6 Ingredients to Avoid if you have Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is more prone to react to stimuli to which normal skin shows no reaction. It is fragile skin, usually accompanied by feelings of uneasiness, like heat, redness, itching, roughness, etc.
As people with sensitive skin know well, selecting the right products is a challenging task. Even seemingly harmless ingredients can cause redness, itchiness, irritation, inflammation and various other unpleasant reactions. So, in this blog post by Girls N Beauty, we will highlight the common skin-care mistakes to avoid if you have sensitive skin.
List of ingredients to avoid:
Fragrance
Cosmetic products also contain fragrances which are the most common irritant that can also result in allergies. Whether or not fragrances are made naturally, they all can cause allergy, redness, or irritation. Various skin care products have fragrances like serums, moisturizer toners, etc. Even fragrance-free products may contain scents to cover the fragrance of other components. These products can be more harmful irritating your sensitive skin more than regular fragrances.
The best solution is to look for allergen-free fragrances and skincare products. Therefore, instead of looking for fragrance-free products look for allergen-free fragrances. With these products, you are making sure that your skin is least provoked to a reaction. Also, as you already know sensitive skin is allergic to fragrances, so it is best not to use perfume too.
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl Peroxide is a chemical compound commonly found in acne-fighting products. But is incredibly harsh on the skin barrier and for sensitive skin, it’s best to not use these skincare products. This chemical dries out the pimples and stips the skin moisture. Benzoyl Peroxide removes the layer of hydration that protects the skin. Thus, using such chemicals makes it worse for people with sensitive skin prone to irritation, redness, itchiness, or inflammation.
Look for calming and soothing skincare products that contain ingredients like botanical edelweiss extract or active marinara, these both have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant ingredients.
Lactic acid is another best option for sensitive skin as it is gentle to your skin and helps you clear your skin without damaging your skin barrier. Even using regular daily use products, people with sensitive skin should be careful not to overdo them and stick to smaller concentrations.
Propylene glycol
If you have sensitive skin, Propylene glycol is another thread for you. This chemical can be an irritant for your skin resulting in allergic reactions. According to skincare experts and researchers if you are allergic to Propylene glycol then it might show the results like redness, rash, or itchiness. These ingredients inhibit skin cell growth and damage cell membranes, resulting in dry skin, rashes, and surface damage.
Retinoids
Retinoids are found in skin care products to reduce the sign of ageing. Moreover, individuals with sensitive skin should avoid using retinoids because they break the skin barrier. Hence, if your skin type is sensitive look for gentler anti-aging ingredients and avoid retinoids.
Vitamin C
Despite Vitamin C being the powerhouse ingredient for wrinkle filling and free radical defence, it is another ingredient to avoid for people with sensitive skin. Because it can cause discomfort that results in redness, itchiness, etc. When looking for vitamin C, look for a gentler form with the right consistency.
Over-exfoliating
The most common mistake we make is going hard on the exfoliation. By over-exfoliating, we end up harming our skin. Over-exfoliating shows the symptoms such as dryness, burning, redness, inflammation, etc.
So, try not to over over-exfoliate with physical scrubs. Using physical scrubs daily is not necessary, nor is it more beneficial than scrubbing once or twice a week. Our skin has a natural renewal cycle of about 28 days and exfoliation supports this natural biological cycle. But over-exfoliating does not help in this process.
Conclusion
As we know every individual’s skin is different, so what works for others might not work for you. People with sensitive skin should be careful, slow, and steady while choosing or adding new skin care products to their routines. Introduce one product at a time, and wait to see the result if does not show any sign of discomfort, then it can be added to your skincare routine.
Also, we hope reading this article about what to avoid if you have sensitive skin was a little bit helpful for you and if you want to know other related Girls N Beauty blog posts, please click this link.
FAQ’s
What ingredients should I avoid if I have sensitive skin?
If you have sensitive skin, please avoid ingredients like fragrance, sulfates, alcohol, parabens, essential oils, and synthetic dyes. These can also further cause redness, irritation, and dryness.
Why is fragrance bad for sensitive skin?
Fragrance is bad for sensitive skin which contains allergens and irritants that may trigger allergic reactions or irritate skin. It can further lead to inflammation and redness.
How does alcohol affect the skin?
Alcohol affects the sensitive skin as alcohol strips away the skin’s natural oil, causing dryness and irritation. So make sure you avoid products that are high with high alcohol content.
Can essential oils irritate sensitive skin?
Yes, essential oils, while natural oils can be irritating to your skin. They may cause redness, allergic reactions, and inflammation.
