When skin is inflamed and stressed, soothing should always come first.
South African skin faces unique daily challenges. UV levels remain high even on cloudy days, winter air strips away moisture, and pollution, air conditioning and smoke all contribute to stressed skin. Add years of layering powerful acids and retinoids, and it’s no surprise more people are experiencing redness, tightness and sensitivity.
Many soothing products were developed for cooler climates and don’t account for the combination of sun exposure, pollution and over-treatment that local skin experiences.
“South African skin is constantly negotiating sun, wind and pollution, so calm has to be built in, not added on,” says Shannon Dougall, CEO and founder of SKIN functional.
To address these concerns, the local skincare brand has introduced Sensipure Skin Soother, a fragrance-free serum designed to calm redness, boost hydration and support skin stressed by sun, pollution and overuse of active ingredients.
Why soothing matters
When the skin barrier becomes compromised, it loses moisture more easily and becomes increasingly reactive. Inflammation isn’t just visible redness. It’s an internal response that weakens the skin’s protective barrier, allowing irritants in while letting hydration escape.
“Soothing is how you bring your skin back to baseline and limit inflammation, allowing everything else in your routine to do its job,” explains Shannon. “When skin is calm, hydration improves, makeup sits better and active ingredients can work without the burn.”
Press pause on your actives
Shannon says one of the biggest skincare mistakes is continuing to use strong actives on already irritated skin.
“When skin is inflamed, retinoids, vitamin C and exfoliating acids can worsen the inflammatory response. The priority should be calming the skin first, then gradually reintroducing actives once the barrier has recovered.”
A simple skin-calming routine
Healthy skin starts with a strong, hydrated barrier. Shannon recommends:
1. Pause retinoids, strong vitamin C and exfoliating acids until irritation settles.
2. Cleanse gently without stripping the skin.
3. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF every morning.
4. Finish with a soothing serum and moisturiser to restore hydration and strengthen the barrier.
Lifestyle matters too. Good sleep, hydration and a balanced diet all contribute to healthier skin.
Meet your lightweight reset
Suitable for all skin types, SKIN functional’s Sensipure Skin Soother is a lightweight serum formulated for both morning and evening use. Testing showed it helps strengthen the skin’s antioxidant defences while protecting the lipids that keep the skin barrier healthy.
Key ingredients include Ectoine for barrier protection and hydration, Bisabolol to calm irritation, Cotton Seed Extract to nourish the skin, Cherimoya Fruit Extract for antioxidant support, Shepherd’s Purse Extract to soothe inflammation, Milk Thistle Extract to defend against environmental stress, and Cutleaf Ground Cherry Extract to help reduce redness and support skin regeneration.
“Calming your skin shouldn’t only happen when it’s irritated,” Shannon concludes. “It’s about supporting your skin every day so it can hold onto moisture, defend itself against daily stress and look healthier with less effort.”