The Ultimate Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Discover SkinCeuticals' skincare routine for skin hydration and protection.

Discover SkinCeuticals’ skincare routine for sensitive skin featuring Phyto Corrective Gel and Phyto Corrective Face Mist for skin hydration and protection. Think of the garments in your closet. While all of them require laundering to look their best, you care for each item—like your favourite pair of jeans or a silk shirt—differently, and this is crucial to their longevity, right? Well, the same idea translates to caring for different skin types. From oily to dry, every skin type needs a skincare routine to remove the daily buildup of natural oils, dirt and pollutants and replenish the skin’s barrier. But there is no one-size-fits-all solution, especially when it comes to sensitive skin. By choosing certain key ingredients and proper textures, you can give your unique skin type what it needs to thrive. With sensitive skin ranking as the most fragile, the best skincare routine should offer a gentle helping hand that leads to a softer, calmer complexion.

What is a good skincare routine for sensitive skin?

Before we jump into what products to use, let’s take a closer look at sensitive skin to better understand what it is and why it behaves the way it does. Key indicators include skin that is in a general state of dryness and tightness and prone to bouts of irritation, itching, burning and stinging. If this description aligns with your experience, it means you have sensitive skin. Though this skin type can be uncomfortable at times, take solace in knowing you’re far from alone. An estimated 60% to 70% of women, and 50% to 60% of men, have sensitive skin globally.

With sensitive skin, the microbiome (the naturally present ecosystem of organisms that keeps germs, pollutants and irritants out) lacks the balance of good and bad bacteria found in healthy, functioning skin. This imbalance contributes to sensitive skin being unable to properly defend itself, making it more susceptible to reactions and inflammation. As if that weren’t enough, the skin barrier is also compromised. Sensitive skin has a reduced ability to retain moisture, which is why dryness is one of its defining characteristics.

Okay, now that you have the backstory, you are ready to create the ultimate skincare routine for sensitive skin! The rule “Less is more” certainly applies here, and you can create an effective skincare routine with just a few key steps. By day, the basics include a hydrating face mist, skin moisturizer and sun protection (because UV exposure is both drying and can trigger inflammation). At night, you’ll need gentle cleansing to remove sunscreen and any makeup you might be wearing, followed by layers of hydrating products to cocoon skin while you sleep. While you’re leaning into soothing ingredients, the best skincare routine for sensitive skin makes maintaining hydrated skin the top priority at every stage. When you maximize hydration, you can change how skin looks (think less redness and dry, uneven texture) and how it feels. Powerhouse ingredients (that are also super gentle, of course!) will offer sensitive skin a boost of hydration that comforts 24/7—but how you choose to hydrate can also be a game-changer. Here are two easy ways to elevate your sensitive skincare routine.

1. Make mist a must!
When sensitive skin is dry, red and irritated, your first impulse may be to slather on a rich cream and call it a day. But know this: Thick creams contain larger-ingredient molecules that are designed to sit on the surface of skin. They’re great at creating a barrier, but they lack the mobility that allows them to penetrate deep into the epidermis, where hydration is needed most. To better help sensitive skin retain moisture, taking a layered approach to hydration with the use of more fluid textures allows hydrating ingredients to be drawn into the deeper layers of the skin. Start by adding a face mist to your sensitive skincare routine to hydrate and soothe. SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist contains a phyto botanical blend of grapefruit, cucumber, thyme, mulberry, olive leaf and rosemary extracts that is clinically proven to calm, soothe and reduce visible redness. It also features 4% boldus leaf extract, which helps reduce inflammation. And the blend is rounded out with not one but two hero hydrating ingredients: 0.2% hyaluronic acid for sensitive skin and 6% glycerine, both of which have the power to attract and retain water. You can use it in the a.m. and p.m. as the first step in your skincare routine after cleansing and before applying moisturizer. And this non-sticky refreshing face mist is also super versatile! It makes an ideal desk, gym bag or travel essential, delivering a quick spritz that will instantly soothe and hydrate your sensitive skin anywhere and any time of day.

2.Layer like a pro.
Make this one simple adjustment to your morning and evening skincare routines and your sensitive skin is guaranteed to show its gratitude. After you’ve used the face mist spray , apply a skin moisturizer while skin is still damp. This will help the hydrating ingredients of the moisturizer be absorbed into skin while also trapping in extra moisture. SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel is a light-textured formula that delivers a hefty dose of key ingredients. It contains a botanical extract blend with soothing cucumber and purifying eucalyptus oil, along with hyaluronic acid and glycerine for sensitive skin to calm and soothe redness. Once you’ve massaged a few drops into your skin, use the face mist again as an additional layer. By incorporating a spritz of face mist into your routine before and after applying your moisturizer, you’ll load up your sensitive skin with everything it needs for long-lasting hydration and reduced irritation.

Try these two easy steps today and you’ll set up your sensitive skin to win!