? There isn’t just one type of sensitive skin. Sensitive skin is self-diagnosed and can signal a multitude of skin issues. It could signal that your skin is prone to redness, inflammation, flaking or itching, that you experience burning sensations from certain ingredients and formulas, or that your skin is prone to breakouts when you change your routine beauty. It reacts to the environment rather than adapting to it.
While there isn’t just one type of sensitive skin, every skin type can benefit from a fresh start and a gentle, soothing, and effective skincare routine. The important thing is to find products that clean without damaging and nourish without irritating.
Myth #2: Sensitive skin is uncommon
The truth? More than 50% of women say they have sensitive skin. Thanks to the interest in it, countless studies have been done to discover the best ways to soothe sensitive skin, many of them coming from our own skincare labs.
That being said, only 11% of products on the market are designed for sensitive skin. Olay thinks about you: we are continually discovering new and improved ways to bring you supreme skin care products without negative side effects. You don’t have to sacrifice your best beauty routine even if your skin is sensitive.
Myth #3: No matter what steps you take, sensitive skin will always remain sensitive
The truth? It is not the case at all. Skin sensitivity is affected by many factors, but stress is the most insidious. Stress increases the production of cortisol, the “stress hormone,” which weakens the immune system and damages the skin barrier, two effects that can amplify your stress levels.
It is true that avoiding stressors in our lives would have a huge effect on skin sensitivity, but it makes no difference when these factors are out of your control. So we’ve designed products that improve the health of stressed skin and allow you to regain control of it.
Additional fact: more than 70% of women say they experience moderate to high stress.
Myth #4: Sensitive skin should be cleaned with water only, not cleansers.
We understand why this seems like a good solution, but in reality, many skin care products are designed specifically for sensitive skin to not only gently treat it, but also soothe it, making it feel smoother. calm, gentle and less irritated. Splashing your face with water between washes is great, but water itself doesn’t cleanse the skin or help strengthen weakened skin barriers. Plus, you don’t get the full benefits of vitamin-rich products. Our products for sensitive skin contain pro-glycerin and petrolatum, two ingredients proven to gently repair the skin’s barrier. A healthy skin barrier gives you hydration and protection against pollutants throughout the day.
While many cleansers contain irritating surfactants and fragrances, cleansers designed specifically for sensitive skin strengthen the skin’s barrier without irritating it. Look for the words “dermatologist proven” on skin care product packaging and when it comes to Olay products, look for the Green Seal to ensure you are getting the most effective products for your stressed and sensitive skin.
Avoid using irritating soap on your face, no matter how sensitive your skin is. When you use an irritating soap, soap residue gets into the folds of your skin and thus weakens your skin’s barrier. Additionally, avoid products that contain coloring or sodium laureth sulfate. The latter is a soap that is found in many cleansers, but which is not suitable for skin that is easily irritable.
Myth #5: Makeup irritates sensitive skin
Makeup itself does not necessarily irritate sensitive skin. Rather, it is the act of applying products to already inflamed skin that can cause problems. A skincare routine that repairs and nourishes your sensitive skin barrier will make your face the best possible canvas for makeup. Our beauty scientists understand the behavior of sensitive skin and know which dermatologically proven ingredients will work for your beauty routine. We launched a collection of makeup removers for sensitive skin that are gentle on the skin, remove makeup, soothe stressed skin and hydrate it. They contain naturally derived glycerin which effectively penetrates the skin’s barrier gently to soothe stress damage and dryness directly to the skin.
It is also important to remove your make-up before going to bed, because make-up residue can irritate your skin while you sleep. We launched two types of makeup removers: a traditional cleanser and an easy-to-use wipe. So no matter what the day brings, you’ll wake up with hydrated, well-rested skin.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you have sensitive skin, always perform a patch test before applying a new product to your face. Apply a small amount of the product to your wrist or a small area of your neck and wait 24 hours to see if any redness or irritation occurs. If no irritation occurs, the product is suitable for you!