June 8, 2021
Sensitive skin – 5 tips for gentle care
by JUNGLÜCK Redaktion
Does your skin get irritated quickly? Here you can find out how you can support it with gentle care.
2. What to do if you have sensitive skin? 5 tips for sensitive skin
Tip #1 Keep a skin diary
Tip #2 Use cosmetics for sensitive skin
Tip #3 Strengthen the skin’s protective barrier
Tip #4 Which facial care for sensitive skin?
Tip #5 Relaxation for sensitive skin and mind
3. Conclusion – learn to recognize and understand sensitive skin
1. What is sensitive skin and what does sensitive skin look like?
The skin feels tight, red, burns or itches and perhaps spots appear after applying certain care products or after sunbathing - sensitive skin has many faces. The symptoms can be seen as a kind of language with which your sensitive skin wants to tell you that it is currently very stressed - and that it might want milder care or a gentler beauty routine.
Maybe she also reacts to …
- Environmental influences such as UV radiation, fine dust
- thermal changes, i.e. heat or cold
- Ingredients in cosmetic or household products
- mechanical stimuli such as peeling grains
- Preparations for the treatment of acne
- Active cosmetics
- Stress, emotionally stressful events
Despite the many different characteristics and triggers, recognizing sensitive skin is quite simple. Since you know your skin best, you will certainly already know its "language". But have you already found the right answer to its problems? Are you perhaps trying to get your skin problems under control with even more care and are you constantly testing new, promising creams for sensitive skin?
I know that very well! Often the skin condition worsens even further due to excessive care. Speaking of skin condition: Compared to sensitive skin, sensitive skin is not a skin type. Rather, sensitive skin tends to quickly develop certain skin reactions. Sensitive skin can be genetic or can be caused by inappropriate skin care or certain habits. But regardless of whether it is sensitive or delicate, gentle care is required.
2. What to do if you have sensitive skin? 5 tips for sensitive skin
If your skin is acutely stressed or has been under constant stress for a long time, you can help it to regain its balance. And if your skin is prone to irritation, you can help it to become more stable with an adapted skin care routine, special skin care for sensitive skin and a few habits. More stable in the sense of "not so easily irritated". It's basically the daily Om for your skin! Let's go!
Tip #1 Keep a skin diary
Get an overview of possible factors that make your skin sensitive. If you are not sure what exactly is stressing your skin, a skin diary can be helpful. Write down what you ate, what skin care products you used and what you did when your skin became irritated.
Also consider your emotions: Is an event currently stressing you out and your skin is suffering too? Write it down! If you keep a skin diary regularly, the chances of identifying possible triggers increase. If you suspect something, avoid the skin care products, foods or activities that you think are potential stressors for your skin for a while. If you notice an improvement in the condition of your skin, you are already a big step further.
Tip #2 Use cosmetics for sensitive skin
The skin diary often leads directly to the bathroom cabinet or beauty case. Fragrances, preservatives, alcohols or even high doses of active ingredients and fruit acids can upset sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin and use natural cosmetics, but your skin protests despite the high-quality organic skin care, you should take a close look at the INCI list. Perhaps the cream for sensitive skin contains essential oils or other ingredients such as propolis, lanolin or wool wax alcohols that can trigger allergic reactions.
Does your skin tend to be allergic to contact substances? Then your skin care should be as pure and clearly formulated as possible. Ideally, you know exactly which substance your skin reacts to and can read the INCI list, i.e. the ingredients, carefully. Choose cosmetics according to the motto "less is more". Our products are formulated and designed in such a way that even sensitive skin can tolerate them particularly well, as we do not use potentially irritating ingredients such as aggressive surfactants, fragrances, artificial preservatives or drying alcohols.
This means that even allergy sufferers can use most of our creams, serums, etc.
Tip #3 Strengthen the skin’s protective barrier
Perhaps you have come across the terms acid mantle and microbiome when looking for care for sensitive skin. Perhaps this blog post on the topic will help you get to the bottom of the cause of your sensitive skin. We are also only too happy to devote our blog to this phenomenal superpower of the skin. The acid mantle - also called the hydrolipid film - lies like a very thin film on the skin. This film consists of water, sweat, skin fats and horny cell substances. The main task of the acid mantle is to protect the body from pathogens from the environment. This is why it is often referred to as the skin's protective barrier. In addition, an intact protective film protects the skin from moisture and fat loss.
Critical habits as well as aggressive cosmetic products and cleaning agents can damage the skin's protective barrier and the skin's own bacterial flora (microbiome). These include:
- Bathing and showering that is too hot, too long and too frequent
- Skin cleansing products with highly degreasing surfactants
- drying alcohols
- mechanical stimuli such as coarse-grained peelings, rough towels
What does sensitive skin want? It wants to be treated with velvet paws. In other words: take a short, lukewarm shower, use cleaning products with mild surfactants, such as our cleansing oil and shower gel with sugar-based surfactants, and only clean your armpits and intimate area sparingly with shower gel, avoid products with drying alcohols and instead use mild alternatives such as organic rose water .
To build up and nourish the skin's protective barrier, I also recommend the Ceramide Serum . Ceramides are a natural component of your skin's protective layer and are essential for a healthy skin barrier. Our serum protects and soothes your sensitive skin and prevents moisture loss.
Mechanical stimuli such as rough peelings or vigorous scrubbing of the skin with a towel or facial brush also belong to the "last season" category. Bye, bye! Instead, gently pat your face and body dry with a towel. If you tend to get calluses and blackheads, try a gentle chemical peeling such as our mild BHA peeling . But be careful when using it. If you have sensitive skin in particular, you should introduce new and particularly active ingredients very slowly. First 1-2 times a week, then gradually more often if your skin reacts well. If your skin goes on strike, it's better to avoid cosmetic products that contain active ingredients. Our 5 ml samples are perfect for anyone with sensitive skin who wants to test out new skin care for sensitive skin.
Tip #4 Which facial care for sensitive skin?
Are you not sure what your new care routine for sensitive skin could look like? Then I'm happy to be able to inspire you with this care guide for sensitive skin:
In the morning it is usually sufficient to wash your face with lukewarm water.
Pat dry gently with a soft towel. Avoid perfumed fabric softeners and instead use hypoallergenic household products without perfume.
Now close your eyes and spray some rose water on your face, neck and décolleté. Enjoy the moment, the wonderful rose scent and the invigorating feeling on your skin. Alternatively, you can also use the refreshing aloe vera spray . It soothes redness, has an anti-inflammatory effect and is a gentle weapon against acute irritations.
Use a cream for sensitive skin, for example our Hyaluron Cream . If your skin is very dry, you can also add a few drops of oil, for example our skin-soothing rosehip seed oil .
In summer or when the skin is irritated, you can also use our Aloe vera gel and enrich it if necessary, perhaps with our squalane from Portuguese olives. It strengthens the skin's protective barrier and helps protect the skin from moisture loss.
In the evening, cleanse your face with our mild cleansing oil , which is suitable for all skin types - even for blemished skin. If you prefer a different consistency, I recommend our cleansing gel . With organic chamomile extract, it soothes your skin while it cleanses it thoroughly. Pat dry gently again and spray on rose water or aloe vera spray.
Now apply a serum if necessary. Since sensitive skin is often dehydrated due to the impaired acid mantle, our hyaluronic acid concentrate , for example, is ideal for giving sensitive skin a moisture boost. Next comes the rich hyaluronic acid cream . Don't forget the neck and décolleté!
Tip #5 Relaxation for sensitive skin and mind
We have already discussed what can harm your skin and how you can gently care for it to return it to balance. But what about your daily habits? Do you start the day under time pressure, are you constantly busy, do lots of things at the same time and have your smartphone with you around the clock?
Then it might do you good to bring more structure and rest breaks into your everyday life in order to reduce your long-term, unhealthily high stress level. A healthy morning routine - perhaps with a short meditation, conscious breathing or yoga - can ensure that you are less easily disturbed during the day and that you stay more focused when things get hectic outside. A good old to-do list is a great help if you are a multitasking genius, but working many things at the same time is stressful. Don't forget to plan fixed breaks on the list - including from your smartphone.
Because: stressful phases are normal, of course. It is important that you relax sufficiently after you have been tense, so that your fantastic organism can release stress-reducing hormones and you can find your center again. What does that have to do with your skin? A lot, because body and mind are not two separate components. Just think of the annoying stress pimples that tend to appear during exam periods or the stomachaches that you might feel when something stresses you out or annoys you.
The skin also reacts to stress. Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on your predisposition. Sensitive skin can respond to stress with nervous patches, dry patches or a broken protective barrier. It is worth building a good connection to your intuition and your emotions. Perhaps mindfulness training, yoga or another form of self-care will help you to be more aware of yourself and your needs. This way you can identify stress factors more quickly and update the way you deal with them.
To give yourself and your skin a break, you can make yourself comfortable on the couch with the hemp oil mask on your face and a cup of tea in your hand and switch off. Your skin will be supplied with moisture and important nutrients that strengthen the skin's protective barrier. And your soul can simply relax!
3. Conclusion – learn to recognize and understand sensitive skin
Yes, sensitive skin can be really annoying, I can completely agree with everyone who is sometimes annoyed by their own skin. A few years ago I signed up for an expensive gym just because of the great swimming pool, because I prefer to exercise in the water to sweating in the gym. Unfortunately, I had to give up my aquarobics career after the first class because my skin was allergic to the chlorinated water. Leaving the pool was the biggest walk of shame, because everyone stared in confusion at my skin, which was covered in red spots and hives. And also my swollen eyes.
Today I laugh about the incident - also because I have learned to appreciate and love my skin with all its quirks and reactions. After all, the largest organ in our body protects us around the clock. And that is why we should celebrate our skin, look after it and learn to recognize sensitive skin and pay attention to its needs.
Perhaps a holistic skin care program with gentle cosmetic products, a balanced diet for an intact intestinal microbiome, sufficient rest after demanding phases and good stress management will help you. And of course with lots of love and respect for your sensitive skin.
And when it freaks out again, you can imagine, for example, that your skin cannot express itself in any other way. Similar to a baby that can only cry when it wants to communicate. Or a puppy that howls when something doesn't suit it or it's not feeling well. Sensitive skin also speaks to you when it's not feeling well - just in its own personal way. And the characteristics of sensitive skin are just as unique as you are. Kind of beautiful, isn't it?