Do you have thin skin that reacts badly to harsh products? Do you sunburn easily whenever you go out in the sun? Does your skin become red or blotchy easily due to such factors? If so, then you have sensitive skin, which is one of the most difficult skin types to manage. Don't lose your faith in skin care, however. It is pretty much manageable –all you need to do is to strictly follow a skin care regimen, choose products very carefully and avoid sun to the maximum extent possible.

Sensitive skin differs from person to person in its degree of sensitivity. While one person may have no problem with a certain product, another will react badly.http://www.skinway.com/skincare_articles/sensitive-skin-care.htm So, it’s all about your individuality. Some noticeable qualities of sensitive skin are pustules, skin bumps and/or skin erosion, excessive dryness and tendency to blush, skin flushing due to atopic dermatitis (eczema), urticaria (hives), rosacea, or allergic contact dermatitis.http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sensitive-skin-20-faqs

With all of these problems, sensitive skin needs extra care, often more than other skin types. From careful selection of the right products to wearing a sunscreen, you have to follow a proper routine for caring this skin type. Below are some steps that’ll teach you how to care for your sensitive skin.

The first step in starting to care for your sensitive skin is to choose your beauty products very carefully. Your skin can’t hold anything harsh on it so choose mild products that will not do any harm. Go for milder products that have words like “for sensitive skin” and “hypoallergenic” on their labels since such products are free of irritants. These products are based on special formulas that prevent skin problems. Also, avoid products containing alcohol, benzoyl peroxide and fragrance since these tend to be harsh for sensitive skin. A good tip is to look for natural products that contain calming ingredients such as lavender, sandalwood, chamomile, and rose.http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-and-personal-care/a3434-how-to-care-for-sensitive-skin.html You can sometimes test samples before buying the actual product to save some money.

Another big problem with sensitive skin is that it often can’t wear makeup without a reaction. Sometimes makeup results in rashes, bumps, itching and acne-like pimples. To avoid this problem, the best choice is to go for water-based makeup since oil-based makeup reacts with sensitive skin. Again here you can go for “hypoallergenic” makeup. As a last resort choose mineral makeup that suits problematic skin types very well. A good brand is BareMinerals, and the line presents a wide range of colors to choose from.

After choosing the right products, the second important thing is to establish a skin care routine. This includes following the same steps on daily basis.

1. Wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, with a very mild, soap-free face wash designed for your sensitive type of skin.
2. Tone afterwards with a natural, mild toner like pure rose water. If you feel your skin is drying out with toner, you can skip it.
3. Moisturize with a good moisturizer that is very mild and light. If your skin is dry you can consider a heavy moisturizer but again you have to look for a specialized one.
4. Exfoliate once a week with a scrub that contains very small and soft grains, or skip this altogether if rubbing causes any rash.
5. Use a mask to target your skin’s specific problems once a week.

If you still find these chemicals harsh, you can adopt an all-natural skincare routine. For cleanser use almond or jojoba oil, comfrey steeped in water or green tea as a toner, yogurt mixed with rose water as moisturizer, grapefruit mixed with oatmeal as a scrub, and pureed fruits as mask. Try applying aloe vera gel to soothe red, irritated and blotchy skin.http://www.skinway.com/skincare_articles/sensitive-skin-care.htm

Sun is a great enemy for your sensitive skin so from now on whenever you go out keep in mind that you have to protect it from sunlight, which contains harmful UVA and UVB rays. First, buy a good light, mild and hypoallergenic sunscreen with minimum of SPF 15 and wear it 15 minutes before you go out. The reason for keeping it on that long before getting out is that it takes time to absorb fully into the skin and form a protective shield. You can wear makeup on it after it penetrates completely into the skin. Try considering a sunscreen with higher SPF if you are going for a sunbath, but it’s advisable not to lie in the summer sun. Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or after you wash it off with water or sweat.http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sensitive-skin-20-faqs The skin-damaging UV rays are strongest between 10am and 4pm so postpone your outdoor tasks till the end of this time period.http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sensitive-skin-20-faqs Invest in a good, protective pair of sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim that protects your sensitive face. Make sure you wear clothing that covers your body to the maximum extent, especially areas that are more prone to sunburn.