Help! Sensitive skin Exfoliator

[Yad1ra]

Hey, I have senstive skin so currently I'm using Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream, it has a great smell to it however whenever I use the next day I notice I have pimples. I'm looking for a new exfoliator for sensitive skin that won't leave my skin breaking out. 😊

[lilprincesskiki]

maybe the PHA toner by Inkey List. Their oat cleansing balm also works up a gritty yet gentle and hydrating lather. Love their products. Also Paula's Choice BHA Liquid or Gwl Exfoliant r my reqs!

[thirdcoastgirl]

Since you have more sensitive skin I recommend you start with a super gentle chemical exfoliator. PHA is really gentle and Sephora carries 2 products that have it. The Glow Recipe toner is heavily scented so I recommend the Inkey List PHA Toner instead. I’d start out using it every third night and slooowly work your way up to every other day or every day usage. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Tatcha The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder Calming is specific for sensitive skin. It has natural Japanese Indigo is the ingredient in it which calms and soothes sensitive skin. It also evens the skin tone/hyper-pigmentation and fine lines/wrinkles.

[Juliac16]

Also if it smells good or has a smell you most likely shouldn't put that on your face and that is why you broke out because it has a fragrance that is sensitizing and irritating for all skin types but especially sensitive skin. the ones I recommended are free from synthetic and natural fragrance (yes even the natural ones are bad) and free from alcohol so great for sensitive skin!

[meou]

@Juliac16 the comment on fragrance isn't entirely true - the majority of the population does not find fragrance irritating and while yes you can become sensitized again that will not happen to everyone.  Not saying it doesn't happen just that it shouldn't be applied as a blanket statement to all individuals. 

[WinglessOne]

@Juliac16 The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner 5.07 oz/ 150 mL does contain added fragrance. It also contains tea tree oil which can help treat acne but can also irritate some folks' skin. But your recommendation of The Inkey List PHA is spot on! 

@Yad1ra Hmm, are you sure what you see the day after using the Caudalie scrub are pimples? If you're seeing lots of tiny little bumps, they might instead be inflammation, not acne. Your skin might be sensitive to an ingredient in that scrub. A friend of mine can't use anything that contains grape seed oil, and there's a lot of that in this scrub. Something else might be causing your bad reaction, and it could very well be the fragrance components (fragrance is high on the ingredients list; I also see hexl cinnamal, limonene, and linalool, all 3 of which can irritate the heck out of skin). Whatever it is, you're definitely on the right track by looking for a replacement product. 🙂 

A polyhydroxy acid (PHA) product is a good choice for sensitive skin. I've never used The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Gentle Exfoliating Toner 3.4 oz/ 100 mL but I use (and love) a few other products by this brand. As with any type of exfoliant, use it only 1-3 times a week so you don't over-exfoliate your skin. 

[Juliac16]

Try the Glow Recipe Watermelon PHA and BHA toner or for a cheaper alternative try out The Inkey List PHA toner for sensitive skin. they're both on Sephora and work great for sensitive skin. These are both chemical exfoliants which is much better than physical ones. There's also the Cetaphil Gentle Expholiator, not sold at Sephora but great drugstore physical scrub for sensitive skin. 

[SportyGirly125]

@Yad1ra Origins GinZing™ Refreshing Scrub Cleanser 5 oz/ 150 mL