Skincare for Sensitive Skin: Ingredients to Avoid and Why

Skincare for Sensitive Skin: What to Avoid

If you’ve got sensitive skin, you know how tricky skincare can be. One wrong product and you're dealing with redness, itching, or stinging. But the good news, understanding what to avoid can make a world of difference.

In this guide, we’ll walk through common skincare ingredients and habits that can irritate sensitive skin – and what to use instead. Whether you’re new to skincare or looking to revamp your routine, this one’s for you.

 

Understanding Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin isn’t a medical diagnosis, but rather a way to describe skin that reacts easily to external factors – like weather changes, fragrances, or even tap water.

• Common symptoms include:
• Redness
• Burning or stinging
• Dry patches
• Itchiness
• Breakouts that aren't acne-related

The key to managing sensitive skin lies in prevention and that starts with knowing what to avoid.

Fragrance and Perfumes

Fragrance is one of the most common irritants for sensitive skin. Whether natural or synthetic, it can cause inflammation, allergic reactions, and long-term sensitisation.

What to look for on labels:

• Fragrance or Parfum
• Essential oils

Friendly tip: Go for fragrance-free or unscented.

The majority of the Lucy Bee Skincare Range has been formulated to be formulated to be fragrance free and unscented, shop our range of fragrance-free skincare here.

 

Harsh Exfoliants

Exfoliation can help with dullness and texture, but aggressive scrubs or strong acids can be too much for sensitive skin.

Be careful with:

• Physical scrubs with large, rough particles (like apricot kernels)
• High-concentration AHAs/BHAs exfoliants

Gentler options:

• Lactic acid in low percentages
• PHA (polyhydroxy acid) – a milder alternative

The Lucy Bee Exfoliating Tonic has been formulated to be suitable and kind for those with sensitive skin but still with a results-driven formulation, using a blend of AHAs and PHAs to help gently exfoliate the skin, whilst soothing aloe vera and hydrating hyaluronic acid included as well to nourish the skin.

Essential Oils and Botanicals

While they might sound gentle and do offer benefits for the skin, essential oils and botanicals can be highly sensitising (especially for those with sensitive skin) as they are highly concentrated. They can easily cause irritation, allergic reactions, or even long-term sensitivity, especially when used regularly.

Watch out for:

• Tea tree oil
• Peppermint oil
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Citrus extracts

Why? Sensitive skin already has a weakened or reactive skin barrier, so adding essential oils can easily cause a reaction. Even if irritation isn’t immediate, long-term use can cause cumulative sensitivity.

Our skincare products formulations are free from essential oils, instead we use gentle, evidence-based natural ingredients to help soothe and hydrate your skin, you can find these here.

 

Alcohol-Based Products

Certain alcohols can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and a weakened skin barrier. If higher up on the ingredient list (usually within the first 5 ingredients, or if it contains multiple types of alcohol) this can be where irritation and dryness occurs

Look out for:

• SD alcohol
• Denatured alcohol (Alcohol Denat)
• Isopropyl alcohol

Better alternatives: Fatty alcohols like cetyl, stearyl, or cetearyl alcohol, these are moisturising and non-irritating. If one of the alcohols is included in a product, check to see if there are hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, jojoba and other nourishing oil, or coconut oil.

Sulphates

Commonly found in cleansers and shampoos, sulphates can create a satisfying lather – but at the cost of stripping your skin’s natural moisture.

Avoid:

• Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
• Sodium laureth sulphate (SLES)

Look for: Sulphate-free or gentle cleansing formulas

Our Hydrating Foam Face Wash uses an alternative to SLS and SLES which helps to cleanse and hydrate the skin, the luxurious foam is non-drying for the skin. Our soaps are also free from SLS and SLES and are made with 100% organic coconut oil to clean the skin. All our products are free from SLS and SLES.

 

Overusing Active Ingredients

Active ingredients like retinoids, vitamin C, exfoliating acids are great to include in your skincare routine for the results-driven effect on the skin. These ingredients help to stimulate cell renewal, but can also lead to redness, irritation, stinging or flaking, especially when layered together or introduced too quickly. While great for many skin types, too many actives can overwhelm sensitive skin due to its more delicate skin barrier.

Stick to:

• Introduce one active at a time
• Slower introduction (start off by using a new product 2–3 times a week)
• Patch testing new products
• Focus on including nourishing and hydrating products to your routine
• Avoid layering multiple strong actives

Our products are formulated with carefully balanced actives, always supported by soothing ingredients to minimise irritation and support the skin barrier.

Hot Water and Over-Cleansing

Hot showers or washing your face too frequently can aggravate sensitive skin, breaking down the skin barrier.

Tips:

• Use lukewarm water
• Limit cleansing to twice a day

 

Ingredients That Soothe Sensitive Skin

To balance things out, here are a few ingredients that are typically safe and calming:

• Aloe vera
• Turmeric
• Arnica
• Ceramides
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
• Allantoin
• Squalane
• Coconut water
• Rose water
• Jojoba oil
• Green tea extract
• Tocopherol
• Sea buckthorn oil
• Sodium hyaluronate
• Sweet almond oil

These can help soothe irritation, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce redness.

Final Thoughts

Sensitive skin deserves gentle, thoughtful care. By avoiding harsh ingredients and taking a minimalist approach, you can help your skin stay calm, healthy, and happy.

Always patch test new products and listen to your skin, what works for others might not work for you. And when in doubt, consult a dermatologist for personalised advice.

The Lucy Bee Skincare Range has been formulated with sensitive skin in mind, read photo testimonials from our customers with sensitive skin who have fallen in love with the range here.

Explore our range of natural skincare, specially formulated to hydrate, soothe and protect sensitive skin, shop our range of dermatologically approved for sensitive skin skincare now.

 

Daisy, Lucy Bee