A body care routine for sensitive skin keeps everything gentle: short, warm showers, a soft Sensitive African net once or twice a week, then a fragrance-free lotion and fragrance-free oil while skin is still damp. Skip hot water, heavy fragrance and scrubbing on the same day you shave.
What is the best body care routine for sensitive skin?
Five steps, in the same order every time: a short, warm shower with a gentle cleanser, light exfoliation once or twice a week, a pat that leaves skin damp, fragrance-free Body Silk, then fragrance-free dry body oil last to seal it all in. Fewer products, less fragrance, less friction.
| Step | What to use | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Shower | A gentle cleanser, warm water, five to ten minutes | Daily | Long, hot showers leave skin tight and dry |
| 2. Exfoliate | African Exfoliating Net - Sensitive, light pressure | Once or twice a week to start; build up to daily if your skin is happy. Never the same day you shave. | Lifts dull, dead skin so what comes next sinks in |
| 3. Pat, don't rub | A soft towel, leaving skin damp | Daily | Damp skin is what you are about to seal in |
| 4. Body Silk | Unscented Body Silk, 2-3 pumps on damp skin | Daily | Lotion delivers water and butters to the skin |
| 5. Oil, last | Unscented Dry Body Oil, pressed on top | Daily | Oil seals the lotion and the shower water in |
The Unscented Body Silk ($16.80) is labeled 100% fragrance-free. It blends kpangnan, shea and palm butters with marula and argan oils and niacinamide. Smooth it on first, while your skin is still damp from the shower.
Then press the Unscented Dry Body Oil ($36 for 3.4 fl oz) over the top. Its ingredient list has no fragrance: sweet almond, sunflower, grapeseed and moringa oils with hibiscus. It sinks in within a minute or two, so you can dress without waiting. Oil always goes last. If you are not sure it is for you, start with the 0.2 fl oz sample ($12), or read who unscented body oil is for.
Want the whole routine in one box? The Unscented Glow Set Bundle ($75) includes a 4 oz Unscented Sugar Scrub, a 3.4 oz Unscented Dry Body Oil and a 4 oz Unscented Body Silk. Everything else fragrance-free lives in the Unscented collection.
How should you shower if your skin is sensitive?
Keep it short and warm. Five to ten minutes in warm water, not hot, with a gentle cleanser and no deodorant soap. Pat yourself partly dry, then put on your lotion and oil within a few minutes, while your skin is still damp. That window is where most of the routine's comfort comes from.
That is straight from the American Academy of Dermatology's dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. The AAD recommends limiting baths and showers to five to ten minutes with warm water, applying moisturizer while skin is still damp, and notes that some products, such as deodorant soaps, are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin.
A few habits that help: turn the water down a notch before you step in, wash with your hands or a soft net instead of a stiff brush, and keep your towel for patting, not rubbing.
Should sensitive skin be exfoliated?
Yes, gently. Sensitive skin still builds up dead cells, which leaves it looking dull and feeling rough. The answer is a softer tool and less of it: a Sensitive net with light pressure once or twice a week, building up slowly, and never on a day you shave or when your skin is already irritated.
Start with the African Exfoliating Net - Sensitive ($14), an African exfoliating net - also called an African net sponge or sapo - with a softer weave than our Original net. It is cut longer than the Original, so it still reaches your back, and it dries fast between showers. Once your skin is used to it, the Sensitive net is gentle enough for daily use.
Not sure which weave fits your skin? Our guide to the Original vs Sensitive African net walks through the difference.
If you prefer a scrub, the Unscented Body Scrub ($25) is a fragrance-free sugar scrub with apricot kernel oil. Use it on a different day from the net, never both on the same day.
What should you avoid?
Hot water, long showers, deodorant soaps, heavy fragrance and too much friction. Skip scrubbing on the days you shave, never exfoliate broken or sunburned skin, and do not stack a scrub and a net in one shower. If a product stings or leaves you itchy, stop using it and simplify.
Fragrance is the big one. The AAD recommends products labeled "fragrance-free," and many people with sensitive skin find that cutting fragrance from their body care is the change they notice most. Read labels closely, because "unscented" does not always mean the same thing (more on that in the FAQ below).
Check oils for nut ingredients, too. The Unscented Dry Body Oil contains sweet almond oil, so skip it if you have a nut allergy.
When should you see a dermatologist?
See a board-certified dermatologist if you have a rash, a flare that will not settle, cracked or bleeding skin, or itching that keeps you up at night, or if dryness continues after a few weeks of gentle care. Body care products support comfort; they do not treat skin conditions.
The AAD notes that ongoing dry skin can come from conditions such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, which is why it advises seeing a dermatologist when dryness sticks around despite good habits. Bring a list of what you use, including your body care, to that appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fragrance-free and unscented?
"Fragrance-free" means no fragrance has been added. According to the AAD, "unscented" can mean a product contains chemicals that neutralize or hide the smell of other ingredients, and those can irritate dry, sensitive skin. Our Unscented Body Silk is labeled 100% fragrance-free, and the Unscented Dry Body Oil lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
Is The Unscented Glow Set fragrance-free?
Per its product page, The Unscented Glow Set is made without synthetic fragrance. It includes a 4 oz Unscented Sugar Scrub, a 3.4 oz Unscented Dry Body Oil and a 4 oz Unscented Body Silk. Use the scrub on its own days, and put the Body Silk on before the oil.
Can I use this routine on my kids?
Check with your pediatrician first, especially for babies or children with eczema. They can tell you what is right for your child's skin and age. Keep in mind the Unscented Dry Body Oil contains sweet almond oil.
Should I use body oil or lotion?
Use both, in order. Lotion delivers water to the skin; oil seals it in. Apply lotion to damp skin straight out of the shower, then press dry body oil on top to lock it in. On its own, oil still works on damp skin - it seals in the shower water.
