be too acidic for reactive skin especially for people with sensitized skin using brightening serums. To keep your skin healthy, go for magnesium ascorbyl phosphate MAP or THD ascorbate which is a stable, non irritating form.
Other Common skincare errors that make sensitivity worse
- Over washing as it removes natural oils. For proper daily routine, just wash your face twice a day.
- Using too many active ingredients and not even knowing how to layer them which damages the skin barrier.
- Skipping moisturizer or using moisturizers with alcohol or menthol as they evaporate too quickly
- Skipping the patch test we all know this is non negotiable to avoid allergic skin. Try all new products on the jawline and be on the lookout for reactions.
Last Word
Sensitive skin isn’t a flaw. It’s just your skin asking for more tenderness and gentleness. Because sensitive skin requires gentle, simple treatment. Use delicate products, keep the routine simple, and concentrate on repairing the skin's barrier without causing allergic skin. Want barrier loving skincare made for sensitive skin types? Explore our calming picks at makhzan.ae
Did you discover a holy grail product or ingredient for sensitive skin, and we don’t have it? Share with us!
FAQs
Why does my sensitive skin react to vitamin C?
Pure Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, is pretty acidic and can be unstable, which can be a bit tricky for sensitive skin. Its low pH, usually around 3.0 or even lower, might mess with your skin’s natural barrier, causing redness, stinging, or breakouts. Sensitive skin likes to stay balanced, and super acidic stuff can throw that off. Plus, when Vitamin C oxidizes and changes color to brown or orange, it can become harsher and do more harm than good. Higher concentrations of 15% or more can be too much for reactive skin, making it feel tight or irritated. If you've got sensitive skin, you might want to look at gentler options like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or ascorbyl glucoside, which give you antioxidant benefits without the irritation.
How can I use vitamin C without irritation?
If your skin doesn't react well to pure L-ascorbic acid, don't stress. There are milder options that can still brighten your skin and give you antioxidant benefits without causing irritation. Look for ingredients like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate MAP or THD ascorbate, which are easier on the skin. It's best to stick to lower concentrations of between 5 and 10% and steer clear of 20% serums, as those can be too harsh. Another tip is to apply Vitamin C on top of a moisturizer to help lessen any potential stinging. Good choices for sensitive skin are Vitamin C Serums with sodium ascorbyl phosphate or brighteners that don’t contain Vitamin C, like niacinamide or azelaic acid, both are gentle and work well for sensitive skin.
Can sensitive skin use fermented skincare?
Yes. just be smart about it. Fermented ingredients like galactomyces, bifida ferment lysate, fermented alpha arbutin, and rose filtrate ferment can be gentler and work well for sensitive skin. The fermentation process breaks these ingredients down into smaller bits, helping your skin absorb them better while cutting down irritation. They can also boost antioxidants, calm redness, support skin repair, and offer mild exfoliation that's a lot gentler than acids. For instance, fermented alpha arbutin helps brighten your skin without being harsh and is perfect for those who struggle with stronger ingredients. Rose filtrate ferment gives your skin extra hydration and helps with inflammation, making it really soothing. Just watch out: some fermented products might have alcohol or fragrance added, these are potential skin irritants which can mess things up causing skin allergies. Stick with simple formulas that say they’re fragrance-free, and always do a patch test first.
How do I know if my skin is sensitive or just dry?
Dry skin feels rough and can flake or feel tight since it doesn't have enough oil. Sensitive skin often reacts quickly, causing stinging, burning, redness, or breakouts, especially when trying new products or facing tough weather. If your skin is both irritated and dry, you might be experiencing a mix of these issues
Is alcohol bad for sensitive skin?
Yeah, some alcohols can be tough on your skin. Things like denatured alcohol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol can mess with your skin barrier and cause irritation. But it’s not all bad; fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol are actually moisturizing and fine for sensitive skin.