What’s the Difference and How to Care for Both

If your skin often feels tight, red, itchy, or irritated — you’re not alone. More and more people today are struggling with skin that reacts to everything. But what many don’t realise is that there’s a difference between having sensitive skin and sensitised skin. Understanding that difference can help you choose the right products and get your skin back to a calm, balanced state.

At Skin Virtue, we design skincare specifically for sensitive, sensitised, ageing, and problem-prone skin. This guide is here to help you better understand what’s going on with your skin — and how to care for it gently and effectively.

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What Is Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin is something you're born with. It’s a skin type, just like oily or dry skin.

People with true sensitive skin often have:

• Fair or fine-textured skin
• Conditions like rosacea, eczema, or dermatitis
• A tendency to flush easily or react to temperature, stress, or strong products
• A skin barrier that’s naturally thin or fragile

If this sounds like you, you’ve probably struggled with skin discomfort for most of your life. Sensitive skin needs extra care and ingredients that soothe, support, and strengthen — without causing further irritation.

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What Is Sensitised Skin?

Sensitised skin, on the other hand, is a condition, not a skin type — and the good news is, it’s reversible.

Sensitised skin happens when your skin’s barrier is damaged. This could be due to:

• Overusing exfoliants or strong actives
• Using harsh or drying cleansers
• Pollution and environmental stress
• Stress or hormonal changes
• Professional treatments that were too intense

Sensitised skin can happen to anyone — even people who don’t usually think of their skin as sensitive. It often shows up as redness, tingling, tightness, flaking, or sudden breakouts, especially after trying a new product.

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Signs Your Skin Barrier Is Struggling

Whether you have sensitive or sensitised skin, the symptoms can feel very similar:

• Redness or blotchiness
• Itching or stinging
• Dry patches or flaking
• Tightness after cleansing
• Burning or discomfort when applying skincare
• Breakouts or rashes from previously well-tolerated products

All of these can point to one thing: a weakened skin barrier.

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So What Is the Skin Barrier, Exactly?

Think of your skin barrier like a brick wall. The skin cells are the bricks, and natural fats (like ceramides, cholesterol, and lipids) are the mortar holding them together.

When your barrier is healthy, it keeps moisture in and irritants out. But when it’s compromised, your skin becomes vulnerable — letting in allergens, bacteria, and pollutants that cause inflammation.

This is why barrier repair is the most important step if your skin is flaring up.

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What to Do if Your Skin Is Reacting

If your skin suddenly feels irritated or extra sensitive, here’s what to do:

1. Simplify Your Routine

Cut back to the basics: cleanse, moisturise, and protect. Avoid actives like retinoids, strong exfoliants, and essential oils until your skin calms down.

2. Choose Barrier-Supportive Products

Look for skincare with ingredients that strengthen your skin and help it hold onto moisture.

Recommended ingredients:

• Niacinamide
• Squalane
• Panthenol
• Ceramides
• Hyaluronic acid
• Peptides

These are all used in our Pure Nourish and Future Advanced collections, specifically designed for fragile or inflamed skin.

3. Be Consistent

Give your skin time. A compromised barrier can take a few weeks to recover — but when it does, you’ll notice a big difference in how your skin looks and feels.

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The Best Routine for Sensitive or Sensitised Skin

Step 1: Cleanse Gently

Use a cleanser that’s low-foam and non-stripping. Harsh cleansers can strip away your skin’s natural oils, making sensitivity worse.

Try: Pure Nourish Cleanse — a replenishing formula with allergen-free fragrance and barrier-friendly actives.

Step 2: Moisturise and Replenish

Hydration is key. Your moisturiser should be rich in lipids, calming ingredients, and humectants that hold onto water.

Try: Pure Nourish Moisturising Cream — hydrates, strengthens, and soothes.

Step 3: Add Targeted Protection

Protect your skin from pollution and stress with antioxidant-rich products.

Try: Pure Protect Pollution Defence — reinforces the barrier and defends against environmental damage.

Step 4: Ease In Actives (Later)

Once your skin has calmed, you can reintroduce gentle actives — like niacinamide, lactic acid, or peptides — slowly.

Try: Super Clear Clarifying Solution if you’re dealing with breakouts and sensitivity at the same time.

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What to Avoid If You Have Reactive Skin

It’s just as important to know what not to do. If your skin is in repair mode, avoid:

• Physical scrubs or gritty exfoliants
• Alcohol-based toners
• Essential oils or fragrance-heavy products (Skin Virtue uses allergen-free fragrance only)
• Over-layering products
• Long, hot showers

Stick to gentle, skin-supportive formulas and a less-is-more mindset.

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Sensitive vs Sensitised: Key Differences at a Glance

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How Skin Virtue Helps

Our products are designed with a Sensitive First philosophy — meaning they’re formulated to work in harmony with the most delicate skin. All our formulas are:

• Dermatologist-backed
• Free from parabens and common irritants
• Balanced with bioactive ingredients
• Designed to support long-term barrier health
• Safe for daily use on sensitive, ageing, and problem-prone skin

Whether your skin is naturally sensitive or temporarily sensitised, Skin Virtue offers a reliable solution.

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When to See a Skin Professional

If your skin continues to flare up despite a simplified, gentle routine — it might be time to consult with a skin therapist or dermatologist. Persistent inflammation can signal conditions like rosacea, perioral dermatitis, or contact allergies that need professional care.

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Final Thoughts

Your skin barrier is your skin’s greatest protector — and when it’s healthy, everything works better. Whether you’ve always had sensitive skin or you're going through a flare-up, the best thing you can do is listen to your skin and treat it with kindness.

Start with soothing, barrier-repairing products and give your skin the support it needs to reset.

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Call to Action

Ready to give your skin a fresh start?

Explore our Pure Nourish and Future Advanced collections, formulated for calm, healthy skin — no matter how sensitive it may be.

→ Shop the Sensitive Skin Range: www.skinvirtue.com.au/collections

→ Talk to our friendly team: team@skinvirtue.com or call 0298182054

Gary Williams, Author - Bio