Is Natural Skincare Better for Sensitive Skin?

If you’ve ever stood in the skincare aisle feeling overwhelmed, trying to decode ingredients and wondering what won’t set your skin off, and wondering what to add you your overflowing cabinet— you’re not alone. Sensitive skin is incredibly common, and at Twig Botanicals, it’s one of the main reasons people come to me. The question I hear most? Is natural skincare really better for sensitive skin?

In my experience — and from watching so many lovely people’s skin calm and heal over time — the answer is often yes. 

Here’s why.

Conventional skincare (even the ones labeled “gentle”) can be packed with synthetic preservatives, artificial fragrances, and filler ingredients that do little but irritate already reactive skin. Natural skincare — especially herbal skincare — takes a softer, more holistic approach. At Twig, we rely on the whole plant. That means infused oils, healthy oils, and herbal extracts that work with your skin, not against it.

Many of the herbs I use are chosen specifically for their soothing properties — like calendula, arnica and chickweed. They’re not just buzzwords on a label. They’re the heart of the formula. And every balm, oil, and cream is made in-house, by hand, in small batches. And it is NATURAL - That means no harsh preservatives, no synthetic fragrances, and no surprises.

I make many of my skin healing products completely free from essential oils, as for the most sensitive skin, even a highly concentrated 100% natural plant extract can be enough to trigger a reaction. 

Our Nourish moisturiser is a favourite for sensitive skin — rich in good oils with soothing Green Tea, Calendula and Aloe Vera and no added essential oils. The Chickweed Ointment is another go-to, especially for dry, red, or irritated patches. This truly is herbal magic in a jar! And for internal support, Nourish Tea offers gentle skin-loving herbs like nettle and rosehip to calm from within.

Of course, natural doesn’t always mean allergy-safe (plants are powerful!), so I always recommend patch testing new products and keeping things simple. You don’t need a 12-step routine — just a few thoughtfully crafted blends and some trust in your body’s ability to come back into balance.

So if your skin has been feeling reactive, stressed, or just plain tired — consider this your invitation to slow down and come back to the plants. They have so much to offer.

~
 Katie