Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #67

feature skin
Do you
have
sensitive
skin?
Terri Vinson, cosmetic chemist
and owner of Synergie Skin,
investigates the symptoms
and causes of sensitive skin.
Many individuals are classified as having sensitive
skin and may experience a reaction to a specific
product or substance. Sensitive skin is not
actually a dermatological skin condition but rather a nonspecific
lay-term describing the way skin reacts to various
factors. Australian surveys have shown that approximately
60 percent of individuals describe their skin as sensitive.
In addition to anti-ageing, this sector of skin concerns
represents the largest client demographic.
Skin irritation is characterised by redness, itching, burning
or dryness and may be classified as either contact irritation,
rosacea or an actual allergic response. It is generally used
to describe skin with reduced tolerance to certain topically
applied skincare ingredients and environmental conditions.
It is also important to realise that rosacea is a chronic skin
condition that is not curable but may be controlled with a
good skin regimen and sensible diet.
Ingredients to avoid with
sensitive skin
• SLS and sulfate-based cleansing ingredients –
these are more irritating than other foaming and
cleansing ingredients
• Artificial fragrance – this is the number-one cause
of skin irritation
• propylene glycol – a common skincare ingredient
• certain essential oils – never apply undiluted
essential oils directly to the skin
• Acidic products – these are often not tolerated
by clients with sensitive skin. It is best to avoid
AHAs (particularly glycolic) and L-ascorbic acid
• Abrasive scrubs
• Artificial colour – irritation is due to the small
particle size which may penetrate the skin surface
• chemically based sunscreens – a common
skin irritant
• Alcohol-based products – this dries the skin
surface and makes the barrier more susceptible
to irritation from other ingredients
94 www.cosbeauty.com.au