Reader beauty dilemma solved: “My sensitive skin is driving me crazy. Help!”

Sarah Brown, award-winning founder of organic skincare brand Pai, has devoted over five years to researching common skin complaints, understanding how they might be alleviated and creating her natural skincare range to help sufferers. It all started when Sarah herself suffered from sensitive skin and couldn’t find products that didn’t irritate. Sarah has kindly put her expert knowledge to good use to help three Greenmystyle.com readers combat their troublesome skin. First up is Lena, who suffers from hyper-sensitive skin. Sarah offers her expert advice and recommends products Lena might like to try.

Reader skin challenge – Hyper-sensitive skin

QueensOfVintage.com editor Lena, 29, writes: “I’ve been having problems with my skin for as long as I can remember. It’s extremely dry and hypersensitive and no matter how much and how often I moisturize, it still keeps flaking. I also have quite red, patchy skin, particularly on my face, which does make me feel quite self-conscious sometimes. Also, I get these little spots particularly on my arms and legs. I take multivitamin tables and moisturize with a zinc-rich cream but nothing seems to work. Please help!”

Sarah replies:

It sounds like you could be allergic to one or more of the ingredients in your skincare products. Hence why the more you apply the more your skin reacts and dries out.

1. Always read the ingredients list
Check the labels on your beauty products as they are seldom as ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ as they claim. Some of the key chemicals to avoid are:

- Propylene glycol: used as a moisturising agent this is a strong skin irritant that is also thought to damage the liver. It’s found in hydraulic fluids and in anti-freeze…so it’s perhaps not surprising why!
- Alcohol: strips away natural oils and can irritate and dry out the complexion. Tip: if alcohol appears near the top of the ingredients list, then there’s a lot of it!
- Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate: common Paraben (preservative) replacement but one that is starting to get bad press. It is a harsh skin irritant and is thought to break down into formaldehyde in the body.
- Sodium lauryl sulphate – foaming agent used in face washes and shampoos. It is very harsh on the skin and has been linked to eczema and dermatitis. Opt instead for a detergent-free cleansing cream. The Pai Camellia & Rose Cleanser is certified organic and is so gentle it can even be used round the eyes to remove make-up.

2. Condition your skin from the inside as well as out
Increase your intake of Essential Fatty Acids (that’s omega 3, 6 & 9 to you and me). Oily fish, nuts and flaxseed oil are all good sources and will help keep skin hydrated and supple.

3. Alkaline your diet
A lot of skin problems stem from the stomach. Ragnar Berg pioneered research in the 1930s that showed a link between highly acidic foods and skin flare-ups.

Worst offenders are: rice, bran, porridge oats, wheat, red meat and cheese. Alkaline foods include: cucumber, dried fruits (especially figs and raisins), leafy greens, carrots, spinach, bananas and potatoes.
4. Don’t moisturize too much.
Once a day should be sufficient if you are using the right product. Many dry skin sufferers make the mistake of opting for thick, cloying creams. Moisturisers should be chosen not for their density but for the quality of the plant oils used in them. A heavy duty cream can often mean heavy amounts of beeswax. Beeswax is solid at room temperature so can suffocate the skin.

Our Chamomile & Rosehip cream is popular with sensitive skin sufferers. Chamomile is packed with azulene – a natural anti-inflammatory – which cools and calms the skin beautifully, while rosehip helps to heal and strengthen the skin. This is quite a rich cream so should help combat your dryness too.

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