Reactive skin should avoid fragrance (synthetic and natural), denatured alcohol, high-strength actives like retinol and glycolic acid, and essential oils. These ingredients compromise the skin’s protective barrier, triggering inflammation, redness, and sensitivity. Focus on barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid instead.
Sensitive skin improves through strategic simplification, not aggressive treatment. Reactive skin lacks sufficient barrier lipids (ceramides, fatty acids), making it vulnerable to irritants. Supporting sensitive skin requires fewer products with barrier-strengthening ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin, applied consistently without overloading the skin’s protective function.
A minimalist routine for sensitive skin requires just three essential steps: gentle cleansing, barrier-supporting hydration, and broad-spectrum sun protection. This simplified approach reduces exposure to potential irritants whilst maintaining skin’s protective function, typically showing improvement within four to six weeks of consistent use.
Winter in South Africa creates unique challenges for sensitive skin: low humidity, indoor heating, and temperature fluctuations compromise the skin barrier. Adjust your routine by layering hydration, switching to richer moisturisers, and avoiding hot water to prevent dryness and reactivity during cold months.
START YOUR JOURNEY HERE
Before you purchase active ingredients on SkinMiles we require you to complete our once-off, in-depth skin assessment designed by Dr Alek Nikolic.
Already have an account? Login
