Redness and inflammation are caused by sensitive skin that needs to be protected, otherwise, the redness and inflammation will get worse. Follow these tips & let us know how they worked for you!
1. Build up the skin barrier
The skin barrier is responsible for both protection & moisture retention. Without a barrier, the skin is vulnerable. Protecting and enhancing the moisture barrier is vital. Manuka honey is a natural ingredient famous for its natural healing properties. Check out how to incorporate honey into your skincare routine here.
2. Seek out anti-inflammatory active ingredients.
Skin barrier strength & anti-inflammatory ingredients go hand in hand. You can't do one without the other. Antioxidants neutralize oxidative stress, which is the main cause of inflammation. Ingredients to look for include plant oils.
- Olive oil
- Argan oil
- Safflower oil
- Sunflower oil
The Ola Oil and All in One Balm are designed to create a healthy skin barrier & contain anti-inflammatory ingredients.
3. Avoid ingredients that strip your barrier
Avoid fragrances, artificial dyes, and preservatives like methylparaben. Additionally, you'll want to avoid other additives, plasticizing phthalates, and overly harsh sulfate cleansers that can harm the skin barrier. This does include retinol and exfoliating acids. Harsh ingredients stripping the skin of its natural oils are not the answer for red and inflamed skin.
Avoid exfoliating cleansers with the following ingredients.
- Glycolic acid
- Lactic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Citric acid
These ingredients can cause further irritation and strip the skin's protective barrier. Using products that strip your skin of its natural oils is not the answer for sensitive skin.
For more tips on how to reduce red and inflamed skin, check out Mind Body Green's blog post.