Probably the most frustrating of skin types, sensitive skin is difficult to treat because you're never quite sure what to use on it. Sensitive skincare involves plenty of trial and error to find the right products that won't irritate your skin. This can add up to a lot of money spent over the years on unsuitable products that have to be discarded or given away. How do you know if your skin is sensitive? Sensitive skin is usually dry, reacts badly to certain skin care products, can react to certain foods (for example spicy foods) and tends towards redness, swelling and itchiness.

This is a comparatively new skin type but it's becomming more common largely due to the ever increasing numbers of chemicals found in skin care products. People with this skin type probably have a genetic tendency towards sensitivity, although skin may also become sensitive through over exposure to the elements. Harsh acne products such as Accutane can also cause normal skin to become sensitive.

To save time, money and of course your skin, I've provided a checklist to help you choose a sensitive skincare product which has a good chance of success.

Choose hypo-allergenic and fragrance-free products ~ Being hypo-allergenic is not a guarantee that a product won't cause an allergic reaction, but it does reduces the chances of that happening. Hypoallergenic products are mostly free of known allergens and irritants, which means there's less chance of them irritating the skin.

Don't use a lot of different products on your face ~ It stands to reason that the more stuff you put on your face, the greater the chance that some of them will have an ingredient which irritates. Find sensitive skin care products that you know your skin will tolerate and use these regularly.

Don't cleanse more than twice a day ~ Of course cleansing is important, but too much will dry the skin and also strip the natural protective barrier that keeps moisture in and dirt and bacteria out. Use only mild cleansing products, or try a mixture of vegetabe oil and milk to remove dirt and make up safely.

Don't exfoliate ~ Exfoliating your skin using scrubs is designed to remove dead skin cells, but will irritate skin that is sensitive. To exfoliate your skin gently and clean out the pores, use a product which contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid which doesn't irritate if used carefully. However salicylic acid products have not been tested on pregnant women, so avoid this if you're expecting.

Throw away the astringent ~ We've been told that astringent will help to dry the oil in your skin. Yes that's true, but your skin will then produce even more oil to try and compensate, creating a never ending cycle. Astringent is harsh on sensitive skin so, bottom line, just don't use it.

Use either water based or mineral make up ~ Make up that's based on oil can clog the pores and make it hard to cleanse properly. Water based make up is a better option as it is non-comedogenic. Mineral make up is currently very popular and a good natural choice. Many brands of mineral make up are chemical free.

Choose a natural sunscreen ~ Sensitive skincare requires a sunscreen as the sun can irritate and burn the skin. The problem is most commercial sunscreens contain many toxic chemicals. Opt for sunscreen containing zinc or titanium dioxide as these will block UV rays on the skin's surface rather than being absorbed.

Sensitive skincare is an ongoing and often tedious process. However the benefits are worth the trouble. If you follow the tips above, you'll have beautiful, healthy and trouble free skin for life.