When your skin flares up at the drop of a hat, it’s time to play ingredient detective. Sensitive skin reacts easily to triggers, and many of them are hiding in plain sight on product labels. The good news? With a little knowledge, you can start eliminating the culprits and keep your skin calm, happy, and glow-ready.
In this article, we’ll break down four common types of ingredients that can spell trouble for sensitive skin, plus what to use instead. We’ve also included a helpful table so you can compare side-by-side.
How do you know if you have sensitive skin?
You might have sensitive skin if you experience:
- Frequent redness or blotchiness.
- Stinging or burning after applying skincare.
- Dry patches or flaky texture.
- Breakouts from mild or gentle products.
Often, sensitive skin isn’t about having a diagnosed condition, it’s about your skin barrier being a little more reactive than most. That’s why the ingredients you choose matter.
1. Fragrance (even “natural” ones)
Why it’s a problem: Whether synthetic or plant-derived, fragrance is one of the top irritants in skincare. It might smell great, but your skin doesn't care, it just wants peace and quiet.
Look for on labels: “Fragrance,” “Parfum,” or even essential oils like “Limonene” or “Linalool.”
What to use instead: Fragrance-free or products labeled “sensitive skin safe.”
2. Alcohol (the drying kind)
Why it’s a problem: Not all alcohols are bad, but simple alcohols like denatured alcohol or ethanol strip the skin’s natural oils and worsen irritation.
Look for on labels: “Alcohol,” “SD Alcohol 40,” “Denatured Alcohol.”
What to use instead: Fatty alcohols like cetearyl or cetyl alcohol, which are hydrating and barrier-supportive.
3. Harsh exfoliants
Why it’s a problem: Physical scrubs or aggressive acids can tear at already-delicate skin, leading to redness, burning, or breakouts.
Look for on labels: Walnut shell powder, apricot kernel, glycolic acid (in high concentrations), or rough scrubbing beads.
What to use instead: Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), lactic acid in low doses, or enzyme exfoliants.
4. Sulfates
Why it’s a problem: Sulfates are surfactants used in cleansers to make them foam. They’re effective, but very drying. For sensitive skin, that means tightness, flaking, and barrier disruption.
Look for on labels: “Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)” or “Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).”
What to use instead: Gentle surfactants like coco-glucoside or sodium cocoyl isethionate.
Avoid vs. Use instead
| Irritating Ingredient Type | Avoid These Ingredients | Use These Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrances | Fragrance, parfum, limonene, linalool | Fragrance-free, sensitive formulas |
| Drying Alcohols | SD alcohol 40, ethanol, denatured alcohol | Cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol |
| Harsh Exfoliants | Scrubs, walnut shells, high % glycolic | PHAs, enzyme exfoliants |
| Sulfates | SLS, SLES | Coco-glucoside, SCI (mild surfactants) |
Final thoughts
Caring for sensitive skin is all about protecting your barrier, and that starts with knowing what not to put on it. By steering clear of these common irritants, you give your skin space to breathe, recover, and thrive.
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