Finding the right moisturizer for sensitive skin all begins with understanding what your skin really needs. Maybe you’ve always had well-balanced skin your whole life, but recently your skin has been feeling dry and inflamed. If your skin is pink or flaky, we see you and we feel for you! Many of us to experience sensitive skin issues from new products as well as stress and sleep deprivation. Because of this, we’ve gathered some helpful tips on finding the best skincare for sensitive skin and choosing the right formulas to help supercharge your complexion.
First of all, having sensitive skin means that your skin barrier is damaged or not that strong, which puts you at risk of irritation. Those with sensitive skin have to be extra cautious with the moisturizer that they use, as sensitive skin reacts easily to various different skincare ingredients. Luckily, various skincare ingredients and products can help soothe inflamed and sensitive skin when identified correctly.
How to Choose Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin
1. Look for fragrance-free formulas.
Fragrance in skincare can cause a lot of reactions on sensitive skin and you should try your best to look for moisturizers without it. Sometimes, it's not clearly indicated on the label, but is instead listed as "parfum" or essential oils.
2. Avoid moisturizers with menthol.
If you see moisturizers with the words "cooling" or "minty", try to take a step back. These keywords usually mean that the moisturizer has menthol in it, which is an ingredient that can irritate sensitive skin. If you do still want to test out new products with menthol, you can patch test a small area of your earlobe every day for a week to see how your skin responds.
3. Look for ingredients specificially targeted for sensitive skin.
If the moisturizer itself does not specify it is for sensitive skin, keywords such as anti-redness, soothing, and calming all mean that they are gentle for your skin barrier. Also, try your best to avoid products in your regimen with a high pH and tingling or active ingredients as these ingredients are quite harsh to make sure your skin barrier will not be compromised.
Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin
1. Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer
Infused with glycerin and borage seed oil, this lightweight moisturizer calms and nourishes sensitive skin. It contains no harsh chemicals, is hypoallergenic as well as dermatologist-tested. Best of all, the product promises to keep the face well hydrated for up to 12 hours.
Hydrating Light Moisturizer, P399, SIMPLE, Shopee
2. Avène Hydrance Cream
Avène's Hydrance Cream restores the natural moisture levels on the skin for up to 24 hours. The formula is infused with shea butter and thermal spring water which help to calm and nourish the skin. Plus, the moisturizer is rich and creamy in texture, which makes it ideal for those with dry and flaky skin.
Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream, P1400, AVENE, Watsons
3. Physiogel Hypoallergenic Calming Relief Cream
This relief cream from Physiogel is best for those who often have inflamed and irritated skin. It's clinically proven to relieve itchiness and irritation within first use of the product! Also perfect for babies and children, the formulation is gentle and helps strengthen and repair the skin barrier overtime.
Hypoallergenic Calming Relief Cream, P845, PHYSIOGEL, Lazada
4. The Face Shop Dr.Belmeur Daily Repair Facial Moisturizer
Formulated with key ingredients such as beta glucan and chaga mushroom extract that help protect and balance the skin barrier, the Dr. Belmeur moisturizer from this K-beauty brand soothes dry skin and alleviates redness. Aside from being lightweight and non-greasy, the moisturizer is dermatologically-tested and is free from any parabens, synthetic pigments, and artificial fragrance.
Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Facial Moisturizer, P1295, THE FACE SHOP, Shopee
5. La Roche Posay Toleriane Cream Sensitive Riche
The La Roche Posay Toleriane Cream is a soothing and protective cream for sensitive and dry skin that is prone to irritation. With multiple five star reviews, the product is a favorite in finding instant relief and comfort. The formulation is gentle for both babies and children, and is enriched with thermal spring water and prebiotics for healing and hydration.
Toleriane Sensitive Riche, P1500, LA ROCHE POSAY, Zalora
6. Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
This simple moisturizer feels lightweight on the skin, meaning that it's less likely to clog pores while providing comfort throughout the day. Packed with madecassoside derived from centella asiatica, it also works to heal and rebalance sensitive skin barriers.
Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream, P760, ETUDE HOUSE, Lazada
7. Elta MD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer
This innovative formula from EltaM has barrier-repairing benefits that suit sensitive and acne-prone skin. Calming ingredients such as squalane and coconut fruit extract help keep skin supple and minimize the risk of irritation.
Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer, P2491, ELTA MD, Zalora
8. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Cream
The Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Cream helps calm redness and provides moisture to the skin barrier. It helps protect sensitive skin from elements that could potentially cause redness and dryness, so your complexion feels comfortable all day. The cream is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and contains plenty of antioxidants for healthy and protected skin!
Cicapair Cream, P1600, DR. JART+, Shopee
9. Cerave Moisturizing Lotion
This moisturizer is a perfect match for those with dry and sensitive skin. It's also oil-free, meaning it's lightweight enough to wear in humid climates like ours. Plus, the product promises 24-hour hydration, with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides that help maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Moisturizing Lotion, P1,460, CERAVE, Lazada
10. Bioderma Atoderm Lait Milk
If you're looking for a product that's gentle enough for babies and children, consider this product from Bioderma. It promises to restore the natural biological barrier of the skin, which includes bringing back comfort and suppleness to those with sensitive skin. Moreover, the formula is infused with kelp extract and niacinamide which help soothe and balance the skin.
Atoderm Lait Milk, P1258, BIODERMA, Lazada
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