Dealing with blemishes at any age is distressing, but when sensitive, redness-prone skin is also a concern, treating the blemish becomes even more challenging. How do you control blemishes without making sensitive skin worse? What are the best sensitive-skin products if you have blemishes? We have the answers: The best blemish products for sensitive skin (2) can quickly diminish blemishes while also soothing temperamental skin. It is possible!
How to choose the best face wash for blemish-prone and sensitive skin
The first step in learning how to treat sensitive blemish-prone skin is cleanser—but not just any cleanser. Forget soaps and bar cleansers (all have issues like causing dryness or leaving a pore-clogging residue) and instead use a face wash suitable even for blemish-prone sensitive skin formulated to address the needs of blemish-prone skin without irritating it.
It’s critical that your cleanser and every other skin care product you apply is fragrance free, because fragrance is a leading cause of skin allergies and irritation. This is a big concern for sensitive skin.
Avoid abrasive scrub-type cleansers, stiff-bristled cleansing brushes, and cleansers that contain essential oils, which are little more than fragrant oils that can make signs of sensitive skin (4) worse.
What are the best moisturisers for blemish-prone sensitive skin?
When shopping for skin care products suitable for blemish-prone and sensitive skin, the key is texture: Avoid creams and oily lotions, and use a hydrator with a lightweight gel, liquid, or thin lotion texture. If such products don’t provide enough moisture, layer them over a soothing, replenishing, alcohol-free toner and/or water-based serum.
Above all, just as a gentle cleanser for sensitive blemish-prone skin should be fragrance free, so should your moisturiser.
Shopping tip: Look for moisturisers that contain soothing plant extracts such as licorice root, sea whip extract, willow herb, willow bark, and beta-glucan. Or consider a pollution-neutralising serum with antioxidants that play a vital role in keeping skin calm. Both approaches help to minimise signs of sensitive skin without making blemishes worse. The same is true for beneficial ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
The best blemish treatment products for sensitive skin
Without question, the best blemish products for sensitive skin include gentle, fragrance-free formulas (sensing a pattern here?) that contain the two proven over-the-counter blemish-fighting ingredients, benzoyl peroxide for blemish-prone sensitive skin and salicylic acid for blemish-prone sensitive skin. Together, and when used consistently, they deliver a one-two punch that leads to clearer skin.
If you’re worried that benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are too harsh for sensitive skin, let us reassure you: In carefully formulated products that contain soothing ingredients, both can work beautifully on sensitive skin (5). If you experience signs of irritation from using these ingredients, reduce frequency of use and see how your skin responds. Chances are, you’ll see a fast improvement!
Following the tips above will be proof positive that you can find blemish products for sensitive skin that really work while helping to visibly improve signs of redness and irritation.
Learn more about blemish-prone and sensitive skin.
References for this information:
- Dermatologic Therapy, October 2020, pages 1–6
- Skin Therapy Letter, May 2017, pages 5–7
- Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, January 2017, ePublication
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, February 2016, Supplement 1, pages 2–8
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, May 2012, pages 32–40
- Indian Journal of Dermatology, January-February 2011, pages 2–6
