When you’ve got sensitive skin, suddenly lots of common skincare ingredients are off the table. Fragrance? Forget it. Parabens? Nope. Synthetics? You get the picture.
What is sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin is often characterised by inflammation and occurs when the nerve endings in the top layer of the skin become irritated. Skin becomes irritated when its natural barrier has broken down and it can’t fight off nasties in the environment or in some cases, your skincare.
The skin’s natural barrier breaks down when it’s exposed for long periods of time to irritants, such as the sun, pollution, harsh weather, or from hormonal changes, stress, and a lack of sleep.
How do I know if I have sensitive skin?
If your skin often feels dry, tight and sore to touch – chances are you have sensitive skin. You might also experience flakiness or itchiness, or develop redness when using certain types of skincare. If you have sensitive skin, you’re probably familiar with these symptoms!
Sensitive skin is caused by a number of factors, including
- Dry flaky skin disorders
- Dry or injured skin that has lost its protection barrier, so it’s become sensitive to trigger
- Exposure to harsh environments, such as sun/heat, cold or wind
Sensitive skin and acne
As if the side effects of sensitive skin weren’t enough, many of us have acne to contend with too.
You’ve probably tried to treat your acne with all the typical zit-zapping products out there, you know the ones – they dry out your skin to reduce sebum (oil) production. Makes sense, right? Less oil = less acne? Not so much. The skin responds to dryness by actually producing more sebum – totally defeating your zit-zapping goal.
Acne needs love too!
Acne is annoying – we totally get it. But instead of blasting your pimples with benzoyl peroxide (a common anti-acne ingredient), why not try giving your skin a bit of love? Acne-prone sensitive skin types should avoid:
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Scents, fragrances, essential oils or other botanical ingredients
- Soaps and perfumes
- Lanolin
Instead, look for a pH-balanced cleanser, oil free moisturisers, and a non-irritating spot gel.
Epiology’s three step system is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Its active ingredient, IDP, effectively delivers bioactive enzymes and proteins to prevent acne, while still protecting the skin.
The Foaming Cleanser washes away bacteria and oil leaving skin clean and smooth. Clinically proven to prevent acne, the Advanced Anti-Acne Cream contains the powerful IDP ingredient, which is a powerful natural defense shown to prevent the spread of acne bacteria, and reduce skin redness and irritation. The Extra Strength Spot Gel is a double strength powerful gel formula that penetrates deeply to prevent formation of pimples and reduce scarring.
