Your face is one of the most sensitive areas of your body. Facial skin care is an important topic for many people, because sensitive facial skin is fairly common in today's population. You probably have sensitive skin if you have thin or fine skin. If you have found that your facial skin is reacting to some skin products and showing signs of irritation or redness, you probably have sensitive skin. People with sensitive facial skin are most likely to sunburn and their skin freaks out if a product is too harsh. To help you take good care of your skin, here are some helpful skin care tips for you.
Choose mild cleansers. Avoid cleansers and toners that contain alcohol or benzoyl peroxide as these tend to be too strong for sensitive skin. Find cleansers and lotions with calming ingredients such as lavender, chamomile, and rose.
If you have sensitive facial skin, it is best to tone only once per day. If toning once a day is drying out your skin, skip toning altogether. A good toner should make your face feel smooth and refreshed. It will tighten the pores in the face and make your skin look smoother.
Again, beware of products that contain harsh ingredients. If your face is very sensitive, you may have to avoid any type of products that contain dyes, colourings, scents and alcohol or some form of it as they will irritate your skin. Choose a toner that will not irritate or dry your skin.
Do not apply too much moisturiser on your skin. To keep your skin healthy, you need to moisturise your skin often as part of your facial skin care regimen. Buy a mild moisturising cream and apply it on your skin as needed. Too much oil on your skin can clog your pores. Just apply enough moisturiser to keep your skin well hydrated.
Wear sunscreen, even on a cloudy day. Sunscreen will protect against the harmful UV rays and prevent you from getting sunburn or worse, skin cancer. Since a lot of sunscreens do cause irritation to sensitive skin, you'd better use a natural sunscreen. You should also wear protective clothing and a wide brim hat as part of your skin care regimen when outdoors.
Natural products are very good for sensitive facial skin, because they are free from the harsh chemicals that can cause skin problems. Generally, products that contain natural ingredients will be better for your skin and less likely to cause a skin reaction.
Even when using natural products, people with sensitive facial skin need to be careful. As some facial skin reactions are caused by allergies, even organic products may cause an adverse reaction in someone. Check every product on a small area of your skin first, and stop using a product if it seems to be triggering the symptoms associated with sensitive skin.
Diet can play an important part in skin break outs. A healthy diet containing plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will help skin look healthy. People with sensitive facial skin should pay attention to their diet and take note if any foods seem to trigger a skin reaction.
Even some healthy foods may cause a reaction in some people, so be careful. Hot and spicy foods are particularly likely to cause a negative effect. People should always drink lots of water, which will help keep their skin hydrated. When skin is adequately hydrated, it is healthier and better able to fight off skin irritations.
An edited extract of the article: The Basic Knowledge of Sensitive Skin Care Oct 2009.
Author: Ben Crabtree
