Sensitive Skin: Reasons, Treatments and Products
- Kavya Goswami
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
If your skin feels overly dry, itchy, inflamed, and red, it’s a sign to give it some extra care. Using too many products can trigger your skin and damage it even further.
This deep dive by La Peau is for those with sensitive skin. We understand how difficult it is to find products that genuinely work, especially when many on the market claim to be for sensitive skin but end up doing the opposite.
The first step in a sensitive skin routine is to use products that won't harm your already weak skin barrier. Instead, you need products that will calm your skin and help to repair the damaged barrier.
Let’s explore what sensitive skin really is and what types of products you can use daily to build a healthy skin barrier.
Let's Get Real: Sensitive Skin
What is Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin is not a formal medical diagnosis but rather a common characteristic that can affect any of the other skin types (normal, dry, oily, or combination). It describes a heightened and often negative reaction to various triggers, which is a sign that the skin's protective barrier is weakened.
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience a range of visible and subjective symptoms in response to everyday stimuli:
Unpleasant Sensations: You may feel stinging, burning, itching, or tingling, often immediately after applying certain products or when exposed to environmental changes.
Visible Reactions: The skin can appear red, blotchy, and inflamed. It may develop a rash, bumps, or even be more prone to breakouts that are actually a reaction to an irritant.
Dryness and Tightness: The compromised skin barrier struggles to retain moisture, leading to a feeling of tightness and a flaky or rough texture.
Fragility: Sensitive skin is more delicate and can easily get irritated by common ingredients, fabrics, or even friction.
Why do we have Sensitive Skin?
The core issue behind sensitive skin is a compromised or weak skin barrier. This barrier is the outermost layer of your skin that protects against irritants and keeps moisture in. When it's not working effectively, it allows irritants to penetrate more easily and triggers a response from the skin.
It can be due to:
Genetics
Environmental Factors (pollution, dust, temperature)
Overuse of products, or using products with denatured alcohol, fragrance, or essential oils in it.
Stress and poor diet
Sensitive Skin VS Sensitized Skin
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is a skin type, meaning it is a condition you are born with and is often genetic. It's a chronic state where your skin's protective barrier is naturally weaker, making it more prone to irritation and reactions.
Common Symptoms: Skin is more susceptible to redness, stinging, burning, and itching in response to various triggers. It may also feel tight or appear thin with visible redness or flushing.
Sensitized Skin
Sensitized skin is a skin condition, meaning it is a temporary state caused by external factors. It can affect anyone, regardless of their natural skin type, and it occurs when your skin's protective barrier has been damaged.
Causes: The most common causes are over-exfoliation, using harsh products (like retinoids or strong acids too frequently), environmental stressors (sun, pollution, extreme weather), lifestyle factors (stress, poor diet), and allergic reactions to specific ingredients.
Skincare For Sensitive Skin
Gentle Cleanse
Use a creamy, milky, or gel-based cleanser. Look for products labeled "gentle," "fragrance-free," or "for sensitive skin."
Moisturizers
Using a good moisturizer for sensitive skin should not only hydrate but also create a protective seal to prevent moisture loss and keep irritants out.
Sunscreen
It's best to use Mineral Sunscreen with at least 50 SPF for sensitive skin with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Key Ingredients to Look For:
Glycerin: A hydrating humectant.
Ceramides: Fatty acids that help repair the skin barrier.
Allantoin: A soothing, anti-irritant ingredient.
Peptides: A collagen-boosting skincare ingredient
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Helps strengthen the skin barrier and reduce redness.
Centella Asiatica (Cica): A popular ingredient for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Licorice Root Extract: Known for its anti-inflammatory and skin-calming benefits.
Shea Butter: An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer.
Squalane: A non-comedogenic oil that mimics the skin's natural sebum.
Colloidal Oatmeal: An FDA-approved skin protectant that soothes and calms inflammation.
Avoid Using:
Heavy fragrances and essential oils.
Certain botanical extracts that may cause irritation in sensitive skin.
Best Skincare Products For Sensitive Skin
Discover best skincare products for sensitive skin in India:
the
CLEANSERS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Best cleansers for sensitive skin that are gentle on skin and help to wash and sooth skin at tsoothehe same time.
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Creamy Cleanser is an excellent choice for a fragrance-free cleanser. Its creamy texture effectively cleans the skin while helping to maintain its natural moisture balance.
Skincare Active:
Gentle Cleansers
Glycerin
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is a face wash with gentle cleansers to cleanse skin without over-stripping it.
Skincare Actives:
Gentle Cleansers
Panthenol
Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser is a skin hydrating range specifically made for sensitive skin.
Skincare Actives:
Glycerin
Oat Extracts
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser is a mild, fragrance-free, and alcohol-free formula designed specifically for sensitive skin. With its smooth, creamy texture and minimal actives, it cleanses effectively without irritation. However, it isn’t strong enough to remove makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, so pairing it with micellar water is the perfect combo. Truly, a chef’s kiss for your skincare routine!
Only downside of this cleanser is that it's available on the pricier side in India, but the bottle contains a generous amount of product that can easily last for at least 3 months.
Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water is a gentle, fragrance-free formula that works effectively alongside a regular cleanser to remove makeup and even water-resistant sunscreen. Its mild formulation makes it especially suitable for sensitive skin.
Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant is a face cleanser for sensitive skin made with gentle surfactants.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a gentle cleanser good for normal, dry and sensitive skin and helps in moisturizing skin.
Skincare Actives:
Glycerin
Gentle Surfactants
Ceramide
MOISTURIZERS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the OG barrier-repairing, moisturizing cream for dry, sensitive skin.
Skincare Active:
Ceramide
Phytosphingosine
Cholesterol
Hyaluronic Acid
Dimethicone
Petrolatum
Aveeno Calm + Restore
The Formularx Barrier Plus Cream is a promising new launch in the Indian skincare space, with some fantastic products in its lineup. This barrier repair cream stands out as a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer—perfect for sensitive skin, with no harsh or irritating ingredients.
Skincare Actives:
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Shea Butter
Ceramide
Phytosphingosine (it's a type of lipid found naturally in the upper layer of skin, has anti-microbial properties)
Cholesterol (an important lipid found naturally in skin, has a vital role in having a healthy skin barrier)
Allantoin
Peptides (it contains peptides, but it has a very low concentration of them)
Cerulean Moisturizing Cream is a new gem I recently discovered in India. It’s a great addition to my list of sensitive-skin-friendly products, with a beautifully formulated, fragrance-free formula that keeps the skin calm and hydrated.
Skincare Active:
Petrolatum
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Squalane
Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly is the best choice for sensitive skin. While some versions in the market may contain paraffin wax or added fragrance, it’s important to avoid those. Stick to 100% pure petrolatum, and try the slugging method to effectively repair and protect a weakened skin barrier.
COSIQ CPM 2% Moisturizer with Ceramide + Peptide is a lightweight yet nourishing formula that soothes the skin, strengthens the barrier, and supports collagen production for healthier, firmer skin.
Skincare Actives:
Aloe Vera Leaf Extract
Glycerin
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and -1 (Peptides)
Ceramide
The Ordinary NMF + Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer is a creamy-textured moisturizer with natural moisturizing factor that are skin identical ingredients and help to restore the skin barrier.
Skincare Actives:
Natual Moisturizing Factors (Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Glucose, Maltose, Urea and more)
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Lactate
Urea
Allantoin
Linolenic Acid (Vitamin F)
Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream is a rich, deeply moisturizing formula designed for dry, sensitive skin. Packed with barrier-repairing actives, it helps strengthen the skin’s protective layer and prevents transepidermal water loss, keeping skin soft, soothed, and hydrated.
Skincare Actives:
Glycerin
Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5, skin moisturizing)
Petrolatum (reduces trans-epidermal water loss)
Dimethicone (emollient, makes a silky-smooth protective barrier on skin)
Oat Kernal Flour
Oat Kernal Extract
Ceramide
SERUMS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Numbuzin Skin Softening Serum is hydrating, skin-soothing serum by Korean Beauty. This is another good option for sensitive skin.
Skincare Actives:
Bifida Ferment Extract (Skin Moisturizer)
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Squalane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Within Glow Drops Barrier Boost Brightening Serum is a good skin-soothing serum, this is a simple and hydrating option for sensitive skin.
Skincare Actives:
Glycerin
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Niacinamide
Ceramide
Cholesterol
Licorice Root Extract
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum is a lightweight, hydrating serum powered by oat extracts, specially formulated for sensitive skin. It helps restore skin health, strengthen the barrier, and keep the skin calm and nourished.
Skincare Active:
Oat Oil
Oat Flour
Oat Extracts
Dimethicone
Sensitive skin needs extra care—and that starts with understanding not just your skin, but also the products you use. To keep your barrier healthy and prevent further damage, always look for formulas that are fragrance-free and free of denatured alcohol, as these can cause dryness and irritation.
Comments