Sensitive skin has a lower tolerance to cosmetic ingredients, and may experience redness, burning, itching or tightness as a result. Learn the best products to soothe and nourish sensitive skin in this article.
Sensitive skin requires a gentle cleanser that won’t compromise its protective barrier. This non-greasy formula uses soothing ingredients like cucumber extract for a gentle clean.
Cleanser
Cleansing should be at the center of any skin care routine, and finding one designed specifically to meet the needs of sensitive skin should be of primary concern. Seek out products free from fragrance, dyes, soap, and other common irritants such as fragrance.
If you suffer from oily or acne-prone skin, try opting for a foaming cleanser with AHAs such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid or mandelic acid to exfoliate. These acids can help break down sebum build-up while also helping prevent future breakouts.
For dry or sensitive skin, choose a cream-based cleanser with humectants to reduce water loss from your skin. Products containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin or polyglutamic acid attract and retain moisture on its surface while improving moisture levels in your pores.
If your skin tends to alternate between oily and dry patches, a gel cleanser could be just what your sensitive skin needs. Lightweight yet refreshing, gel cleansers are excellent at gently dissolving makeup without stripping away natural oils and leaving skin looking healthy and moisturized. Garnier offers products like its gentle makeup remover to keep skin feeling and looking its best.
Toner
When layering skincare products, it is best to do it in order of consistency – starting with toner which has a watery consistency that should be applied with cotton pad or fingers prior to serums and moisturizers.
An effective sensitive skin toner should help regulate the pH levels in your skin after cleansing, which can become imbalanced when using foaming cleansers (which are alkaline). Additionally, it should contain moisturizing agents to strengthen barriers and soothe any redness or inflammation on your complexion.
For dry or sensitive skin, look for products containing hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and glycerin as they provide essential hydrating benefits. If you want an extra exfoliating boost, toners with AHAs or BHAs (glycolic and salicylic acids) could offer extra exfoliation boosts according to Garshick.
Toners designed for oily skin often contain drying alcohols and witch hazel, which may irritate sensitive skin. According to Garshick, toners designed for oily skin should use non-alcoholic or low-alcohol formulas instead. Also recommended is BHA toner with salicylic acid as this can target sebum without irritation.
Moisturizer
The ideal products for sensitive skin include those which provide adequate hydration without irritating its surface. Moisturization helps preserve water within your body while encouraging cell turnover, which aids with both water loss and dead skin shed.
Antioxidant moisturizers containing vitamins C and E will provide your skin with essential protection from free radicals that damage its delicate structures, as well as helping combat dryness that leads to flaking, itching and redness.
If you have oily skin, look for a lightweight moisturizer labeled “non-comedogenic,” meaning it won’t clog your pores. Or opt for something targeted specifically towards sebum production such as salicylic acid formulation. Dry or itchy skin may benefit from thick creams with soothing emollients; oil-rich formulations like petroleum jelly or shea butter may provide additional relief, particularly when dealing with conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Sunscreen
A sunscreen designed specifically to address sensitive skin requires protection from both UVA and UVB rays, and should be noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores). Dermatologists often advise mineral sunscreens as these work by reflecting sunrays off of the skin rather than absorbing them, which tends to have less adverse reactions compared with chemical sunscreens that contain ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone that absorb UV radiation directly onto it.
Our go-to everyday sunscreen for normal skin is this lightweight formula from Supergoop! that won’t leave a white cast, making it a favorite among dermatologists and our editors alike. Oil-, fragrance- and comedogen-free; perfect for sensitive skin types with most skin tones – though darker complexions may find other products more suitable than this tinted version from them!
This water-resistant formula is an ideal option for active individuals who sweat heavily. Packed with antioxidant-rich algae and red grape seed extract to prevent discoloration, this water-resistant moisturizer comes highly recommended by dermatologists Ava Shamban and Jeannette Graf.
