Ingredients That Minimize Skin Irritation on Yahoo! Health

Sensitive skin types often feel like they're engaged in a life-long struggle to find effective products that won't irritate their skin.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Trial and error is actually a risky proposition for sensitive types, as one wrong product can start a cycle of inflammation that's hard to stop. Smart skin care shopping is the key.

First, look for anti-inflammatory ingredients:

Feverfew: You can find this herb in Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser and Moisturizing Cream, for example.
Chamomile: Recognized for its therapeutic properties since 500 B.C., chamomile is still a go-to anti-inflammatory in products like The Art of Shaving Eye Gel, Darphin Chamomile Aromatic Care, and Osmotics Calming Cleansing Milk.
Aloe Vera: Most associated with soothing sunburns and cuts, aloe can also help treat chronic redness and inflammation. Look for this popular ingredient in products like Korres Aloe Vera After Sun Body Milk, Peter Thomas Roth Aloe Tonic Mist, and Sea and Ski Aloe After Sun Therapy.
Licochalcone: Look for this licorice root extract in the Eucerin Redness Relief line. Other forms of licorice extract can be found in products like BABOR Calming Sensitive Night Cream.
Caffeine: La Roche Posay's Rosaliac Anti-Redness Moisturizer includes both caffeine and niacinamide, and is particularly effective in minimizing rosacea symptoms. Topix Replenix Cream CF contains green tea and caffeine.
Niacinamide: An effective treatment for inflammation and hyperpigmentation, niacinamide is a good option for sensitive pigmented types. The Olay Total Effects and Nia24 lines contain niacinamide.

Sulfur can soothe redness associated with rosacea and acne. Peter Thomas Roth's Sulfur Cooling Masque and DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask are good options.

Antioxidants, like vitamins C and E and green tea, are effective alternatives to other wrinkle-prevention ingredients that may be too harsh for very sensitive skin (like alpha hydroxy acids and retinols, for example). Look for them in topical products (I like facial serums, like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic) and add them to your diet, too.

When it comes to sun protection, physical sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (Solbar Shield Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40 and Blue Lizard baby sunscreen, for example) are better than chemical sunscreens, which may cause a burning sensation in sensitive skin.

Wishing you great skin!

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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, " The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.