Sensitive skin affects millions of people, yet for many, it isn’t something they’ve experienced their whole lives. Skin that once coped effortlessly with weather, products, makeup, and stress can suddenly begin reacting, sometimes with no obvious warning.
Changes in climate, pollution, hormones, emotional stress, skincare, hair products, or even long-trusted favourites can trigger redness, stinging, flushing, or irritation. For many people, this shift feels sudden and confusing.
This doesn’t mean your skin is “failing.”
In most cases, it’s a sign that the skin barrier and microbiome are under strain.
Understanding what’s happening beneath the surface is the first step toward calming the skin and helping it function more resiliently again.
Understanding Sensitive Skin (And Why It’s Often Misunderstood)
“Sensitive skin” is an umbrella term that covers several different presentations, including rosacea, eczema, contact dermatitis, post-treatment skin, menopausal skin, and what is often called “reactive skin.”
It’s important to separate skin conditions from skin sensitivity:
Sensitive skin is typically linked to a weakened barrier, reduced lipid content, slower cell turnover, and microbiome imbalance.
As we age, the skin produces fewer ceramides, less natural moisturising factor (NMF), and repairs itself more slowly. This makes the skin more vulnerable to irritation, dehydration, redness, and inflammation, even from well-intentioned products.
Many skin conditions are exacerbated by barrier dysfunction, which is why barrier repair, microbiome support, and inflammation control are foundational, regardless of whether sensitivity exists on its own or alongside a diagnosed condition. ISSADA has formulations designed to support sensitive and reactive skin at every stage, with a strong focus on barrier repair, microbiome balance, and skin resilience. Learn more at https://issada.com.
For individuals who would benefit from personalised guidance, ISSADA works closely with a network of professional practitioners and authorised ISSADA partners.
Find an ISSADA stockist or professional partners here: ISSADA a Stockists
What Causes Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin rarely has a single cause. More often, it’s the result of cumulative stress on the skin over time.
Common contributors include:
- Genetics - some skin types are naturally thinner or more reactive or age differently
- Environmental exposure - sun damage, pollution, wind, and temperature extremes
- Hormonal changes - particularly post pregnancy, during perimenopause and menopause
- Over-treatment - excessive exfoliation, acids, retinoids, or incorrectly layered actives
- Medications and health conditions - including autoimmune conditions
- Mislabelled “allergies” - true allergies are rare and life-threatening; sensitivities are far more common and can be lasting or transient.
A true allergy is systemic and potentially dangerous. Sensitivities, on the other hand, usually present as redness, itching, stinging, flushing, or breakouts. They’re uncomfortable and often persistent, but with the right approach, they are manageable.
Caring for Sensitive Skin - What Actually Works
1. Cleanse Gently (Less Really Is More)
Cleansing should never leave the skin feeling tight, dry, or “squeaky.” Lukewarm water, mild formulations, and minimal friction are key. Over time, harsh surfactants and abrasive tools tend to worsen sensitivity rather than improve it.
ISSADA Daily Gentle Cleanser is formulated to cleanse effectively without disrupting the skin barrier, making it suitable for mature, sensitive, post-treatment, and hormonally reactive skin.
For makeup removal, ISSADA No Traces Cleansing Pads are beautifully soft and gentle, helping to lift impurities without unnecessary rubbing or irritation - use with our gentle cleanser.
Sensitive skin should avoid fragrances, makeup wipes and alcohol-based products.
2. Use Targeted, Low-Irritation Serums
Serums play an important role, but only when they’re chosen carefully.
Niacinamide + B5 Complex supports barrier repair, helps calm visible redness, and improves overall skin resilience without the irritation often associated with stronger actives.
Pure HA Serum delivers deep hydration through hyaluronic acid without sensitising ingredients, helping to plump fine lines and reduce dehydration-related reactivity.
For sensitive skin, hydration and barrier support should always come before aggressive “anti-ageing” strategies. Overtime it is possible to rebalance the skin and build up the use of actives, but this should be done cautiously and sensibly.
3. Rebuild the Microbiome
For sensitive skin, moisturising isn’t optional. It’s a structural support and is needed to help retain moisture. However, moisturising alone will not rebuild the skin microbiome, and for that, ISSADA Synbiotic Moisturiser is a must. Formulated to restore the skin microbiome within 30 minutes of application by flooding it with live probiotics, pre-biotics and postbiotics. It also contains epidermal growth factors to support repair and normalisation, making it particularly valuable for compromised skin.
4. Protect from the Sun (Every Day)
Sensitive skin is more vulnerable to UV-induced inflammation, pigmentation, and long-term damage. Daily sun protection with SPF 50+ is non-negotiable.
ISSADA Sheer Defence SPF 50+ provides broad-spectrum protection while doubling as a lightweight primer. It’s water-resistant, makeup-friendly, and formulated not to sting or overwhelm sensitive skin.
5. Be Selective with Actives
High-strength retinoids and vitamin C can be challenging for sensitive skin.
That doesn’t mean they’re never appropriate, it means they require the right formulation, the right timing, and professional guidance. In many cases, tolerance can be rebuilt gradually once the barrier is healthy again.
6. Identify Your Personal Triggers
There’s no universal “bad ingredient” list.
Some people react to essential oils, while others tolerate them well but struggle with synthetic fragrance. Most people don’t react at all. The key is observation rather than fear. Eliminate one variable at a time and work around sensitivities instead of abandoning skincare altogether.
7. Don’t Overlook Hair and Lifestyle Factors
Hair styling products frequently contribute to facial irritation through pillowcase transfer and hairline contact. Commonly, wax and pomade can transfer from hair to face via your pillow at night, and these can exacerbate breakouts in acne-prone skin.
Lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, dehydration, and stress also play a significant role, for sensitive skin - particularly for rosacea-prone or menopausal skin.
ISSADA Products & Why They Work for Sensitive Skin
ISSADA Skincare
- Daily Gentle Cleanser - cleanses without stripping or triggering inflammation
- Pure HA Serum - provides deep hydration without irritation
- Niacinamide + B5 Complex - calms, strengthens, and supports barrier resilience
- Synbiotic Moisturiser - supports microbiome balance and skin repair
- Replenishing Moisturiser - nourishes dry, lipid-deficient, sensitive skin
ISSADA Mineral Makeup
ISSADA mineral makeup is designed to work with sensitive skin, not mask it.
- Mineral Elixir Liquid Foundation - hydrating and breathable, ideal for reactive or rosacea-prone skin, offering both coverage and hydration via a powerful combination of mutual-size HA molecules and Tremella mushroom extract
- CC8 Liquid Foundation - a lightweight foundation with medium coverage and skin-supportive ingredients
- Baked Powder Foundations & Blushes - ultra-fine minerals without talc, fillers or known irritants
- Calm Balm Mineral Primer - with green tint to counteract redness, this primer soothes and prepares sensitive skin
- Liquid Light Concealers - lightweight coverage without creasing or irritation, especially good for around the eye area.
Dermatologically Tested & Approved for Sensitive Skin
Discover more about our dermatologically approved products for sensitive skin options here: Sensitive and Barrier Impaired Skin.
Final Thought
Sensitive skin doesn’t need harsher treatment, it needs smarter support. With fewer irritants, the right products, and a barrier-first approach, sensitive skin can become calmer, stronger, and more resilient over time.
About the Author
Deb Farnworth-Wood, ISSADA Founder
With over three decades in health and wellness and nearly twenty in medi-aesthetics, Deb Farnworth-Wood has helped shape the standards of Australia’s modern beauty industry. Her vision for ISSADA blends scientific rigour with everyday practicality, proving that great skin isn’t about trends, but about smart and consistent care.
Cosmeceutical Disclaimer: ISSADA formulations are high-performance cosmeceuticals containing potent active ingredients. This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. If you have a pre-existing skin condition or are using prescription topicals, consult a professional practitioner before use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. ISSADA products are intended to improve skin appearance and health, not to diagnose or treat medical diseases.
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