We often hear people say, “My skin is sensitive,” especially when it flares up with redness, burning, or breakouts.
But what if what you’re calling “sensitive” is actually sensitized or reactive skin?
Understanding the difference is the first step toward choosing the right skincare and caring for your skin with more intention.
1. Sensitive Skin – You're Born With It
Sensitive skin is a genetic skin type. If you have it, you likely have a thinner skin barrier, which naturally allows more irritants in and lets more hydration escape.
Common Signs:
- Redness or flushing
- Burning or stinging with certain products
- Skin feels tight or dry often
- Prone to broken capillaries or rosacea
Sensitive skin is a lifelong condition, but it can be managed well with the right products - those have safe fragrances, are minimal, and are formulated with barrier-supporting ingredients.
2. Sensitised Skin – You Developed It
Sensitized skin is not a skin type - it’s a condition caused by external triggers that damage your skin barrier, like pollution, over-exfoliation, harsh products, sun exposure, or stress.
Common Signs:
- Sudden redness, flaking, or inflammation
- Your regular skin care starts burning or tingling
- Skin feels raw or stripped
- Sensitivity that wasn’t always there
The good news? Sensitized skin is reversible. Once the triggers are removed and your barrier is repaired with gentle, hydrating ingredients, your skin can return to its normal state.
3. Reactive Skin – Your Skin Over-Responds
Reactive skin responds intensely and instantly to triggers, whether it's skincare, food, temperature, or emotional stress. It may or may not be linked to sensitive skin.
Common Signs:
- Sudden rashes
- Burning, itching, or stinging on product application
- Flare-ups caused by emotions or weather changes
- Overreaction to even “gentle” formulas
Reactive skin needs calming, anti-inflammatory care, and sometimes even professional support - especially in cases of allergies or dermatitis.
Can You Have All Three? Yes, and many people do.
Here's How:
- You’re born with sensitive skin
- You sensitize it by overusing strong actives or unsuitable products
- That damage makes your skin reactive, flaring up with almost anything you apply
How We Approach This at Evermore
We formulate our cactus-based skincare with this exact spectrum in mind:
- For sensitive skin, we keep our ingredients minimal and non-irritating
- For sensitized skin, we use cooling, healing actives like cactus and plant-based humectants
- For reactive skin, we avoid common triggers - like artificial fragrance, alcohol, and overloaded actives - entirely
Because at the end of the day, your skin doesn’t need to be “stronger.” It just needs to be heard.