Triggered by stress, anxiety, and the over-use of active ingredients like exfoliating acids, sensitive skin is on the rise, and as a result, products for sensitive skin are on the rise too. “Many people experimented with DIY skincare during the pandemic, so between choosing the wrong products for their skin, introducing too many products at once, and using DIY skincare, it’s unsurprising that there is now a huge trend for skincare for sensitive skin,” says Heather Wish, education specialist at Paula’s Choice. “In addition, two other factors that can bring sensitivity to skin are stress and pollution, so with the rise of all of these factors, it’s no wonder people are looking towards skincare made for sensitive skin.”
We’ve all been there—a few too many products layered or an overenthusiastic exfoliation session leaves us with skin that’s sore, itchy, and inflamed. But what’s the solution? According to Wish, the most important thing you can do for sensitive skin is to be gentle, so while sensitivity is occurring, you’ll need to cut back on active ingredients and focus on soothing, hydrating ones instead. “Well-known ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and omega fatty acids continue to play an important role,” says Wish. But she predicts a new wave of innovation in products for sensitive skin. “Ingredients like mushrooms, prebiotics, seaweed, prickly pear, gentle vitamin C derivatives and peptides can be used for those with sensitive skin to get soothing comfort and skincare benefits at the same time,” she adds.
