Caring for sensitive skin requires extra caution and careful patch testing o 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-exfoliatingskin, but it bares repeating: Over-doing it with your scrubs and acids can result in everything from:
excessive dryness irritation redness breakouts; and even a burning sensation on the skin.
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.
Burdock root – this is a plant extract that soothes skin and acts as an antioxidant.
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.
Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel– this moisturising gel contains natural, gentle ingredients with no alcohol or fragrance. It helps soothe irritated skin and maintain the correct level of hydration.
APLB Derma Daily Repair Cream – Harnessing the power of peptides plus skin brightening niacimamide, hydrating sodium hyaluronate and wrinkle-fighting ceramides, this intensive daily repair skin is just what the dermatologist ordered for dry, dull, lacklustre, sensitive and aging skin.
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.
Benton Aloe Soothing Mask Pack– this gentle face mask offers soothing, hydrating, nourishing, cooling and revitalising benefits to sensitive, easily-irritated skin.
iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream– Combining Centella asiatica leaf water (70%) with soothing Tea tree leaf water 10%, this calming moisturiser takes care of blotchiness and sensitivity.
"Caring for sensitive skin requires extra caution and careful patch testing o before slathering products all over your face, But have you ever considered the reasons why skin becomes sensitive in the first place?"
