Natural advice to relieve sensitive skin
Sensitive skin does not require more care in quantitative terms, but in qualitative terms. You must compensate for its weakness which deprives its of effective defenses by choosing carefully the treatment you reserve for its. Here are our tips for restoring good health and radiance to your skin.
How do you know if you have really sensitive skin?
You must differentiate between sensitive skin and allergic skin, and not consider temporary reactions, because so-called sensitive skin corresponds to the permanent state of your epidermis.
If you have sensitive skin, you constantly suffer from redness, discomfort, tingling, tightness, etc. Your skin reacts to the slightest external aggressions, whether it be bad weather (cold, heat, wind, sun), pollution or strong emotions, such as stress and, for women, hormonal changes. Add to that the sensitivity to cosmetics.
Fair, thin skin is more sensitive. Its tolerance level is low and it tends to blush and develop pimples, rosacea, and other unpleasant manifestations.
How to adapt your care to your sensitive skin
Having sensitive skin doesn't mean dry skin. This error of judgment is frequent because it is intuitive. The problem is, it causes people with sensitive skin to use dry skin cosmetics that will lubricate their skin, without protecting it properly.
Here is a list of tips that identifies the best solutions to strengthen your sensitive skin, and thus arm it against external aggressions.
Analyse your tap water
We have excellent purity tap water in France. However, in some areas it is particularly chalky. However, limestone is the enemy of sensitive skin. Sometimes the amounts are such that people with normal skin are irritated when they get out of the shower.
Limestone dries out the epidermis. It weakens it, which accentuates the natural sensitivity and causes even more redness and skin reactions.
The only drastic solution is to install a water softener. If you are in a house, it is installed on the general water supply, if you are in an apartment building, you will connect it to your private arrival.
From your first shower or the first time you run water on your face, you will feel the difference. By the way, you'll save on taps, extend the life of your hot water tank, and clean your sinks and washbasins with a sponge, without having to scrape off lime deposits.
To finish with the subject of water, know that if it is too hot, it impairs blood circulation and dries your skin. So be moderate and avoid hot showers.
Use organic cosmetics
Did you know that industrial cosmetics mostly contain derivatives from the petrochemical industry? Yes, you unknowingly apply products from which your car fuel, road tar or plastic is made!
On the other hand, the color, smell and consistency of industrial cosmetics are the result of an amalgamation of chemicals. Colors, artificial flavors, gelling agents and emulsifiers come from pure chemistry and nature has little to do with the finished product.
Take the time, for example, to look at the composition of a product whose label extols the merits of aloe vera. You will find that sometimes the rate is less than 1%. As for emulsifiers, they are added to lather cleaning products, because we instinctively associate foam with efficiency, which is a mistake.
So use organic products that only use a few preservatives when necessary for health reasons. You thus put all the chances on your side to reconcile your skin with cosmetics.
Do not abuse cosmetics
Even if you use organic cosmetics, no need to overdo it, neither in number nor in frequency. For example, use a ‘lipid-enriched' bar for the shower, a cleansing milk for the face and a moisturiser. It's enough.
Once you've found the right outfit for your skin, don't change it. Sensitive skin is more intolerant and you risk destabilising it by changing the product.
Avoid friction
Sensitive skin overreacts to friction. For example, you should avoid clothing that can create irritation, especially at the collar.
On the other hand, choose reusable facial wipes instead. They are softer than disposable cotton and more environmentally friendly.
You should also avoid all treatments that “scrub” the skin: peels, scrubs, astringent masks, etc. If you really care, you can try out a pink clay mask, but you don't want to let it dry too much before cleaning it off.
Avoid essential oils
Essential oils are very powerful concentrates from plants. Rather, it is advisable to avoid them, as your skin may overreact. If you like essential oils, save them for your diffuser, but don't apply them directly to the skin.
Products that are beneficial for sensitive skin
Here are some of the very gentle products that soothe, heal and hydrate the skin. Always check the composition of the product you choose so that it actually contains a sufficiently high level of the ingredient you are looking for to be effective.
The aloe vera
Aloe vera has all the benefits for sensitive skin. It is antiseptic, antibacterial, healing (it stimulates cell renewal), soothing and moisturizing.
You can very easily grow aloe vera in your home, as long as you don't leave it outside during the winter. It is a succulent plant that grows very quickly and recreates new plants automatically in its pot. Be careful not to overwater it, as it comes from rather dry countries.
You just have to break one of its stems and you apply the gel directly to your skin. Its softness is incredible and there you can be sure that it is an organic product!
Chamomile
Chamomile isn't just for herbal teas, it's prized for its anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties. It contains bisabolol, an alcohol which promotes the regeneration of the skin barrier, a weak point for sensitive skin.
Chamomile does not trigger any allergies and is very suitable for sensitive skin.
Donkey milk
Donkey milk is also very effective in passing irritation.
Calendula
Oats
The oats that you find in the form of milk repair your skin when it is damaged by a rash. Oat milk gives you protection against environmental factors by strengthening your skin barrier.
