Sensitive skin can be notoriously tricky to navigate. One wrong product and redness, irritation or breakouts can flare up fast. To help take the guesswork out of your routine, we asked leading dermatologists and facialists to share their top tips for managing sensitive skin, along with their go-to products that soothe, protect, and keep your complexion calm and comfortable.

And if you feel like you’re suddenly reacting to everything, you’re not alone. New research by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, reveals that one in three Brits now identify as having sensitive skin, making it more important than ever to choose your products carefully. Here’s everything you need to build a sensitive-skin routine that actually works…

Celebrity facialist Michaella Bolder strongly advises…

  1. Keep your skincare routine simple, avoid overwhelming your skin with too many active ingredients and too many product applications. A pared-back and simple routine helps reduce the risk of irritation while keeping your skin protected and restored rather than overstimulated.
  2. Use lukewarm water and avoid steam while your barrier is not fully intact. High heat increases blood flow, and a high temperature can cause blood vessels to dilate, resulting in immediate redness and intense inflammation. Hot water can strip the skin barrier and exacerbate underlying redness or dryness. So, a cooler cleanse and a break from steaming would be recommended while your skin barrier repairs and strengthens.
  3. Patch test everything that is new or might be irritating. Trying products on a small area (like behind the ear) before applying to the whole face and neck will help to introduce it to your skin and check for an adverse response. Sensitivities can appear even with natural products.
  1. Hydration is non-negotiable when it comes to sensitive skin. A parched or dehydrated skin condition often leads to an impaired barrier and triggers inflammation and redness. Stick to a consistent skincare routine both in the morning and evening with a simple and gentle cleanser, hydrating essence, layering one or two hydrating serums and then locking it in with a rich moisturiser and SPF during the day and then add a nourishing facial oil in the evening. A routine like this will help to restore the skin’s resilience over 2-4 weeks.
  2. Include facial moisturisers that carry a Shea Butter base during the daytime and apply an omega-rich facial oil in the evening & daytime if you really want to ramp up suppleness and moisture within the skin tissue. Using both water-based moisturisers and nourishing oils will help to rebuild the skin’s external barrier function and also repair and restore lost hydration and moisture, which are both responsible for skin health and resilience.

Michaela’s top sensitive product recommendations

A brilliant, no-rinse cleanser for ultra-sensitive skin.
Gentle, effective, and a cleansing alternative for when the skin is too reactive for anything else!
A calming lotion that soothes redness and irritation instantly.

Using both water-based moisturisers and nourishing oils will help to rebuild the skin’s external barrier function and also repair and restore lost hydration

Rich in ceramides and fatty acids, ideal for repairing the skin barrier.
A lightweight sunscreen that works well even on reactive skin.

The Kardashians’ go-to aesthetician, Keren Bartov, reveals her top sensitive skin tips…

  1. Gentle cleansing For sensitive skin, it’s essential to use a gentle cleanser without alcohol, detergents, or SLS and to avoid cleansing cloths. It’s important to stick to a simple, consistent routine. Calm, well-cleansed skin is the canvas for everything that follows, so pay close attention to how your skin feels after cleansing. If it feels tight, looks red, or becomes itchy, it’s a sign that the cleanser is not right for you.
  2. Strengthening the skin barrier Choose products rich in ceramides, fatty acids, and peptides to reinforce the skin’s natural defence and keep it nourished, calm, and resilient.
  3. Avoid aggressive actives Gentle, precise skin renewal and healthy-looking skin come from mild acids or masks that remove dead skin cells without compromising the skin barrier. Aggressive exfoliation is a mistake and can lead to further sensitivity issues.
  4. Infuse the skin with hydration To support healthier skin, hydration must be built in layers rather than relying on a single product. Start with a lightweight hydrating serum, follow with a cream that wraps and protects the skin barrier, and if needed, add a hydrating mist throughout the day.
  5. Sun protection all day, every day with no exceptions Apply a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, broad-spectrum SPF daily to prevent further irritation from UV rays.

Keren’s sensitive skin essentials

Respects the skin’s natural pH and with continued use, helps soothe sensitivity and supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
A true saviour for sensitive skin types. This lightweight formula helps accelerate skin regeneration and repair from within. This is not about forcing change, but about teaching the skin to repair, renew, and function better on its own.
This lightweight serum improves texture and restores luminosity without irritation.

Pay close attention to how your skin feels after cleansing. If it feels tight, looks red, or becomes itchy, it’s a sign that the cleanser is not right for you

According to consultant dermatologist and founder of Joonbyrd, Dr Alexis Granite suggests…

  1. Avoid retinol For those suffering with sensitive skin, it’s best to avoid potentially drying ingredients such as retinol. I recommend hydrating ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and beta-glucan.
  2. Choose your ingredients carefully Centella asiatica, niacinamide, ashwagandha, allantoin and green tea are all ingredients that can help calm sensitised skin.
  3. Use Light Therapy LED such as red light, can help reduce inflammation within the skin that may contribute to sensitivity.

Some more sensitive skin soothers…

Gentle enough for sensitive skin yet effective enough for daily use. A long-term favourite of Dr Granite’s.
A handbag-worthy skin saviour that takes the heat out of redness and irritation fast, leaving stressed complexions comforted.
A lightweight, oat-powered hug for sensitive skin that hydrates, soothes and strengthens without ever feeling heavy or fussy.

For those suffering with sensitive skin it’s best to avoid potentially drying ingredients such as retinol

Beauty, Skincare

The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.

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