If you have sensitive skin, then the skin care aisle in any store can feel like a danger zone. With the amount of products available on the shelves these days, it can be hard to know what to try and what could possibly cause a flare up or break out. In addition to tons of products all claiming to be good for sensitive skin types, even those aren’t always the match we were looking for. The goal is to find products for your skin care routine that won’t hurt your skin, but rather nourish your skin with vitamins and minerals, leaving it feeling soft and fresh. That’s why we’ve turned to the experts for help. These products are the top dermatologist recommended skin care products for sensitive skin to help you achieve the smooth skin you want. The reason these made dermatologists’ top lists (as well as our own) is because they are low on irritating ingredients, such as parabens, fragrances, sulfates, and other harsh chemicals, and packed with natural, soothing ingredients specifically for sensitive and allergy prone skin types (1).
Ready to find skin care products that reap the results you want without leaving your skin irritated? Let’s dive in!
First Things First, Face Wash
The first step to any skin care routine is a good face wash. You should wash your face both morning and evening for maximum results. The reason you do this is to wash off any dirt’s, oil’s, and bacteria’s left over throughout the day to avoid breakouts, excessive oils, or even severe dryness depending on your skin type. You will also want to splash your face with a quick wash every morning as well, to prepare your skin for the day. When it comes to a good face wash, we recommend is the Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk.
There is much to love about Andalou, but what makes them especially recommended is the fact that they are the first non-GMO Project Verified beauty brand. They are committed to delivering skin care products that are clean, safe, and completely 100% packed with natural ingredients to protect sensitive skin types and our planet.
Exfoliator
This can seem like a scary word for those of us who have particularly sensitive skin. Exfoliators have always irritated in the past, so why would I add this into my skin care routine? While exfoliating is not a step that should be done every day, it is still a vital step in the skin care routine. When it comes to exfoliating there are two roads to take: Product or manual. Product exfoliating is going to be exactly that, using a product to scrub away dead skin cells. This can be especially irritating for sensitive skin types and tends to cause some sort of flare up. That’s why we are taking the manual route! With manual, you are not using products or chemicals, but rather a handheld, exfoliator.
To use a manual exfoliator, make sure to do it once a week, or every other week. Use your face wash at night but before you wash off the face wash, take your manual exfoliator and gently run it over your skin. Once you have gone over your face and neck, wash off your face wash with cold water.
There are many different manual exfoliators available, but we recommend using the softest one on the market, the Innerneed Manual Face Massager Brush.
The reason dermatologists recommend this brand over others is because the brushes are a soft, thin silicone designed specifically for sensitive skin. This can give your skin the extra boost it needs without scratching or irritating your skin further. The facial brushes are made from 100% natural, food grade silicone for easy cleaning, quick drying, and no deformation. The brushes are extremely easy to use, and work wonders for your skin!
Curious about the difference between a cleanser and exfoliator? Click here to learn more.
Tone It Up
Next on the list is a good toner, your new best friend if you are not using this already. Toners are magical because they reduce redness, puffiness, dryness, and oiliness by balancing the pH levels in your skin. The best part about toners is they also work instantly. So if you have redness leftover after you take off your makeup for the day, or puffiness under your eyes when you wake up in the morning, simply apply a small amount of toner product to a cotton ball or makeup pad and watch it work its wonders.
While toners are an incredible product to add into your skin care routine, there is one thing to keep in mind when it comes to pairing this product with sensitive skin types: when looking for a toner, always look for witch hazel as the main ingredient. Many toner products will sneak in harsh chemicals and even alcohol which can leave your skin super irritated and dried out. That’s why dermatologists turn to Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner.
Thayers, of course, is alcohol free and has witch hazel as its main ingredient. But that’s not the only reason dermatologists recommend this product! Thayers also has beneficial tannins including mild antioxidants that help reduce irritation and redness while clearing up skin. Since it is completely natural, it is ideal for sensitive skin types and may even help reduce sensitive over time (depending on your skin type).
Moisturize
Last but not least is a good moisturizer. The last step of any routine should include some sort of skin hydration, and when it comes to sensitive skin this step can look different for everyone. Once you have washed your face, gently exfoliated, and applied your toner, apply a pea size amount of moisturizer to your finger tips and work into your skin. If you don’t know where to start with products, however, we recommend using TULA’s Probiotic 24-7 Moisture Day & Night Cream.
This product is made with sensitive skin in mind, deriving all its ingredients from. Carefully sourced, natural ingredients including probiotics and superfoods. TULA works to create a lightweight moisturizer that’s light enough to wear under make up (or wear by itself without making your skin appear oily) yet strong enough to penetrate deep into the skin for a thorough hydration. It is suitable for all skin types, and a great way to end your skin care routine each day and night.
