This was a requested episode from one of our listeners, who was interested to know the causes of sensitive skin and whether sensitivity is only caused by a broken skin barrier? If there are different causes of sensitivity, should people treat sensitive skin differently based on the cause?
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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 K-Beauty 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 ingredients that don’t agree with your skin
I don’t like fear-mongering in skincare and I certainly don’t agree with a blanket ban on all types of ingredients that some influencers and bloggers like to push.
The truth is that nearly all common ingredients in skincare products are fine for the vast majority of people. They wouldn’t be in the products if they were toxic or harmful because very few companies are in the business of courting lawsuits and product recalls.
That’s not to say that some ingredients don’t agree with some people, but blanket ruling out entire categories of ingredients in skincare products is akin to extreme diet culture in my books. For most people, all things in moderation is the recipe for healthy skin.
Some ingredients that can be problematic for some skin types include:
- Dyes
- Fragrances
- Parabens
- Alcohols
- Preservatives
- Sulfates
- Phthalates and
- Acids
- Coconut oil
- Lanolin
- Essential oils
- Isopropyl palmitate
Make sure you always patch test any new skincare products you buy so that you can eliminate any that don’t agree with you.
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.
Don’t use water that’s too hot
I 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.
Avoid over-exfoliation
We’ve previously covered the dangers of over-exfoliating skin, but it bares repeating: Overdoing 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.
SENSITIVE-SKIN FRIENDLY K-BEAUTY INGREDIENTS
If you’re looking for Korean skincare ingredients that work for most sensitive skin types try:
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.
Panthenol - also known as Provitamin B5, is the alcohol form of vitamin B5. When skin care products containing Provitamin B5 are absorbed by the skin, the provitamin is converted to Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), which moisturises, calms, repairs and revitalizes skin.
Adenosine functions as a skin soothing and restoring agent.
THE BEST KOREAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
If you’re already suffering from sensitivities, these are some products that can help:
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.
Jelly Ko Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask - contains allantoin, adenosine and panthenol, which are both on the sensitive skin friendly list and skips out on alcohol, silicone, essential oils, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, parabens, urea, DEA, PEGs, TEA and phthalates. The light gel texture is very soothing.
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 the ticket for dry, dull, lacklustre, sensitive and aging skin.
Tosowoong Pure Green Tea Mask – bathed in high quality green tea extract, this mask relieves sensitivities with vitamins and minerals that deeply hydrate, visibly plump, calm and protect skin.
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.
Tosowoong Green Tea Eco Brightening Essence – this hydrating and brightening essence uses green tea to soothe and calm red, irritated and sensitive skin.
Resources for Today’s Episode
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