5 Easy Beauty Tips for Sensitive Skin

Having a set skin regimen when you have sensitive skin can be a bit difficult. Most common beauty products out on the market aren’t quite made for sensitive skin. Even those that claim to be gentle on sensitive skin often have ingredients that cause irritation and inflammation.

Here we’ve included a few natural skin care tips for those with sensitive skin. Even better, most of the ingredients in these tips are already in your kitchen!

Since all skin reacts differently, if you’re trying out a new trick, we do recommend you test it out first on the inside of your arm to see how your skin will react.

 

Don’t Use Bar Soaps

According to Renée Rouleau, using bar soaps can dry out the skin. Using a bar of soap, especially to wash your face, can be harmful to the skin. She claims that, “although many bar soaps are now better formulated and gentler (due to a lower pH that closely matches the normal skin level), they will still be more drying than sulfate-free gels, foams, liquids and creams.”

When you wash with soap that is too harsh or drying, it pulls all the moisture from the skin and creates dead, dry skin cell buildup. Your skin is left feeling tight and dehydrated. Instead, try using ultra-gentle liquid face washes, like our Hydrating Foam Soapberry Face Cleanser in Relaxing Lavender.

 

Use a Natural Toner, Designed for Sensitive Skin

Cider Vinegar diluted in water

Using a cider vinegar as a toner on your skin can have many benefits. It can help reduce age spots, skin imperfections and blemishes, and it can help balance your skin’s pH. To prepare this toner, simply mix 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar in a cup of water.

To use, apply on a cotton pad and gently dab onto the face. Splash your face with cold water once you’re done if you want to remove the smell. This will also close up your pores to prevent dirt from entering afterward. If you find that the mixture is still too strong for your sensitive skin, simply add more water until you find the balance that works for you.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is also a natural anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredient for sensitive skin. It contains various minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and saponins that are vital to the healthy function of the body's systems. Aloe vera is also commonly used to treat rashes and burns, reduce inflammation and to boost the immune system.

To prepare the toner, simply slice an aloe vera leaf and scoop out the gel inside. Dilute 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel in 1 cup of cool or cold water. If it’s too thick, you can also mix it in the blender until it’s nice and smooth.To use, apply the aloe vera solution onto your face using a cotton pad.

 

Use a Natural Moisturizer

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a skin superfood that also has many uses for all around the house! Coconut oil is a great moisturizer. It is absorbed quickly by the skin, and its antibacterial properties aid in the treatment of acne, wrinkles, and soothing irritated skin.

To use, simply pour a very small amount onto your hands and massage into your face. Wait 5-10 minutes for the skin to absorb the coconut oil and gently wipe off any excess with a cotton towel. Remember this last step, as coconut oil is comedogenic, meaning it can clog your pores if not properly rinsed off!

Shea Butter

Shea butter comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) tree and that is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F. Shea butter is also anti-inflammatory and  gives the skin essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production.

To use on the skin, simply rub a small amount onto your hands and massage into the skin. No need to use a huge amount, since a little also goes a long way! Try our Moisture Defense Shea Body Butter & Hand Cream Set!

 

Gently Exfoliate Your Skin Once a Week

Yogurt

Yogurt is packed with many nutrients that are good for the skin. Yogurt is a great gentle exfoliator. The pH of yogurt is about 4.5 which is low enough for it to be effective as an exfoliant.

To use, apply a tablespoon of full fat plain yogurt onto your face. Let it sit for a 5-10 minutes and then rinse off. Another natural option is buttermilk, it contains more levels of lactic acid (3-4%), which is the natural exfoliant in yogurt.  

Gentle Sugar Face Scrub

Sugar can be very good for sensitive skin. It’s a natural humectant, this means that it draws moisture from the environment into the skin helping keep it hydrated. Sugar also is a natural source of glycolic acid, an acid that encourages cell turnover and generates fresher, younger-looking skin.

You can try out Wellness Mama’s gentle face scrub recipe. It calls for two to three easy ingredients: ½ cup of either white or brown sugar, ½ cup of olive oil, and, if you’re feeling adventurous, the essential oil of your choosing. To prepare, simply mix all the ingredients and then store in an airtight jar. To use, measure 1 tablespoon and gently scrub skin in the shower and then rinse well.

 

Try our Activated Charcoal Deep Purifying Hydration Clay Mask.

Coffee Face Mask/Scrub

 

When you combine quality coffee grounds with other natural ingredients to create a coffee scrub, the benefits for your skin are pretty noticeable. If you use the right natural ingredients, this coffee scrub can be very soothing for skin. 

You can use this coffee face and body scrub that combines antioxidant-rich coffee, exfoliating oats, blemish-fighting honey, and skin-brightening cinnamon. Simply measure out one tablespoon of coffee grounds (you can use leftover coffee grounds too), 2 tablespoons of ground oats, one tablespoon of creamed honey, and two shakes of cinnamon. To use, gently scrub onto face and leave on for 10-15 minutes.

Egg White and Oatmeal Face Mask

 

Egg white beauty treatments have astringent properties that are good for those with oily skin.  They help tighten large pores that overly secrete sebum (natural oil). Since egg whites help control the secretion of sebum, they can also help treat and prevent acne and blackheads.

To prepare this face mask, you will need: 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon of ground oatmeal and 1 teaspoon of honey. Whisk the egg white until it becomes foamy. Then mix in well the oatmeal and honey. To use, apply onto the face and leave on for 15-20 minutes.

Have you tried one of these natural beauty tips before? Let us know in the comments below!