The best ways to care for dry, easily irritated skin

Dryness, tightness, redness, itching. If these are problems your skin has to face every day, then you probably have “atopic” skin.

The characteristics of atopic skin are similar to those of sensitive skin, but you need to be even more gentle with atopic skin, and use products packed with active ingredients that will help to relieve itching. If you suffer from atopic skin, take a few tips from Absolution and learn the best ways to take care of it.  

Your skin is your first line of defense against environmental aggressors, such as the cold, UV rays, germs, and urban pollution. And this means that your skin has to cope with a lot! But sometimes, this is all too much, and it seems impossible to make your skin feel comfortable or look beautiful. If you suffer from atopic skin (i.e. skin that tends to react to the slightest little thing), it means that your skin is unable to act as an effective protective barrier. This makes it more sensitive to environmental stresses, which may immediately trigger redness, feelings of tightness and discomfort, and prickling sensations, often accompanied by an intense desire to scratch. But if you do give in and scratch, your skin will feel even more uncomfortable, and you could be left with painful lesions.   

The hydrolipidic film of atopic skin – much like that of sensitive skin – is unbalanced. It lacks either water or oil, and sometimes both. It’s essential to take preventative steps as soon as the first signs of discomfort appear, in order to care for and soothe the skin. Put your trust in nature and adopt a targeted beauty routine that will be gentle on your atopic skin, using certified-organic skincare products from Absolution.  

In order to restore your skin’s hydrolipidic film, you need to use the right products at every stage in your skincare routine, and that starts with removing makeup. Look for ultra-gentle formulas that contain soothing active ingredients, with comforting textures such as creams or balms. La Crème Douce Démaquillante and Le Baume Céleste are incredibly gentle and perfect for anyone who has atopic skin.  

La Crème Douce Démaquillante works to cleanse, remove makeup, soften, and restore even the most delicate skin. Formulated with active ingredients such as healing Aloe Vera, softening St John’s Wort and ultra-soothing Neroli hydrosol, it gives skin lots of TLC, making it particularly suitable for atopic skin types.  

To soothe your skin – and your mind! – try Le Baume Céleste! This oil-in-gel makeup remover contains Blue Tansy to care for skin that’s easily irritated or upset. Also known as Blue Chamomile, this ingredient has appeared in botanical pharmacopoeias for centuries, where it’s recommended for alleviating allergic reactions. When the leaves of Blue Tansy are distilled, they yield a blue-colored essential oil. This oil is rich in chamazulene – a compound known for its calming and soothing properties, able to provide immediate relief for atopic skin affected by the sun or the cold.  

Make sure you protect and hydrate your atopic skin by using skincare products rich in active ingredients that will support the skin barrier. La Crème Riche is enriched with Snow Mushroom, which has antioxidant and protective properties. This deeply nourishing cream works to comfort delicate skin, and plump skin subjected to harsh conditions. 

If your skin lacks water more than oil, opt for La Crème de Santé. This cream has a much lighter texture than La Crème Riche, but it still works well with atopic skin. The formula contains an extract of Hyssop – a plant that soothes sensitive and irritated skin and helps to prevent redness. If you want to make the texture a little richer, mix it with a facial oil such as Addiction, to create your own personalized skincare.  

Every day  

Atopic skin is already sensitive enough, so the last thing you want to do is to make it even more sensitive! Avoid taking baths or showers with very hot water, as this can weaken the hydrolipidic film, leading to itching and discomfort. And don’t forget to look after the skin of your body, too. Look for products with soothing formulas that are free of controversial ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, GMOs, and synthetic fragrances or colorants. Le Lavant Corps Doux will gently cleanse your body, while our organic body lotion, Le Lait Peau Douce, will leave your skin feeling beautifully soft.  

Remember to hydrate your skin from within. Drink plenty of water or herbal teas made with soothing plants that are good for the skin, such as Burdock or Wild Pansy. Watch your diet and try to eat foods that fight inflammation. Avoid fried or processed food, as well as refined sugars, and look for foods that contain essential fatty acids like omega 3, which can be found in “oily” fish such as salmon, sardine and mackerel. Last but not least, make sure you get enough sleep. While you sleep, your body repairs itself, and cell renewal is at its most active. This process is essential for soothing itching and improving the condition of your atopic skin. Your skin deserves to be comfortable. By caring for it the right way, it can be.