Gentle Evening Routine for Sensitive Skin
Sensitive Skin Principles
Sensitive skin has a compromised barrier. The goal is to repair it, not add more potential irritants. Fewer products with proven-safe ingredients beat a 10-step routine.
The 4-Step Evening Routine
1. Cream Cleanser. Fragrance-free, pH-balanced (5.0-5.5). Cream or milk formulas don't strip the barrier. Avoid foaming cleansers with SLS.
2. Barrier Repair Serum. Centella asiatica (cica), panthenol (B5), or madecassoside. These reduce inflammation and accelerate barrier repair. Apply to damp skin.
3. Ceramide Moisturizer. Ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in a 3:1:1 ratio mimic the skin's natural barrier. This is the single most important product for sensitive skin.
4. Occlusive (if very dry). A thin layer of petrolatum or squalane over problem areas prevents transepidermal water loss overnight.
What to Avoid
Fragrance (including essential oils), alcohol denat, high-concentration acids, physical scrubs, and introducing more than one new product at a time. Patch test everything for 2 weeks.
When to Add Actives
Only after your barrier is healthy (no stinging, redness, or tightness). Start with the gentlest options: azelaic acid 10%, bakuchiol, or low-concentration niacinamide (2-4%).
