“60% to 70% of women and 50% to 60% of men report having sensitive skin.”
Farage MA. The Prevalence of Sensitive Skin, 2019.
When it comes to sensitive skin, the name of the game is “triggers.” If you have sensitive skin, you will likely be aware by now that certain skin products, humidity levels, temperatures, lifestyle choices, and/or dietary conflicts cause a sensitive skin reaction for you. Everybody is different when it comes to what triggers acute skin reactions. We all need to figure out what works best for us as individuals.
Does that mean you’re on your own? Thankfully, no!
Almost everybody with sensitive skin can follow some standard rules, precautions, and positive habits. We’ve rounded up a list of 5 sensitive skincare secrets that you can add to your daily routine to improve your quality of life and reduce the chance of nasty flare-ups and outbreaks.
There are two types of people with sensitive skin – those who deal with it very well and those who struggle. We want you to be in the right group. Let’s get to the secrets!
Secret #1 – Slow your life down
The first secret to flawless skincare for your sensitive skin is to not be in a rush. The world around you might say slowing down is impossible, but the truth is it’s a choice.
We often advise our sensitive skincare patients to create a routine in their lifestyle that enables them to dedicate extra time to taking care of their skin. Furthermore, if you constantly rush in life, you will not be able to apply any of the tips in this article.
At The Era Clinic, a phrase we say all the time is “skincare is a long-term game.” That’s the number one secret – slow down.
Secret #2 – Pad your skin dry after showering
After-shower care is a subject that perfectly indicates what happens when we rush. When we are late for work, we jump out of the shower and immediately start scrubbing a towel across our bodies, ignoring our sensitive skin. Then if we have inflammation or flare-ups, we wonder, “what happened?”
Padding your skin dry with a towel takes longer than drying typically, but it makes all the difference. This is especially true if you suffer from acne, eczema, or similar skin conditions. After a shower, your skin is soft and vulnerable. Be patient with it!
Secret #3 – Use less soap on extra-sensitive areas when you shower
There are two points to make here:
Firstly, we recommend using gentle body and facial cleansers that are soap-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, and hypoallergenic.
Secondly, if you have specific areas on your body that are more likely to have rashes or spots, the temptation might be to clean them more thoroughly than others. Guess what? This can make things worse – even if you are using sensitive products.
The secret tip here is to use your sensitive body wash only on essential areas and rinse your skin’s highly-sensitive regions with water. Pay more attention to moisturizing those sensitive areas afterward.
Secret #4 – Moisturize immediately after showering
Should you moisturize 20 minutes after your shower? 10 minutes after? Nope. As soon as your skin is towel-dried, the next step is to start moisturizing before you take another breath.
Think about it like this: during the shower, your skin is covered in warm water, which opens your pores, and softens everything up. If you pay attention to how your skin feels right after a shower, you may notice a subtle tightening feeling. That’s your skin saying, “I need moisturizer right now!”
The best thing to do at that moment is to listen to your skin. Also, be generous – use a bit more moisturizer than you think is necessary.
Secret #5 – Don’t trust marketing slogans – look deeper
Watch out for products that say “sensitive” on the label but still have too many chemicals inside. Shopping for the best products for your sensitive skin can be a long journey, so there will always be some trial and error.
If a product has a giant billboard, does that mean it is the best product? Not necessarily. Be careful of big brand names. They have the best marketing, but that often hides the fact that they use a lot of chemicals. We suggest only using ‘dermatologically tested’ products based on natural ingredients.
Also, prepare to pay a moderate price. Cheap products get cheap results.
Bonus Secret #6: Drink lemon with water every morning
Lemons are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, including lycopene. Citrus fruits are vital for keeping your skin hydrated in a way that looks vibrant, healthy, and fresh.
Don’t just settle for a lemon drink every once in a while – do it every morning. It’s not as sour as it sounds. You only need three little drops in a cup of water. No sugar is required. Hot or cold water? That’s up to you!
What did you think of our sensitive skincare secrets? We hope you found some value in this article that will help you to achieve greater freedom from sensitive skin issues.
Do you have any extra secrets to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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