Sensitive vs Sensitised Skin: What’s the Difference?

If your skin has been feeling red, tight, or reactive lately, you might be wondering: is it sensitive, or is it sensitised? The two terms sound similar, but they mean very different things and understanding the difference is the secret to giving your skin exactly what it needs.

At Lucy Bee, we believe in skin confidence through gentle, natural skincare that respects your barrier and supports healthy, happy skin.

Let’s look at the difference between sensitive and sensitised skin, what causes them, and how to care for each condition.

What Is Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin is a skin type, it can be caused by genetics, meaning your skin is naturally more delicate and reactive, or it can be caused by environmental factors. If your face tends to flush easily, sting with certain products, or feel tight in the wind, you might fall into this category.

 

Signs of Sensitive Skin

• Frequent redness and flushing
• Stinging, burning, or itching sensations
• Dryness or dehydration
• Sensitivity to fragrance, alcohol or temperature changes

 

Why It Happens

Sensitive skin has a naturally weaker skin barrier, which means it can struggle to lock in moisture and keep out irritants. If you have sensitive skin it also makes you more prone to skin conditions like rosacea or eczema.

How to Care for Sensitive Skin

Your goal is to strengthen and protect your skin barrier.

Keep your routine simple: Choose fragrance free products which include ingredients that help to support hydration and the skin barrier.

Hydrate deeply: Ingredients like vitamin E, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and oils like jojoba seed are great for locking in moisture.

Avoid harsh exfoliants: Gentle is best, over-exfoliating can easily cause irritation.

Always use SPF: Protect your skin from UV damage by wearing an SPF with a minimum of 30, all year round.

 

Try Lucy Bee’s Fragrance Free Collection

Our products have been formulated to soothe and protect delicate skin without compromising results. Explore our range of Fragrance Free products, and our range of products dermatologically approved for sensitive skin.

What Is Sensitised Skin?

Sensitised skin is a condition, not a skin type. It’s something anyone can experience, even if your skin is normally resilient. Sensitised skin happens when your barrier becomes damaged or overworked, often due to skincare overload or environmental stress.

Common Triggers

• Overuse of active ingredients (like acids, retinol, or vitamin C)
• Harsh cleansers or scrubbing
• Pollution, sun damage, or cold weather
• Lack of sleep, stress, or dietary imbalance
• Layering too many products or switching routines too quickly

When your barrier is compromised, moisture escapes and irritants can enter this results in redness, tightness and a feeling of heat or tingling.

How to Care for Sensitised Skin

Your goal is to restore and rebuild your barrier.

Simplify your skincare: Scale back to the essentials, gentle cleanser, hydrating moisturiser and SPF.

Repair the barrier: Look for ingredients like ceramides, panthenol, turmeric and centella asiatica( (aka gotu kola or cica).

Pause actives temporarily: Give your skin time to rest and recover.

Protect daily: SPF and barrier-supportive products are non-negotiable.

Lucy Bee’s Reviving Cleansing Cream, Anti-Ageing Facial Oil, Radiance-Boosting Face Cream and Bio-Retinol Night Cream are perfect for calming and rebuilding sensitised skin.

Sensitive vs Sensitised Skin: The Key Differences

It can be tricky to tell the two apart, both can feel irritated, tight and inflamed. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Origin

Sensitive skin is predominantly genetic and is something you’re born with. Sensitised skin develops over time due to external or internal stressors.

 

Skin Barrier Condition

Sensitive skin’s barrier is naturally more delicate. Sensitised skin’s barrier has become damaged through overuse or exposure.

 

Main Triggers

Sensitive skin reacts to fragrance, alcohol or weather changes. Sensitised skin flares up from skincare overload, harsh ingredients or stress.

 

Treatment Approach

Sensitive skin needs consistent, gentle care and hydration. Sensitised skin needs a reset in which you simplify, repair and protect.

 

Outcome

Sensitive skin is a lifelong trait you can manage. Sensitised skin is temporary and can heal with the right care.

 

Think of sensitive skin as something you’re born with and sensitised skin as something your routine or environment creates.

Can You Have Both?

Yes and many people do. If you naturally have sensitive skin and start using too many strong products, you can make it sensitised as well. The best thing to do is scale back, opt for Fragrance Free and give your skin the gentle care it needs to recover.

 

Lucy Bee’s Tips for Calming Sensitive or Sensitised Skin

• Always patch test new products before full use.
• Use lukewarm water, not hot or cold when cleansing.
• Stick to a gentle, consistent routine; your skin thrives on stability.
• Limit exfoliation or using multiple exfoliants at the same time
• Avoid fragranced products and harsh surfactants.
• Protect with SPF daily, even in the winter.

 

Explore our range of skincare dermatologically approved for sensitive skin.

FAQs: Sensitive vs Sensitised Skin

How can I tell if my skin is sensitive or sensitised?

If your skin has always been reactive, it’s likely sensitive. If it’s only recently become red, dry, or inflamed after new products or stress, it’s probably sensitised.

 

Can I have both at the same time?

Yes. If you already have sensitive skin and push it too hard with actives or harsh cleansing, you can sensitise it further.

 

How do I repair a damaged skin barrier naturally?

Focus on hydration, barrier-repair ingredients, and gentle, fragrance free formulas. Lucy Bee’s natural skincare is ideal for this.

 

How long does it take to fix sensitised skin?

With gentle care and barrier support, most people see improvement within 2–4 weeks.

 

Which Lucy Bee products are best for reactive skin?

The Fragrance Free Cleansing Cream, Anti-Ageing Face Oil and Radiance-Boosting Face Cream are all excellent for calming sensitivity and restoring comfort.

Understanding whether your skin is sensitive or sensitised helps you choose the right care and avoid unnecessary irritation. Sensitive skin is lifelong and needs consistent, gentle products. Sensitised skin, however, is temporary and can be improved with patience and protection.

Explore our full Fragrance Free Collection to soothe, support, and strengthen your skin barrier.