BEST SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN?
START WITH CLEANSING
The sensitive skin epidemic is upon us. Over 60% of people now suffer from prickling, itching and stinging on a regular basis. And urban life only exacerbates the issue: Every day, pollution and city residues adhere to skin and induce micro-inflammation, accentuating its sensitivity.
That’s why cleansing facial skin isn't just a question of hygiene; it's a necessary step in purifying skin and clearing it of physiological impurities (sweat, sebum and dead skin cells) as well as atmospheric pollutants, tobacco and other external impurities. When performed daily, this essential step prevents clogged pores, the appearance of unattractive pimples and a dull-looking complexion. In other words, cleansing is the first step in your sensitive skin treatment.
Beyond cleansing, click HERE for a full article on skincare routine for sensitive skin.
LOOKING FOR A FACE WASH
FOR SENSITIVE SKIN?
Many cleansers are too harsh for sensitive skin…
When it comes to cleansing, sensitive to reactive skin is a tricky customer. On the one hand, it longs for an in-depth clean: any dirt, pollution and city residues sitting on skin's surface will only heighten sensitive skin’s reactivity. Yet, on the other, sensitive skin fears the post-cleanse backlash: the prickling, itching and stinging sensations that can follow in the wake of an overzealous cleanser (not to mention redness of the skin).
FACE WASH FOR SENSITIVE SKIN:
DON’T "STRIP", JUST "CLEANSE"
Many cleansers are too harsh for sensitive skin…
In an attempt to rid your sensitive face of harmful pollution and impurities, many traditional products resort to harsh surfactants as well as reactivity-triggering preservatives. The result? Sensitive skin is cleansed, but it is also stripped of its own vital lipids, leaving it highly exposed - and that means ready to react - to environmental aggressors, contaminants in the tap water or sometimes "nasties" in the cleanser itself... It's no wonder some women and men experience discomfort after cleansing.
BEST FACE WASH
FOR SENSITIVE SKIN?
Many cleansers are too harsh for sensitive skin…
If you have a sensitive to reactive skin type, your skincare shopping territory of choice should be the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist about micellar waters adapted to your sensitive skin's needs.
What is a micellar water?
Dermatologists recommend micellar waters to cleanse sensitive skin for good reason. First of all, they are non-rinse, so you don't have to worry about putting skin in contact with hard water.
Secondly, these waters contain gentle cleansing agents in the form of selective micelles that gently lift off all dirt, make-up and pollution, without stripping skin of the lipids that keep it in its comfort zone. This means you can avoid that tight feeling, while still effectively purifying your sensitive skin.
WHICH MICELLAR WATER
IS BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN?
Many cleansers are too harsh for sensitive skin…
When choosing your micellar water, you should first consider what it shouldn’t contain. Make sure its alcohol- and paraben-free as well as being tested on sensitive skin. That’s a must-have. To ensure tolerance, you want as pure a formula as possible, particularly for sensitive skin as well as allergic skin types.
Ideally, your micellar water sensitive skin treatment should contain natural thermal spa waters, proven to calm inflammation within the skin and soothe symptoms of sensitivity. For example, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water is sourced on unspoilt land and recognized in the medical community for its therapeutic effects on many different skin pathologies. It's even approved for use on small children, so ingredients don't come much safer.
Another top ingredient to look for in a micellar water is hydrate-as-you-cleanse glycerine, which enhances the cleansing action of the water while hydrating skin and reducing friction to soothe the symptoms of reactive skin before they appear.
Is especially suited to people with atopic (allergy-prone) skin or sensitive eyes, as well as contact lens wearers. Finally, you can enjoy the satisfaction of a cotton pad stained black with impurities and make-up, without the reactive skin backlash.
Best cleansing for allergy-prone skin? Try HERE.
Looking for a facial cleanser for oily skin, check out the Effaclar purifying foaming gel cleanser.
OTHER KINDS OF FACE WASH
FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Many cleansers are too harsh for sensitive skin…
Prefer another cleanser format? No problem, there are other sensitive skin-friendly cleansers available from the sensitive skin specialist brand La Roche-Posay:
- Micellar Gel glides onto skin without leaving a greasy residue, for gentle make-up removal with no rubbing. It doesn't need to be rinsed off and leaves the face feeling fresh.
- Micellar Foam gently captures impurities on the skin and lifts them away. It minimises friction, and gently cleanses and softens the skin.
Wondering about the difference between sensitive, reactive and allergic skin? Click HERE to find out more.
HOW TO EXFOLIATE
SENSITIVE SKIN
For truly bright and radiant skin, exfoliation is essential to rid skin of built-up dulling dead cells. But when skin is sensitive to reactive, many exfoliants are too harsh - especially chemical exfoliants like at-home peels. The wrong product can easily leave you looking red-faced and feeling uncomfortable. To gently exfoliate your sensitive face, we recommend the Ultra-Fine Scrub from La Roche-Posay. Its super tiny particles gently polish sensitive skin, leaving it looking buffed and radiant.
BEYOND SENSITIVE SKIN,
WHAT IS THE BEST CLEANSER FOR ALLERGY-PRONE SKIN?
We’ve talked a lot about how to cleanse sensitive to reactive skin types in this article, but what is the best cleanser for allergic skin? Truth be told, micellar waters are suitable for both sensitive and allergic skin types provided they are hypoallergenic. The gentle micelles in the formula lift every trace of make-up, dust, allergens and pollution off the skin, leaving its surface “barrier” lipids (aka the hydrolipidic film) intact, which is important to help defend allergic skin against allergens in the environment.
For a cleanser specifically created for allergy-prone skin, and approved by the British Allergy Foundation, try TOLERIANE Dermo-Cleanser, a wipe-off milk to gently cleanse sensitive, intolerant or even allergy-prone skin, every day. It is enriched with hydrating Glycerine and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water to instantly soothe irritated skin as you cleanse. The whole TOLERIANE range has been through rigorous dermatological testing and re-testing to ensure it is suitable for use on even the most sensitive to allergic skin.
Click HERE for information on caring for allergic skin.
DRY SKIN CARE:
CLEANSING DRY SKIN
Dry skin often feels tight and uncomfortable after cleansing, especially if you use soap or other cleansers with harsh surfactants. For a dry skin care cleanser, wash gently using a very mild lipid-enriched cleansing bar, a milk, a cleansing oil or a gel designed for dry skin. If using Micellar Gel cleanser, apply over the whole face with fingertips, and then wipe dry using cosmetic pads. Repeat until the skin is perfectly clean. Round off your skin care routine with a spritz of La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water and a rich moisturiser suitable for dry and sensitive skin.
