9 Soothing Ways to Treat Sensitive Skin

Photo by Jerry Friedman

Sensitive Plant

I'll admit it--I'm the sensitive sort. I'd rather solve someone else's problems than my own. I often get so engaged in conversations with other people that I finish their sentences--even if I'm not married to them. 


It's no surprise that I have sensitive skin as well. I'm super ticklish (pedicures can be problematic), and my body doesn't adapt well to extreme changes in temperature (no sauna for me at the spa). 


Occasionally, my face becomes slightly irritated after exercising and/or showering. During these times, I like to use moisturizers, serums, cleansers and masks that contain soothing ingredients such as honey, aloe vera or shea butter. 


April is National Stress Awareness Month. It gives us the opportunity to de-stress in all areas of our lives--including the facial products we use. The following formulations help restore calm to sensitive and delicate skin. They feel like yoga for your face--so relax and enjoy! 

 SHINE: VB Cosmetics Abrioné Honey Oatmeal Cleanser (for sensitive skin). BEAUTY: Oatmeal and honey not only moisturize and soften skin, but they also provide a comforting scent during the cleansing process. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Babor Baborganic Calm & Relax Cream. BEAUTY: Reduces redness and sensitivity with ingredients such as meadowfoam seed oil, which helps repair the skin, and Edelweiss extract, which protects and strengthens. BEACON: Supports Dolphin Aid. Contains no synthetic colorants/perfume substances, parabens or paraffins. 

SHINE: Ecco Bella Age Antidote Day Cream SPF 15 (preservative free for sensitive skin). BEAUTY: Aloe vera, jojoba oil, and vitamins E and C aid in minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of gluten, dyes, fragrances, emulsifiers and alcohol.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Comforts skin, reduces redness/inflammation and promotes healing with chamomile tea, aloe vera and shea butter. BEACON: Supports the California Clean Energy Fund and the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

SHINE: LATHER Honey Moisture Mask with Propolis Extract (a relief mask for environmentally stressed skin). BEAUTY: Soothes and moisturizes with honey extract, sweet almond oil and aloe vera extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no sulfates or parabens.

SHINE: Ren Clean Skincare Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk and Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum (for sensitive skin). BEAUTY: To protect and replenish skin, the cleanser contains chamomile flower extract, sesame seed oil and shea butter, while the serum utilizes lingonberry seed oil, orange flower water and milk protein. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no synthetic fragrances/colors, petrochemicals, sulfates or parabens.

SHINE: Skyn Iceland Antidote Quenching Daily Lotion and Pure Cloud Cream (for stressed skin). BEAUTY: To detoxify and stabilize congested skin, the lotion utilizes aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter and jojoba seed oil, while the cream contains sweet almond oil, aloe vera leaf juice and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Cruelty free and vegan. Contains no parabens, petroleum, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates or dyes. Supports Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Gilda’s Club New York City. 

Festive Face, Body & Hair Product Gift Sets

'Tis the season to be jolly. If you haven't had a fa-la-la-la-la moment yet, time's running out. You've only got 10 days left until Christmas arrives. 

Shopping for beauty products always lifts our spirits. Face, body and hair gift sets are not only fun to give but even better to receive. The buyer usually gets a can't-pass-it-up deal when several products are packaged together, while loved ones, friends or colleagues enjoy sampling several items at once. Plus, the products often come in a special box or zippered pouch that can be reused over and over again. 

So... ready, gift set, go. Enjoy the following face, body and hair collections from leading beauty manufacturers. And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

 SHINE: B. Kamins, Chemist Dry to Normal Skin Starter Kit (Vegetable Cleanser, Bio Maple Eye Cream, Day Cream SPF 15 and Night Cream). BEAUTY: Nourishes skin with antioxidants, vitamins and essential nutrients to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports PJs For the Cure.

 SHINE: Dermalogica Clean Start Get Glowing Mini Skin Care Kit (Ready, Set, Scrub!, Brighten Up SPF 15 and Smart Mouth Lip Shine). BEAUTY: Polishes and brightens your skin to reveal its natural radiance. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of artificial fragrances, dyes and mineral oils.

SHINE: Elemis Tranquil Touch Exotic Stars Kit (Creamy Body Wash, Indulgent Bath Elixir, Body Cream and Candle). BEAUTY: Calm your mind and soothe your soul during your next bathing ritual. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of animal-derived collagen, synthetic fragrances and coloring, mineral oil, alcohol and silicones.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Very Berry Gift Collection (Blueberry Soy Exfoliating Cleanser, Soy Blueberry Body Wash, Blueberry Shimmer Body Lotion and Loofah Sponge). BEAUTY: Refreshes dull skin with nourishing antioxidants and vitamins to help protect against free radicals. BEACON: The company's ingredient farm in Hungary is powered by solar and wind energy. 

SHINE: Joico K-Pak Color Therapy (Color Therapy Shampoo, Color Therapy Conditioner and Revitaluxe: Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment). BEAUTY: Strengthens damaged hair with a blend of peptides, arginine, dual-polymers and African Manketti Oil. BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports City of Hope, Beauty For a Cure and Reality Cares.

SHINE: Liz Earle Superskin Christmas Collection (Moisturizer, Concentrate, Eye & Lip Treatment and Body Cream). BEAUTY: Designed to smooth and plump more mature or dry skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of mineral oil, paraffin wax, petrolatum, and any fractions of crude oil or primary petrochemicals.

SHINE: Neal's Yard Remedies Frankincense Face & Body Care Collection (Frankincense & Mandarin Body Lotion, Frankincense Hydrating Cream and Frankincense & Mandarin Shower Cream). BEAUTY: Antioxidants and herbal extracts replenish and rejuvenate skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of synthetic fragrances, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, petrochemicals, GMO ingredients, propylene glycol, EDTA and SLS. Also supports Friends of the Earth, Samaritans and Traid.

SHINE: Ren Clean Skincare Shower Trio Gift Set (Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash, Neroli and Grapefruit Body Wash, and Seaweed and Sage Body Wash) packaged in a box inspired by Asian hand-painted wallpaper designs. BEAUTY: Harmonizing properties in these three body washes help make the bathing experience a transformative one. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of synthetic colors and fragrances, petrochemicals, sulfates, animal ingredients and parabens.

SHINE: Sanitas Skincare Mask Sampler (Cranberry Enzyme, Vita-Rich, Re-Vita-Lize Anti-Aging, Tea Tree, Pumpkin Enzyme and Papaya Pineapple). BEAUTY: This six-piece set is designed to deliver healing and acne prevention skincare benefits. BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

SHINE: SpaRitual Three-Piece Natural Soy Massage Candles. BEAUTY: Hand-poured into recycled glass cylinders, each candle utilizes soy, coconut and apricot waxes infused with essential oils to provide fragrant illumination or a luxurious massage. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.