No one knows more than me how frustrating it is to have skin that's reactive and sensitive. Over the years, it's been hard to find products that clear up acne without making the problem worse. Recently, I realized that one of the major irritation culprits was retinol. Even if I found a formula that didn't visibly cause more breakouts or irritation, I would notice that some formulas would weaken my barrier function or cause my skin to be extra dehydrated after using it for a few weeks. Sigh. The revelation came once I stopped using it for good.
A visit to organic skincare brand Sonage's studio alerted me to the damage retinol was causing. Many formulas, the aestheticians informed me, are not great for ultra-sensitive skin—even if it appears that your skin is doing just fine. They instead suggested that I try a retinol-alternative cream that I could use twice a day. At first, I was skeptical because I'd never been able to find a retinol alternative that I felt truly worked. I'm glad I gave this one a go, though. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked without irritating my crazy-sensitive skin. If you share a similar skin type, you're going to want to keep reading. I'm sharing all my thoughts on Sonage's Refixion Sans Retinol Crème ($60) below.
I was hesitant to put this on my face at first because it contains coconut oil, a known comedogenic ingredient that isn't the best for acne-prone skin. What I quickly realized once I started using it, however, was that oils weren't the issue for me—it was always stronger actives making my skin act up. It's almost ironic that the usual treatment for acne is strong exfoliants and other actives like benzoyl peroxide, but for some of us, our skin simply doesn't like those ingredients and responds by flaring up even more. If a super-gentle approach is also what your skin needs, then this cream is definitely worth a try.
This formula features bakuchiol as its star ingredient, which is a super-effective alternative to retinol. While this cream is definitely designed for fine lines and wrinkles, it worked really well in clearing up my super-inflamed, irritated skin after I tipped it over the edge with strong actives. Below, you can see what my skin looked like before I started using it. I had a lot of inflammation pop up, which is frustrating, but once I stopped using anything too active, it calmed right down.
I noticed that my skin started to calm down and improve within four days of using it. Pretty impressive, no? I can't say this approach will work for everyone because everyone's skin is different, but if you do find that your skin also doesn't respond to stronger exfoliants like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, then it's definitely worth a go. I realized that my barrier was so inflamed and damaged because of all the harsh products I was using. It needed some serious TLC in the form of scaling back stronger ingredients. It's definitely been a process, and my skin still isn't all the way there, but I noticed that this sped up healing time and had the same effect as a retinol would without even the slightest bit of irritation.
Now, as much as I love the results delivered by this cream, there are a few cons I have to mention. It does have a strong botanical smell, so keep that in mind if you're sensitive to scents. The finish of the cream is also a bit more matte than I would like. I love a dewy, glowy finish, and this doesn't always deliver that. It does, however, provide enough moisture and really works in terms of helping to smooth texture and fine lines, and it clears small bumps in a flash. Below is what my skin looks like now after having used it for about three weeks. There's been a huge improvement in inflammation, scarring, and acne. I've been using this cream with a few other star products from Sonage that I'll tell you more about ahead.
More Sonage Products I Love
This new launch from the brand is a multipeptide formula that smooths and hydrates the skin so fantastically. I genuinely look forward to using it morning and night because it makes the lines around my eyes and under-eye bags almost nonexistent.
This spot treatment is super impressive. It does contain salicylic acid, but it's just the right dose to zap a zit without causing further irritation. I use it once in the morning and once in the evening if I see one pop up, and it improves within hours.
My aesthetician at Sonage informed me that I needed a good toner to rebalance the pH of my skin. With barrier damage, it can get thrown out of whack. Normally, I don't love face mists because they don't provide a ton of hydration, but this one is definitely the exception. It also reduces redness and irritation so quickly—I always keep it on me now.
Another thing I needed was a good cleanser that was free of traditional surfactants—another thing that was causing my skin irritation. This hydrating cream cleanser unclogs pores and reduces excess oil without stripping the skin. It's perfect for skin that could use a little extra help without harsher ingredients.
These exfoliating pads also really impressed me. I approached these with a healthy dose of caution since my skin had just barely recovered from a flare-up it had due to my overuse of acids. Instead, I swiped one of these over my face, and it soothed my skin with little to no stinging. The next day, my skin was clearer without being red or super sensitive.
On days when I don't want to exfoliate, I reach for this soothing (and good-smelling) clay mask from the brand. It's great at decongesting pores without causing any irritation. Sometimes, I'll even exfoliate and then use this for a spa experience at home.
I was introduced to this exfoliating gel during a facial I had at Sonage and fell in love with it. My skin was so angry and irritated when I came in, and I left the spa with noticeably calmer, clearer skin because of this super-gentle, hydrating, and exfoliating gel. It contains exfoliating enzymes, which tend to be gentler than traditional exfoliants, so it's another perfect options for folks with really touchy skin.
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