Here's what Tropic founder, Susie Ma, teaches us about how to deal with sensitive and sensitised skin:

According to a survey 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men reported having some degree of sensitive skin. This can be characterised as skin that is prone to redness or breakouts, feels dry, uncomfortable or bumpy, and is easily reactive with certain skincare products or environmental changes, all symptoms of a compromised skin barrier. Although it seems like most people have a sensitive skin type, it's often the case that they don't, and instead have sensitised skin, not sensitive skin. So, let's try to understand the difference, the causes, and what can be done about it.
Simply put, sensitive skin is intrinsic. It's something you're born with whereas sensitised skin is extrinsic, caused by environmental and lifestyle factors. Those with a sensitive skin type have a genetic predisposition to a weaker skin barrier and, in more serious cases, this can manifest as a chronic skin disorder such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis. These disorders require a Dermatologist to diagnose and treat.
Sensitised skin on the other hand is not a skin type: it's a temporary skin condition that may have been caused by environmental factors such as excess UV exposure, pollution or wind; lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, poor diet or stress; or poor skin treatment such as over exfoliation, over cleansing, the use of harsh chemicals, as well as picking or aggressively rubbing the face. Because these are all factors we can manage, sensitised skin can be nourished back to a healthy strong skin barrier with the right care and the right products.
For both sensitive and sensitised skin, it's important to focus on skin barrier repair and hydration, using the gentlest formulations, free from any potentially sensitising ingredients. Avoid using strong active ingredients such as vitamin C or exfoliating acids, or any fragrances or essential oils as they can all cause irritation on a compromised skin barrier. Always be extra gentle when handling the skin; don't rub, tug or expose it to high temperatures, and try to refrain from touching the face throughout the day.
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Now all of our Tropic products are designed to be gentle on the skin. They're always carefully pH-balanced to support your acid mantle, and the stronger skin-benefiting actives we use are always balanced with soothing plant extracts, so the overall formulation is well tolerated by most. But even so, it's best to err on the side of caution when introducing products for your sensitive or sensitised skin. Avoid physical and chemical exfoliating products like our Face Smooth, Fruit Peel or Ocean Dive, although our enzymatic Clarifying Cleanser is gentle enough and great for sensitive skin. Other products to avoid are our Glow Berry, New Horizons and Electric Bloom Mask, as they could be too active for sensitive skin. Instead, try the unscented, essential oil-free versions of our core Essentials range, and a whole host of other products that have been especially formulated with the most delicate skin in mind and validated by Dermatologists. These are our organic certified Little Tropic range and Tamanu products.
If you have ultra-sensitised skin with a visibly dry, red and irritated skin barrier, or perhaps you're nervous about trying skincare because your skin is so sensitive, then we recommend keeping it extremely simple by using just two things on the face. Our organic Little Roary Baby Oil and distilled water that you can easily get online. Golden jojoba oil is the key ingredient in our Baby Oil, which is very similar in composition to our skin's natural sebum, perfect for both cleansing and nourishing the skin while the tiger grass extract and vitamin E provide a soothing and reparative boost.
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The Method
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Simply cleanse the skin by gently massaging the organic Baby Oil and distilled water onto the face, then wipe away with a soft tissue or wet cotton pad. Repeat if wearing makeup. End with patting in a few drops of distilled water and our Baby Oil. As the skin starts to improve, you can start introducing extra hydrating and nourishing products like Rainforest Dew, Tamanu Balm, Tamanu Cream and Smoothing Cleanser.
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For blemish-prone skin types, Pure Lagoon and Clarifying Cleanser can be introduced too. Then you can move onto more enriched formulas such as Skin Feast, Juicy Greens / Morning Mist Toning Essence and Skin Dream. Remember to start slow and minimal, waiting for the skin barrier to get stronger each time before introducing another product.
Since everyone's skin is so individual, it's a good idea if you’re very sensitive, to do a patch test behind the ear a few days before using the products on your face, especially if you're nervous about trying a new product. If you would prefer to have the experience of our scented range or more active products, but aren’t sure how your skin might react, it is also recommended to do a patch test, as most people with mild skin sensitivity can still enjoy our scented range and the benefits of our active products without irritation.
It can be a stressful time for you if their skin is particularly sensitised, but patience, consistency and a gentle touch is key. Other factors such as drinking plenty of water, maintaining a healthy diet, exercise and good quality sleep will all help towards a stronger skin barrier. It's all about a holistic 360 approach to achieve your healthiest skin.
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