Your friends love to shop at the cosmetics counter, but you hang back. Will that new eye shadow make your eyelids swell and itch? Will that wrinkle cream full of botanical ingredients give you smoother skin or a painful, red mess that takes days to clear up?
If skin care products spell skin problems to you, you may have sensitive skin. There’s no textbook definition of sensitive skin, says Rachel Herschenfeld, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Wellesley, Mass., but dermatologists know it when they see it.
Herschenfeld defines it as skin that “reacts easily to many different products and often to products that other people tolerate easily.” This can include cosmetics, moisturizers, sunscreens, anti-aging creams, and more. The reaction: redness, dryness, flaking, stinging, even bumps and blisters.
What’s going on? You may have an allergy, and your immune system is mounting a response to the offending ingredient. Or your skin may just be irritated. Irritation is more likely to cause stinging, Herschenfeld says, while allergic reactions tend to itch.
Either way, you don’t need to be at the mercy of all those scary skin care ingredients. If you use shopping smarts -- and gentle products -- you may well find yourself free of sensitive skin problems. Read on to find out how.
Sensitive Skin Care: The Right Cleansing Routine
If you’re using soap, switch to a gentle soap-free liquid cleanser. That’s the top advice from Herschenfeld, as well as from Robin Ashinoff, MD, director of cosmetic dermatology at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey.
Lathering your face with soap can be harsh on skin. But liquid soap-free cleansers are designed to avoid drying out sensitive skin. Another boon: They’re free of fragrance and other unnecessary ingredients that only boost the risk of irritation, Herschenfeld says. Soap-free liquid cleansers can also be tissued off, instead of rinsed, and are also available in bar form.
What if you just don’t feel squeaky-clean without using soap? You can suds up with a gentle, moisturizing soap that is free of fragrance and dyes. Look for one specifically labeled for sensitive skin, Ashinoff says.
Try these other tips to cut down on skin problems:
- Don’t use products that contain acids. This includes salicylic acid, a staple in acne cleansers.
- Don’t use deodorant or antibacterial soaps. “I think they’re absolutely unnecessary in most skin care products,” Herschenfeld says. “I do not recommend their use unless there’s an active infection that needs to be treated.”
- Scrub your face gently. Using a rough wash cloth or buff puff can irritate your skin, Ashinoff says. Instead, gently cleanse your face with your fingertips or a soft cloth and pat dry.
Sensitive Skin Care Products: Moisturizers and Sunscreens
Moisturizers can prevent sensitive skin from becoming dry and irritated, but keep things simple. Avoid those with fragrance or many ingredients, Herschenfeld says. She suggests looking for one from a company that also makes soap-free liquid cleansers. You’re more likely to find a moisturizer that is gentle on sensitive skin.
