What are the best luxury toiletries for people with sensitive skin?

[LynetteScavo]

SIL is sensitive to lots of foods, so I presume skin products as well -

My niece is allergic to most body shop stuff-
What should I go for?

sisley - expensive
clinique - reasonable

Dermalogica?

Sorry, not Clinique, that stuff really can be quite fierce. Dermalogica also got some pretty poor reviews on MN a while back from those with sensitive skin. It remains almost the only range to which I have had an allergic reaction.

What about something natural like Dr Haushka? Or Avene?

neals yard is lovely

I second Dr Hauschka

a friend of mine has amazingly sensitive skin - can't have any soap, wool, frgrance etc. Her treat is gatineau creams which she has no reaction to except lovely glowing skin. Not cheap, but you can get some good deals on QVC.

really depends on the allergies.

My sis is allergic to citric acid and cant have loads of products, irrespective of which company.

I am allergic to lanolin and same goes!

I would either ask, or avoid!

I've bought gatineau from QVC - it's good. Elemis are on QVC on sunday - lovely but £££££££! Might be a good deal on though.

I've always found Clinique a nightmare to use (strange as it is one of the few make up that agree with my skin)

I've fund I'm ok with some Molton Brown items - Coco de Mer body wash and lotion is GORGEOUS!!!

Shiseido is good for sensitive skins (my mother can't even use Neal's Yard), but it is quite pricey.

I wouldn't risk buying someone with allergies or sensitive skin beauty products at all tbh, as what works for one person upset another's skin. If you go ahead, I'd opt for as perfume free (even essential oils for some) as possible.

I am told Liz Earle stuff is very good for sensitive skin - I use it (but don't have sensitive skin!) and I have to say I have never looked back, it's the best skin stuff I've found, gives you a real glow.

It has quite a herbal type smell to alot of the stuff (understandably, as it's made of herbal/botanical stuff!) so I guess if she's a very perfumey, florally person this might not appeal - but I love it, personally and would certainly recommend.

Choose a different present - I have a drawer full at home of expensive toiletries, I can occasionally use Molton Brown and such like but not for more than a day at a time as it dries my skin out. Essential oils are often the worse and anything very highly perfumed a bit no no. Perfume free not a guarantee Simple products dry out my skin.

Don't buy somebody with sensitive skin cosmetics! I can use some things from the clinique range but not others. Kind relatives used to keep buying me the soap and toner which wrecks my skin!

Some of the Liz Earle stuff has perfume in which is a bit of a no-no for many people with sensitive skin. You can look at all ingredients on-line, though. Packaging is lovely.

Neal's Yard is mostly good for me. I've had some bathroomy stuff from Green People. I last bought from Sisley ten year ago as a rich expat, sob, but it's not that hypoallergenic iirc.

Elemis is not for sensitive skin in my book, nor dermalogica.

Also, food allergies don't necessarily mean she can't use certain cosmetics.

How old is she? Could you ask her what irritates her skin? If she's a teenager she might baulk at liz earle and neal's yard suggested by all these old women.

StephanieByng- Thanks for the Liz earle recomenation- I shall try it.

I used to use Dr Hauschka- I really liked the rose day cream and their make up is good.
For "religious" reasons ( it's bio dynamic) I've given it up, and have been using Lavera, which is good.

It's difficult to find good make up though.