I’ve struggled with sensitive skin for most of my teenage and adult life.
I’ve never been able to play ball with products or treatments too active, too abrasive, too aggressive, too stimulating. Every retinol, AHA/BHA, active serum, and anti-ageing treatment I have tried – more often than not, I’m met with an instant – and somewhat aggressive – reaction.
And there are few things more frustrating than dealing with sensitive skin. For me – that frustration is more often than not completely self-induced – as in, I knew said cream/lotion/peel/retinol was completely inappropriate for my skin, yet I lived in faithful hope that this time would be different (fact: it never is and hope is a pipe dream).
Redness, itchiness, spots, flakiness, soreness, discomfort, you name it, I’ve had it, and ultimately what I’ve learnt is when you don’t listen to your body, you pay. And when you strip your skin of its delicate and harmonious balance of lipids and proteins, you compromise your skin barrier. And when you compromise your skin barrier you are up for weeks of damage control.
And after years of trial and error, I’ve learnt that simplicity is always the key. For me, it’s about letting go of any ideas of what I should be using, and embracing a simple routine that places hydration, vitamin rich ingredients and gentleness at its heart.
And the best part is, my past skincare misadventures are here now to work in your favour. I’ve rounded-up the products that I reached for in a skin emergency that instantly heal, soothe and calm any skin irritations, almost immediately.
