Sensitive Skin Care Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Tahani Williams, M.D.

If your skin often feels tight, stings when you apply products, or flares up with redness or bumps from seemingly “gentle” ingredients, you’re not alone. Sensitive skin is incredibly common, especially among women. As a result, sensitive skin needs extra TLC.

Your skin care should never sting, burn, or cause breakouts. That’s why it’s best to use dermatologist-recommended products made without irritating ingredients like fragrances, sulfates, and dyes.

In this friendly guide, we’ll walk you through a complete, effective skincare routine that’s soothing, smart for your skin, and right for you. Along the way, we’ll highlight how Cleure products can support you through every step.

What Is Sensitive Skin, Really?

Sensitive skin isn’t a medical diagnosis. It’s a symptom of an overreactive skin barrier and can result from genetics, environmental stress, harsh products, allergies, or even hormonal changes.

If you suspect you have sensitive skin, watch for these common signs:

• Redness, blotchiness
• Stinging or burning
• Dry, flaky patches
• Acne-like bumps
• Reactions to skincare or weather

Pro Tip: The key to calming sensitive skin is consistency, simplicity, and avoiding common irritants. Watch out for fragrances, essential oils, and alcohol in the products you use.

Avoid These Ingredients if You Have Sensitive Skin

Here’s a list of common triggers that may make your skin freak out if you have sensitive skin:

• Fragrances (even “natural” essential oils)
• Alcohol (denatured or SD)
• Menthol, camphor, or eucalyptus
• Harsh surfactants (like SLS)
• Strong acids (AHAs/BHAs in high concentrations)
• Preservatives like parabens or formaldehyde releasers

Quick Step-by-Step Guide for Sensitive Skin Care

Step 1: Cleanse gently using soap-free, fragrance-free formulas that lift dirt and makeup without disrupting natural oils. Avoid foaming cleansers, essential oils, and hot water.

Step 2: Tone (optional) using alcohol-free toner with glycerin to help rebalance skin’s pH. Avoid toners with alcohol or witch hazel.

Step 3: Moisturize fragrance free with shea butter and glycerin for lightweight hydration.

Step 4: Use Sun Protection such as a mineral broad-spectrum SPF 30 with non-nano zinc oxide.

Step 5: Gentle exfoliation with non-abrasive facial exfoliating scrub to buff away dead skin 1-2 times per week

In the following sections, we’ll cover each of the above steps in greater detail.

Step 1: Cleanse Gently, No Stripping Allowed

Cleansing is your first step but stay clear of harsh cleansers that will tear down your skin barrier. It’s important to choose the right cleanser for your skin type. Lotion cleansers are better suited for dry skin, while oil-free cleansers are best for oily or acne-prone skin.

Hop in the shower and use your hands or a clean washcloth and a gentle body wash to cleanse all over your body.

As tempting as sweet smelling cleansers are, it’s best to avoid cleansers with fragrance or essential oils. These are common irritants that can cause problems for sensitive skin.

If you want the relaxation that comes from an aromatic shower, light a candle beforehand. You’ll get the fragrant atmosphere without the frustrating breakouts.

Your goal is to remove dirt, body odor, and impurities from living. However, be careful not to wash your skin too often. Over-cleansing can strip your skin of its natural oils and leave your skin dry and dull. Instead, stick to one shower a day, and try not to linger too long in the hot water.

You want:

• Soap-free formulas
• pH-balanced (around 5.5)
• No sulfates or fragrances

Avoid:

• Foaming cleansers with sodium lauryl sulfate
• Essential oils or artificial dyes
• Hot water (it makes sensitivity worse)

The Cleure Solution: Cleure Sensitive Skin Cleanser

Cleure soap-free, fragrance-free formulas gently lift dirt and makeup without disrupting your skin’s natural oils. 

“Finally, a cleanser that doesn’t make my face red!” - Cleure Customer

Step 2: Apply Toner

While some might consider this step optional, toner is still helpful for managing pH balance. Skip this step if your skin is extremely reactive or you’re just starting a routine. Add it later once your skin barrier is stronger.

Many toners are packed with alcohol or witch hazel. These ingredients can be harsh, so you’ll want to keep clear of them. The right toner can help hydrate and prep your skin to absorb moisture.

You want:

• Alcohol-free
• Soothing ingredients like glycerin

Cleure Solution: Cleure Alcohol-Free Toner

With glycerin and no botanical extracts, this toner gently rebalances your skin’s pH without drying you out.

Step 3: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Sensitive skin means “often dehydrated skin.” Moisturizing helps repair your barrier and lock in hydration.

Choosing a moisturizer well suited for your skin type will help maximize your results. Moisture retaining ingredients like hyaluronic acid are a plus for both dry and oily skin, because it keeps your skin hydrated. This helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Regardless of whether your skin is oily, dry, or somewhere in between, choose a fragrance-free body moisturizer. This will help you avoid negative reactions from fragrance, one of the most common allergens.

You want:

• Simple, non-comedogenic formulas
• Ceramides, glycerin, shea butter, or squalane
• No fragrances or plant extracts

Cleure Solution: Cleure Day Cream, Cleure Night Cream

Lightweight yet deeply hydrating, Cleure’s Day Cream and Night Cream include shea butter, glycerin, and squalane. They’re also free of parabens, fragrances, and dyes, making them safe for rosacea, eczema, and perioral dermatitis.

If you want to maximize your skin care routine, try Cleure Oil-Free Facial Lotion. It hydrates oily skin and nourishes without leaving a shine.

“My skin finally feels hydrated but not greasy or irritated.” - Cleure Customer

Step 4: Use Sun Protection (Absolutely Essential)

Sensitive skin is often more reactive to the sun. UV rays worsen redness, aging, and irritation.

Sunscreen will always be non-negotiable when it comes to skin care. Not only is it your best defense against skin cancer, but also against early signs of aging.

Apply one ounce (a shot glass worth) of sunscreen to any part of your body not shielded by clothes and reapply every 2 hours.

You want:

• Mineral (physical) sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
• Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher
• Fragrance-free and non-nano formulas

Avoid:

• Chemical sunscreens like avobenzone, oxybenzone, or octinoxate (they can sting)

Cleure Solution: Cleure Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen

This sunscreen is a non-nano zinc oxide formula that provides broad-spectrum protection without white cast or irritation. Use it every single morning, even if you’re indoors. (UV rays pass through windows!)

Step 5: Gentle Exfoliation (1-2x per Week)

Exfoliating helps remove dead skin, but most scrubs and acids are way too harsh for sensitive types.

Use a body scrub to exfoliate off dead skin cells, open your pores, and leave your skin feeling softer and renewed.

Exfoliating your face can be tricky because sensitive skin is delicate. However, the skin on our body is tougher and can handle more scrubbing.

Because of this, you may be able to opt for a sugar scrub or coffee scrub (which should be avoided for your face). You could also choose a gentle, sensitive skin scrub with less abrasive exfoliants like pumice stone or jojoba beads.

Avoid:

• Scrubs with walnut shells or microbeads
• High concentrations of glycolic or salicylic acid
• Daily exfoliation (less is more!)

Cleure Solution: Cleure Exfoliating Scrub

Uses fine pumice to gently remove dead cells. Use it once per week for a smooth, fresh glow. You can step up to twice per week if you find that yields better results for you.

Sample Daily Skin Care Routine

When following the above steps, here’s what your daily sensitive skin care routine might look like.

Morning

1. Cleanse: Cleure Sensitive Skin Lotion Cleanser (dry skin); Face & Body Wash (oily skin); Face & Body Bar (combination skin)
2. Tone (if desired): Cleure Toner
3. Moisturize: Cleure Day Cream; Oil-Free Facial Lotion (oily skin); Cleure Body Lotion (hand and body)
4. Protect: Cleure Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Evening

1. Cleanse : Same cleanser as used in the morning
2. Moisturize: Cleure Night Cream (richer for overnight repair)

Weekly

• Exfoliate gently (1-2x): Cleure Exfoliating Scrub
• Calming mask: Like plain bentonite and Kaolin clay

“I’ve spent years trying to find skincare that doesn’t burn my face. Cleure is the first line that actually works without side effects.” - Samantha G.

Optional Steps for Specific Needs

For Acne

Use a gentle clay mask or spot treatment that doesn’t contain benzoyl peroxide or tea tree oil, which may trigger sensitivity.

Pro Tip: Try a Kaolin clay mask or simply stick to the basics (cleanse, moisturize, protect) to reset your skin.

Discover the Benefits of Kaolin Clay

For Rosacea

Stick to ultra-simple routines. Even mild heat or stress can trigger rosacea, so avoid steam, spicy food, and aggressive treatments.

For Eczema or Dermatitis

Avoid steroid creams long term. Instead, opt for a barrier-repairing moisturizer.

“My dermatologist recommended Cleure, and within two weeks, my redness and flaking calmed down.” - Alana M.

Final Tips for Sensitive Skin Success

Here are some quick final tips to really make the most of your sensitive skin care routine:

• Patch test all new products for 24 hours
• Introduce one new product at a time
• Keep your routine minimal and consistent
• Don’t over-cleanse or over-exfoliate
• Use lukewarm water
• Hydrate inside and out—drink plenty of water
• Use a humidifier in dry weather
• Replace washcloths every couple days and pillowcases at least weekly

Start a Sensitive Skin Routine That Actually Works

Browse the full line of Cleure sensitive skin products. Cleure is always clean, non-irritating, and backed by dermatologists.

Cleure products are also:

• Fragrance-free
• Sulfate-free
• Paraben-free
• Gluten-free
• Formulated by a dentist and skin experts
• Made in the USA with safety and simplicity in mind

If you have allergies, it’s also important to know that Cleure excludes the top allergens and irritants listed by the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS).

References

1. American Academy of Dermatology. “Sensitive Skin: Tips for Daily Care.” https://www.aad.org
2. American Contact Dermatitis Society. 2023 Allergen of the Year Report.
3. FDA Cosmetics Ingredients to Watch: https://www.fda.gov
4. Dermatology Times: “Fragrance is the New Secondhand Smoke.” 2021.
5. Cleure Clinical Testing Reports (internal, available upon request)