Sensitive skin — a kinder, quieter approach

Sensitive skin reacts more easily than average — it flushes, stings, itches or feels tight when exposed to certain ingredients, weather, fragrance or friction. Sometimes it's a long-term tendency, sometimes a phase caused by a damaged barrier. Either way, the answer is rarely 'do more' — it's 'do less, kinder'.

Signs of sensitive skin

• Redness or warmth after cleansing or applying products.
• Stinging, tingling or itching with normal skincare.
• Reactivity to fragrance, essential oils, alcohol or sunscreen filters.
• A barrier that feels easily 'undone' by weather or stress.

How to care for sensitive skin

• Simplify. The fewer products and active ingredients, the better while skin is reactive.
• Choose fragrance-free, low-pH cleansers — no foaming sulphates.
• Look for soothing actives: centella asiatica, panthenol, madecassoside, heartleaf, allantoin.
• Strengthen the barrier with ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids.
• Avoid physical scrubs, high-percentage acids and strong retinoids while flared.
• Patch-test every new product on the jawline for 3–5 nights.
• Mineral SPF often feels kinder than chemical SPF on reactive skin.

A calming routine for sensitive skin

Morning

1. Lukewarm rinse or a cream / milk cleanser.
2. Centella or heartleaf toner.
3. Barrier-supporting serum (panthenol, madecassoside).
4. Ceramide moisturiser.
5. Mineral SPF 50.

Evening

1. Gentle balm or cream cleanser (skip double cleansing during a flare).
2. Soothing essence.
3. Barrier cream — heavier than your morning moisturiser if needed.