What is sensitive skin and why does it become sensitive?

Sensitive skin is a skin type with a weakened protective barrier that reacts to outside factors (cold, heat, cosmetic ingredients) with burning, redness, or itching. This sensitivity can be genetic, and it can also be triggered by stress, using the wrong products, and environmental factors.

What is the difference between sensitive skin and allergic skin?

Sensitive skin generally reacts to many outside factors (weather changes, harsh cleansers, and so on), while allergic skin usually reacts to one specific substance through the immune system. The main problem with sensitive skin is a weak skin barrier.

What should a sensitive skincare routine look like?

A routine for sensitive skin should be as simple and gentle as possible. Cleanse the skin with sulfate-free cleansers and moisturize it with soothing ingredients such as ceramides, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid.

What outside factors trigger sensitive skin and cause redness?

Showering with very hot water, harsh exfoliants, acidic ingredients, and cosmetics with a lot of alcohol or fragrance are the main triggers for sensitive skin. Stress, air pollution, lack of sleep, and not drinking enough water also increase the skin's tendency to react.

What are the most common skincare mistakes for sensitive skin?

The most common mistakes are using harsh cleansers that don't suit your skin type, applying too many products to the skin at once, and drying the skin roughly with a towel. Not paying attention to diet and sleep can also make it harder to repair the skin barrier and make sensitivity permanent.

Which ingredients should sensitive skin choose?

The most important ingredients for soothing sensitive skin are ceramides, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients repair the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. Antioxidants such as vitamin E also help protect the skin against environmental stressors.

Signs of sensitive skin and the right skincare — Alix Avien blog image

What Is Sensitive Skin Like? Signs of Sensitive Skin and the Right Skincare

Q: What should people with sensitive skin keep in mind when doing makeup?

Instead of heavy, matte products, choose liquid and creamy textures that let the skin breathe. Avoid ingredients with alcohol and heavy fragrance, and don't press hard on the skin when applying with a makeup brush or sponge. Keeping your application tools clean is also critical for preventing sensitivity.

Sensitive skin is sensitive because of the way it reacts to environmental factors. These reactions usually show up as burning, redness, itching, and irritation. What is sensitive skin? In short, it's a skin type that reacts to the outside factors that affect it.

The first signs of sensitive skin are a burning and stinging sensation. The skin becomes dry and tight. Caring for sensitive skin starts with cleansing it thoroughly and gently. After that, you need to protect it from outside factors.

What Is Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin is a skin type with a weak barrier that is prone to irritation. A tendency toward sensitive skin can be genetic, or it can be caused by using the wrong products and by stress. Sensitive skin is often confused with skin that has allergic reactions, but the two are not the same. Allergic skin reacts to a single substance.

How Can You Tell If You Have Sensitive Skin?

Figuring out whether you have sensitive skin is very simple! Sensitive skin shows redness. If your face turns red after a hot shower, after washing your face, or after being out in cold weather, you may have sensitive skin.

If you feel stinging and burning on your face after using acid-based products, and you clearly feel dryness and tightness, your skin may fall into the sensitive skin category.

What Are the Most Common Signs of Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin can react:

When exposed to cold weather,
When exposed to stress,
When exposed to acidic ingredients,
After a hot shower,
After exfoliation.

What Does the Right Skincare Look Like for Sensitive Skin?

Even cleansing sensitive skin should be kept simple. The cleanser you use should suit a sensitive skin type. A sulfate-free formula keeps the skin barrier from being damaged. The ingredients typically found in skincare products for sensitive skin are ceramides, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients soothe the skin.

After gently cleansing the skin, you should use a moisturizer. For the right skincare, don't use very hot water on your skin, and don't do harsh exfoliation.

What Should People With Sensitive Skin Keep in Mind When Doing Makeup?

People with sensitive skin should pay attention to product ingredients when doing their makeup. They should avoid products with heavy fragrance and products containing alcohol. They should especially use liquid and creamy products and keep matte, heavy products away from their skin.

Another thing to keep in mind when doing makeup on sensitive skin is gentleness. When applying with a makeup brush or makeup sponge, don't press these tools too hard into the skin. Also pay attention to keeping your tools clean.

Alix Avien Liquid Blusher: A highly pigmented liquid blush with vitamin E and a soft, creamy texture.

What Factors Trigger Sensitive Skin?

Keeping the factors that trigger sensitive skin away from your skin will help it stay healthier. So let's list these factors:

Using products with a lot of alcohol,
Using products with heavy fragrance,
Applying more than one harsh exfoliant to the skin,
Using products containing acids on the skin,
Trying products that don't suit your skin type,
Exposing your skin to cold weather and hot water,
Washing your skin too often,
Drying your skin roughly with a towel,
Using harsh cleansers on your skin,
Eating too much sugary and spicy food,
Not getting enough sleep,
Not drinking water,
Being exposed to stress.

What Are the Most Common Mistakes With Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin tends to thin and show sensitivity. Products for sensitive skin keep this sensitivity to a minimum. Using products that don't suit your skin type is one of the most common mistakes.

Sensitive skin can't handle too many products, because one or more of the products used may trigger its sensitivity. Heavy products can also increase breakouts because they clog pores. Poor and unhealthy diet, sleep, and water intake also make it easier for the skin to react.

If you have sensitive skin or allergy-prone, reddened skin, you can check out our Makeup Tips for Sensitive and Red Skin in 7 Steps.

Back to blog

#Skincare Guide