Best Korean Skincare For Sensitive Skin

Caring for sensitive skin requires extra caution and careful patch testing before slathering products all over your face, But have you ever considered the reasons why skin becomes sensitive in the first place?

Today, we’re taking a look at the best Korean skincare for sensitive skin. We’ll explore the root causes of skin sensitivity, plus some of the best ingredients to care for it.

Why Does Skin Become Sensitive?

Skin can become sensitive thanks to a variety of external environmental factors. This includes things like pollution, sun exposure and artificial heating. More

problematically, sometimes skin even becomes sensitive as a result of the use of incorrect or harsh skincare products or incompatible ingredients. This can erode the skin’s barrier and open it up to bacteria and other aggravations.

External factors can result in skin becoming dry, red, uneven and make it look older, with larger pores.

How To Avoid Sensitive Skin

Avoid Over-Exfoliation

We’ve previously covered the dangers of over-exfoliating skin, but it bares repeating: Over-doing it with your scrubs and acids can result in everything from:

The reason is that exfoliation targets the outer layer of the skin. Once this layer is compromised, the skin is unable to perform its barrier function as healthy skin cells are disrupted.

Don’t Leave The House Without Sunscreen

Hopefully this goes without saying, but you should never leave the house without sunscreen.

That is unless you fancy anything from sun spots and skin discolorations, to red veins, blotchiness, premature wrinkles, skin sensitivity and even the risk of skin cancer.

That’s a “no” from us!

Avoid Ingredients That Don’t Agree With Your Skin

Using a product or ingredients that’s not right for your skin can result in painful breakouts, bumps and clogged pores that can take weeks to clear. Some ingredients that can be problematic for some skin types include:

Make sure you always patch test any new skincare products you buy so that you can eliminate any that don’t agree with you ASAP.

Don’t Use Water That’s Too Hot

We know how tempting it is to jump into a hot shower or bath. But if you’re trying to aggravate your skin, this is a good way to go about it. When cleansing your face especially, it’s best to stick to lukewarm water and don’t towel-dry off too aggressively.

Sensitive-Skin Friendly Ingredients

If you’re looking for skincare ingredients that are skin-friendly, we recommend:

Allantoin – extracted from the comfrey plants, this ingredient stimulates skin cell regeneration to heal and protect sensitive skin while also softening and soothing.

Ectoin –  is an amino acid derivative that has been clinically proven to improve and protect the skin's barrier. It protects skin from dehydration and various external stressors such as free radicals, air pollution, and climate concerns.

Centella asiatica – not only is it effective in treating wounds, this famous Asian plant also aids in healing incisions and burns, by promoting collagen production and inhibiting the inflammation that leads to scarring.

Green tea – the polyphenols in green tea have potent antioxidant and skin-soothing properties, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

Licorice – thanks to its glabridin content, licorice helps protect skin from environmental stressors that cause sensitivity.

Madecassoside – one of the bioactive compounds in Centella asiatica, this ingredient serves as an antioxidant and has been shown to be non-sensitizing. It helps to revitalize skin’s surface.

The Best Korean Beauty Products For Sensitive Skin

If you’re already suffering from sensitivities, these are our top picks for gently caring for sensitive skin:

Jelly Ko Dewy Glaze Toner - using birch sap water instead of regular water as the first ingredient, this ultra nourishing toner is the perfect first step to use after cleansing.  

Subi Perfect Pimple Patches – These 100% vegan, cruelty-free, drug and alcohol free patches are perfect for sensitive skin. They skip out on drying anti-acne ingredients altogether and rely on hydrocolloid instead.

Jelly Ko White Truffle Souffle Serum - One pump is all you need to transform dull, dry, rough, irritated and sensitive skin. Our whip soft, soufflé-textured serum reinforces skin’s barrier, increases elasticity, restores moisture and improves the look of fine lines.

Jelly Ko Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask - recently reformulated to include ectoin, which is a super-star ingredient for sensitive skin, this jelly-textured mask is perfect to use overnight to repair and restore your skin while you sleep. 

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