Why Sensitive Skin Needs a Different Approach
Sensitive skin reacts to ingredients, weather, and stress in ways that other skin types simply don't. Redness, tightness, stinging, and breakouts can all be signs that your skin barrier is compromised or that your current routine isn't working for you. The good news? A simple, consistent routine with the right ingredients can make a world of difference.
Step 1: Gentle Cleanse (Morning & Night)
Start with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that removes impurities without stripping your skin's natural oils. Avoid harsh foaming cleansers with sulphates — they're often too aggressive for sensitive skin. A cleansing oil is actually a brilliant choice for sensitive skin: it dissolves makeup and sunscreen without disrupting the skin barrier. Our Orange Crush Cleansing Oil is a gentle, skin-loving formula that melts away impurities while leaving skin soft and calm — not stripped.
Tip: Use lukewarm water — hot water can trigger redness and inflammation.
Step 2: Hydrating Serum
After cleansing, apply a hydrating serum to damp skin. Hyaluronic acid is the gold standard for sensitive skin — it draws moisture into the skin without clogging pores or causing irritation. Our Pure Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum is formulated specifically for reactive skin, delivering deep hydration with zero nasties.
Step 3: Moisturise to Seal It In
A good moisturiser locks in the hydration from your serum and reinforces your skin barrier. Look for nourishing plant oils, shea butter, or squalane — all barrier-supporting heroes. Our Superfood Moisturising Cream is packed with skin-nourishing botanicals to calm, protect, and deeply hydrate sensitive skin.
Step 4: SPF Every Morning (Non-Negotiable)
UV exposure is one of the biggest triggers for sensitive skin flare-ups. A mineral SPF (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sits on top of the skin rather than absorbing into it, making it a gentler choice for reactive skin types.
I use and love Airyday Mineral Mousse SPF50+ Dreamscreen.
It is fragrance free and feels beautiful underneath makeup or alone.
The Step You Take If You Want The Most Plump, Bright, Glowing Skin Around: Facial Serum Oil
In your routine, a our nourishing facial oil works wonders for sensitive skin. Oils rich in linoleic acid — like rosehip or evening primrose — help repair the skin barrier overnight. Our Golden Hour Glow Oil Serum is a lightweight, Australian-made blend that absorbs beautifully without feeling greasy, leaving skin calm and glowing.
Ingredients to Be Mindful Of
Sensitive skin can react to certain ingredients — but it's not always black and white. Synthetic fragrances, alcohol denat., and sulphates (SLS/SLES) are common culprits worth avoiding. High-concentration AHAs/BHAs should be introduced slowly with patch testing. As for essential oils: stimulating oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus in high concentrations can irritate reactive skin — but many skin-calming botanicals (like rose geranium) are well-tolerated and even beneficial when used thoughtfully in a quality formulation. Always patch test new products and listen to your skin.
The Bottom Line
A sensitive skin routine doesn't need to be complicated — it needs to be consistent and gentle. Start with the basics: cleanse, hydrate, moisturise, and protect. Add in targeted treatments slowly, one at a time, so you can identify what your skin loves (and what it doesn't).
All of our products at The Facial Co. are formulated by a qualified beauty therapist with a natural skincare formulation Diploma, with sensitive, reactive, and pregnancy-safe skin in mind. Explore our full range to find your perfect routine.