If you’ve been struggling to calm your sensitive skin with traditional sensitive skincare, it’s time to try something different. We’re about to introduce you to an entirely overlooked phenomenon. How anti-ageing skincare which uses a specific type of anti-ageing active can calm, soothe, repair and strengthen sensitive skin.
You probably haven’t used skincare like this before and that’s ok. Today we introduce you to a different way.
Why Anti-Ageing Skincare Helps Sensitive Skin
Ageing skin and sensitive skin share two factors in common. Firstly both are experiencing an increased level of inflammation. In ageing skin, dermatologists call this inflammageing. Invisible to the naked eye inflammation which is persistent, ongoing and chronic.
Sensitive skin is also prone to inflammation. Usually when skin is sensitive it means skin’s immune function is stimulated above normal levels. When skin’s immune function is active, it tries to heal by initiating inflammation in the same way as if skin has been bruised externally.
Secondly, both ageing and sensitive skin types have increased levels of free radical production and are hyper vulnerable to free radical attack. Free radicals are high energy particles able to stress and damage skin. They can be found in the environment and can also be made directly inside skin tissue.
If you’ve been wondering why your skin is so sensitive, this could be why. Called the ‘antioxidant system defect hypothesis’ the theory demonstrates how sensitive, reactive skin types have lower level of antioxidant protection. Antioxidants help to defend skin against free radical attack. Which means on exposure to stress whether internal or external, when in a state of antioxidant deficit, your sensitive skin reacts.
Anti-Ageing Sensitive Skin – Why It Helps
While there is an appropriate age to start using anti-ageing skincare, we argue sensitive skin is an exception for a particular class of anti-ageing actives known as polyphenols.
Polyphenols are potent free radical scavengers meaning they mop up high energy free radical particles before they have an opportunity to damage skin. When used regularly in skincare polyphenols can help to prevent and reduce inflammation and redness while also helping to repair existing skin damage. This is why and how anti-ageing sensitive skincare can help rescue a sensitive skin type.
How to find polyphenols in your skincare
Ever wondered how plants can stay out all day in direct sunshine and not wilt or die? Potent antioxidant polyphenols are at play here. Natural antioxidants which even in tiny amounts help to prevent damage, defend against free radical attack and preserve a plants integral ability to stay green and to retain water.
These same plant extracts can be found in skincare where precious polyphenols are absorbed through skin. Plants like centella asiatica (used in our Centella Asiatica Facial Mask), green tea, pomegranate and grapes are all high in polyphenol actives.
Some of the most precious polyphenols in these plant extracts go by the name of ferulic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid. These are some of the best polyphenols for skin. Have you heard of them? These anti-ageing actives may be able to help heal and repair your sensitive skin where other actives have failed.
Try out a dose of topical polyphenols in our new Centella Asiatica Facial Mask – get it here.
