Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is a tendency for the skin to react more readily than usual, with stinging, burning, itching, tightness or redness in response to products or environmental triggers.

It is often linked to a weakened or more permeable skin barrier, which lets irritants in more easily and allows moisture to escape, leaving nerve endings more reactive. Sensitivity can be a lasting trait or a temporary state brought on by over-exfoliation, harsh actives, weather or stress, and it can also accompany conditions such as rosacea. Common triggers include fragrance, high concentrations of active ingredients, alcohol and abrasive scrubs.

Care generally centres on simplifying the routine and rebuilding barrier resilience rather than adding more products.

• Fragrance-free, gentle formulas reduce the number of potential triggers.
• Soothing ingredients such as centella asiatica can help calm the look of irritation and redness.
• Supporting the skin barrier with moisturisers and daily sun protection helps skin become less reactive over time.

Introducing one new product at a time, and patch-testing before full use, makes it easier to identify what the skin tolerates. Persistent redness, burning, swelling or reactions that do not settle with gentle care may point to an underlying condition or allergy and are worth assessing with a dermatologist.