Types Of Skin
5.Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin is usually quite fine in texture, with a tendency to be rosier than usual. Easily irritated by products and external factors, it’s also prone to redness and allergy, and may have fine broken veins across the cheeks and nose. There are varying levels of sensitivity. If you feel you can’t use any products on your skin without irritating it, cleanse with whole milk and moisturize with a solution of glycerin and rosewater. These should soothe it.
Sensitive skin needs extra-gentle products to keep it supple and healthy. Choose from a wide range of hypo-allergenic products that are specially formulated to protect sensitive skin. These products are free of common irritants, such as fragrance, that can cause dryness, itchiness or even an allergic reaction.
Characteristics Of Sensitive Skin:
If you have sensitive skin you will find that skincare or make-up products are very hard to use, creating itching, flaking, reddening or flushing. Eighty percent of women think they have sensitive skin, though in reality only 10 to 20 percent show the true characteristics. If you’re one of them, you’re likely to have fair skin or red hair, be prone to flushing easily (red veins and high color are signs of potential sensitivity) or suffer other types of allergy like hay fever or asthma, as these cause the release of histamines which make your skin more reactive. Stabilizing the skin and treating it with products that won’t cause these reactions are the way to get it looking good.
Causes Of Sensitive Skin:
1.Hereditary: You may have been born with a genetic predisposition to sensitive skin, such as thin, fine or light skin that is susceptible to sunburn. In this case, there is nothing you can do to “cure” it, you just need to learn how to reduce the irritants in your life and then learn to cope with it.
2.Sensitivity To A Product: Certain products can cause your skin to react due to certain irritants present in it. Such products can be detergents, certain skin care products, Fragrances, Bleaches, Sunscreens etc.
3.Certain Foods And Vitamins: Try to avoid foods with hot spices curries or peppers. Be very careful not to touch the juice of fresh peppers (wear gloves if you are making salsa) because it may cause your skin to burn. Very hot foods and liquids can also cause painful flushing of the skin. Caffeine and alcohol also cause vasodilation resulting in a flushing overheated and itchy feeling skin. Test yourself with these various foods and drinks, but keep in mind that while one food might not cause problems alone, in combination with others it can really irritate your skin. Some vitamins can also increase skin sensitivity. People with sensitive skin should avoid high doses of Niacin (Vitamin B3) because it releases histamines to the skin causing vasodilation.
4.Environmental Factors: Environmental factors such as cold, wind, rain, sun and heat can cause allergies that manifest themselves through blotchy skin or hives. This irritated skin has a heightened sensitivity.
5.Some Treatments: Waxing, laser treatment, chemical peels and dermabrasion and even shaving can irritate the skin. Hot showers, saunas and Jacuzzis (chlorine in pools and Jacuzzis can also dry and irritate the skin).
Do’s And Don’ts Of Sensitive Skin:
Do’s:
1. Normal soaps can dry the skin, be sure to use a moisturizing soap. Wash your face with mild baby soap.
2. Use a home made night cream, before retiring to bed for the night.
3. Limit your exposure to things that usually irritate your skin.
4. Wear gloves to protect your skin, especially when washing dishes or cleaning the house. If you wear plastic or rubber gloves, be sure to take breaks to wipe the sweat away from your hands as it too can irritate them.
5. Keep your showers or baths short and use only lukewarm water, followed immediately with a moisturizer that locks in the moisture.
6. Use a moisturizer designed specifically for sensitive skin.
Don’ts: 1. Never use any makeup or perfume without first trying a little of it on the inside of your wrist to see the reaction of your skin to it, for very few items of makeup agree with sensitive skin.
2. Don’t scratch or rub your skin. This not only irritates your skin, but it can also break the surface of the skin enabling irritants or bacteria to become trapped, resulting in further irritation.
3. Stop smoking, this dries and irritates your skin.
4. Don’t get too stressed as this also further irritates your sensitive skin.
5. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
How To Care For Sensitive Skin:
First, eliminate any unnecessary products from your skincare regime. The average woman uses five to six skincare products, so exposing her skin to more than 100 chemicals a day – and you could be sensitive to any one of these. All you really need for good skin is a cleanser, a moisturizer with a sunscreen and, depending on your age, an eye cream. Everything else is superfluous – and, in the case of harsh products like alcohol-based cleansers and toners, retinols and alpha-hydroxy acids, may cause more problems than they solve.
Second, make sure you avoid products containing ingredients most likely to cause sensitivity. These are usually fragrances, colors and preservatives (particularly formaldehyde), though technically you could be sensitive to anything. One relatively painless way of reducing the risk, is to use only those products from ranges that say they are hypoallergenic. Natural products may suit you, as they often containing calming ingredients like chamomile, cornflower, milk and liquorice.
Third, treat your skin with care. Make sure you cleanse gently to remove make-up at the end of the day as reactions tend to occur when you overexpose your skin to any product. Use very light, creamy cleansers or, preferably, facial wipes, which minimize your contact with product ingredients. Restrict cleansing to once a day to help maintain the skin’s own protection. Use a specialist eye make-up remover, as facial cleansers may include ingredients that will irritate your eyes.
Moisturizing is important: the drier the skin, the more prone it is to sensitivity. Apply a light moisturizer twice daily. To treat other problems like ageing or spots, do it just once a week and stick to one product. If your skin reacts, water down the dose by mixing it with a moisturizer or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. If you still get a reaction, stop.
Beauty Regimen For Sensitive Skin:
1. Make sure the make-up you use is hypo-allergenic, too, and remove it thoroughly. First use a soothing eye make-up remover. Apply with a cotton wool ball, then remove every last trace with a clean cotton bud.
2. It is advisable not to use facial washes and soaps, as these are likely to strip your skin of oil and moisture which can increase its sensitivity even more. So, instead, choose a light, hypo-allergenic cleansing lotion.
3. Even mild skin fresheners can break down the natural protection your delicate skin needs against the elements. So freshen it by splashing with warm water instead. This also removes the final traces of cleanser and eye make-up remover from your skin.
4. To dry your skin, lightly pat your face with a soft towel, taking care not to rub the skin because this could irritate it.
5. It is vital to keep your skin moisturized to keep it strong and supple and provide a barrier against irritants that can lead to sensitivity. Dryness can make sensitive skin more uncomfortable. So it is a good idea to choose an unscented moisturizer.
Calming Facial For Sensitive Skin: 1. Chamomile is incredibly calming, so for this session we’re going to skip your cleanser and opt for a soothing chamomile wash instead. Soak four chamomile tea bags in hot water. Once the water has cooled to warm, splash your face with this 20-30 times.
2. While your skin is still damp, stroke or tap the skin rapidly in downward motions. This helps drain away fluids and toxins under the skin’s surface – and the fewer toxins there are in your system, the less chance there is of allergic reactions occurring.
3. Apply a hydrating face mask from a hypoallergenic range, or try our soothing moisturizing mask with 1 cup natural yogurt and 1/2 cup oatmeal blended together and mixed well and applied on skin for 10 minutes and rinsed off with warm water. This soothing mask helps reduce irritation, it’s also great on sun-damaged skin. As sensitive eyes can often feel red and itchy, give them a treat by applying some cotton-wool pads soaked in the chamomile mixture of Step 1. Relax for five to ten minutes, then wash off the mask with tepid water. Stroke a soft cloth gently across the face to remove any excess. Don’t rub the skin – it will only make it redder. Finish off with a cooling gel moisturizer. For ultimate soothing power, pop the gel in the fridge before you apply it.
Home Treatments For Sensitive Skin: If you have a sensitive skin, you have to be very cautious about the products you use on your skin. Avoid experimenting with different cosmetics and stick to home made packs to care for your sensitive skin.
1.Aloe Vera Mask: Mix 3 Tbsp Fresh Cucumber Juice with 2 Tbsp Pure Aloe Vera Gel and 1 Tbsp Plain Yogurt and apply to your face and neck. Rinse soured after 15 minutes. Cucumber and Yogurt are uncolored Cleanser and Aloe Vera is a Skin Soother and Moisturizer.
2.Mango Mask: Mix 1 ripe mango to 6 tbsp of yogurt and puree the mixture. Apply on face and rinse off in 15 minutes. This pack soothes as well as nourishes sensitive skin.
3.Oatmeal Pack: Whip half a ripe mashed banana ( moisturizing), 2 Tbsp. ground oats (soothing), milk or cream, add as necessary (softening), pinch nutmeg (antiseptic), 2 Tbsp. whole wheat flour ( antioxidant) together, adding cream or oat flour as necessary to get a smooth, paste-like consistency. Spread on clean face and leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry. .
4.Oil Massage: Mix equal proportions of sweet almond and jojoba oil. Massage gently on face and neck and remove with warm cloth.
5.Papaya Mask: Mash 2/3 cup fresh Papaya. Beat an egg until it is frothy. Combine with the papaya mixture. Add 15oz can of pumpkin to the egg/papaya mixture and whip together or blend. Apply on face and neck and keep for 10 minutes. Rinse off.
The Right Make-Up For Sensitive Skin:
1. Avoid liquid cosmetics as far as possible. Use powder based cosmetics instead which are easy to remove and also contain less ingredients that may irritate your sensitive skin.
2. Always check for the expiry dates of your cosmetics. Throw out old cosmetics.
3. If you need to use eye shadows use earth tones as high concentration of pigmentation in darker eye shadows may cause irritation to your eye lid.
4. Use Herbal and organic products if possible, else use cosmetics that do not contain more than 10 ingredients.
5. Always use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or more in a non-greasy base.
6. Use a light foundation which preferably should be in a powder form.
Top Five Tips For Sensitive Skin:
1.Use products with fewer than 10 ingredients to reduce the risk of coming across something you’re allergic to. Research has shown that applying too many ingredients to the skin can send the skin’s immune system into overdrive.
2.Wear sunscreen. Choose one that contains physical rather than chemical blocks like titanium dioxide and is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
3.Alternate products. The skin tends to become sensitized to things it encounters often. Find two different products and alternate every few weeks.
4.Read labels. If you know you are allergic to a particular ingredient, avoid it. Bubble baths can contain chemical sunscreens to prevent them from fading; nail varnish contains formaldehyde, which is a common cause of itchy eyes.
5.If you’re really allergic, use only water and hydrocortisone cream for six months. Introduce gentle products one at a time.
Anti-Ageing Products: regularly use Eye Creams especially formulated for Sensitive skin. As a general rule, choose a sensitive skin anti aging eye cream that contains soothing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Green Tea or soothing essential oils like Rose and Lavender. As you age you need to use both lighter colored cosmetics and lighter hair colors.
