8 Ingredients to Avoid If You Have Sensitive Skin

Shopping for skincare can be daunting for anyone, but it’s particularly challenging for those with sensitive skin. Skincare ingredients others swear by can easily lead to irritation; products that give your friends clear, radiant complexions can leave yours itchy and uncomfortable.

One thing that can make skincare navigation easier for those with sensitive skin is knowing what not to use. To figure out just that, we went to the experts. Read on to find out what ingredients to avoid if you have sensitive skin, straight from board-certified dermatologists.

What Is Sensitive Skin?

“Sensitive skin is an umbrella term for skin types that are more reactive and vulnerable to outside irritants from the environment, skincare products, diet, and lifestyle choices,” explains board-certified dermatologist Deanne Mraz, MD. “Sensitive skin is more prone to atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions and is skin that has temporarily become sensitive and shows signs of irritation due to a compromised skin barrier. When you know you have sensitive skin… the focus [should be] on repairing the skin, soothing the irritation, and avoiding whatever triggers the reaction in the future.”

It’s important to note that there is a difference between sensitive and sensitized skin. “Sensitized skin is a term used to describe the acute state of irritated or inflamed skin,” notes board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD. “Often, sensitive skin becomes sensitized. But even those without sensitive skin can develop sensitized skin as a response to certain external factors like environmental stressors, harsh products, over-exfoliation, or abrasive treatments.”

Ingredients to Avoid