Sensitive skin often feels like a roadblock on the journey to radiance, but it doesn’t have to be. While reactive skin can sting, burn, or break out in response to everyday stressors or skincare ingredients, you can learn to understand your triggers and support your skin barrier. Let's explore what causes sensitivity and how to care for your skin with confidence.

Here's how I help my clients manage sensitivity without sacrificing results:

Cleansing is non-negotiable. It's how your skin rehydrates and resets. But harsh foaming cleansers can strip away vital moisture and lipids. 

Try: Michele Corley Calming Cleansing Oil and Makeup Remover This acne-safe oil cleanser uses soothing, cold-pressed seed oils to gently remove makeup and impurities without stripping your skin. The oils emulsify with water to rinse away clean, leaving no residue. They also calm redness and leave skin soft, hydrated, and refreshed.

For PM use, Retinol is gold for anti-aging, but it can be irritating if you're sensitive. 

Try: Michele Corley Brighten & Restore Complex A multitasker packed with bakuchiol, next-gen vitamin C, and Ubiquinone to brighten and renew without irritation.

• Bakuchiol – a plant-based retinol alternative without the flaking
• BV-OSC/Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate – provides skin lightening, DNA protection, and promotes collagen synthesis
• Ubiquinone  neutralizes free radicals to support collagen production, boost hydration, and improve overall texture.

In the AM, traditional ascorbic acid can be harsh on sensitive skin. Instead, look for:

• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) – stable, gentle, and hydrating

Hot Tip: MAP helps prevent blackheads and plays nicely with niacinamide. 

Try: Michele Corley Vitamin C Serum Plus

• Brightens and evens skin tone
• Promotes collagen synthesis
• Improves firmness and elasticity
• Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
• Provides antioxidant support

Sensitive skin needs extra protection from pollution, UV rays, and environmental aggressors. 

Try: Michele Corley Calming Serum Loaded with soothing and antioxidant-rich ingredients like:

• Horse Chestnut Extract:  Soothes the skin while minimizing the appearance of dark spots and redness.
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3):  Aids in cellular respiration and lipid synthesis, inhibits skin pigmentation, and improves epidermal barrier function with potent anti-inflammatory properties.
• Licorice Root Extract:  Brightening and anti-inflammatory agent that balances skin tone and helps inhibit hyperpigmentation.
• White Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaf Extract  Soothes and nourishes dry skin, improves hydration and elasticity, and reduces scaling.

This serum works all day to reduce redness, calm irritation, and strengthen your skin's resilience.

When your skin barrier is compromised, hydration is your best friend. Sensitive skin often struggles to retain moisture, and dryness can quickly turn into redness, irritation, and inflammation. That’s why I always recommend using a calming, barrier-strengthening moisturizer,  especially when active ingredients are part of your routine. 

Try: Michele Corley Calming Moisture Cream This award-winning, acne-safe moisturizer is rich without being heavy. It nourishes and calms the skin while helping it bounce back from stress and irritation. Some of my favorite ingredients in this cream include:

• Telangyn™ (Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40): Clinically shown to reduce redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by calming surface blood vessels.
• Chamomile: A natural anti-inflammatory that soothes and comforts sensitive or reactive skin.
• Panthenol (Vitamin B5): Hydrates and reinforces the skin barrier while shielding it from environmental stressors.
• Allantoin: A classic calming ingredient that encourages cell renewal and smooths the skin.

This moisturizer is a must-have for dry, reactive, or rosacea-prone skin. A key step in keeping your barrier strong and happy.

UV exposure makes sensitive skin more reactive. A gentle, mineral-based sunscreen is essential. 

Try: Tizo Ultra Zinc Face & Body SPF 40

Look for zinc oxide —it physically blocks UV rays and soothes inflammation at the same time.

Sensitive skin doesn't mean you have to settle for less. By choosing the right ingredients and nurturing your barrier, you can enjoy all the benefits of professional skincare, without irritation. Remember: healthy skin isn't about doing more. It's about doing what's right for you.