13 soothing and repairing skincare essentials for sensitive and sensitised skin

Pink Vitamin B12 Serum, $50.35, Derma Lab from Watsons

Credit: Watsons

1/13

This underrated serum deserves some attention. If you’re one who prefers something more lightweight, or if you experience flare-ups ever so often, we recommend getting this Pink Vitamin B12 Serum from Derma Lab. As its name suggests, the serum contains vitamin B12 which helps in easing up skin conditions like irritation, dryness, and flare-ups, and at the same time, it also relieves signs of fatigue.

Soothing Foam Wash, $30.50, Cetaphil from Watsons

Credit: Cetaphil

2/13

If you’re prone to dryness, we recommend trying a lightweight formula like Cetaphil’s Soothing Foam Wash. Boasting a proprietary blend of Allantoin, Glycerin and Triple Ceramides, this cleanser helps to hydrate and calm sensitive and red skin while removing oil, dirt and pore-clogging microparticles.

Cica Calming Face Cream, $39.50, Cetaphil from Watsons

Credit: Cetaphil

3/13

Soothe stressed and irritated skin with this nourishing cream from Cetaphil. Made with CICA, Allantoin, and Pentavitin, this skin-loving cream boasts a potent blend that works to visibly reduce redness, provide instant hydration and improve the quality of your skin. What’s more, the cream also absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving a non-sticky finish and it’s also free from artificial fragrances.

Soy Face Cleanser, $25, Fresh from Sephora

Credit: Sephora

4/13

By now you would've already heard about the highly raved Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Perfect for those with extra sensitive skin, this cleanser is not only gentle on the skin, but also removes makeup and impurities thoroughly without leaving your skin with that squeaky clean feeling. Besides, after a few uses, you'll start to notice that your complexion is a lot brighter and your skin feels a lot softer as it is formulated with soy proteins that are rich in amino acids.

Cicaplast Baume B5, $28.90, La Roche Posay from Amazon

Credit: Watsons

5/13

If you’re someone with rosacea, this reliable balm should be your first port of call when the skin gets irritated. Its key ingredient is panthenol (pro-vitamin B5, hence the name), which is one of the most effective humectants (an ingredient that draws and binds water to the skin) around. Panthenol helps to soothe any inflammation in the skin, speeds up wound healing and improves skin’s hydration, elasticity, and smooth appearance.

Panthenol is present in this balm in a concentrated amount of five per cent, while the other key ingredient here is madecassoside – one of the main components of the trendy K-beauty favourite, Centella asiatica (commonly known as cica), which might explain why this balm is such a powerhouse in neutralising irritation.

Bonus: this balm can be used not just on the face but any part of the body as well.

Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel, $62, Then I Met You from Sephora

Credit: Sephora

6/13

It’s easy to overlook cleansing but it’s the first and one of the most fundamental steps in any routine. And if you’re on the hunt for a good and trustworthy cleanser that removes impurities without stripping the oils from your skin, consider this cleansing gel from Then I Met You.

Fermented rice water which is also the star ingredient in this cleanser, effectively clears the skin of impurities. At the same time, PHAs and plant-based antioxidants keep pores clean and minimise breakouts, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help to ensure the skin remains soft and hydrated.

Sensibio H2O Soothing Micellar Water, $29.90, Bioderma from Novela

Credit: Bioderma

7/13

A classic mainstay in many make-up artists’ kits – and for good reason.

If you’re a fan of double-cleansing, this is a fantastic (and super-gentle) first cleanse option as micellar waters contain tiny molecules called micelles, which grab onto and easily remove unwanted oil, pollution, makeup and sunscreen.

P.S. While the label says rinsing after using micellar water is not necessary, you should still do so. That’s because leaving even gentle surfactants (the cleansing component in cleansers responsible for removing oils and other pollutants) on the skin is not a good idea as it could potentially become irritating.

(Here is “How To Layer Your Skincare Under Your Mask, According To Experts“)

10% Niacinamide Booster, $75, Paula’s Choice

Credit: Paula's Choice

8/13

Niacinamide is trending so hard these days – and with good reason.

This anti-inflammatory multi-tasker is well-loved for its versatility to almost any skincare concern and skin type and comes with few drawbacks unlike say, vitamin C or retinols (two actives which are known to be stinging for newcomers). Benefits include visibly improving the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, dullness and helping to repair a weakened or damaged skin barrier.

This serum by Paula’s Choice remains one of the best out there in our opinion as it comes packed with a variety of other skin-soothing goodies such as panthenol, phospholipid, acetyl glucosamine, licorice root extract, beta-glucan and allantoin. In short, it’s a formidable blend, instead of just focusing purely on niacinamide. Bonus points for its super-light watery texture too.

PM Facial Moisturising Lotion, $27.90, Cerave from Watsons

Credit: Watsons

9/13

Cerave has long been known for its emphasis on using ceramides which are lipids (beneficial fats) that are naturally present in the uppermost skin layers (they form about 50 per cent of it actually) that help to form a protective barrier to limit the loss of moisture and protect against damage from pollution and other environmental stressors.

In other words, ceramides are necessary for a healthy state of skin. For example, people afflicted with chronic conditions such as eczema have been found to possess significantly lower amounts of ceramides in their skin.

Most Cerave products are formulated with at least three types of ceramides (there are nine in total) and this moisturiser is particularly lightweight, making it a great option for those with oily skin.

Skin Barrier Repair Cream, $50.80, Ceradan from Watsons

Credit: Ceradan

10/13

Ceradan might not ring a bell but this Singapore pharmaceutical company has garnered a fan base (particularly on sites like Reddit) for their effective, science-focused products, including their signature product, the Skin Barrier Repair Cream.

It may not be the sexiest product but like Cerave, this cream touts ceramides as a key ingredient. What’s more, the brand goes further to state that the ceramides here have been formulated in the correct ratio of 3:1:1 (ceramides have been found to work best with cholesterol and essential fatty acids in the ratio of 3:1:1). This moisturiser can be a bit thick and is likely more ideal for those with dryer skin types.

Perfect UV Sunscreen MilkSPF50+ PA++++, $42.50, Anessa from Novela

Credit: Novela

11/13

Sunscreen is non-negotiable – regardless of your skin type or colour.

Ultraviolet radiation (or basically, UV rays) represent one of the most potent sources of environmental stressors that damage and prematurely age your skin (not to mention skin cancer), which is why sun protection needs to be taken seriously.

Japanese powerhouse Anessa is known for its well-formulated sunscreens and the Mild Milk series is excellent for those with sensitive skin, as it omits potential irritants such as fragrance, alcohol and colourants.

XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil, $81.40, Avene from Watsons

Credit: Watsons

12/13

French pharmacy brands have a reputation for efficacy (think La Roche Posay and Bioderma), and Avene in particular, has many products geared towards folks with sensitive skin.

If you’ve never tried a shower oil (basically an oil-based cleanser for the body), they’re fantastic for those with particularly dry skin or people with eczema – and they rinse off easily too.

This one by Avene is fragrance and soap-free, adjusted to our skin’s ideal pH level and can be used when you experience any flare-ups on the face, body and scalp.

Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing Shampoo, $48, Briogeo from Sephora

Credit: Briogeo

13/13

Shampoo is another easily overlooked category but it can represent another potential source of irritation as the vast majority of shampoos are typically heavily fragranced.

It’s not easy to find a fragrance-free shampoo but a gentle option is this one from popular “clean” haircare brand Briogeo, which includes anti-inflammatory classics such as aloe vera extract and oats to calm your scalp.

This article was first published in Female.