Dr. Daniel Sugai Reviews Sensitive Skin: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why

"The one that has never irritated my skin or my patients is Aveeno's Therapeutic Shave Gel. This one is so good, so I give this to all my family members and friends as gifts. I throw this in the bag because this is so essential. This is such a great shaving gel and it's just soothing, never hurts the skin, never stings the skin, never irritates my skin. No added fragrance, and women can also use this too for shaving."

"Aveeno Skin Relief Healing Ointment just came out and is petrolatum free. It has shea butter, glycerin, and soothing oat. The oat technology in Aveeno is special because we've seen evidence in papers of oat being anti-inflammatory. It's soothing, great for those with atopic dermatitis and eczema. It's very soothing to those with cracked skin who have exposed nerves and they're very itchy or with pain. Oat will help soothe it. I've used this on my lips, I've used it on my hands and it does rub in well without that tacky feeling."

"Get Cicaplast, a rescue moisturizing balm that is so great. It has madecassoside, which is anti-inflammatory and soothing and helps with wound healing, and it also has panthenol, which is moisturizing as well as hydrating. I recommend this to use on the face, it's great as a barrier to protect from saliva pooling there and also helps soothe any irritation from the rash around the mouth. If it's still resistant despite using barrier creams or balms or ointments, then see your dermatologist. It can also be used as a diaper rash cream, so it's so versatile, you can use this on cuts, burns, contact dermatitis, and irritation on the behind for your babies."

"This really helped save me during the winter to spring months when my skin was feeling quite dry and irritated. This Korean skin care brand has gotten popular among my viewers and patients, and it's particularly good for those with dry skin, sensitive skin, or anyone who wants to repair their skin barrier any time of year. What stood out to me was the texture, it comes out thick but melts very quickly, so it doesn't linger or feel like it's bothering you. The formula also has ceramides and barrier supporting lipids, which are great for rebuilding the skin barrier if you have eczema or atopic dermatitis. It's so nice and soothing, it's not irritating my skin even when my skin has been raw."

"Vanicream's new Enhanced Moisturizer is one I've always recommended because Vanicream is one of the go-tos when it comes to sensitive skin. [...] They really do minimize their ingredient list and don't mess with any fragrances or dyes. This new moisturizer, you can use it for your face and body. It's in a nice convenient pump, and the texture is awesome. It rubs in really well and feels nice. [...] This was a home run for them. It's very good with their five ceramides and hyaluronic acid. [...] Ceramides help rebuild and repair the skin barrier because it's part of the glue that holds our skin cells together."

"Skinbetter science AlphaRet Overnight Cream has become the industry's best-kept secret. I've mentioned it on my channel for many years, and it has quietly earned a permanent place in my practice. It's hands down the best retinoid I can recommend that does not require a prescription, one of the gold standard retinoids with over 10 years of transformative results. I've rated it 10 out of 10. It hasn't made a name for itself through viral trends, but is relied upon by professionals who care about real outcomes, long-term skin health, and consistency. Traditional retinoids rely on multiple conversion steps to become active retinoic acid in the skin, and during that conversion process you can lose potency and also get increased irritation. That irritation leads to dryness, redness, and peeling, and eventually patients stop using it. A retinoid you can't use consistently is not an effective retinoid. This is where AlphaRet is fundamentally different. Formulated with skinbetter science's number-one, 33-time award-winning AlphaRet technology, it uniquely combines a retinoid with an alpha hydroxy acid for visible improvement in fine lines and wrinkles. That pairing allows AlphaRet to bypass the traditional conversion process, delivering efficacy with little to no irritation."