Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Caring for Sensitive Skin

Honey Girl Organics understands how challenging caring for sensitive skin can be! One wrong move can quickly turn your skin red, irritated, and far from selfie ready. The worst part? Sensitive skin flare-ups can take days or even weeks to recover from fully.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! Finding the proper routine for your skin type and learning how to avoid flare-ups can make a huge difference in how you manage your sensitive skin.

Today, we'll dive into the top five common mistakes people make when caring for sensitive skin and show you how to give it the TLC it deserves.

Plus, stick around until the end for an HGO-approved simple skincare routine with product recommendations for sensitive skin!

5 Common Mistakes in Caring for Sensitive Skin

1. Over-Cleansing

One of the first mistakes people with sensitive skin make is over-cleansing. Many skincare blogs and advice suggest washing your face twice a day, but this isn’t always true for those with sensitive skin. For sensitive skin, we recommend cleansing your face only in the evening. At night, removing dirt, makeup, sweat, and build-up from the day is important—so don’t skip this essential step! However, in the morning, simply splash your face with water and gently pat it dry to retain your skin's natural oils and avoid overworking it.

2. Using Harsh Formulas 

Understanding skincare ingredients and how they react with your skin is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for those with sensitive skin. Many conventional skincare products, especially those from big-box stores, contain harsh ingredients like sulfates, preservatives, synthetic fragrances, alcohol, and more. These can worsen sensitive skin, causing reactions after just one or two uses. Instead, those with sensitive skin should opt for clean, natural, organic ingredients in their skincare products. The more nature-inspired the ingredient list, the better!

3. Trying Out Too Many New Products

We know how fun it is to go into a store and pick up a few different skincare products, and the excitement to try them all at once is real—but if you have sensitive skin, resist the urge! Allowing time to see how each new product makes your skin react is important. If you notice breakouts, irritation, or signs of a damaged skin barrier, that’s your skin's way of saying no to the new product. Instead, introduce products slowly, giving your skin a few weeks to adjust before adding anything else.

Bonus points if you patch test to ensure no immediate reactions!

4. Skipping Sunscreen

It’s tempting to skip sunscreen when you feel like it might worsen your sensitive skin. However, leaving your skin exposed to the sun and other elements makes it more prone to damage and increases sensitivity. Instead of skipping this step, opt for physical or mineral sun protection. Those with sensitive skin should avoid chemical sunscreens, as many of their main ingredients can irritate or trigger reactions.

5. Not Hydrating Enough

Sensitive skin loses moisture quickly, often due to a damaged skin barrier. It’s essential to hydrate your face every morning and night using a high-quality organic facial moisturizer to lock in moisture and provide your skin with the nourishment it needs to heal and repair. If you need extra hydration during the day, adding a sprayable toner into your skincare routine can boost your skin's hydration as you move through your day!

A Simple Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

At Honey Girl Organics, we're all about using natural, organic ingredients to help your skin feel its best from the inside out! Our products are lovingly crafted with the finest ingredients to nourish and protect your sensitive skin!

1. Cleanse (PM)

Choosing a nourishing, gentle formula is key when washing your face at the end of the day. Our Facial Cleanser & Makeup Remover Extra Sensitive is perfect for your PM routine. It’s gentle on the skin yet powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn makeup, including waterproof products!

2. Exfoliate (1-2x a week)

Just because your skin is sensitive doesn’t mean you should skip the step of helping it renew itself by shedding dead cells and revealing brighter, healthier skin. Here at HGO, we love our Facial Scrub for manually assisting your skin in this process.

3. Hydration (AM & PM)

It’s important to apply moisturizer morning and night, especially after exfoliating. Our Face & Eye Crème Extra Sensitive is specially formulated for sensitive skin. It locks in moisture and helps your skin heal, making it perfect for morning and nighttime use, and if you want an extra nourishing night cream, try our Night Crème Extra Sensitive.

4. Sun Protection (Daily)

Protecting your skin from UV rays, wind, water, and other factors like blue light is essential whether you'll be outside all day or indoors in front of a computer.

Incorporate HGO’s Protect stick into your skincare routine to provide your face with an extra layer of protection. If you plan on being outdoors, bring it with you for reapplication as needed! 

For all our sensitive skin readers, caring for your skin doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. By avoiding the common mistakes mentioned here and using natural and organic products, your skin will thank you by staying calm, hydrated, and clear!

Aloha,

Ashley & Honey Girl Organics