Dealing with  dry, flaky, sensitive skin all at the same time can be challenging. Whether you’re battling seasonal dryness or dealing with ongoing sensitivity, finding the right balance of hydration and care is crucial. That’s why we’ve curated a guide with effective skincare hacks and recommendation to help your skin look and feel at its best. Let’s explore how you can do that!

 

 

01) What is Sensitive Skin ?

 

• Sensitive Skin is a hyper-reactive skin state, often self-diagnosed, that feels easily irritated by things others find normal, manifesting as burning, stinging, itching, dryness, redness, or tightness, often with no obvious rash but a weakened skin barrier letting irritants in.

To put it simply, your skin is selective. It’ll let you know if it doesn’t like an ingredient in a product that touched it or what’s on with the weather. Your skin will usually stop reacting and return to normal when the irritant goes away and your skin has a chance to calm down .

 

02) Types of Sensitive Skin :

There are Four types of Sensitive skin :

1) Naturally Sensitive Skin

Naturally sensitive skin occurs when your skin is genetically predisposed to flare-ups. This type of sensitivity is usually correlated with concerns like eczema and rosacea. While there are products/medications to alleviate this concern, one cannot eliminate the problem.

2) Environmentally Sensitive Skin

If your skin cannot tolerate extreme temperature changes, continued sun exposure or air pollution – you most likely have sensitive skin. Environmentally sensitive skin experiences an uncomfortable burning or stinging sensation upon encountering these external stimuli.

3) Reactive Sensitive Skin

Have you observed your skin flaring up due to certain skincare, makeup products or detergents? If yes, it turns out you have reactive sensitive skin. You might experience tiny bumps, redness or even itchiness on the topical application of these irritants.

4) Mature or Thin Sensitive Skin

As you age, your skin becomes thinner. This dip in collagen production also causes a decrease in natural moisturization making your skin susceptible to irritants, allergens and more.

03) Causes :

Healthcare providers aren’t sure o the exact cause of sensitive skin. Research suggests it could happen due to the thinning of your stratum corneum.

If you have sensitive skin, the barrier that this layer creates isn’t as strong as it should be. So, things from your environment that usually stay outside of your body can pass through it and irritate the deeper layers of your skin.

Environmental Factors : Low humidity outdoors and dry heat ( central heating, heaters) significantly reduce skin, making it flaky and itchy.

Harsh Winds : Cold winds strip away skin’s protective oils, damaging the moisture barrier.

Hot Showers/Baths : Frequent hot water washes away natural oils, exacerbating dryness.

Compromised Skin Barrier : Lack of hydration weakens the skin’s protective layer, increasing sensitivity to irritants.

Skincare Products : Harsh soaps, alcohol-based products, or fragranced items disrupt skin pH and oils.

Lifestyle : Dehydration (not drinking enough water), stress, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition can worsen  sensitivity.

Underlying Conditions : Winter  can trigger or worsen eczema, psoriasis, or even cause allergic reactions like cold urticaria (hives from cold).

04) The Best Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin in Winter :

If you grapple with sensitive skin, here’s a no-frills routine that you can follow. As seen earlier – the best way to reduce episodes of flare – ups is by simplifying your skincare. Let’s try the same with Foxtale’s range of high-performing, innovative and safe formulations.

1) Cleanse

Start by gently cleansing your face to the to remove buildup. For sensitive skin, we recommend one of the best dry skin care products – our Hydrating Face Was. It contains sodium hyaluronate and red algae extract that intensely replenish your skin’s moisture bank. This cleanser also doubles as a makeup remover. It contains gentle surfactants that melt every trace of makeup and SPF.

2) Treat

After your skin is dry, apply a result-oriented formula. Since sensitivity mostly arises from extreme dryness or impaired barrier – we recommend Foxtale’s Niacinamide for skin. The lightweight formula ensures sustained hydration, prevents clogged pores and soothes inflammation while bolstering the lipid barrier. That’s right. The serum’s topical application increases ceramide production in the skin cells, forming approximately 50% of the barrier.

3) Moisturize

To help seal this treatment, use a hydrating, soothing, and non-comedogenic moisturizer. For sensitive skin, we recommend foxtale’s barrier repair cream. It uses ERS technology to deeply nourish and heal your skin. Take a dollop of the formula and massage it onto your skin. Don’t forget to cover your ears, neck and decollete areas.

4) Sun Protect

Regardless of your skin type, sun protection is crucial. A broad – spectrum sunscreen shields the skin against harmful UV rays, preventing episodes of burns, tanning, pigmentation, and photoaging. For sensitive skin, we recommend Foxtale’s Dewy sunscreen. It contains D-Panthenol and Vitamin E that ensure long-lasting moisturization for the skin.

Conclusion

Managing sensitive and flaky skin requires careful consideration of external factors and the right skincare products for your specific needs. Adjusting your everyday skincare routine alongside lifestyle changes. By addressing the unique needs of your skin, you can probably achieve a 10/10 skin!