3 Step Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

If you shop through these links, I receive a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I’ve recently started a new skincare routine that I really love! So today, I thought I would share my easy 3 step skincare routine for sensitive skin with you. A few of the products I use are not new, and I’ve shared them here on the blog in the past. However, I am using a great new over the counter product recommended by my dermatologist at my last visit.

On that note, if you’re having problems with sensitive skin, seeing a good dermatologist can be really helpful. It had been some years since I went to one and really wished I hadn’t waited so long to go back. I would have avoided much aggravation with my skin for the past several years.

I’ve also really simplified my skincare routine. I used to incorporate more products into my routine but stopped when I began to have lots of problems with the skin around my eyes, due to ocular rosacea. I also have problems with minor acne at times, again due to rosacea. And I must say that as a woman now in her 50’s, I pretty fed up with dealing with pimples that started as a teenager! I’m very hopeful that consistency with this routine will keep those away.

With the exception of the second step, this is my skincare routine for both morning and evening.

Step 1 – Cleanse Your Face Properly

CeraVe products are dermatologist recommended and are great for sensitive skin. I’ve been using the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for years. I use the one for normal to oily skin, and it’s the perfect gentle cleanser for my combination/oily skin. My skin feels clean after using it but not dry. CeraVe also makes a face foaming cleanser for normal/dry skin too.

I use this cleanser morning and evening. It’s what I wash my makeup off with in the evening too. I’m very gentle with my skin when cleansing it. I gently use my fingertips to lather up my face. Then, I splash my face with water to wash away the cleanser, dirt, and makeup. I can’t use harsh brushes or washcloths anymore to cleanse my face.

To contain the mess with splashing my face, I’ve been using the following products for many months. They work very well!

To keep my hair from getting soaked, I pull it back with these face washing headbands. They work great!

Since I would always have to wipe up water that trickled down arms and cabinet, I decided to try these wrist bands. Problem solved!

For cleansing my eyelids or removing eye makeup, I’ll use the CeraVe cleanser along with these eye wipes if needed. I’ll also sometimes remove eye makeup with coconut oil which seems to help soothe my ocular rosacea lately. Otherwise, I might clean them with only water and these soft cotton pads if not wearing eye makeup. You can read about more tips on applying makeup and caring for sensitive eyes in this post.

Step 2 – Apply a Retinoid and Any Prescription Medication

Specifically, I apply Differin gel to my face as directed by my dermatologist. It’s an over the counter acne medicine, but this retinoid also helps with fine lines and wrinkles. My mother-in-law actually raved to me about this product! She loved it for dramatically fading dark spots. However, I was scared to try it.

Typically, I’ve been told in the past not to use retinoids since I have very sensitive skin. Yet, it’s been hard not to want to try one for my fine lines since retinol/retinoids prove to be really effective. I started using this one sparingly at one point. It was super gentle, but for whatever reason, I stopped using it. Plus, I don’t recall it being as nearly effective as the Differin gel.

Differin is truly different! It’s works much well for sensitive skin, and I already notice a difference in the appearance of my skin.

I only apply Differin in the evening before bed. I have a prescription medication for my rosacea that I apply in the mornings after I cleanse my face.

Step 3 – Apply Moisturizer

The last very important step in my easy 3 step skincare routine is to apply moisturizer. I mainly apply it to my neck, cheeks, and around my eyes. I simply use CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. It’s a great total body cream for dry skin in general.

While I’ve used other great moisturizers in the past, my sensitive skin seems to tolerate the CeraVe moisturizer very well. And in recent years, the skin around my eyes will only tolerate this moisturizer other than maybe coconut oil. So, it’s an easy all in one product!

Dealing with sensitive skin can be very difficult. I’ve found using less products is definitely better. Plus, it definitely makes your skincare routine easy and efficient.