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Sensitive skin

It stings from a new cream, burns after a hot shower, flushes when the wind is cold. Sensitive skin reacts more easily than other skin – which is why it needs a routine that is simpler, not more advanced. Here we explain what happens, how to test new products and what to watch out for – including with us.

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Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin – VÉNAT
Sensitive skin
THE VÉNAT SKIN GUIDE
In brief

How it feels

Stinging, tingling, heat or itching. Sometimes redness – sometimes you feel it more than you see it.

Common triggers

Fragrance, alcohol, harsh cleansers, too much exfoliation, heat, cold and friction.

What helps

Few products, few ingredients, one new thing at a time – and always testing first.

01

What does sensitive skin mean?

Sensitive skin is not a diagnosis but a description of skin that reacts more easily than normal. It is often linked to a weakened skin barrier: when the skin's protective layer isn't fully sealed, substances get in more easily and the skin responds faster with stinging and redness.

Reactions can look different. Irritation often comes on quickly and passes when you stop using the product. An allergic reaction is a response from the immune system that may not appear until a day or two later.

Sometimes a skin condition such as rosacea or eczema is behind it. Then more than a gentle routine may be needed.

02

How to patch test a new product

A patch test at home is no guarantee, but it can catch a reaction before it spreads to your whole face.

  • Apply a little of the product to a small area, such as behind the ear or along the jawline.
  • Do it morning and evening for five to seven days, in the same spot.
  • If it turns red, itches, stings or gets bumpy – stop, and don't use the product on your face.
  • No reaction? Start using it on your whole face, but wait a couple of weeks before trying the next new product.
03

Less is more – for real

  • Lukewarm water, not hot.
  • Pat, don't rub. Dry your face with a soft towel without pulling.
  • One new product at a time, a couple of weeks apart.
  • Go easy on acids and peels. They can be useful, but sensitive skin often tolerates less than the packaging suggests.
  • Read the ingredient list. Fragrance (parfum) and alcohol are common triggers.
04

Honest about our products

We want you to be able to choose what's right, even when that means choosing something other than us. So we'll say it plainly: all VÉNAT products contain fragrance, and Niacinamide Gel Moisturiser also contains alcohol high up in the ingredient list.

If you know your skin reacts to fragrance, our products are probably not the right choice for you right now. The full ingredient list for every product is on our Product information & ingredients page.

The ingredients

What to look for

Ingredients that support the barrier and usually suit reactive skin – and where to find them in our range.

Plant-based ceramide lipids

Resemble the skin's own lipids and are part of the barrier's mortar.

Found in: Velvet Barrier Cream

Shea butter

Softens and helps the skin retain moisture.

Found in: Velvet Barrier Cream

Chamomile

A classic botanical used in skincare for its soothing feel.

Found in: Velvet Cleansing Oil-to-Milk

Zinc oxide

A mineral UV filter that is usually well tolerated, even by reactive skin.

Found in: Luminous Defence SPF 50
YOUR VÉNAT RITUAL

A simple routine for sensitive skin

Start with as few products as possible. Only add the next one once your skin has adjusted.

Evening

Cleanse gently

Lukewarm water and a mild cleanser that rinses off without leaving skin tight. Don't rub – let your fingertips do the work.

Velvet Cleansing Oil-to-Milk
Evening

Strengthen the barrier

A cream with plant-based lipids helps the skin retain moisture overnight.

Velvet Barrier Cream
Morning

Protect

Sunscreen every day. Mineral filters such as zinc oxide are often a good choice for reactive skin.

Luminous Defence SPF 50

Myths about sensitive skin

Myth

Natural ingredients are always gentler.

The facts

Essential oils and plant extracts can be just as irritating as synthetic substances. What matters is the ingredient and the amount, not where it comes from.

Myth

If it stings, it's working.

The facts

Stinging is a sign that the skin is irritated, not that the product is working. Rinse it off and stop using it.

Myth

Sensitive skin can't tolerate sunscreen.

The facts

Sunscreen is extra important for sensitive skin. If chemical filters tend to sting, a mineral sunscreen may be worth trying.

VÉNAT RECOMMENDS

Gentle care for sensitive skin

Patch test first and start with one product. Remember that all our products contain fragrance.

VÉNAT Velvet Barrier Cream – nattkräm med ceramider, 50 ml ↗
VÉNAT

Velvet Barrier Cream

€31,95

Night cream with plant-based ceramide lipids and shea butter. Contains fragrance.

SHOP PRODUCT →
VÉNAT Velvet Cleansing Oil-to-Milk – mild ansiktsrengöring, 150 ml ↗
VÉNAT

Velvet Cleansing Oil-to-Milk

€25,95

Mild cleanser that rinses off without leaving skin tight. Contains fragrance.

SHOP PRODUCT →

Common questions about sensitive skin

Am I allergic or just sensitive?

It's hard to tell on your own. Irritation often comes on quickly and passes when you stop using the product. An allergic reaction may not appear until a day or two later and comes back every time. If you react again and again, a doctor can do a patch test to find out which substance is responsible.

How long should I wait between new products?

At least two weeks. Allergic reactions can appear only after a few days, and the fewer changes at once, the easier it is to see what caused a reaction.

Where can I find the ingredient lists?

The full ingredient list (INCI) for every product is on our Product information & ingredients page and on the packaging. If the lists differ, the packaging always applies.

VÉNAT