The Complete Guide to Caring for Sensitive Skin

Redness, stinging, tightness — if your skin frequently reacts to products or environmental changes, it may be more reactive than most. But finding a routine that works shouldn’t feel like trial and error.

So, then what is the best skin routine for sensitive skin?  It’s one that requires a different approach, one that prioritizes barrier support, calming ingredients, and consistency over complexity. Whether you're navigating irritation for the first time or have spent years cycling through products that never quite work, our guide breaks down exactly what your skin needs (and what it doesn’t).

Ready to explore how to recognize sensitive skin, care for it gently, and find science-backed products that support your skin’s natural balance? We’ve got you. Let’s simplify the guesswork and get back to balance.

What is Considered Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin is more than just experiencing an occasional tingle or pink flush. It’s a skin type that reacts more easily to things that wouldn’t bother most people, like a new moisturizer, weather changes, or even stress.
Dermatologists define sensitive skin as being more prone to burning, itching, redness, dryness, or general discomfort. In most cases, it all comes down to your moisture barrier. Think of that barrier like your skin’s protective shield: when it’s strong, it keeps irritants out and hydration in. But when it’s weakened? That’s when sensitivity kicks in.

How to Know if You Have Sensitive Skin

Not sure if your skin falls in the “sensitive” category? Here are a few common signs:

• Your skin feels tight or itchy after washing your face.
• You often notice redness, especially on your cheeks or nose.
• Products sting, tingle, or burn when applied.
• You react easily to hot or cold weather.
• You get dry patches or peeling, especially in the winter.
• You avoid skincare altogether because everything seems to irritate you.

Understanding the Unique Needs of Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin isn’t just a matter of personal discomfort — it’s a physiological condition tied to how your skin barrier functions. The outermost layer of your skin, known as the stratum corneum, serves as a protective shield. It’s composed of skin cells (corneocytes) held together by a lipid matrix made up of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. When this barrier is intact, it helps retain moisture and keeps out irritants, allergens, and microbes.

But in sensitive skin, this barrier is often compromised, meaning it can’t perform those protective duties as effectively. The result? Increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), reduced hydration, and a heightened inflammatory response to even mild triggers like temperature changes or skincare ingredients.

To bring balance back to sensitive skin, your routine should focus on:

• Restoring moisture and replenishing essential barrier lipids, such as ceramides, to improve hydration and strengthen skin resilience.
• Calming inflammation at the cellular level with anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide.
• Minimizing exposure to potential irritants by choosing products with fewer, well-tolerated ingredients.
• Using formulas clinically tested for sensitive or reactive skin, especially those free from fragrance, dyes, and harsh preservatives.

What are the 4 Types of Sensitive Skin?

While sensitive skin is often treated as a single category, dermatologists recognize that there are actually four main subtypes. Understanding which one you relate to can help you tailor your routine more effectively:

1. Naturally Sensitive
   This skin type is genetically predisposed to sensitivity. You may have fair, thin skin that’s reactive by nature and flushes easily.
2. Environmentally Sensitive
   Triggers like cold weather, heat, pollution, or UV exposure can cause redness, dryness, or flare-ups in this skin type.
3. Reactive (Allergic) Sensitive Skin
   This type reacts strongly to specific ingredients, fragrances, or preservatives, often resulting in itching, burning, or rashes.
4. Thin or Barrier-Compromised Skin
   Often caused by overuse of exfoliants or harsh products, this type has a weakened lipid barrier, leaving it vulnerable to irritation and dehydration.

Sensitive Skin or Underlying Skin Condition?

Here’s an important distinction to keep in mind: sensitive skin is a skin type, while conditions like rosacea, eczema, or contact dermatitis are medical diagnoses. While the symptoms can overlap — think redness, itching, dryness, or flaking —the causes, treatments, and long-term care plans differ.

If you’re noticing persistent irritation that doesn’t improve with gentle products, or if your skin shows signs like broken capillaries, inflamed patches, scaly rashes, or frequent flare-ups, you might be dealing with something more complex than general sensitivity.
Conditions like rosacea and eczema often require prescription treatments or targeted protocols to manage inflammation and prevent future flares. That’s why it’s worth checking in with a board-certified dermatologist if symptoms are ongoing, severe, or worsening.

That said, many people with true sensitive skin, especially those with a weakened barrier, can see noticeable improvements by adopting a simplified, barrier-supportive routine like the one outlined below. If your skin feels calmer within a few weeks of gentle care, that’s a good sign you’re on the right track!

Our Expert Tips for a Gentle and Effective Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Wondering how to start a skincare routine for sensitive skin? The answer is to keep it simple, soothing, and consistent. Stick with the essentials and give your skin time to adjust to each new product. Less is more!

Your Morning Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Mornings are all about protecting and prepping your skin for the day ahead. For sensitive skin, that means using gentle, supportive formulas that cleanse without stripping, hydrate without irritation, and shield against environmental stressors.

1. Cleanse Gently: Start with a non-foaming, sulfate-free face wash for sensitive skin that removes impurities without stripping the skin’s natural lipids. Look for ingredients that soothe while cleansing.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: ORMEDIC® Balancing Facial Cleanser
      This gentle gel cleanser utilizes organic aloe vera and green tea extract to both cleanse and calm the skin. It’s pH-balanced and free of harsh surfactants, making it ideal for delicate or easily reactive skin.
      
      

 

2. Treat and Hydrate: The right serum can offer antioxidant protection while strengthening your skin’s defenses. Choose a fragrance-free formula packed with vitamins that support resilience without triggering irritation.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: VITAL C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum 
      Formulated with stabilized vitamins C, E, and A, this serum nourishes and soothes the skin while helping to visibly brighten and defend against environmental stressors. It’s a go-to multitasker for those with dryness, redness, or a weakened skin barrier.
      
      
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3. Moisturize: Sensitive skin needs moisture, often more than you think. A well-formulated cream should hydrate deeply, reinforce the barrier, and contain calming ingredients to reduce reactivity throughout the day.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: BIOME+ Smoothing Cloud Crème 
      This lightweight yet intensive moisturizer uses fermented squalane, rice bran extract, and plant-based ceramides to support the skin’s microbiome and deliver long-lasting hydration. It’s designed to feel breathable on the skin while delivering meaningful barrier repair.
      
      

4. Don’t Forget SPF: Daily sun protection is essential, especially for sensitive skin, which is often more prone to inflammation and hyperpigmentation. Look for a mineral-based sunscreen for sensitive skin with added hydration and soothing agents.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: DAILY PREVENTION pure mineral hydrating moisturizer SPF 30
      If your skin needs hydration, protection, and repair without the irritation, this dual-defense daily moisturizer with SPF 30 is a game-changer. Its lightweight, dewy finish locks in moisture, strengthens the skin barrier, and blends seamlessly—no heaviness, no white cast. Powered by patent-pending XOSM™ Technology and antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamin C and micro-algae, it helps fight future signs of aging while staying gentle on sensitive skin.
      
      
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Pro tip: Always pat (don’t rub!) your skin dry and use lukewarm water, not hot.

Your Nighttime Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

1. Cleanse Again: Use the same gentle face wash for sensitive skin you used in the morning — or, if you’re wearing makeup, begin with a micellar water or non-irritating cleansing oil that won’t disturb the barrier.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: ORMEDIC® Balancing Facial Cleanser 
      Gentle enough for twice-daily use, this botanical cleanser gently lifts away impurities and traces of the day while soothing redness and helping to reinforce the skin’s natural pH balance. Its aloe-rich formula helps prevent post-cleanse tightness and dryness, which are common in sensitive skin types.

2. Serum: At night, skin becomes more permeable, which can be great for absorbing active ingredients but risky for those with sensitive skin. If your skin is feeling calm, you can apply a hydrating, antioxidant-rich serum that supports overnight recovery.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: VITAL C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum
      This multitasking formula continues to support the skin’s natural defenses with a blend of stabilized vitamins C, A, and E. Antioxidants help neutralize oxidative stress from the day. At the same time, anti-inflammatory botanicals reduce redness and replenish hydration. It’s clinically formulated to calm the signs of sensitive skin while strengthening long-term tolerance.
      

3. Barrier-Boosting Moisturizer: Choose a night cream that not only hydrates but also helps repair your skin’s protective barrier. Look for peptides, ceramides, and botanicals that calm without clogging pores or triggering sensitivity.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick:  ORMEDIC® Balancing Bio-Peptide Crème
      This rich yet non-greasy cream is infused with calming aloe, organic botanicals, and peptides that support collagen and barrier function. Designed for delicate skin, it nourishes overnight and helps reduce visible signs of irritation and dryness while you sleep.
      
      
    
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4. Weekly Treatment Boost: Even sensitive skin can benefit from gentle exfoliation when done right. Skip physical scrubs and opt for enzyme-based treatments that smooth and brighten without abrasion or inflammation.

• • • IMAGE Skincare® Pick: VITAL C Hydrating Enzyme Masque
      Powered by gentle fruit enzymes and stable vitamin C, this mask resurfaces the skin softly while delivering intense hydration. Ideal for use once or twice a week, it helps revive dullness and calm the visible effects of sensitive skin, such as blotchiness and dryness, without triggering a flare.
      

 

Pro tip: If your skin feels warm or flushed at night, keep your moisturizer in the fridge for a cooling, calming effect.

Ingredients to Consider for Sensitive Skin

When it comes to the best skincare for sensitive skin, some ingredients are true MVPs. Here’s what to look for:

• Ceramides: Help rebuild and strengthen your moisture barrier.
• Niacinamide: Reduces redness and boosts your skin’s tolerance.
• Fermented Squalane: Hydrates without clogging or causing irritation.
• Aloe Vera: A go-to for cooling and calming.
• Hyaluronic Acid: helps to bind water to the skin and support its moisture barrier.
• Ashwagandha: Strengthens the skin barrier against the effects of oxidative stress.
• Vitamin C Complex: brightens, tightens, and smooths the skin.

What Ingredients To Avoid If You Have Sensitive Skin

Just as important as what to include in your routine is what to leave out. When in doubt, opt for minimalist, dermatologist-tested formulas and patch test new products before applying them all over. These common ingredients can compromise the skin barrier, trigger inflammation, or worsen existing sensitivity:

Added fragrance or essential oils: Common irritants that can cause redness, stinging, or allergic reactions, especially in reactive skin types.

Denatured alcohol: Often used for a quick-dry finish, but can severely dry out and disrupt the moisture barrier.

Harsh physical scrubs or high-strength acids: Can create microtears or over-exfoliate, leading to increased sensitivity and inflammation.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS):  A foaming agent known to strip natural lipids, leaving skin dry, tight, and more prone to reactivity.

Certain preservatives: Ingredients such as formaldehyde-releasing agents or parabens may trigger allergic reactions.

Recommended Professional Treatments For Sensitive Skin

Already following a gentle routine and want to boost your results? Professional treatments can offer targeted relief and barrier support, without overwhelming delicate skin. The key is choosing therapies designed to calm, hydrate, and strengthen rather than stimulate or exfoliate.

Here are a few expert-recommended options that pair beautifully with your at-home skincare routine for sensitive skin:

• LED Light Therapy: Red light, in particular, helps reduce inflammation, calm redness, and promote cellular repair — ideal for flare-prone, reactive skin.
• Oxygen Facials: These deliver a cooling blast of hydration and antioxidants while improving circulation and radiance, no downtime required.
• Cryo or Cooling Facials: A gentle way to calm hot, irritated skin and minimize redness while reinforcing the barrier.
• Custom Soothing Facials: Designed specifically for sensitive skin, these facials use fragrance-free, non-irritating formulas and calming massage techniques to restore balance and comfort.

Not sure where to start? Booking a consultation with a licensed esthetician or skin professional can help you better understand your skin’s unique needs and tailor a treatment plan that works for you.

Find a provider near you using IMAGE Skincare’s Find a Pro tool, and consider scheduling a monthly facial to support your skin on a deeper level.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Sensitive Skin

Even with the right products, certain habits can undermine your routine and trigger unnecessary irritation. Here are some common pitfalls to steer clear of:

Exfoliating too often — or with the wrong products: Overdoing it can damage your skin barrier and lead to increased redness, dryness, and sensitivity.

Trying too many new things at once: It becomes harder to pinpoint what’s working or what’s causing a reaction.

Using water that’s too hot: Heat can dilate blood vessels, worsen redness, and strip your skin of essential lipids.

Skipping moisturizer: Yes, even oily or acne-prone skin needs hydration to stay balanced and resilient.

Jumping into strong actives like retinol without guidance: Potent ingredients can be too harsh for sensitive skin unless introduced gradually and supported by barrier-protective care.

The key? Go slow, stay consistent, and pay attention to how your skin responds. Gentle, steady progress is far more effective than doing too much, too soon.
Ready to calm your skin for good? 

Give your skin the support it’s been asking for. Explore our sensitive skin essentials, thoughtfully formulated to calm irritation, rebuild your barrier, and bring comfort back to your routine.