Are you looking for the best clean products to treat your sensitive skin? Then this blog post is for you.
As a natural skincare company, we understand how difficult it can be to buy beauty products and accessories that work well with your skin. Many products out there contain harsh chemicals or toxins that can ignite a negative reaction or increase irritation instead of providing soothing relief. That’s why we believe in clean beauty: natural products that work in harmony with your skin rather than against it.
Read on to discover the best natural ingredients, at-home remedies, and clean products for sensitive skin.
Eczema and Sensitive Skin
People who suffer from eczema often deal with sensitive skin that’s more prone to irritation. Eczema is a common dermal condition that affects approximately 10-20% of the population. It’s characterized by a red rash, scaly skin, and sometimes even pimple-like bumps that may ooze fluid.
Due to a damaged skin barrier that has difficulty retaining moisture, dryness is another common symptom of this inflammatory skin condition. This is what leads to intense itchiness, one of the most burdensome symptoms for those who suffer from atopic dermatitis or eczema.
People who suffer from eczema and experience sensitive skin must be extra careful about the clothing and skin care products they buy because contact with a potential irritant can lead to a bad flare-up.
Many products that can trigger a flare-up are everyday items you can find in the home and likely use regularly. These include cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, soap, body wash, jewelry containing nickel, and even cell phones.
Top clothing irritants include latex, nylon, spandex, and rayon.
When you suffer from eczema, even the food you eat can negatively affect your skin. Some prime food triggers include gluten, dairy, citrus fruits, and shellfish. Finally, other factors that can affect those with eczema or sensitive skin include stress, sweat, extreme temperatures, and pet fur.
What is Clean Beauty?
Clean beauty is a movement that celebrates organic products that are made with natural and wholesome ingredients. That means no cheap fillers, no mystery ingredients, no toxic chemicals. As a result, clean beauty products are better for your skin health and our planet.
When you choose to buy clean beauty products, you are nourishing your body by feeding it ingredients that work in harmony with it, rather than against it. Plus, you are doing our planet a favor. Sadly, many skin care products and accessories are manufactured without thinking about the negative effect these processes will have on our earth.
But clean beauty holds companies accountable for their production methods, ethical standards, and safety regulations. You can trust clean beauty products to be GMO-free, cruelty-free, and transparent about the ingredients they contain. Transparency is a key feature of clean beauty.
When you choose to buy a clean beauty product, you will know exactly what you are putting onto your skin for your body to absorb and you will know the impact the production process had on the environment. That’s because skincare labels will be open, clear, and honest.
Of course, we understand that it can be difficult to know whether a product is truly clean or not – especially with more and more companies using words like ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ to describe their products. Our general rule of thumb is that if you can't pronounce the ingredient's name, it probably isn't great for your skin.
While the beauty world still has a long way to go in ensuring all products and accessories are safe, it’s hopeful to hear that more and more skin care companies are adopting the values of clean beauty. That being said, please continue to be a conscious consumer and do your due diligence when trying out skincare products or accessories for the first time.
We all have a responsibility to keep our earth and ecosystems safe.
Coconut Oil for Sensitive Skin
Coconut oil is a wonderful natural remedy because it offers many health benefits to the skin. It’s no wonder more and more people with sensitive skin are turning towards this hydrating ingredient to find relief from itchiness and dryness.
What exactly makes coconut oil such an effective at-home treatment for those with sensitive skin?
To start with, it’s naturally hydrating. With the ability to quickly penetrate the skin, people with eczema, psoriasis, or dry skin can enjoy a quick boost of moisture. Its moisturizing effect and ability to combat the drying effects of eczema come from a fat called medium-chain triglycerides.
In addition, coconut oil contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This helps it calm irritation and inflammation associated with eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis.
Coconut oil is also rich in lauric acid. This helps it reduce the risk of infection, especially if relentless scratching causes the skin to crack or bleed.
You can buy coconut oil at most shops, making it an easy natural remedy to come by.
To benefit from the use of coconut oil, apply it directly to slightly damp skin or take it internally. You can also go one step further by indulging in a coconut oil bath. Simply draw up a tub of lukewarm water and soak your skin. Believe us when we say, you deserve to relax.
Can Colloidal Oatmeal Calm Irritation?
Yes, it sure can! Colloidal oatmeal is another gentle remedy to soothe your sensitive and irritated skin. This is a particular type of finely ground oatmeal that can easily dissolve in water.
Thanks to the fact that it is rich in beta-glucans, it’s great for treating itchy skin and relieving skin inflammation associated with eczema and psoriasis. And if dry skin is a big issue, colloidal oatmeal can help replenish lost moisture, soothe irritation, and even lessen skin flakiness.
Like coconut oil, you can also buy colloidal oatmeal in most shops. To benefit from colloidal oatmeal, draw up a bath. We recommend you use lukewarm water as hot water tends to further dry out the skin. Grind 2-3 cups of the oatmeal using a coffee grinder or food processor. Fill the tub with water and pour the crushed colloidal oatmeal inside as the water is filling.
Trust us, your sensitive skin will love the gentle effects of this soothing at-home remedy. When you are finished with your wash, don’t forget to pat dry your body with a towel to avoid any harsh rubbing. This will help prevent further irritation.
The Power of Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a popular natural remedy for soothing sensitive skin. It’s so popular that you’ve probably used it before to treat a nasty sunburn. Well-known for its cooling effect on the skin, it’s no wonder so many people are turning towards this powerful plant to treat their sensitive skin.
Humans have been benefiting from the healing effects of aloe vera for thousands of years. The gel from its leaves contains over 75 different nutrients which help cool and calm the skin. Not only that, but aloe vera is extremely hydrating.
This ability to moisturize the skin makes it an excellent solution for dry skin conditions like eczema. You can also use aloe vera to heal wounds. So if persistent scratching is causing your skin to crack or bleed, aloe vera can help heal broken skin and reduce the risk of infection.
A natural healing agent, aloe vera is truly a great choice for anyone suffering from eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin. The best part is because aloe vera is so wholesome, you can use it anywhere on the body. This includes even the most delicate areas like the lips and eyelids. If you’re eager to add aloe vera as part of your at-home remedy, start by picking up an aloe vera plant.
You can buy aloe vera in many shops as it makes great home decor too! When you’re ready to use it, simply cut open one of its leaves and squeeze out the gel. If you don’t want to apply aloe vera in its raw form, no problem: you can find it as a popular ingredient in many skin care products.
Benefits of Honey
We have so much to thank the bees for! Honey is a natural remedy that’s perfect for relieving sensitive skin. In particular, we are huge fans of manuka honey.
Did you know humans have been using honey to treat a variety of skin conditions for thousands of years? That’s because it offers so many health benefits to the skin. First of all, it’s extremely hydrating. For people suffering from dry skin, eczema, or psoriasis, this is a dream come true.
Honey is great at combating dry, flaky symptoms and reducing the associated itch. Its ability to moisturize the skin also gives the complexion a radiant boost (and let’s be real: we all want that natural glow!). Plus, honey gives the gift of younger-looking skin thanks to its anti-aging benefits.
In addition, you can use honey to soothe burns, heal wounds, and relieve cuts or scraps. This is perfect if scratching causes your skin to crack or bleed, potentially paving the way for infection.
Manuka honey is incredibly effective at soothing the skin because it contains 1000x more Methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal is a unique compound that gives manuka honey its supreme healing benefits compared to regular forms of honey.
To benefit from the use of honey, you can apply the sweet (and sticky!) substance directly to your sensitive skin. However, if you want a less messy way of reaping the healing benefits of honey, you can also find this natural substance in many skincare products.
Thank you for the gift of honey, bees!
The Best Clothing Products for Sensitive Skin
People who suffer from sensitive skin are more at risk of experiencing irritation when their skin comes into contact with clothing it doesn’t agree with. Unfortunately, clothing is a top trigger for people with eczema and psoriasis too.
Why? The problem lies in the fabric of the clothing itself. Many fabrics are made with chemical additives that can cause a negative reaction. This includes dyes, resins, and laundry detergent. The main fabric irritants are polyester, spandex, rubber, nylon, and even wool.
The skin is the body’s largest organ and it’s important to treat it kindly. Wearing sensitive-skin friendly clothing is a great start to combat irritation and itchiness. Check out some of the best clothing for sensitive skin here:
If you have sensitive skin on the back, chest, arms, or stomach, this long-sleeved shirt for adults and kids works like a dream. Because it’s form-fitting, it’s great for wearing underneath regular clothing during the day without any added bulk. You can also wear them alone at night as pajamas.
Treat sensitive skin on the legs, thighs, and buttocks with these gentle Pants for Adults and Pants for Kids. You can wear them as a protective layer underneath regular clothing during the day thanks to their legging-like fit. Or you can wear them as pajamas at night. The unique fabric composition of TENCEL and zinc oxide fibers has been clinically proven to reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis, reduce itchiness, and improve sleep quality when worn overnight for three consecutive nights.
Try this Chemical-Free Soap
For people with sensitive skin, it can be challenging to buy a cleansing soap that doesn’t provoke irritation or strip the skin of its natural oils. That’s why people with eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and sensitive skin will love this cleansing and gentle Coconut and Sunflower Oil Soap bar!
It’s made with just 3 ingredients: cold-pressed coconut oil, cold-pressed sunflower oil, and shea butter. Together, these natural ingredients create a fatty and cleansing lather that's perfect for babies and adults with even the most delicate skin. Vegan and cruelty-free, this soothing soap is dermatologist-approved. Feel free to use it as a full-body wash or simply as a hand soap throughout the day.
Hydrating Cream for the Face
Our list of natural skin care products wouldn't be complete without mentioning our renowned Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream. This creamy pot of goodness is our best-selling product for a reason. First of all, it’s 100% natural. It contains just 6 ingredients: organic olive oil, organic beeswax, filtered water, grape seed oil, organic Active 16+ New Zealand Manuka honey, and manuka oil extract.
Because it contains manuka honey, you can trust this dreamy balm to moisturize even the driest of skin. Yes, it’s that hydrating! It also has a buttery, creamy texture that your sensitive skin will adore!
Kids and adults alike can benefit from this oil-based balm that’s safe to use anywhere on the body from head to toe. With absolutely no burning or stinging, you can even apply this balm on the eyelids and lips. If you want to buy this dreamy cream in combination with the Coconut and Sunflower Oil Soap bar mentioned above, check out our Body Care Essentials Bundle.
Natural At-Home Remedies for Dealing with Sensitive Skin
Here are some tips and tricks you can try to care for your sensitive skin at home. Start by taking shorter showers that are around 5-10 minutes long. Unfortunately, water tends to dry out the skin. So if you can minimize the amount of time you spend in the water, the happier your sensitive skin will be.
You should also opt for lukewarm water instead of hot. When you are finished washing, pat skin dry skin with a towel to avoid unnecessary harsh rubbing. Don’t forget to apply a natural cream right away to replenish any lost moisture. This will help combat impending dryness, itchiness, and irritation.
Another useful trick is always trying a small patch test first whenever you buy a new product. Even if you think you know what works and doesn’t work for your skin, a patch can help prevent any unexpected negative surprises – especially if you have sensitive skin!
To apply a small patch, take a small amount of product and apply it to an unaffected area of your body. Wait a few minutes to see if there is a negative reaction. If all seems fine, apply the new product in a small amount to the affected skin. Finally, if this does not cause your skin to break out in a rash or bout of irritation, it’s likely safe to apply more generously.
Finally, if your sensitive skin is itchy or irritated, you can relieve symptoms and find soothing relief with the help of wet wrap therapy. Wet wrap therapy is an easy at-home remedy that provides a quick boost of moisture to a targeted area.
The process is simple: start by applying a natural moisturizer like the Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream mentioned above. Then wrap the area with a slightly damp piece of clothing like these hypoallergenic sleeves. They’re particularly great at spot-treating difficult areas like the bends of elbows and behind the knees. Finally, cover up with a dry layer of clothing over top. Be sure to leave the wraps on overnight or for a minimum of two hours. When you remove the wrap, apply a natural cream one more time.
