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If you have sensitive skin, you're probably well aware at this point that not all skin-care ingredients will benefit your complexion. In fact, harsher actives (we're talking about you, retinol) can actually cause more harm than good. We can go on with the laundry list of additives that easily-irritated skin types should avoid, but that's for another time. As for what you can use, oatmeal skin-care products should be on your radar to soothe your skin's most irritable moments.
According to Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, colloidal oatmeal is one of the best ingredients for calming irritation and redness on the skin. "Colloidal oatmeal is produced by grinding the oat into a fine powder and boiling it to extract the colloidal material," she says. "It's a natural complex of lipids, proteins, peptides, and starches that soothe, nourish, and moisturize the skin."
As if that's not enough to convince you of colloidal oatmeal's skin-nourishing properties, Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Birmingham, Alabama, previously told Allure that this ingredient has anti-inflammatory properties when used as a topical treatment that gives agitated, itchy skin sweet relief. "Colloidal oatmeal is one of a family of centuries-old topical treatments for a variety of skin-barrier conditions including dry skin, contact dermatitis, and eczema," he said. “It is a natural product with an excellent safety record that works through anti-inflammatory pathways.”
Now that you're filled in on all things colloidal oatmeal, it's time to soothe your skin irritation with these dryness-defying essentials. Below, take a gander at some of the best oatmeal-infused skin-care essentials that'll make you feel softer, smoother, and suppler than ever.
One of Dr. King's top choices for soothing irritated, dry skin is Vaseline's Intensive Care Sensitive Skin Relief Lotion. Not only is it super affordable, but it's also loaded with moisture-replenishing skin saviors like colloidal oatmeal and glycerin. Dr. King also notes that this formula contains emollients like shea butter and sunflower seed oil to support the skin barrier and occlusives like petrolatum to lock in moisture.
The next time you hop in your shower, Dr. King suggests lathering up with the SheaMoisture Oatmeal and Vitamin E Soothing Body Wash. As its name suggests, the star ingredients in this formula are soothing colloidal oatmeal and conditioning antioxidant vitamin E, two ingredients she says are ideal for dry skin types.
The Gold Bond Eczema Relief Body Lotion is another Dr. King-approved pick that you'll definitely love as much as she does. This rich body lotion contains nourishing colloidal oatmeal along with aloe vera and vitamin E to replenish and lock in much-needed moisture. It's also worth noting that this formula has a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, so those with this skin condition can slather this on freely.
The Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer is an affordable fan favorite for its skin-calming formula, which includes a hefty daily dose of soothing colloidal oatmeal as well as herbal feverfew extract for added moisture retention.
Toners are known for their ability to exfoliate dead skin cells, but sometimes these over-the-counter astringents can be too intense. That's where First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner steps in: it utilizes the benefits of oatmeal along with hydrating hyaluronic acid and conditioning honey to soften and plump skin without irritating it in the process.
The Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer is such a wonderful, sensitive skin-friendly pick that even Dr. King swears by it. She notes that this formula is infused with a slew of complexion-boosting ingredients that are suitable for easily-irritated skin types, including glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, aloe vera, allantoin, and oils derived from rosehip, camellia, and sunflower seed. But wait, that's not all. "It also contains skin-firming peptides, lactic acid to gently balance excess oil, and is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C," Dr. King adds.
Wash a day's worth of sweat, oil, and makeup down the drain without over-stripping skin of moisture with the Murad Soothing Oat and Peptide Cleanser. As you may expect from its name, this mild face wash is infused with calming colloidal oatmeal and firming peptides to make skin look and feel its best after each cleanse.
Your delicate undereyes and lids deserve some extra love, so nourish this area of skin with the Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm. Along with moisturizing ceramides, this eye balm is spiked with avena sativa (as in, the scientific name for oat) kernel oil and vitamin F to intensively moisturize skin, leaving it silky-smooth and less puffy.
We won't beat around the bush; the Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator is an Allure Best of Beauty winner, so you know it must be good if it earned our highest accolade. This exfoliant feels oh-so-cooling on skin as it transforms from an oatmeal-based powder that gently polishes away excess oil and dead skin flakes to a foamy, soothing lather.
The Inkey List's Oat Cleansing Balm is another Best of Beauty winner that we constantly turn back to when our skin is feeling particularly irritable. This colloidal oatmeal-based blend replenishes much-needed moisture as it melts away stubborn makeup, dirt, and oil from your skin.
When your skin is feeling especially dry, it's time to whip out the no-fuss Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream. This lightweight balm-to-cream doesn't have an oily sheen like richer formulas do, yet it still supplies the same skin-moisturizing benefits, all thanks to colloidal oatmeal and glycerin.
Light as a serum yet as intensively moisturizing as a face cream, the Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum is essential for plumper, dewier skin. Its weightless formula drenches skin in conditioning, soothing powerhouses like hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and cica.
Don't let its airy texture fool you, because the KraveBeauty Oat So Simple Water Cream is a true moisturizing wonder. Its ultralight, gel-cream formula features colloidal oatmeal paired with moisture-sealing squalane to create your supplest complexion yet.
Exfoliants can be scary to sensitive skin types, but we promise that Naturopathica's Oat Cleansing Facial Polish will only enhance your skin. It's one of the gentlest skin polishers on the market, thanks to the addition of moisture-replenishing oat protein and ultra-mild, jojoba oil-based polishing beads.
As its name suggests, the Kinship Self Smooth 10% Glycolic Resurfacing Serum does contain glycolic acid, a usually-intense alpha hydroxy acid. But don't let that intimidate you too much, because as this powerful AHA does its exfoliating job, oat extract works overtime to ensure your skin doesn't become inflamed or irritated in the process.
Read more about our favorite sensitive skin-care products:
- 17 Bakuchiol Products for Those Seeking a Gentle Retinol Alternative
- 16 Best Barrier Repair Products to Replenish Dry, Damaged Skin
- 17 Fragrance-Free Products That Deserve a Spot in Your Beauty Regimen
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