Having sensitive or reactive skin is no walk in the park. There are plenty of perfectly normal ingredients out there that can trigger a reaction—meaning you have to be extra careful about what you use on your complexion. “Sensitive” is also a broad term. Sometimes, having skin that’s extra delicate just means that you’re prone to redness or irritation, and other times, it can mean full-on breakouts.
Whichever camp you fall into, there are a few ingredients board-certified dermatologist, Kaveri Karhade, MD, says you should seek out—especially in a key product like your moisturizer. “Look for gentle moisturizers (especially allergen-free ones) containing soothing [and] hydrating ingredients such as ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.” These are great for irritation and redness. If you’re wondering what you should generally avoid if you have sensitive skin, well, that depends.
First, it’s important to identify any triggering ingredients that may cause you to have a reaction because you could be allergic. Once you’ve done that, it’s best to also consider a few other things. “Avoid AHAs or BHAs [in your moisturizer] and focus on gentle hydrating ingredients instead. Avoid chemical sunscreens, as they can also irritate sensitive skin. Mineral sunscreens are a better choice.” This is a great note if you weren’t necessarily thinking about your sunscreen in terms of what could be irritating your skin. If you’re on the hunt for a good moisturizer, though, you’ll find Karhade’s recommendations and a few of our other favorite options for sensitive skin below.
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