People with normal, dry, combination and oily skin can also have sensitive skin. No matter what your type, if you have sensitive skin, you can suffer breakouts (minor or major), itchiness and redness. Whatever the specifics of the reaction, your skin is telling you – loud and clear – that the product you're using isn't right for you.

There are two basic types of reactions to products: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Your skin acts as a protective barrier against possible irritants. Skin that is dry or already damaged (bruises, acne and even sunburn) makes irritant contact dermatitis more likely. Allergic contact dermatitis is less common, and refers to a reaction caused by one or more specific ingredients in a product.

The most common causes of reactions are preservatives and fragrances. That doesn't mean preservatives are all bad; they're actually necessary, because they prevent bacteria from growing and protect products from deteriorating when exposed to light and air. Sensitive skins will react better to preservatives containing parabens, including methyl paraben and butyl paraben. The perfumes that are often added to products to make them smell nice are a major cause of contact dermatitis. If you have sensitive skin, it's best to use products that have little or no fragrance. Keep in mind that unscented doesn't mean fragrance free. If a product is labelled "unscented," it can still mean that fragrance has been added to mask the slight chemical odours other ingredients sometimes give off. Choose ones that have "fragrance-free" on the labels, as that means no scent has been added.