I recently noticed that a lot of the new skincare I've been trialling is designed for sensitive and reactive skin. And while I wouldn’t class my skin as sensitive (although it is prone to breakouts, so you could call it sensitive by definition), I’ve really enjoyed trialling these products on shoots and on myself. Here's a quick round up - they're all great for keeping sensitive skin (or skin that's generally feeling tight, irritated, red or uncomfortable) soothed, calm, and gently hydrated...

The cleanser: La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Water Gel
I believe cleansers should be as simple and as gentle as possible, while removing makeup thoroughly. I like micellar waters as they cleanse quickly but feel soothing, and use La Roche-Posay’s Physiological Micellar Solution a lot. This new Micellar Water Gel works in the same way but is gel, rather than water, meaning you can massage it in to help dislodge dirt and makeup (of course, if your skin is very reactive then make sure you massage gently so you don't aggravate your skin).

Like the original Micellar Solution, you can use the gel without water and remove it with a tissue or cotton wool, but I prefer to rinse it off. It removes makeup well and leaves skin feeling really clean but not stripped. You can also use it on damp skin, so it's a good, gentle cleanser for the bath or shower.

The moisturiser: Bioderma Sensibio Tolerance+
I used this moisturiser one morning when my skin was a little red - it felt really soothing and reduced most of the redness quite quickly, so it’s perfect to keep in my kit for those shoots when I’m suddenly faced with a tired/stressed/red-faced model!

The lotion contains acetyl tetrapeptide-15, a peptide which helps to decrease redness and inflammation, strengthen the skin's barrier (to make it less reactive) and soothe tightness and discomfort. It also contains sodium PCA, a natural humectant which hydrates skin. I personally like lightweight moisturisers that don’t feel like they’re going to clog my pores, so this very light lotion is perfect for me. It absorbs quickly and dries to a matte, almost velvety finish that’s great under makeup.

The mask: Racinne Delicare Soothing Mask
I love face masks and use them regularly, adapting them to my skin’s current needs. I tried these masks from Korean brand Racinne when my skin was feeling dehydrated after a string of long-haul flights and late night shoots. Each mask comes in a single sachet (12 per box), good for my kit or if you travel a lot. They contain a hexapeptide called delisens which helps to calm sensitive skin by interrupting and breaking the chemical process that causes inflammation. There's also shea butter and almond oil to soothe and hydrate. 

The masks have a very thick, cold cream-like texture which you apply to clean, dry skin and leave on for as long as you can (the cream should sink in a bit). There’s enough product in each sachet to apply a generous layer all over your face, down your neck and onto your chest if you need the hydration. I rinsed it off after an hour or so as my combination, spot-prone skin isn’t great with heavy creams (so I would only use this when my skin is feeling especially dehydrated), but if your skin is very dry you could tissue off any excess and rub the rest in for an extra intense hydrating treatment (N.B. the masks are available in the UK and US from mid-July, and are on Racinne's Canadian site here).

Let me know if you’ve tried any of the above, and what other products you use to soothe sensitive skin, in the comments.

To see more of my favourite skincare products, watch My Current Skin Regime (Updated) film below…