If you suffer from sensitive skin, you’ll know that makeup can be somewhat of a challenge! After all you don’t want to spend your hard-earned dollars purchasing products that are only going to exacerbate your already compromised complexion!

Unfortunately when it comes to sensitive skin, choosing the right makeup products for your skin’s specific needs, as well as adopting gentle preparation and application techniques, are imperative! To help guide you, below we reveal the top 9 makeup tips for sensitive skin sufferers and the best makeup products for you to try too! Products that will both help conceal and sooth your sensitive skin without any irritation. Sound good? Keep reading!

 

1. Understand your skin

Before you even consider your makeup, you need to really understand your skin. As well as being sensitive, is it dry? Oily? Combination perhaps? Do you have any specific skin conditions like rosacea or eczema? Are their certain ingredients that cause your skin to flair up? Understanding your skins unique needs will help you choose the right products.

2. Check ingredients

When selecting makeup products for sensitive skin, read labels carefully. You want to avoid highly fragranced products which are very likely to cause a negative reaction with sensitive skin. Also avoid, drying alcohols, witch hazel, citrus and products that contain a high % of essential oils. Another problem can be preservatives, particularly methylisothiazolinone and methylcholorisothiazoline which are often used to replace parabens, these are known sensitisers when used in leave on products.

Instead look for terms like “fragrance-free” and “hypoallergenic”. This means that the makeup has been tested and proven to be less likely to cause irritation. Also check the label for ”non-comedogenic”. Non-comedogenic makeup is less likely to clog your pores, which can lead to breakouts.

Mineral makeup will be your because bet, because its fragrance-free, hypoallergic and non-comedogenic and it tends to be packed with soothing, skin loving ingredients instead of ingredients that can cause irritation.

3. Choose the right shade

When it comes to choosing colours avoid products that are too yellow.  Red skin and yellow makeup = orange complexion.  Neutral shades are best for you and will help reduce the redness harmoniously.

4. Patch test your products

Before applying any new product to your face we recommend patch testing first to check for any allergic reactions or irritation. Either apply the product on an area like the back of your wrist or by apply a very small amount to your jawline.

5. Make sure your skin is properly prepped

Before diving into makeup, it’s imperative to start with a clean canvas. Use a gentle, sensitive skin cleanser to remove any impurities. Next, it’s time to moisturise. Sensitive skin can be on the dry side too, so it’s important to add nourishment. Opt for a moisturiser specifically designed to sooth and hydrate sensitive skin, this will lock in hydration and create a smooth base for the makeup to follow! We are loving Phytomer’s Douceur Marine Soothing Moisturising Cream. It is beautifully silky in texture, soothing on the skin and visibly reduces skin redness. What’s more, its deeply hydrating without feeling greasy or heavy.

Take only the size of a pea and pat the product into the skin to allow it to absorb slowly and naturally.  You should also add a sunscreen with high SPF for a layer of added protection, this will help prevent sun damage and premature skin ageing like fines lines and wrinkles. We recommend: ELES Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection 50

6. It’s time to prime

All hail the makeup primer! This product will really be your best friend. A makeup primer will not only help create longer lasting makeup, but it will create a barrier between your skin and makeup reducing the risk of irritation too! Choose a gentle formula. We love ELES Retexturizing Face Primer

To learn more about primers and just how good they are click here.

7. Go light

If you use foundation, go for a breathable, lightweight liquid formula.

We love the best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. It’s silky, mineral-enriched and provides skin with broad spectrum sun protection. It liquid formulated glides beautifully onto sensitive skin setting as a soft, powder finish, however it does not clog skin! Brilliant stuff.

Another option is to look for multi-tasking products that treat, conceal and even tone in one.  A tall ask?  Not when it comes to CC Creams! These miracle formulas are colour correcting.  So instead of applying a thick layer of opaque makeup to cover redness, the CC Cream’s Photonic Crystal Technology “offsets” redness, wrinkles and other skin imperfections, subtly illuminating the skin.  This means less coverage is required, better for your sensitive skin! Try: ELES Luminous CC Cream 20, you’ll be so glad you did!

To add colour or depth to your skin, you can incorporate a blush or bronzer too. You’re best to just choose mineral formulations once again, but make sure you choose powder over cream base. Cream-based products can sometimes clog pores or cause unnecessary irritation.

8. Less is always more

It’s better to start with a light layer of makeup and build up coverage as needed than to apply too much makeup at once. Too much makeup can irritate sensitive skin and clog your pores.

9. Remove your makeup at the end of the day.

It’s imperative to remove any makeup from your skin at the end of the day. Leaving impurities in the skin while you sleep will lead to more sensitivity!  Allow your skin to perform its natural repair and regeneration at night by removing all your makeup and the day’s pollutants and you’ll wake up to a much calmer skin. While it may be tempting to coat your skin in rich and protective creams and oils, it’s better to drench it with lightweight moisture that will encourage better cell regeneration and protein rebuilding.

We adore Phytomer’s Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream. Perfectly silky and soothing it literally envelopes your skin in nourishment and comfort and helps boost your skin’s renewal as you sleep so you’ll wake up to calmer, plumper skin by morning. Obsessed.