Skincare routine
for sensitive skin
Pick your skin type and concerns. Get a morning and night routine in the right order, with nothing that clashes.
- 1Your skin
- 2Your day
- 3Your routine
Your dayFrom waking up to bed, in order
Ingredient types, not brands. Every active is checked against the others with our pair verdicts.
Everything in this tool, in full
Know your sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is about reactions, not oil: it stings, burns or reddens with things most skin tolerates. It can also be oily, dry or combination. Cleveland Clinic 1Cleveland Clinic 2
How to tell your skin is sensitive
- Products or weather that don’t bother most people make your skin sting, burn, itch or turn red. Cleveland Clinic 2Cleveland Clinic 1
- It’s common: about 60–70% of women and 50–60% of men say they have sensitive skin. DermNet 3
- Usual triggers: scented products, soaps, detergents, wool, heat, wind and temperature swings. Cleveland Clinic 2
- It can be a sign of rosacea or eczema, which a dermatologist can tell apart and treat. Cleveland Clinic 2
What to look for
- “Fragrance-free”, not “unscented”, plus “sensitive skin” and “non-comedogenic” on the label. AAD 6
- Creams rather than lotions or gels. AAD 6
- Mineral sunscreen: zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Tinted or micronized if it leaves a white cast. AAD 8AAD 6
- Soap-free cleansers, used with fingertips and lukewarm water. DermNet 3AAD 6AAD 5
What to avoid
- Alcohol, camphor, fragrance, glycolic acid, lactic acid, menthol, sodium lauryl sulfate and urea. AAD 6
- Scrubs, washcloths, brushes and exfoliants of any kind. DermNet 3AAD 6
- Benzoyl peroxide if your skin is very sensitive: its FDA label says not to use it. FDA 14
- Astringents, toners and long, hot showers. AAD 6DermNet 3
Common mistakes
- Starting several new products at once. Add one at a time, so you know what caused a reaction. DermNet 3
- Skipping the test: try a new product on your inner arm, twice a day for 7–10 days. AAD 21
- Trusting “natural” or “organic”: plant ingredients can still cause allergies. AAD 7
- Rubbing your face dry. Pat it gently with a soft towel. AAD 5
Other skin types
One face scan. Your whole routine, sorted.
This page answered your question. MySkincare starts from your own skin, and the products you already use.
- 1Scan your face3 photos: front, left profile, right profile.
- 2See your skin scoreFree6 zones scored separately: forehead, eye area, T-zone, both cheeks, chin.
- 3Scan your productsIt reads each ingredient list and says: keep it, watch it or replace it.
- 4Follow your routineMorning and night, checked so your products work together. With reminders.
Questions people ask
What’s the best cleanser for sensitive skin?
A mild, soap-free, fragrance-free one, used with fingertips and lukewarm water. In the morning, water alone may be enough.
What sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?
Dermatologists recommend mineral (physical) sunscreens, with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both: broad-spectrum, SPF 30+ and fragrance-free.
Is azelaic acid OK for sensitive skin?
Often, but go slowly. It is used for redness and acne, yet it can itch or burn in the first weeks, and DermNet notes that very sensitive skin may find it irritating. Test it on your arm first, then use it once a day.
Can I use vitamin C on sensitive skin?
Carefully. Pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) needs a very acidic formula to work, and strong ones can irritate. This builder starts with gentler options; if you want to try one, test it on your arm for 7–10 days first and stop if it burns.
Sources
- Pair verdicts from our ingredient mixer (FDA labels, studies, or expert consensus where no study exists)
American Academy of Dermatologyaad.org
- Face washing 101
Gentle alcohol-free cleanser, lukewarm water, fingertips only, pat dry; twice a day and after sweating.
- 7 rosacea skin care tips dermatologists recommend (2024)
Ingredients that often irritate reactive skin; fragrance-free over “unscented”; creams over lotions and gels; mineral sunscreen; no scrubbing or exfoliating.
- How to pick the right moisturizer for your skin (2022)
Gel or none for oily skin, cream or ointment for dry skin; combination skin: moisturize the dry spots and skip the oily areas; fragrance-free for sensitive skin; ceramides and hyaluronic acid; no AHAs on dry skin.
- Sunscreen FAQs (2025)
Broad-spectrum SPF 30+; at least 1 teaspoon for the face; 15 minutes before going out; reapply every 2 hours; mineral sunscreen for sensitive skin.
- Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin (2026)
Short warm showers, moisturizer right after on damp skin, creams and ointments over lotions, fragrance-free; stop alcohol, fragrance and retinoids while skin is dry.
- How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones (2025)
Tinted SPF 30+ with iron oxides; azelaic acid, glycolic acid, retinoids and vitamin C can fade spots; irritation can cause new ones; 6–12 months to fade.
- Retinoid or retinol? (2021)
Retinoids at night only, every other night to start, sun protection by day; people with dryness are probably not good candidates; start slowly, with moisturizer; lowest strength for sensitive skin; not in pregnancy.
- Skin care on a budget (2026)
Three steps (cleanse, moisturize, protect); keep products few; water or a gentle cleanser in the morning; broad-spectrum SPF 30+; skip fragrance and drying alcohols.
- How to test skin care products (2021)
Test a new product on the inner arm, twice a day for 7–10 days, before using it on your face.
Cleveland Clinicclevelandclinic.org
- What is my skin type and why does it matter? (2024)
The 30-minute test after washing; the T-zone; sensitive is about reactions; lower strengths for combination skin; avoid benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid on sensitive skin.
- Sensitive skin (2025)
Symptoms, common triggers (scented products, soaps, detergents, wool, heat, wind), links with rosacea and eczema, when to see a doctor.
- How often should you wash your face? (2025)
Twice a day for oily and combination skin; water in the morning and cleanser at night for dry or sensitive skin; overwashing dries skin.
DermNetdermnetnz.org
- Sensitive skin (2026)
About 60–70% of women and 50–60% of men report sensitive skin; soap-free cleansers; avoid exfoliants and fragrance; one new product at a time.
- Nicotinamide
A 2% niacinamide moisturizer reduced facial oil; niacinamide moisturizers improved the barrier and cut irritant reactions; studies on fine lines and blotchiness; well tolerated, often by people who can’t tolerate retinoids.
- Azelaic acid
Used for acne, rosacea and dark marks; start once a day, build to twice; may itch or burn; very sensitive skin may find it irritating.
Mayo Clinicmayoclinic.org
- Dry skin, symptoms and causes (2026)
Tightness, flaking, fine lines, cracks, ashy look on brown and Black skin; hot showers, harsh soaps, low humidity, age over 40; when to see a doctor.
- Nonprescription acne treatment, which products work best? (2024)
Benzoyl peroxide 2.5–10%: lower strengths work as well as higher ones, start at 2.5%; adapalene 0.1%, salicylic acid 0.5–2%, azelaic acid 10%; one product in the morning, a different one at night, to help prevent irritation; 2–3 months for full results.
- Wrinkle creams, your guide to younger looking skin (2026)
Retinol, vitamin C and niacinamide may bring small improvements; daily SPF 30+ is the more reliable step; up to 6 weeks to see a change.
NHSnhs.uk
- Emollients (2023)
Lotions, creams and ointments; ointments for very dry skin and at night; apply right after washing; keep emollients away from flames.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulationsecfr.gov
- FDA OTC acne monograph, 21 CFR 333 subpart D
Benzoyl peroxide 2.5–10% and salicylic acid 0.5–2%; start with one application daily; dryness and irritation more likely with another topical acne medicine at the same time; benzoyl peroxide: not for very sensitive skin, bleaches fabric.
Studies and other sources
- Al-Niaimi & Chiang, J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2017: Topical vitamin C and the skinjcadonline.com
L-ascorbic acid needs a pH below 3.5 to get into skin; useful products are 10–20%; stronger ones may irritate; it reduces pigmentation.