5 Amazing Face Oils For Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin?  This is an increasing complaint amongst my customers.  

Dry, sensitive skin?

Or breakout prone skin that is sensitive?  And just when you thought the days of finicky skin, breakouts and reactions were behind you!

A recent US report on the prevalence of sensitive skin found that about 60% of women report having sensitive skin to one degree or another. 

Seriously 60%!!

It's sods law,  when we start to feel confident about what our skin likes and doesn't like that's exactly when our skin changes.

It is incredibly common for my customers to tell me that in the past they could pretty much use whatever the liked on their skin (and I certainly did growing up in the 80s), but that as they get older, they find their skin becoming increasing sensitive.

Factor in external triggers, stress, an unbalanced diet or adverse weather conditions and you've got the perfect sensitive skin storm.

If you're on the hunt for a sensitive skin moisturiser, something that won't irritate or exacerbate sensitive skin, here are some of my favourite ingredients and products  that are able to soothe, hydrate and moisturise gently.   

What Are The Symptoms of Sensitive Skin?

First things first though, how can you tell if you have sensitive skin?

The term is so broad and the signs and symptoms are so varied, that 'sensitive skin' could be classified as pretty much anything.

But here are some of the tell-tale signs to look out for:

Redness. This could be because of genetic predisposition (like with rosacea, for example) or as a temporary reaction to harsh ingredients contained in skincare or beauty products.

Rashes and tiny red bumps. Again, these are often caused by irritation to products.

A stinging or burning sensation. Having sensitive skin means you have a thinner skin barrier, which means that the wrong products that don't suit sensitive skins  could trigger an unpleasant reaction.

Dry or eczema-prone skin (i.e. dermatitis). This happens when a leaky skin barrier doesn't effectively trap moisture, so scaling, flaking, and itchiness can develop.

Broken capillaries. Ever had blood vessels become visible near the surface of the skin? This can happen if you have thin and fewer protective layers. Cold and windy days, for example, are a trigger for people with rosacea. 

Sensitive, dry skin sometimes produces extra oils to compensate for the lack of contained moisture, which means you can be prone to clogged pores and annoying breakouts.

So the key with sensitive skin (no matter the cause) is great ingredients and hydration, which is why finding the perfect sensitive skin moisturiser that provides the right nutrition and care for your skin is key.

Sensitive Skin Favourite Ingredients

Here are my favourite face plant oils you might want to look out for when looking for a new moisturiser for your sensitive skin.

The Best Oils For Sensitive Skin

1 - Sensitive Skin Moisturiser - Marshmallow Root Oil

Not a very common ingredient, but one of my favourites to incorporate into my sensitive skin care.

That's because marshmallow root oil is deeply-hydrating and helps to maintain the hyaluronic acid levels in the skin, while soothing and calming red, itchy, and irritated skin.

Hyaluronic acid is what allows your skin to remain moisturised and to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which is why the high levels contained in Marshmallow root oil make it a great ingredient for your moisturiser. 

INCI Name (i.e. what you need to look out for on the label): Althaea officinalis root extract. It usually appears as an extract and can be found in cream or serum based products (water based) or in a carrier oil eg sunflower oil.

Where can you find marshmallow root oil?

The Marshmallow root oil we use at The Rose Tree is made with the roots of the marshmallow plant macerated in sunflower Oil with the addition of rosemary antioxidant.

It's one of the key ingredients that I use in my ten times award-winning Intensive Balm - perfect for its hydration boosting properties.

It's gentle and softening and is fantastic for people with dry, lacklustre skin. Incorporate it into your daily skincare routine to see benefits.

2 - Sensitive Skin Moisturiser - Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is an easily absorbed, light oil, which is similar to the sebum found in our own skin.

That's what makes it so suitable to all skin types, but especially sensitive skin. Because jojoba is actually a wax (rather than an oil) it's non-greasy.

That sounds like a contradiction in terms.   An oil that is not oily…. 

But that is what is special about Jojoba, and this means it doesn't feel too rich on the skin, and yet it's great for hydration.

Because it's deeply absorbed, jojoba helps to:

Reduce fine lines.Alleviate soreness and finicky skin.Deeply hydrate the skin without breaking you out.Give your skin a nice, healthy glow.

Where can you find jojoba oil?

You can find it in my Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant, and it's also a key ingredient in my luxurious organic Body Oils. 

Look out for it in its inci format, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil on the label.

3 - Sensitive Skin Moisturiser - Argan Oil

Argan oil has seen a huge jump in popularity lately, and there's good reason for that. Argan oil is rich in both Vitamin E and fatty acid, which means:

It's great for treating skin topically.It has anti-aging and skin improving properties.It's suitable for both dry and oily skin types. 

Argan oil is fantastic for smoothing the skin, restoring tone and elasticity, and protecting the skin from environmental impacts.

So if you're looking for an ingredient to make your skin feel better during these cold, winter days, a product containing argan oil makes for a great choice.

Argan oil is also sebum-regulating, which means it can help with acne-prone skin.

Extracting the oil from the nuts is not a fast process, but gives the best quality which is important to me.

The nuts from which argan oil is produced are collected by women cooperatives in Morocco and dried for days in the sun before being pressed.   It's an ancient technique that's still used today by Morocco's Berber women.

Find it in my Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant, my Intensive Balm and Body Oils.

Find it in the label with its inci name: Argania Spinosa Oil.

4 - Sensitive Skin Moisturiser - Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil helps with conditions like acne and rosacea but also with countering dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.

Rosehip oil is full of essential fatty acids and vitamin A, which are great for improving the appearance of fine lines.

A number of clinical trials found this oil has a positive effect on the skin of people with stretch marks, UV damage, and even scars.

It regenerates the skin, slows down the signs of ageing and improves the skin's natural colour (pigmentation) and tone.

Rosehip Oil is often referred to as a 'dry' oil because it doesn't leave any sort of oily feel on the skin. It's fast-absorbing and yet super hydrating.

Rosehip oil comes from the seeds of the rosehip, and although these are available all over the world, most commercial rosehip oil these days come from Chile.

I use organic rosehip oil that is cold-pressed to preserve all its goodness.

Find it in my award-winning facial oil Radiance Facial Essence with Rose & Marula, which is specifically designed for sensitive, oily, or combination skin types.

 5 - Sensitive Skin Moisturiser - Avocado Oil

Rich and soothing, this is one of my favourite oils for sensitive skins.  It particularly helps to hydrate parched skins, to add glow and revive tired skin. 

Rich in vitamins A, D and E, it is rich in oleic acid, deeply penetrating and hydrates nourishes and softens.  Because it is such a rich emollient, it's great for dry, itchy and thirsty skin.

You can find it in our Radiance Facial Essence with Rose & Marula.  It appears on the label as Persea Gratissima Oil.

Amazing Oils for Sensitive Skin  

Sensitive skin can be managed.

It's all about finding the ingredients and products that suit your skin, and choosing plant oils that suit your skin type.

When my customers ask me about a routine for sensitive skin, I recommend paring their skincare back to basics and getting your skin to a place where it is more comfortable before adding in lots of variables.

As a starting point I recommend my Cleansing Butter with one of my Facial Essences depending on their skin.

The Facial Essence with Rose & Marula is particularly good for skin that is prone to rosacea, combination skin, the Rose & Blackcurrant by comparison is is better for dry, mature type skin.

I always recommend a patch test, it is just a sensible precaution, as skin can be allergic and react to natural ingredients in much the same way as synthetic ingredients. 

Have you tried any of these plant oils in your skin care routine?