According to the National Library of Medicine, more than half the population— 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men— struggle with sensitive skin.
Once, the solution to this rampant issue was a kind of skin reaction roulette as people learned to avoid certain products—like rough exfoliating scrubs and harsh toners—by painful process of elimination. But, for a group of sufferers this massive, with diverse skin types and triggers, a more nuanced and thoughtful approach is needed. “It’s quite common for clients to come to my studio with skin sensitivities and flareups,” says Laurie Adams, a veteran esthetician and owner of New York City-based facial spa, LANY Organics. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter formula for everyone or a magic potion. But [there] are great products for my clients with sensitive skin.”
Protect, Nourish, Soothe, Thrive
Today, thanks to innovative and conscious beauty founders, treating sensitive skin isn’t just about avoiding irritating ingredients. It’s about seeking out solutions that actually strengthen, protect, and nourish as they soothe, mitigating flareups to help skin thrive.
Naturally, the first step to handling reactive skin is recognizing it. According to Adams, sensitivity can manifest in myriad ways, including redness, hives, breakouts, itching, heat, contact dermatitis, watery bumps, and even tingling. That’s why, before she begins working on clients, she asks questions about their lifestyles. “I want to know about their overall wellness,” she explains, “their skincare routine, stress levels, allergies, diagnosed skin conditions, and any medication they’re taking—all things that can affect skin sensitivities.” These answers help her determine how best to approach each person’s particular challenges.
Adams, for example, often relies on pure ingredients like anti-inflammatory and hydrating manuka honey to heal damaged skin. But, if her client experiences even a minor prickle upon application, she switches to creamed raw honey.

“As a general rule, organic products are better for sensitive skin as they use cleaner ingredients and don’t contain nasty preservatives.”
—Laurie Adams, esthetician and owner of New York City-based facial spa LANY Organics
She favors soothing colloidal oatmeal as a mask— unless her client has a gluten allergy. For her own sensitive skin, she’s all about the Organic Soothing Gel and Organic Universal Mask from the 100% raw, adaptogenic line, Dr. Alkaitis. “As a general rule, organic products are better for sensitive skin as they use cleaner ingredients and don’t contain nasty preservatives,” she says, “but it’s still important to read labels carefully. If you have very sensitive skin, I would tend to avoid [certain] essential oils. Sometimes you have to look a little more deeply at the ingredients.”
Sensitive vs. Sensitized Skin?
Of course, the core question is, what is making your skin reactive in the first place? To begin, Farah Bashir, founder of the Ayurvedic clinical line, Sachi Skin, makes an important distinction between sensitive and sensitized skin, pointing out that some issues are lifelong while others may be sparked by environment or behavior. According to her definition, sensitive skin may be more genetically fueled, manifesting periodically (thanks to triggers from pollution to hormone fluctuations) as redness, itching, and even thinner skin. Often, she says, people with these concerns also struggle with overactive immune issues like asthma, eczema, rosacea, and dermatitis. Conversely, sensitized skin is a temporary condition caused by external factors like over-cleansing or lifestyle changes—even a new laundry detergent. “While inherently sensitive skin requires lifelong care to avoid the state and its symptoms arising,” she explains, “sensitized skin state can be managed by identifying triggers and simplifying skincare routines to support barrier repair.”
So, Bashir aims to create products that are safe for both conditions. Intentionally choosing high- quality active botanicals in hero products like her Pro Resilience Serum, she integrates ingredients that strengthen the skin barrier like ceramides, neuropeptides (that reduce inflammation), hydrators like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and beta glucans that help skin perform optimally, anti-inflammatories like ginger extracts to reduce irritation, turmeric, arnica, and aloe (many of which are ancient Ayurvedic standards), and sun protection.
Also, in keeping with Ayurvedic wisdom, she seesour needs as ever-changing. “Sachi Skin’s approach is rooted in the philosophy that our skin is constantly evolving,” she says, preferring to refer to skin “states” rather than “types.” “Identifying personal triggers and using soothing, multifunctional products can help maintain your overall skin health.”
Bashir is not alone in focusing on strengthening in order not only to combat sensitivity, but also to enliven the complexion. “The skin barrier is our first line of defense against environmental stressors, retaining moisture, and keeping harmful toxins out,” says Vera Kirillov of Naturopathica Holistic Health. “When compromised, it can lead to irritation and redness. Treating sensitive skin gently with products that contain mild, barrier-supporting ingredients is essential.” For instance, Naturopathica—a beloved holistic, botanical, clean skincare line—has a Marshmallow sensitivity soothing line based around a white flowering plant that has apparently been used to combat irritation and protect skin’s moisture balance for centuries.

April Gargiulo, founder of cult-favorite line Vintner’s Daughter, agrees. “The role of the skin barrier is to protect, keep hydration in and unwanted aggressors like pollution and bacteria out,” she explains. “When skin is out of balance, the barrier function can be compromised.”
Gargiulo knows this firsthand. “I had so many skin issues throughout my life and thought I was using the very best products because they were the most expensive,” she laments. Once she realized what truly gave skincare “quality,” she changed her tune. “I wanted to build our ethos on the same philosophical foundations as the world of fine winemaking I come from, namely, working with the finest quality raw materials aligned with the most meticulous, expert formulations to drive unheard of multi-beneficial performance.”
And that goal has come to fruition. Known for her diligent whole-plant formulations, developed over years at a time using the most nutrient-dense botanicals, Gargiulo’s products serve multiple purposes simultaneously without being overcomplicated or aggressive. Her lauded offerings, like her original category-disrupting Active Botanical Serum, work for sensitive skin not because they were created for that purpose, but because they’re designed to work for just about everyone. “These are not one-dimensional products that address one focus area and then create a cascade of side effects that you then have to address,” she says. “Yes, these are serious performance-driven formulas, but they are all deeply supportive.”
Cleaner Ingredients, Both Healing and Efficacious
Odacité, another of the most coveted clean beauty lines, has a similar ethos—developing skincare solutions that nourish and strengthen safely. “A common misconception is that products suited for sensitive skin are inherently less effective or only appropriate for individuals with severe sensitivity,” says founder Valerie Grandury, who developed her line after contending with breast cancer (and chemo treatments that can also sensitize skin). “In truth, sensitive skin necessitates the use of high-quality ingredients that are both healing and efficacious.”
In recent years, she has observed a marked uptick in sensitized skin, which she attributes to heightened exposure to environmental stressors and harsh chemicals in skincare, plus more frequent allergies.
“Social media has further exacerbated this issue,” she says, “promoting aggressive treatments like peels and lasers. While these interventions can yield impressive results when applied judiciously, their overuse often compromises the skin barrier, triggering significant inflammatory responses that may be difficult to reverse and can accelerate the aging process.”
Fortunately, necessity is once again the mother of invention. Odacité’s formulations are not only dermatologically tested as “non-irritants,” but are also free of artificial fragrances, conventional preservatives, and over 1,000 synthetic and petroleum-derived ingredients commonly found in skincare. Instead, she integrates anti-inflammatory and redness-reducing rosehip oil, chamomile, and calendula extract, in addition to 30 non- comedogenic, nourishing oils such as jojoba, watermelon, and squalane to maintain hydration while balancing the natural barrier. Grandury’s new Edelweiss Extreme Collection employs extracts from one of the most resilient, reparative plants on Earth. Even Clean-ical, her clinical-grade retinol product, uses microencapsulation to gradually release actives and minimize irritation. “Our formulas not only nourish and repair,” she says, “but also honor the integrity of the skin barrier and microbiome, making them ideal for individuals with sensitive skin.”
Beyond the products themselves, gua sha tools and rollers can go a long way to calming both the nervous system and the skin. Adams uses a rainbow of these tools to help soothing ingredients like calendula oil penetrate the skin. “Gua sha does a remarkable job of improving lymphatic circulation, which lessens inflammation and eliminates toxins,” she says. “Oftentimes, I can actually see the redness leave my client’s skin while doing it!”
Of course, there are no panaceas. Nothing is right for everyone, which is why it’s important that we do take care. “Help your skin inside and out,” Adams recommends. “Avoid known triggers. Drink water. Eat healthily. Find a skincare routine that works for you. Get proper rest. Exercise. Have stress-relief activities at your disposal. Look after your mental health. And, above all else, listen to your skin.”
“Identifying personal triggers and using soothing, multifunctional products can help maintain your overall skin health.”
—Farah Bashir, founder of Ayurvedic clinical line, Sachi Skin
