How To Soothe Skin Irritation – 9 Ingredients You Need To Know

Regardless of skin type, your skin will go through episodes of angry irritation. Contributing factors to skin irritation may include stress, overexposure to the sun, or air pollution. In most cases, however, skin irritation can be attributed to a skincare product mishap. This could happen when you cleanse too much, over-exfoliate or simply experience a negative reaction to the chemical makeup of your new skin product!

No matter what the cause is, what you need is a “first aid” product in our stash to quickly soothe irritated skin. Here, we’ve identified ingredients with the ability to calm angry skin and restore it to its original condition. Find products with these ingredients using our all-new Soothing filter!

Soothing skincare ingredients:

1. Niacinamide 

Also known as vitamin B3. You would know by now how much we absolutely adore this ingredient! Not only does niacinamide help to strengthen the skin barrier, it also has anti-inflammatory and brightening properties. Look out for this ingredient that addresses multiple concern in one go!

2. Panthenol

A sensitive-skin friendly ingredient. Panthenol works as a great humectant to help your skin retain moisture. Additionally, it also has anti-inflammatory properties to relieve dryness, itchiness and redness from your skin.

3. Allantoin

Another sensitive-skin BFF! You can find allantoin in several plant sources like beets, wheat sprouts and tobacco. Aside from smoothening skin texture, you can also expect allantoin to accelerate wound healing and relieve dry, itchy skin.

4. Green tea extract 

Topical application of green tea extract can serve many benefits for your skin. It is rich in polyphenols, which is a very effective antioxidant and with extensive calming properties. Green tea extract is often labelled as camellia sinensis leaf extract in products. Look out for it the next time you shop for soothing skin products. While you’re at it, don’t forget to also use the Mega Ingredient Filter on your Picky app while doing your research!

5. Colloidal oats

An “FDA-approved” skin protectant ingredient since 2003. Colloidal oatmeal has been scientifically proven to be effective for relieving dryness, itchiness and skin discomfort. The FDA has also classified it as a safe and effective ingredient to treat certain skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and also dermatitis. 

6. Aloe vera extract

Don’t be fooled by this plant! While it may look fierce and intimidating from the outside, aloe vera is really packed with soothing properties to alleviate skin irritation on the inside. It has been used for centuries to treat burns and wounded soldiers during war time. Now, skincare lovers seek out this ingredient to manage cases of sunburn and burn wounds!

7. Chamomile extract

Drinking a cup of chamomile tea before bed can help to relax your mind, relieve stress and promote a good night’s sleep. The active ingredients from chamomile include a volatile oil called bisabolol. Bisabol has a strong anti-inflammatory property that soothes irritation when applied topically. Its benefit doesn’t just end there – it is also rich in antioxidants, boosting overall skin health!

8. Centella asiatica extract

Cica, short for centella asiatica, is a medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. The active compounds in this ingredients are asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic and madecassic acids. These active compounds are rich in benefits – they improve the speed of wound healing, promote collagen production and also work to calm irritated skin.

9. Licorice root extract

Not only does licorice root extract even out skin complexion, it also effectively soothes the skin. This is thanks to its glabridin component, which is rich in antioxidant and has an anti-inflammatory property.

All these ingredients help to alleviate skin irritation, itchiness and redness by silencing our skin’s sensitizing factors (or inflammatory cells). Once we have silenced these factors, our skin will slowly recover back to its ‘normal’ and healthier state!

Of course, prevention is better than cure. Check out these skincare tips prevent nasty episodes of skin irritation!

Skincare tips to prevent skin irritation:

1. Do not over-wash your skin

One of the most important, yet also potentially skin-damaging, step in your skincare routine is cleansing. As a rule of thumb, try to minimize the number of times you wash your face when your skin is feeling irritated.

For example, if you wake up with raw, red and irritated skin, don’t be afraid to skip the cleanser. Instead, you may want to wash your face with just water before moving on to the rest of your skincare routine. However, always make sure to cleanse your face thoroughly at night.

2. Skip the exfoliators and other possibly irritating actives as your skin recovers

Being too aggressive with your skincare can actually damage your skin. If you find yourself struggling with irritated skin, stop using potentially irritating active ingredients! These ingredients include exfoliating ingredients (AHA, BHA), retinoids, and vitamin C.

Remember, our main task right now is to recover our skin barrier and calm irritation down. You can incorporate these ingredients back into your routine when your skin is back to normal!

3. Avoid products that contain high levels of fragrance or essential oils

You’re better off avoiding these controversial ingredients if your skin is irritated, or if you were simply born with sensitive skin.

Authorship: Team Picky