Got Sensitive Skin? Try This Gentle Daily Skincare Routine

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For someone who has sensitive skin, I realise I write very little about skincare products that are sensitive skin specific!

You may have noticed that I recently revamped this website. And as I was going through and recategorising blog posts, I suddenly became aware of just how few are centred around sensitive skin and how to deal with it.

With a change in seasons, my skin has once again become a little dry and irritated, so I thought I’d go through the products I’m currently using to try and combat this.

Building a gentle skincare routine that calms and nourishes your sensitive skin can make all the difference. With the right products, you can stop your skin from getting quite so dry and sore, and even work on repairing your moisture barrier at the same time.

Here’s the gentle daily skincare routine I’ve been following to try to soothe and protect my sensitive skin. In this post, I break down which types of products you should be using, and which ingredients it’s best to avoid. Let’s jump in!

What is sensitive skin? And how can you identify it?

The American Academy of Dermatology recognises five skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive.

Many people believe that you can only have one skin type, but the reality is that there’s quite a bit of overlap. For example, you can have oily skin that’s also reactive. Your skin type isn’t a fixed category, there’s a lot of variation!

Skin sensitivity is often overlooked because people either 1) get hung up on their skin type (‘surely my skin just feels tight because I’ve got dry skin?’) or 2) they don’t know the signs to look out for.

Sensitive skin can present in the following ways:

• Redness
• Stinging or soreness
• Dryness or tightness
• Roughness
• Itching

Morning skincare routine for sensitive skin

Step 1: Cleanser

Opt for a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that washes the skin thoroughly without stripping it. You don’t want to scrub the face too much, or rub the product in for too long (60 seconds maximum).

I really like the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser, which contains Green Tea and Heart Leaf extracts to soothe the skin.

Step 2: Toner or essence

Steer well clear of toners containing alcohols or exfoliating acids. Instead, go for something that’s going to quench and hydrate the skin. A lightweight milky toner is my top choice here.

The Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner is particularly good. It’s super affordable and instantly quells any soreness or irritation.

Step 3: Serum

A skin-soothing serum is going to further reduce redness. I’d reach for something that contains plant extracts that are known for calming the skin, like Centella Asiatica or Heart Leaf.

The Purito Wonder Releaf Centella Serum is a game changer for easily irritated skin – just make sure you get the unscented version!

The Abib Heartleaf TECA Capsule Serum is also a great choice for oily skin, as it contains ingredients that help control excess oil production.

Step 4: Moisturiser

A gel moisturiser is always a winner for sensitive skin, especially if your skin leans oily.

My daily go-to moisturiser is the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Cream. It’s so light, yet so hydrating, and it sits really well under makeup. It’s the perfect morning moisturiser.

Step 5: Sunscreen

Some people with sensitive skin find that chemical UV filters can be irritating. A mineral sunscreen might be a safer pick, as Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide are well-tolerated by reactive skin.

That said, mineral sunscreens do tend to leave a white cast. So, if you’re looking for a gentle, non-irritating chemical sunscreen, I really recommend either the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum or the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics. Both of these are extremely kind on sensitive, easily irritated skin.

Evening skincare routine for sensitive skin

Step 1: Oil cleanser

If you’re wearing sunscreen or makeup in the morning, double cleansing is a step that you just can’t skip in your evening skincare routine.

For skin that’s easily sensitised though, cleansing your face twice can cause some irritation, especially if your oil cleanser really needs to be worked into the skin.

Try to pick a product that doesn’t require too much scrubbing to remove makeup or impurities. I reach for the Dermatica Caring Squalane Cream Cleanser all the time. It’s packed with nourishing plant oils and it feels so calming on the skin.

Step 2: Water-based cleanser

You can either use the same cleanser you used in the morning, or something a little richer.

I’m currently really enjoying the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser for my nighttime cleanse. It’s a really gentle foaming facial wash which feels like it’s doing the skin good!

Step 3: Toner or essence

Again, you can use your morning toner or try something completely different. I’d either use the Byoma Milky Toner or the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Essence Toner. These are both rich, viscous toners so they’re really great at keeping your skin hydrated through the night.

When it comes to essences, I love the Rhode Glazing Milk – this brings down redness and irritation SO quickly! A great pick if your skin is in serious need of some TLC!

Step 4: Ampoule

I don’t tend to apply ampoules in the morning, it just feels like one skincare step too many. But, in the evening, an extra layer of hydration is very much appreciated!

I usually go for the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule or the ISOI CICAGO Cica Double Effect Ampoule. These really help lock in moisture and fortify the skin barrier.

Step 5: Moisturiser

In the evening, I love a barrier-boosting moisturiser like the Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream. It contains a bunch of skin-loving ingredients like Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol (obvs!) and Copper Peptides.

Best ingredients for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin thrives when the skincare products you use are either calming or hydrating, or both. Some ingredients you might want to look out for are:

The lists above aren’t exhaustive, and there’s also a lot of crossover between the two.

Ingredients to avoid if you have sensitive skin

Depending on how sensitive your skin is, you may still be able to use some of the ingredients below. But you’ll definitely want to patch test them beforehand, and use them with caution.

If an exfoliating toner says, for example, that you can use it every day morning and night, you may still want to limit your usage to once or twice a week.

Here are some ingredients that can be potential irritants for sensitive skin:

• Exfoliating acids (e.g. AHAs or BHAs)
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Retinoids – You might be able to use a more gentle form like retinol, but avoid jumping straight into using a high-strength retinoid like tretinoin.
• Vitamin C – Again, low concentration formulas might be ok but go slow!
• Essential oils and fragrance
• Denatured alcohol

What’s your current go-to daily skincare routine for your sensitive skin? Are there any skincare products that you recommend? Let me know in the comments!