What ingredients should I avoid for sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin, it can feel like a total guessing game trying to find products that don't make your face red or itchy. It's not just about what you use, but what you absolutely shouldn't use. A lot of common ingredients can be real troublemakers, so it’s super helpful to know what to watch out for.

Here are a few things to look at on the back of the bottle:

• Fake fragrances. You know, that "clean" or "fresh" smell in a product? That's almost always a cocktail of chemicals. They're one of the top reasons people get irritated, so always look for something that says "fragrance-free." Just a heads-up, "unscented" can sometimes mean they just added another chemical to hide the scent, so be careful.
• Drying alcohols. Things like denatured alcohol or SD alcohol are sometimes added to make a product feel lighter or absorb faster. The problem is, they can seriously dry out your skin and mess with its natural protective barrier. And when that happens, your skin is basically an open invitation for irritation.
• Rough exfoliants. Those scrubs with the big, grainy bits? Like, walnut shells or fruit pits? Yeah, they can actually cause tiny little tears in your skin. For sensitive skin, you're much better off with something gentler. Try a chemical exfoliant that's super mild, like a PHA.
• Some essential oils. I know, they sound so nice and natural, but some of them, like peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus oils, can be surprisingly harsh and cause a reaction.
• Sulfates. If a cleanser gets super foamy, it's probably got sulfates. They're great at cleaning, but they can be way too aggressive for sensitive skin, stripping away your natural oils and leaving you feeling tight and dry.

My advice? Always, always check the ingredients list. And if you're trying something new, do a little patch test on your arm first. It might seem like a pain, but it's a small step that can save your skin a lot of grief.