Skin guide / Sensitive skin
Breakouts on sensitive skin
Sensitive skin that breaks out cannot take the full-strength acne aisle. Azelaic acid at cosmetic strength, sulfur, or a low salicylic acid leave-on used every other night is the gentler path; a dermatologist has more.
What breakouts is
A breakout is a pore blocked by dead cells and oil, with or without bacteria and inflammation. Over-the-counter acne products in the US are regulated as drugs and carry a Drug Facts panel: the FDA monograph allows salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and sulfur at set strengths. Cosmetics around them (cleansers, light moisturizers, clay masks, non-comedogenic sunscreen) keep the rest of the routine from undoing the treatment.
What sensitive skin wants
Fragrance-free creams with short ingredient lists; soothing agents such as colloidal oatmeal, panthenol, allantoin and centella. Patch-test everything behind the ear for three days.
Cleanser: a fragrance-free cream or micellar cleanser. Go easy on: Fragrance and essential oils, high-strength acids and retinoids started without a ramp, physical scrubs, and alcohol denat. high on the list.
Look for on the label
Go easy on, for breakouts: Scrubbing (it spreads inflammation), coconut oil and heavy butters on the face, more than one active at a time, and squeezing.
Morning
- Gel cleanser
- Niacinamide or other light serum
- Light moisturizer
- Non-comedogenic sunscreen
Evening
- Gel cleanser
- Salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (one, as the label directs)
- Light moisturizer
Thinnest to thickest, water-based before oil-based, sunscreen last in the morning and first off at night. Add one new product at a time and give it two weeks. The routine tool orders whatever you own.
On the site for breakouts
All →Tagged from the maker's own description; cleansers, masks and exfoliants, toners and mists, moisturizers first. Read each label against the list above.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Other concerns, sensitive skin
Breakouts on other skin types
Dew & Balm describes ingredients and label categories from the public record (FDA OTC monographs, the EU CosIng database, PubMed) and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. A concern that persists, hurts, bleeds or spreads is for a dermatologist, and anything on prescription is between you and yours.