Skin Care 101: Sensitive Skin

Note: All week this week I'll be featuring tips on how to deal with different skin types. Info from Allure and many other sources. If you have anything to add--a favorite product or great hint--please be sure to leave a comment!

Thankfully, I do not have sensitive skin. If I did, it would cut down the number of products I could try out for you all! But if you have sensitive skin, trying new products--or just finding products that don't irritate your skin--can be frustrating. Here are some tips:

1. Read labels carefully. You'll want to avoid products containing an over abundance of chemicals. Look for products that are "fragrance free" whenever possible.
   
2. Test before you buy (if possible. If not, save your receipts!). If you have sensitive skin, you'll need to learn how to do a skin patch test. Apply a small amount of product on your arm or neck--some place not too noticeable. If a reaction occurs, don't use that product.
   
3. Wash and moisturize with care. Like dry skin sufferers, don't use a bar soap on your face. Instead, try a gentle creamy cleanser. Follow up with a moisturizer designed for sensitive skin.
4. You can still prevent aging. There are anti-aging products on the market for sensitive skin. You'll probably want to avoid retinols and opt for kinetin or Matrixyl (a peptide) which is must more gentle.
5. Combat redness and inflamed skin. If redness and inflammation are a problem. use 1% hydrocortisone cream twice a day. If any product causes redness, stop using it immediately. And if redness and irritation are especially troublesome, see a dermatologist.
6. Use sunscreen and be sun safe--but be sure that your sun blocking products contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide--they're less irritating than other sunscreen ingredients.

Here are some products to consider:

• Philosophy Purity Made Simple, $10-$40. (My favorite creamy cleanser--gentle, soothing, and effective)
• Cetaphil Daily Fragrance-Free Moisturizer, $11.50 (dermatologist recommended)
• Philosophy Makeup Optional Kit for Dry/Sensitive Skin, $78 (everything you need in one box--cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and peel)

Tomorrow: Acne-Prone Skin