Fall and winter are dry times of year. Low humidity makes it tough to keep sensitive skin soft and moisturized. It’s normal for sensitive skin to become red, cracked and itchy in low humidity.
If you’re having a hard time this winter, use these tips for moisturizing sensitive skin without resulting in irritation or inflammation:
- Assess your bathing routine: Bathe or shower in lukewarm water instead of hot and dry off your skin with gentle pats, not rough back-and-forth motions.
- Watch what kind of soap you use: To help retain moisture, avoid soap with deodorants, heavy fragrances and antibacterial properties. Search for soap with lower alkali content, such as Syndets and moisturizing bars and liquids.
- Avoid artificial fragrances: Artificial additives, including fragrances, are the main cause of skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Your best bet is to choose soaps and moisturizers that contain natural fragrances generated from essential oils. These natural fragrance can actually help skin and provide aromatherapeutic benefits.
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Learn what ingredients irritate your skin: Moisturizers are full of emollients and humectants. Emollients replace depleted lipid barriers between skin cells. The most common emollients show up on ingredients labels as coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, lanolin and shea butter.
Humectants absorb moisture from the air and hold them on the skin’s surface. Look for honey, glycerin and protein ingredients. If a new moisturizer irritates your skin, use patch testing to help pinpoint which ingredients you're sensitive to. Most of all, pay attention to ingredients in skincare products to eliminate harsh skin allergens
- Customize your own moisturizer: When it comes to moist, glowing skin, one size doesn't fit all. Customizing skincare products is like buying a tailored suit; it’s customized to fit your needs to help you look and feel your best!
To learn more tips for moisturizing sensitive skin, or to start customizing your own products today, please check out Subtle Green.
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