The must-have actives for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is not a reason to avoid actives. It is a reason to choose fewer of them and give each one room to work.

Start with tolerance, not strength

The strongest formula you can buy is rarely the one that helps most. Skin that reacts easily does better with a low concentration used consistently than a high one used in bursts followed by recovery weeks.

• Azelaic acid for redness that comes and goes.

• Niacinamide at modest strength for general resilience.

• Polyhydroxy acids when a gentler exfoliant is needed.

Introduce one at a time

Two new actives in the same week make it impossible to know which one caused the reaction. Give each addition two weeks on its own before the next. It feels slow, and it is still faster than starting over.

Every ingredient you add is a question. Add two at once and you will never hear the answer.

Sensitivity is information, not a limitation. It just asks you to move deliberately.