Steps to Create a Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Finding the right skincare formulas to care for sensitive skin can be tricky, because sensitive skin comes in different forms. You may experience dryness, oiliness or blemishes and still have a sensitised complexion – so it’s important to select formulas suited to your skin’s needs. Look for sensitive skincare products formulated to help comfort and strengthen the skin moisture barrier and enriched with ingredients that target your complexion concerns. It can take time to develop an effective sensitive skincare routine, but we’ve made it a little easier with this guide to the best CeraVe skincare products for sensitive skin.

What is sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin is defined by its reactive nature, often to external conditions like extreme weather or certain skincare formulas. But sensitivity can also be genetic or a symptom of a weakened or damaged skin moisture barrier that leaves skin vulnerable. So, what does sensitive skin look like?

• Prone to redness
• Itchy sensations
• Uneven skin tone
• Rough or bumpy skin texture

Ahead, learn to build the best skincare routine for sensitive skin that still addresses your other complexion concerns.

4 step skincare routine for sensitive skin

Not all sensitive skin behaves the same way, so learning how to manage different sensitive skin types is helpful in building a sensitive skincare routine. This is because the ingredients most suited to a skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin will look different to those better used to care for oily or blemish-prone sensitive skin. Another pillar of caring for sensitive skin is to take a ‘less is more’ approach, so instead of loading up your routine with lots of steps, keep it simple by:

1. Cleansing
2. Applying serums
3. Moisturising
4. Using body care

Now, let’s unpack how to implement a sensitive skincare routine

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing your complexion is the foundational step of any skincare routine, helping purify the skin and enhance the efficacy of products applied afterwards. For those with sensitive skin, it’s important to select a gentle cleanser that leaves your complexion feeling comforted.
• Niacinamide is ideal in skincare for mild acne-prone sensitive skin because its gentle nature is well tolerated by this skin type, and its antioxidant properties can help improve the look of discolouration. Try cleansing with niacinamide-infused Ceramides Foaming Oil-Free Cleanser.

• Dry sensitive skin requires a deeply hydrating, gentle cleanser that doesn’t leave skin feeling tight. Ceramides Hydrating Cleanser for Dry Skin uses ceramides to support a stronger skin moisture barrier and hyaluronic acid to help skin attract and retain hydration.

Aside from triggers, the signs and symptoms of sensitive skin are often linked to a damaged skin barrier. The skin has a natural moisture barrier function to help defend the body against external aggressors like pollution, UV exposure and more. Over time, exposure to harsh chemicals or skincare products ill-suited to your skin’s needs can deplete the skin barrier. This leaves skin more vulnerable to potential sensitivity triggers. 

In addition to the overall causes, sensitive skin can also be caused by several skin conditions such as contact dermatitis and eczema. We recommend seeing a healthcare professional for advice on skin conditions like these.

Step 2: Apply serums

Serums typically contain a high concentration of targeted ingredients to address specific concerns, so choosing the right formula is important. In terms of sensitive skincare tips, one of the best things you can do to support your complexion is to implement serums slowly and build up use as needed. This allows your skin to grow tolerance to these formulas over time.

• When it comes to skincare for oily sensitive skin, Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum for Anti-Ageing is the ideal addition to your regime. Apply to clean, dry skin to help reveal a brighter, more balanced complexion and smoother texture.

• A single molecule of hyaluronic acid can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water, and because it naturally occurs in skin, it’s typically effective at hydrating any skin type. Try Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Step 3: Moisturise 

The final step in a skincare routine for sensitive skin is selecting and applying the right moisturiser. Choose a deeply nourishing formula with ingredients that work to help protect and strengthen the skin moisture barrier.

• Ceramides Moisturising Cream For Dry Skin is designed to help strengthen the skin moisture barrier and has a fast-absorbing, non-greasy formula that makes it suitable skincare for oily sensitive skin too.

• AM skincare routines should include broad-spectrum SPF to help protect your complexion against UV rays. Reap the benefits of all day moisture with Ceramides AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF 15.

• With a richly textured formula, Skin Renewing Night Cream For Face progressively absorbs into the skin through the long hours of sleep to deeply hydrate and comfort sensitive skin.

Step 4: Body care 

Sensitivity can often extend beyond the complexion, so it’s important to care for skin elsewhere on the body with rebalancing, rehydrating skincare formulas. Ceramides are often used to support sensitive skin because they exist in the skin already and are important in maintaining soft, supple skin. These natural lipids are a key component of outer layers of the skin and help protect the skin moisture barrier.

Skincare formulas commonly use ceramides to support dry, very dry or mild eczema-prone skin but sensitive skin can find support in topical application of ceramides too. Non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and oil-free, Ceramides Moisturising Lotion For Dry Skin is the ideal body moisturiser to include in a skincare routine for sensitive skin.