How to Build a Simple Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin (No Guesswork)

If you’ve got sensitive skin, advice online can make you feel as if you’re doing everything wrong. One person swears you need a ten-step routine, another says you should stop using products altogether. Meanwhile your skin is still tight, uncomfortable, and reacting to things that used to be fine.

In most cases, sensitive skin responds best to a routine that’s deliberately simple. Not “lazy” - just calm. Fewer steps means fewer chances to set your skin off. And once things feel stable, you can decide whether you want to add anything else. You might not.

What sensitive skin tends to look like

Sensitive skin isn’t one fixed “type”. It’s more like a tendency to react. That can show up as stinging when you apply products, redness that flares easily, tightness after washing, or patches of dryness that seem to appear overnight. Sometimes you’ll also notice your skin behaving differently week to week, which is frustrating but common.

Often, what’s going on underneath is a stressed skin barrier. When your barrier’s not happy, moisture escapes more easily and products that should feel normal suddenly start to sting.

The simple routine that suits most sensitive skin

A basic routine doesn’t need to be clever. It needs to be repeatable.

Evening: cleanse gently, then moisturise
Morning: rinse (or a very gentle cleanse if you need it), then moisturise, then sunscreen

That’s the core. Everything else is optional.

Cleansing: less is usually more

If your face feels “squeaky clean” after washing, that’s rarely a good thing. For a lot of people with sensitive skin, cleansing once a day (in the evening) is enough. In the morning, a lukewarm rinse can do the job.

Temperature and technique matter more than people think. Lukewarm water, hands rather than abrasive cloths, and patting dry instead of rubbing can reduce irritation all by themselves.

Moisturiser: apply it like you mean it

Moisturiser tends to work better when your skin is still slightly damp, because you’re helping it hold on to that water. You don’t need a huge amount - just enough to leave your skin comfortable. If you’re shiny and sticky, it’s probably too much. If you’re tight five minutes later, it may not be enough, or you may need a slightly richer option.

What about sunscreen?

If sunscreen is a problem step for you (stinging, pilling, feeling heavy), don’t try to fix it by adding more products. Start from a calm base - cleanser and moisturiser you tolerate - then trial sunscreens slowly.

One simple trick is to moisturise first, give it a few minutes, and then apply the sunscreen gently. If your under-eye area is reactive, avoid that zone at first and build up as your skin settles.

Patch testing, but in a way you’ll actually do

Patch testing can be quick. Try a small amount along the jawline or behind the ear once a day for a few days. If it stings and keeps stinging, or you get itching or bumps, it’s a sign to pause. If it’s fine, introduce it to the full face more gradually rather than going all in at once.

If you’re mid-flare

When your skin is already angry, it’s not the time for new ingredients or “fixes”. Strip it back to the simplest version: gentle cleansing in the evening and moisturiser morning and night. Give it time to calm down before you bring anything else back.

Our approach is built around comfort and barrier support, so if Serengeti Extreme suits your skin, keep it as your steady moisturising step and stop switching things around. The biggest difference usually comes from consistency.