It’s a tale as old as time: a female protagonist sporting dishevelled hair and a nonchalant attitude towards her appearance is rushed into the arms of the best in the beauty industry, who somehow wields the power to miraculously transform their entire appearance—whilst on a time crunch. Indeed, as far as the pop culture makeover goes, there are some that have been forever committed to memory. From Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries to Agent Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality, these notoriously ‘shabby’ female leads undergo intense hours of deep cleansing, a crazy amount of make-up and all kinds of hair treatments. And whilst the notable impact often comes as a result of the latter two, perhaps it is the former which has earned the heart of the zeitgeist in recent years.
Why so? For as the ‘everything shower’ movement takes over TikTok, the boom in body care has consequently followed. In today’s beauty conversations, knowing your toners, moisturisers and sunscreens are considered to be basic knowledge but what the girlies really want to know is how you keep the rest of your body in tip-top condition. This calls for in-depth shower routines that include everything from deep-conditioning hair masks one would apply before everything else to exfoliating body scrubs and post-shower serums and oils.
Whilst the essence of body care is ensuring every single nook and crevice of one’s holy ground is well taken care of, the rise in interest has undeniably also led to an increased consciousness about the formulations we’re slathering the rest of our skin in. And as the experts would have you know, the idea of ‘sensitive skin’ also extends to the areas well beyond your countenance. With the above parameters in mind, we’ve consulted the wisdom of Dr Stephanie Ho, a dermatologist and skin specialist, to advise on what ingredients to look out for and avoid in your body care for those with sensitive skin.
How do I know if my skin is sensitive to certain body care products?
Sensitivity to body gels and washes may occur even if there is no underlying history of eczema or psoriasis. Symptoms and signs of sensitivity commonly include redness, dryness, itching, or a burning sensation after using a particular product.
If there are concerns about sensitivity to certain products, visit your dermatologist who can perform patch testing to look for allergic contact dermatitis to common allergens in products that we use daily.
What are the ingredients to avoid in body care if I have sensitive skin?
Some of the common ingredients to avoid would include:
Sulfates
For example, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These are foaming agents found in cleansers that may disrupt the skin barrier and cause symptoms of sensitivity.
Fragrances
It’s a common allergen that triggers an allergic contact dermatitis or allergic reaction in individuals who are sensitive to fragrances. Look for products labelled as “fragrance-free” whenever possible.
Parabens
These are preservatives commonly found in skincare products. Some people may be allergic or sensitive to parabens so looking for a “parabens-free” product is helpful.
Alcohol
It can be drying and harsh to the skin, and may cause an irritant contact dermatitis when used for prolonged periods.
Lanolin
Derived from sheep’s wool, it’s an emollient with moisturising properties to combat dry skin and hair. However, some individuals can be allergic to wool and hence develop allergic contact symptoms such as redness, itching, inflammation and blisters after using products containing lanolin.
Chemical sunscreens
Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients such as oxybenzone and avobenzone which can be irritating for individuals with sensitive skin. We would encourage the use of physical sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in sensitive individuals and young children instead.
Are body loofahs safe for sensitive skin? Are there alternatives?
Body loofahs are physical exfoliators that can be drying and harsh for sensitive skin, and best avoided. Individuals with sensitive skin are better off using gentle cleansers with a soft washcloth to preserve the skin barrier and minimise irritation.
Below, a Vogue-approved product round-up of body care for sensitive skin.
1 / 7
Shower gels: Ceradan Advanced Emollient Wash, $32.70
Available at National Skin Centre.
2 / 7
Shower gels: QV Intensive Moisturising Cleanser, $30.40
Available at Fairprice.
3 / 7
Shower gels: Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Soothing Body Wash Very Dry Skin, $22
Available at LookFantastic.
4 / 7
Body serums: LaRoche-Posay Lip Kar Balm, $26.60
Available at Shopee.
5 / 7
Body serums: Suu Balm Rapid Itch Relieving Moisturiser, $23.90 Cream
Available at Watsons.
6 / 7
Body oils: Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil, $32.66
Available at Care To Beauty.
7 / 7
Body oils: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray, $17.50
Available at LookFantastic.
