Choosing Beauty Products When You Have Sensitive Skin

When your skin is sensitive — meaning it gets irritated easily — shopping for beauty products can feel like a gamble. You don’t quite know what will cause a reaction whether it be a rash, itchiness or bumps.

Shopping for your sensitive skin doesn’t need to be impossible — you just need to know what to look for! If you have skin that irritates easily, these are the things you are going to want to keep in mind next time you shop for a beauty product:

Choose Products Clearly Marked for Sensitive Skin

A lot of brands will create products for specific skin types. For example, the latest Erno Laszlo skin care products on the market include a variety of quality soaps — including a soap bar specifically for sensitive skin. If a product has been marked as “for sensitive skin,” you can rest easy that it’s been made without fragrance or any active ingredients that can cause a flare-up.

Check the Ingredient List

Most people don’t look at what goes into their beauty products. That said, especially when you have sensitive skin, it’s important to know what you’re putting on your face. If you have sensitive skin and are shopping for new care items, look for products with ingredients that are gentle and have healing properties — like aloe vera! This is a common ingredient in organic skin care products and has both anti-inflammatory and healing properties.

Hypoallergenic Products

Products that are marked as hypoallergenic tend to have simpler ingredients to reduce the chances of an allergic reaction. While you may still react to these products, the chances are slimmer. The ingredients in these products are, without a doubt, more carefully chosen and balanced than those in others.

Try a Tester

When you have sensitive skin, it’s hard to know what will cause a reaction — which is why it’s key to test out products before making a purchase. This way you don’t only see how the product looks, but you’ll be able to identify how you react to the product. Obviously, you don’t want to test an item all over your face — that’s a bit risky, especially given that the skin on your face is naturally more sensitive than the rest of your body. Do a patch test on a lower risk area — like your wrist — to gauge your reaction.

Go Fragrance-Free

When you’re browsing, look for fragrance-free products. The fact is, skin care products with fragrances — whether they be a body wash or a bar of soap — can irritate and dry out your skin. These fragrances have chemicals that may smell good but often cause a poor reaction.

Stick to Natural Products

Organic products on the whole are a lot lower risk as they don’t contain the same chemicals and pore-clogging properties as mainstream makeup. Organic skin care products include natural ingredients with restorative and moisturizing properties that will help your sensitive skin stay hydrated and refreshed.

Stay Away from Water Proof Makeup

While waterproof makeup lasts longer than average makeup, it’s also a lot harder to take off. These products are a lot stronger, and can only be removed using particular products that, in hindsight, can also be a skin irritant. Shopping for sensitive skin isn’t as hard as you think! You just need to be aware of what’s in the products you are looking to buy, and what’s made specifically for your needs.