5 Amazing Face Oils For Sensitive Skin
Make your life easier. Care for and nourish your skin in an honest way
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.
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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?
Less is more - a little simplicity
The idea behind The Rose Tree is grown up beauty. Less about looking 10 years younger and more about feeling amazing. The best ingredients for the job, not the cheapest. The finest natural and organic plant oils and butters, selected for their effectiveness.
I am all about being small, because small means personal, and comes with great service. I want finding beauty that works to be easy. I am passionate about manufacturing in Britain, sourcing ingredients ethically and being able to give a little back to the world.
My customers tend to fall into two groups.
They're either in their 30s and 40s juggling kiddies and jobs.
Or they tend to be in the 40s, 50s, and upwards - and are juggling busy lives with and adapting to their skin's changing needs, perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
I'm all about ignoring the rules, must have products, must have ingredients, it's exhausting. Let's ditch this idea that you need tens of products and a 10 step skincare routine.
Simplicity is good.
My face oils, balms and creams are all designed to nurture and protect.
For skin that is dry, dehydrated, or mature pick my Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant. It's all about feeding your skin, nourishment, and satiny plumped up skin with generous amounts of Argan, Blackcurrant, Baobab, Camellia and Cranberry oils but no heavy or greasy feeling.
For skin that is prone to oiliness, breakouts and rosacea, or just a little fiddly pick my Facial Essence for Rose & Marula. Think super soft skin. Clear skin - with the hand selected essential oils which are inherently anti-bacterial and particularly suited to oily, combination skins. Plumped up, cushiony, comfortable skin. It helps keep breakouts under control. It's perfect if you suffer from red-ness or rosacea.
Deep Nourish Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant
Carrot & Mango Cleansing Butter
Radiance Facial Essence with Rose & Marula
I'm Olga, founder of The Rose Tree, and I'm more about making your life easier, to care for and nourish your skin in an honest way.
Nurturing and coaxing tricky into looking the best it can.
I use flower and plant oils with therapeutic benefits, to relax your mind and body, de-stress your mind, energise you.
To my mind radiant, glowing skin and a relaxed happy you will never go out of fashion. I think beauty is about feeling good.
I'm in my 50s now, and I've been fascinated by plant oils since I was a child.
Today I run my very small but multiple award winning business and am all about serving my lovely customers.
I used to have a 'proper' job commuting in and out of London, working crazy hours for a big blue chip organisations. I was a tad stressed, and my skin was not very happy,
I still works crazy hours but for herself, creating beauty and wellbeing goodies. Grown up beauty designed to make your life easier, that's a little clever, and that's a little easy.
The Rose Tree is a multiple award winning British beauty brand with a focus on grown up beauty. The finest natural and organic plant oils and butters, selected for their effectiveness. A small boutique producer which offers great service, who manufactures in Britain with a focus on sourcing ingredients ethically and giving back through it’s partnership with Buy1Give1.
"A British-made, luxurious, organic brand that particularly suits sensitive skin. Perfect for the mum who likes her beauty all natural."
The Independent
What women are saying about us...
"As if it wasn't bad enough that the menopause and lack of oestrogen has dried my skin to the point of reptilian , I was horrified to keep having outbreaks of spots too - talk about insult to injury . Was sceptical that an oil would help - but on a friend's recommendation tried this oil and it clears any outbreaks overnight! Amazing!" Justine
"I have tried many other products - top of the line products - none of which accommodated the change to my maturing skin. How I wish I'd found The Rose Tree products years ago. My skin looks and feels wonderfully nourished." - Kara Joy
"I I love using the Radiance Facial Essence, it makes my skin feel fabulous. I have been using this for a number of years now and would definitely recommend it." Laura
At The Rose Tree, I believe that grown up beauty means being responsible. This includes sourcing ingredients ethically, manufacturing in England, and giving a little back.
I care about making my products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. I package the majority of products in glass. I am extremely picky about my ingredients. We never test our products on animals.
I also partner up with Buy1Give1 (B1G1), a social enterprise and non-profit organisation with a mission to create a world full of giving. Unlike conventional giving models, B1G1 helps small and medium-sized businesses achieve more social impact by embedding giving activities into everyday business operations and creating unique giving stories.
That means, with your help, we can make a small but positive difference.
Deep Nourish Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant
Carrot & Mango Cleansing Butter