A client told me her skin was 'too sensitive' for anything but water

This was about two years ago in my old studio in Tempe. She had been using only water and a rough washcloth for a year, convinced every product would burn. Her barrier was a mess, red and tight. I spent 30 minutes just explaining how a simple, pH-balanced cleanser works. I gave her a sample of the CeraVe Hydrating one and told her to patch test for three days. She came back a month later, shocked it didn't hurt. How do you guys handle the 'my skin can't handle anything' talk without sounding like you're just trying to sell something?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathanh441mo ago

Start by asking them to describe the exact reaction, because sometimes "burning" is just a tingle from niacinamide. I've had clients swear off all moisturizers after one bad experience with a heavy shea butter cream. I explain that ingredients are like foods, and one bad salad doesn't mean all vegetables are bad. We find the common link in the products that hurt them, like fragrance or certain preservatives, and then we can avoid just that family of ingredients.

willow_anderson851mo ago

What do you say when they bring up past bad reactions to specific ingredients?