Close up head shot of model looking at the camera and smiling while holding a bottle of Beekman 1802's Milk Drop Ceramide Serum up to her face, on a white background.

Best Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

By Team BeekmanSep 26, 2023

What Causes Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin can be caused by various factors, including genetics, environmental triggers, and underlying skin conditions. Common triggers for sensitive skin include harsh chemicals, fragrances, extreme weather conditions, and certain fabrics. Understanding the causes of sensitive skin can help you make informed decisions about your skincare routine.

Telltale Signs of Sensitive Skin

Tips for Identifying Sensitive Skin

How do you know if you have sensitive skin? Look out for signs such as redness, itching, dryness, and a tendency to react easily to skincare products. Sensitive skin may also be prone to breakouts, irritation, and a feeling of tightness or discomfort. Breakouts can be particularly troublesome for individuals with sensitive skin. The use of harsh or comedogenic (pore-clogging) products can trigger acne and irritation.

Oftentimes, sensitive skin can easily become dry and dehydrated, which can exacerbate sensitivity and lead to further discomfort. Dry skin lacks moisture and can feel rough and flaky, while dehydrated skin lacks water and may appear dull and lackluster. Therefore, it's crucial to choose skincare products specifically formulated for sensitive skin.

We formulated the best skincare routines and expert tips specifically designed for sensitive skin to help you gently, yet effectively care for and nourish your complexion.

Step 1: Exfoliating and Cleansing Sensitive Skin

Tips for Exfoliating Sensitive Skin

When it comes to exfoliation and cleansing, gentle is the key. Avoid harsh scrubs and opt for mild exfoliants that won't irritate or damage your skin. Our Milk Scrub Cleanser is a gentle exfoliating cleanser that nourishes the skin while effectively removing dead skin cells using the power of jojoba seeds. These are smooth, round beads, which don’t cause microtears in your skin unlike other exfoliating cleansers which use crushed shells.

Bottle of Beekman 1802's Milk Scrub Facial Cleanser surrounded by a pool of milk and causing a ripple in the milk.

Look for cleansers with soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, and oat extracts. These ingredients can help calm and protect sensitive skin during cleansing. Our Milk Wash Jelly Cleanser is a great option, as it contains nourishing goat milk and natural botanicals to cleanse and soothe sensitive skin. Don’t forget to apply Milk Wash to dry skin for it to work best!

Sensitive skin requires gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and promote a healthy complexion. Choose exfoliants with ingredients like fruit enzymes or finely ground powders that provide a mild exfoliating action without causing irritation. Our Milk Glaze Clay Mask is a gentle exfoliating mask that purifies and refines the skin.

Step 2: How to Tone Sensitive Skin

Toning is an important step in any skincare routine, especially for those with sensitive skin. It’s a chance to add back some much needed moisture, so it’s necessary to look for alcohol-free toners that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils like our Milk Shake. Formulated with squalene, hyaluronic acid, goat milk extract, and mugwort, this bi-phasic toner for sensitive skin soothes irritation, reduces redness, softens skin, and deeply hydrates. It’s the perfect post-exfoliation step in your routine and a winner of Allure’s Best in Beauty 2022!

Tips for Toning Sensitive Skin

Apply toner by gently patting it onto your skin using your fingertips or a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing or pulling on the skin, as this can cause further irritation.

Model wearing a yellow dress sitting outside on the ground near some trees while turned to the side while holding a bottle of Beekman 1802's Milk Shake Toner Mist and spraying it on her face.

Step 3: Apply a Serum for Sensitive Skin

How to Find the Best Serum for Sensitive Skin

Serums are concentrated formulations that deliver potent ingredients deep into the skin. When choosing a serum for sensitive skin, opt for those specifically designed to calm and nourish. Our Milk Drops Ceramide Serum is a lightweight serum that helps to strengthen the skin's barrier and provide hydration.

Look for serums with gentle ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. These ingredients can help soothe, hydrate, and repair the skin. The Milk Drops Ceramide Serum contains ceramides to support the skin's natural protective barrier.

Apply a small amount of serum to your fingertips and gently press it into your skin. Allow the serum to absorb fully before proceeding with the next steps of your skincare routine.

How to Maintain Your Protective Skin Barrier

The skin barrier acts as a protective shield against external aggressors and helps maintain moisture balance. For sensitive skin, it's crucial to strengthen and restore the skin barrier to reduce sensitivity, enhance resilience, and promote a glowing complexion.

One way to ensure a healthy skin barrier is to look for probiotic skincare ingredients like lactobacillus ferment, goat milk, and fermented plant oils to support the natural defense mechanisms of your skin.

Our Oh! Mega Milk is a hydrating facial oil infused with goat milk postbiotics and fermented plant oils that aid in restoring the skin barrier. Combined with ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids, and niacinamide, this facial oil works to restore and strengthen the skin barrier by promoting moisture retention and improving the skin's ability to defend against irritants.

Up close shot of a hand holding Beekman 1802's Oh! Mega Milk Serum while other hand is pulling the dropped out of the bottle, on a white background.

Step 4: Apply a Hydrating Moisturizer

Hydration is essential for sensitive skin, as it helps maintain a healthy moisture balance and prevents dryness and irritation. Reach for moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and natural oils. These ingredients effectively hydrate the skin without clogging pores or causing irritation. Our Bloom Cream Moisturizer is a lightweight and non-greasy option that provides hydration and nourishment to sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin may benefit from thicker face creams that provide a protective barrier against external irritants. Lotions, on the other hand, tend to be lighter and may not provide enough hydration for sensitive skin. For an added boost of soothing hydration, try our Midnight Milk Sleep Mask, a luxurious face cream that can be used as an overnight treatment to deeply moisturize and rejuvenate sensitive skin.

Model wearing purple pajamas and a yellow eye mask and laying on her bed while holding a tube of Beekman 1802's Midnight Milk Sleep Mask up to her face with her eyes closed, and the purple mask product swatch on the side of her cheek.

Caring for sensitive skin requires a gentle and tailored approach. By choosing suitable products formulated for sensitive skin, like those offered by Beekman 1802, you can effectively address sensitivity, maintain hydration, and promote a healthy complexion.

How to Test for Sensitive Skin

Discovering whether you have sensitive skin is a breeze with Beekman 1802's revolutionary skin analysis app. Begin your personalized skin analysis by taking a selfie directly within the app, ensuring good lighting, clean skin, and a neutral expression. After submitting your photo, delve into the comprehensive results, highlighting specific attributes such as dark spots, texture, wrinkles, hydration, and redness. Guided by our sensitive skin expert, the app recommends curated products tailored to address your unique concerns. Utilize the skin scanner's advanced technology, which hones in on the six major skin concerns, allowing you to make informed decisions about the ideal products for your skin's optimal health. Embark on this journey with Beekman 1802's Skin Biome Personalized Assessment and unveil the secrets to radiant, sensitive skin.