A Gentle Touch

Sponsored by: FarmHouse Fresh

It might seem like every guest lately has sensitive skin. But how do you know if it is actually sensitivity? Your guest could have rosacea, inflamed acne, or overstressed skin. Redness is a common issue with all three of these conditions. Their sensitivity may also present as swollen skin, burning, itching, dry patches, rashes, and hives. Knowing the key triggers and signs of skin sensitivity could help guide your treatments and long-term care for your clients. 

What Qualifies as Sensitive Skin?

Skin sensitivity is defined as a sensory reaction. It can be triggered by environmental factors (heat, wind, moisture, cold), other external factors (such as contact with an allergen in a topical product or consuming spicy food), or internal factors (such as stress). Skin sensitivity is also more prevalent when clients have specific disorders affecting the skin, like acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis.¹

Although some guests may consider their skin type to be sensitive, skin sensitivity may present with all skin types: oily, dry, normal, and combination skin. You may come across a guest who presents with skin sensitivity one visit and no sensitivity during another visit, depending on their exposure to potential triggers. 

Identifying Sensitive Skin in the Treatment Room 

First, determine what the actual condition or issue is that the client is experiencing. Your consultation is the first step. Perform your consultation using a mag lamp for a thorough skin analysis once the guest is comfortable on the facial table. Ask your guest what symptoms they are experiencing and what their skin care routine is. Look at all areas of the face and feel the texture of the skin as you go. Do you notice redness occurring when you touch the skin? 

As you examine their skin, consider the following conditions that present with skin sensitivity: 

• Rosacea will appear as flushing on the face with enlarged blood vessels and small, pus-filled bumps. 
• Acne will present as clogged pores that can be inflamed and pus-filled pimples or large, tender
• red bumps. 
• Overstressed skin can result from too many treatments or the application of products that are not the right choice for a skin type. This may present as dry, flaky patches, inflammation, or breakouts. 

So, how do you successfully treat these guests? It’s important to be mindful of the factors that might trigger their skin. Ask your guest for their known triggers before creating your treatment plan. Be sure to consider the ingredients in the products you select, looking for any harsh ingredients that could cause their skin to react and any calming ingredients that could aid in soothing an active skin reaction. Select FarmHouse Fresh facial products can be used for a custom, results-driven treatment that soothes, hydrates, and provides redness relief. Posttreatment, follow up with your client to see how their skin reacted. Continue to monitor their sensitivity and adjust their suggested at-home routines and professional services as their skin starts to experience more relief. 

FarmHouse Fresh

Redness Relief Facial Protocol

Step 1

Begin by massaging Make It Melt Silky Milk Cleansing Balm into the face, neck, and décolletage, transforming the balm into an oil to break up dirt, oil, and makeup. Dip your fingers in warm water, then slide them over the oil to turn it into a milky foaming lather. 

Step 2

Perform a second cleanse with Green Tea Milk Wash using circular motions. Remove with facial sponges.

Step 3

Apply Timescape Micromazing Renewing Facial Polish with your fingertips to exfoliate and transform the skin for 2 minutes. Remove with facial sponges.

Step 4 

Mist the client’s skin with Vitamin Berry Facial Tonic to refresh and hydrate the skin. Spray in a V formation just above the client and allow it to fall over the skin. 

Step 5 

Using a facial brush, spread Matcha Purity Calm & Clear Purification Mask from the décolletage up to the forehead, skipping the cheek area. Rinse your brush and apply Bluephoria Super Moisture Mask to the cheek area. Leave the masks on for 10–15 minutes. During this time, perform a massage with chilled facial globes in light, circular movements. Remove the masks with facial sponges and mist again with Vitamin Berry Facial Tonic. 

Step 6 

Apply Hyaluronic Booster from the décolletage up to the forehead using light, effleurage movements. Apply Green Fixer Calming Elixir over the booster using the same movements.

If redness is still visible, use the facial globes again in light, circular movements.

Step 7 

Apply Stunning Dawn Brightening Eye Cream in three dots above the brow bone and three dots below the eye, then blend using a figure-eight movement. If your guest is puffy around the eye area, perform a brief massage with facial globes around the eye area.

Step 8 

Apply Fields of Green Organic Matcha Moisturizer followed by Elevated Shade 100% Mineral Sunscreen with light, effleurage movements until thoroughly absorbed. Complete the facial by applying Bluephoria Lip Therapy. 

Note

1. Ida Duarte et al., “Sensitive Skin: Review of an Ascending Concept,” Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 92, no. 4 (July-August 2017): 521–5, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5595600.