How to calm irritated sensitive skin
Sensitive skin reacts very easily to a number of factors such as weather, products, and hormones. Reactions can vary from light irritation to redness and skin dryness, to larger issues such as rosacea and skin peeling. Inflamed sensitive skin can be made worse by using the wrong products. It can be further exacerbated by personal issues such as stress or anxiety. If you have sensitive skin and are prone to irritation we’ll guide you through a variety of ways to help calm your skin.
Cut Out Your Triggers
The easiest way to calm sensitive skin is to make sure it never flares up. Pay attention to specific foods, drinks or environmental factors that can make your skin react. If there is a certain food that makes you red try to avoid or substitute it. Likely trigger foods may be dairy, sugar, meat, and saturated fats. Try to maintain an antioxidant-rich diet of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables instead.. When it comes to drinks sugary sodas, coffee and alcohol are likely culprits that can also trigger skin reaction and sensitivity. Try to limit your consumption of these and consider them more as indulgences than staple beverages. Water, herbal teas and fresh fruit juices are your best bets.
Soothe With Mist
If your skin starts reacting you can counteract feelings of heat and redness with a soothing mist. Use a water-based product with soothing qualities and formulas with lavender oil, cucumber or calendula, which can be hydrating and calming and make your skin feel and look better with a few spritzes. Keep a mist on hand particularly in skin-irritating situations such as post-workout, on a plane or in an extremely hot climate. Follow the spritzing with a moisturizer so your skin stays hydrated even after the water evaporates.
Calming Moisturizer
With sensitive skin you should be using products with minimal ingredients. Most important is that your moisturizer does not contain fragrance or alcohol, and it should also be non-comedogenic. Look for products that contain ceramides and have restorative qualities. Also consistency is huge for skin that flares up easily. Once you find a product that works on your skin you should keep it stocked in your beauty closet for the long run.Go Green
Green should be your favorite color when it comes to helping calm your skin. The first one is green tea. You can buy cleansers, toners and moisturizers with this ingredient to help calm your skin. Alternatively you can create a homemade soothing toner by steeping a few green tea teabags then letting the water cool off, soaking a washcloth and letting it gently rest on your face for a few minutes. It will have a cool and restorative effect on your skin. The other way that the color green can help is by using a green-based primer to hide redness. When your skin is particularly irritated this is a good way to create a base for your skin so that you can apply foundation.
Cleanse and Exfoliate Gently
Cleansing and exfoliating are big parts of having healthy skin but they can also be triggers for irritation. If you cleanse with alcohol or fragrance you can irritate your skin. When you exfoliate make sure to avoid products that have a gritty, harsh quality to them and contain sand or crystals. These are too harsh and can cause a flare-up. To still rid your skin of dead skin cells look out for products with antioxidants or gentle acids that can peel away the top layer without stripping your skin. We recommend Garnier SkinActive’s Clean+ Gentle Clarifying Cleansing Gel which is specifically designed for sensitive skin and has a cooling texture that will clean and restore your skin. There are also on-the-go wipes for sensitive skin which help cleanse and soothe skin.
