Following our eye-opening research about the prevalence of sensitive skin last week, I’ve put together my top three tips for avoiding reactions and keeping your skin calm and under control.
1. Understand common irritants
Knowledge is power! If skin reactions are a common complaint you’ll want to avoid them as much as possible, so do your homework.
There are hundreds of different irritants, and there’s always a chance that your skin is specifically sensitive to an ingredient that isn’t particularly harsh.
However, generally speaking there are three main culprits responsible for the majority of skin reactions. They are:
Detergents – e.g. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Suplhate (SLES), Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB). More on the most common detergents here.
Perservatives – e.g. Alcohol, Methylisothiazolinone (MI), or Formaldehyde percursors such as Sodium HydroxyMathylGlycinate.
Fragrance – e.g. artificial fragrance or ‘Parfum’
2. Master ingredients lists
Learning to read your ingredients lists is the single most important thing you can do for your sensitive skin.
Learn the names of common irritants, or jot them down so you can remember them easily.
If you’re in the market for natural products, always keep an eye out for natural and organic certification kitemarks so you’re not duped – more on that here.
3. Keep a product diary
If you’re regularly reacting to products and can’t figure out why, make a of each one and its ingredients lists in a product diary. Over time, you’ll be able to pick out the ingredients that crop up again and again, and know exactly what to avoid.
<It’s a simple but effective method, and exactly how I figured out my major allergy triggers years ago.
Do you have any good tips for picking up on your personal triggers or irritants?
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