According to a study uneven skin tone can add up to two decades to your perceived age. Over time, UV radiation thins the skin and dilates superficial blood vessels which cause skin to look redder as you age. Sun exposure and aging can also exacerbate the symptoms of rosacea, a hereditary inflammatory skin condition characterized by persistent flushing and pimple-like bumps. The good news is there are several ways to minimize the redness instantly.

What is Sensitive Skin?

Surprise surprise sensitive skin does not actually manifest the same way for everyone. The level of severity can range from moderate discomfort to severe reactions, and its frequency can fluctuate from the occasional flare-up to more persistent, daily sensitivity.

Signs of Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin you regularly experience unpleasant sensations such as itchiness, dryness, stinging, burning, redness, and tingling especially after using certain skin care products. Environmental stressors like; sun, wind and pollution, and/or topical products like perfume or fragrances easily irritate you.

What are Symptoms of Sensitive Skin?

• General redness
• Swelling
• Bumps
• Pimples
• Visible blood vessels
• Inflammation
• Episodes of flushing and redness on the face and neck
• Skin thickening

Are there Different Types of Sensitive Skin?

Let's get this straight; sensitive skin is a skin type. Just like dry, oily and normal types, you are born with a skin type. However acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, for example, are not skin types: they are skin conditions of sensitive skin. It's important to know the difference in order to care for your skin properly.

What can I do to Reduce Redness?

There are certain skincare products on the market that are specifically formulated for your skin type that can soothe discomfort and dryness, but also reduce redness by calming inflammation. Look for gentle, pH-neutral, alcohol - and fragrance - free cleansers and moisturizers.

What Natural Skin Care Products can I use?

Always perform a patch test before adding new products to your skin care routine. Do a test run on a small, inconspicuous patch of skin (like behind your ear) before applying. Wait at least 24 hours for signs of irritation, redness, or other skin freak-outs. If your skin is hypersensitive, repeat this test run on a patch next to your eye. If you don't react to the product and your skin is all clear then that means you're good to go with this product.

Simplify your skin care routine. Keep it basic without lots of detergents and fragrances. Then, slowly introduce other active ingredients one at a time.

Here's what we recommend that you start with:

• Cleanse your face in lukewarm water with Pure Fiji's Purifying Cleanser. This natural cleanser is boosted with papaya extracts to gently remove dead skin cells while passionflower helps to soothe and calm the skin.
• Apply a couple of drops of Dilo Oil to your face after cleansing. Contains natural anti-histamine designed to reduce inflammation.
• For the third and final step apply Pure Fiji's Hydrating Day Creme. A powerful hydrating day crème that will dramatically boost hydration by increasing cellular water flow, as well as moisture holding power which is vital for those with sensitive skin.

DIY Homemade Masks for Sensitive Skin

Yogurt Mask

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder

Instructions

• Blend all the ingredients and apply all over your face with your fingertips.
• Leave on for 20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• Yogurt has soothing skin proteins and contains probiotics.
• Cocoa powder, a flavanol, calms irritation.
• Honey tightens the skin.

Honey + Aloe Vera = Anti-Inflammation Mask

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of raw honey
• 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel

Instructions

• Stir the raw honey and aloe together and apply over your face with your fingertips.
• Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• Works best for; sunburn soothing, dry skin, rashes, blisters, and even scrapes!
• Use this mask wherever needed consistently to help prevent scarring.

Oatmeal Mask

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 tablespoons of yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of oatmeal

Instructions

• Mix yogurt and oatmeal until it is pasty.
• Apply thick paste to the face and leave this face for 10 to 15 minutes or until it dries.
• Use paper towels moistened with hot water to wipe off. (Be careful not to wash oats down your drain / avoid clogging!).
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• Yogurt is the optimal base for a face mask because it has soothing skin proteins and contains probiotics. Oatmeal is rich in anti-oxidant properties.

Banana and Honey Mask

Ingredients

• Half a medium-sized banana (mashed)
• ½ cup oatmeal cooked with milk
• 1 egg
• ½ tablespoon honey

Instructions

• Mix all the ingredients together and massage onto your face in slow, circular motions.
• Leave for 15 minutes and rinse with warm (not hot!) water.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• Oatmeal is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is gentle, yet effective enough to cleanse and heal sensitive skin.
• Bananas contain vitamin A which helps promote skin cell production and growth.
• Eggs contain lecithin, a natural skin emollient.
• Honey helps maintain the skin's natural acid layer.

Honey and Lavender Facial Mask

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Mix the honey and lavender oil.
• Dampen your face with warm (not hot!) water and gently smooth on. Leave for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• Honey is a natural antibacterial and is great for acne treatment and prevention. It is also moisturizing and soothing.
• Lavender essential oil is great for dryness and skin inflammation. It smells great, calms the senses and helps in the skin healing process.

Cocoa & Avocado Mask

Ingredients

• º medium sized avocado, mashed
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients well until smooth and free of lumps.
• Apply to clean and dry skin. Leave for 10 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• Avocado aids in skin hydration.
• Cocoa is an anti-oxidant as well as a skin-soothing ingredient. Honey is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

The Honey and Egg Mask

Ingredients

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup oatmeal

Instructions

• Stir all ingredients together and leave on face for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

This calms skin. If you've got sensitive, oily skin, this DIY face mask works as a ìmattifyingî agent.

Matcha Mask

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon matcha powder or loose green tea leaves from a tea bag
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil or sweet almond oil

Instructions

• Combine matcha powder / loose tea leaves, honey, and oil in a small bowl.
• Apply to the face and leave for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

The green tea and honey duo work wonders for inflammation. It soothes even the most sensitive skin and fights free radicals.

Cucumber Mask

Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 medium sized cucumber
• 1 teaspoon yogurt

Instructions

• Whisk the egg white until it is frothy.
• Grate the cucumber just enough to squeeze 1 to 2 teaspoons of cucumber juice. (you may want to slice a few for your eyes)
• Heat the honey at low heat until liquefied.
• Mix all ingredients and allow to cool.
• Apply the mask and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, pat to dry, and finish off with your favorite Pure Fiji natural skin care products.

Why it works for sensitive skin

• The honey relieves irritation because of its antiseptic properties. Honey also helps regenerate facial skin tissue.
• Yogurt eases sunburn and other skin irritation. It works as an exfoliant as well as a moisturizer.
• Cucumbers hydrate the skin around your eyes and help prevent breakouts.

How to Reduce Flare-ups

• Avoid harsh and drying soapsóuse moisturizing, soothing and calming cleansers that are fragrance-free.
• Avoid harsh scrubbing, rough treatments like microdermabrasion and acidic products like alpha-Hydroxy acids as they can exacerbate inflammation and stinging.
• Use sunscreen everyday that is safe, non-chemical option like zinc oxide. Avoid sun exposure as much as possible.
• Avoid hot beverages, spicy foods, alcohol, and large, hot meals that trigger sensitivity.
• Add omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, anchovies, walnuts, flaxseed, mackerel in your diet to reduce inflammation.
• Be mindful of the environmental and lifestyle triggers that cause your skin to react. These can include: Seasonal changes, stress and lack of sleep, pollution, and dehydration.
• Avoid hot showers. Choose lukewarm instead because sensitive skin often reacts negatively to heat exposure which breaks down the skin's lipid barrier.
• Look for products free from fragrances and paraben preservatives, two common causes of irritation and flare-ups.

Makeup Tips to Conceal Redness

• Alongside a skincare regime specifically suited to your sensitive skin, make-up is a great tool for subtly covering any persistent red patches. Choose a BB cream suited for sensitive skin, in the right shade for your skin for light, but effective coverage without any side effects. Sheer foundation will not cover redness. Use a flat-bristle synthetic brush to spread the base; it will deliver more pigment, especially to redness hot spots like the sides of the nose. Then blend with a damp makeup sponge to get a more lightweight look and feel.
• If redness affects only a few areas, invest in a foundation stick. It's easier to blend than heavier concealers. Apply a sheer foundation first, then warm the stick on the back of your hand. Dab on with a brush where you see discoloration.
• Use a yellow-based concealer to hide the redness.
• Try more natural and organic foundations and other makeup products to minimize irritation.

Caring for sensitive skin is not always easy. You need to be mindful of what you eat, what you do, and where you go. Remember that less is more when it comes to sensitive skin. To avoid your sensitive skin from acting up follow our simple skin care routine and use natural skin care products like pure fiji that you can rely on.