Having sensitive skin is a common issue, in fact 50% of people in the industrialised world have sensitive skin. Essentially, sensitive skin is skin that is very reactive and prone to irritation. Symptoms of sensitive skin can include dryness, roughness, redness, tightness, breakouts, itching, stinging and burning, and even greasy skin can be sensitive.

Sensitive skin may be inherited, or you may experience sensitive skin sensations in connection with UV light, pollution, cosmetic ingredients, temperature changes, stress, cold weather or wind. One of the main things associated with sensitive skin is an impaired skin barrier, which among other things can lead to increased sensory perceptions, and in turn, feelings of skin sensitivity and reactivity.

• Your skin reacts to weather changes: When your skin is sensitive, cold weather or wind can immediately make your skin flare and cause dryness, redness and itchiness.

• You experience burning, tight or itchy skin after cleansing: Many cleansers have sulphates and fragrances that sensitive skin doesn’t typically tolerate well.

• Your skin stings and becomes red when using skincare or makeup: Skincare products should never sting or cause reactions, so if they do it’s quite possible that you have sensitive skin, or it might even be that you are using the wrong kind of products for your skin type.

• You get breakouts: If you’re getting a lot of breakouts, don’t immediately assume that its due simply to having oily skin. Even without oily skin you can experience breakouts. Little bumps and patches may arise no matter your skin type, to indicate that you are experiencing some skin sensitivity.

• Your skin is rough and flaky: Since sensitive skin has an impaired skin barrier, moisture is lost from the skin causing it to become dry, rough, itchy and flaky.