1. Always test first, then apply second

“If you have sensitive skin, always test a small amount of the new product on the inside of your arm overnight,” Shari Lipner, M.D., a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, says ,“If you do not react in the morning, then it is safe to apply it to your face.”

When using a new product for the first time, always do a test run on a small patch of skin before applying and then wait 24 hours for signs of irritation, redness, or any other skin flare-ups.

If you're nervous and unsure about using the product on your face as well, then do another test on your jawline and wait another 24 hours to see if there is a reaction.

2. Use as few products at a time, with as few ingredients as possible

The fewer the products and the fewer the ingredients mean there is less chance to react to something when doing a skincare routine. A skincare routine should be as simple as just using a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

3. Always read labels, read the ingredients list

The best way to manage your sensitive skin is to identify and avoid the ingredients that trigger your sensitivity.

Some of the most common irritants for skin are fragrances, dyes, and preservatives such as parabens. 

Look for products that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and without dyes or parabens. 

4. Avoid over-washing or over-exfoliating your face

Skin can do a surprisingly good job of staying clean naturally without the need for intense skin care products. Over-washing can strip away all of the important proteins and lipids apart of your face.

Those with sensitive skin should avoid over-exfoliating to protect the protective layer of the skin.

Wash wisely and be gentle with your skin. Choose a cleanser that is formulated for sensitive skin and blot dry. Try to avoid scrubbing and rubbing. 

5. Introduce new products to your routine slowly

Limit your use of the new product to just a few nights a week at first. If your skin is able to tolerate the new product for a few weeks, then slowly increase the frequency to every other night and then eventually to every night.

6. Exercise SPF smarts

Sensitive skin is also sensitive to the sun. Wearing sunscreen year-round with SPF 30 or higher will help to protect your skin from UV rays. Sunscreens with physical active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are less likely to cause a reaction than chemical sunscreens, like oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate.