Skin sensitivity is your skin's ability to stay balanced when life happens. Sensitivity isn't a "type." It's a pattern that can shift with stress, weather, products and sleep.
To understand sensitivity, Stella examines six key signals showing how resilient or reactive skin is currently and how it may respond to new products or environmental changes.
Hydration affects how plump, smooth and comfortable skin appears and feels. Well-hydrated skin reflects light evenly and softens fine lines. Reduced hydration causes skin to appear dull, tight or flaky, making lines more pronounced.
Texture indicates how skin renews itself. Smooth skin suggests steady, healthy barrier function. Rough or uneven texture emerges when skin is stressed, dehydrated, or reacting to products.
Redness is one of the clearest signs of how your skin is feeling internally. Stella's assessment examines not just redness appearance but location and daily changes, identifying your unique sensitivity patterns.
Oil levels fluctuate throughout the day. Stella measures visible surface oil to understand real-world skin behaviour beyond theoretical "skin type," helping determine when to balance rather than strip.
Tiny red thread-like lines on the skin's surface represent visible blood vessels. Tracking them reveals how your skin responds to heat, sun, stress and skincare intensity.
These signals combine into one Sensitivity Score, a guide rather than a judgment. Higher scores suggest gentler routines and slower active ingredient introduction. Lower scores indicate more resilient skin tolerating actives with fewer adjustments.
Knowing your sensitivity baseline provides clarity before making changes.
If sensitivity trends higher
Soften your routine. Add barrier support. Reduce exfoliation frequency.
If sensitivity trends lower
Your skin may be ready for new products. Consistency is working. Skin is becoming more resilient.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only. Stella is not a medical device and does not diagnose or treat any skin condition. If you have a skin concern, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Alice leads the science and dermatology team at Stella. She trained at Monash University and practised in clinical dermatology before joining Stella to develop the metrics framework that underlies the app.
Stella scans your skin, tracks what matters, and gives you the information to decide what to do next.
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