“The less you pile on, the more assured you can be that you aren’t exposing yourself to potentially irritating substances.”

If you have sensitive skin, scents are probably superfluous. Take balsam of Peru, for instance. A redolent resin that’s rendered into soaps, shampoos and perfumes, its main component (cinnamein) is a well-documented potential allergen, and has been fingered as a frequent felon responsible for most fragrance-related allergies.

Bummed out? Here’s a tip that’s been quite the beauty-saver: If you must use a scent, opt for a sprightlier spray that you can spritz onto your clothes, instead of directly on bare skin.

Sneaked into just about any cosmetic product imaginable, these are used to add luster and luminosity to anything from acrylic nails to lipstick.

Keep a mascaraed eye out for additives labelled “FD&C” followed by a numerical identifier. The mysterious hieroglyphs simply mean that the dye in question has been cleared by the US Food & Drug Administration – but that stamp of approval doesn’t mean they’re entirely inert. Indeed, some studies have shown that certain synthetic dyes, like Red 40 and Yellow 5, are just as likely to induce hives and other skin nasties.

Dr SK Tan cautions against being too clean: “My top tip is to avoid prolonged and repeated showers. The stronger your bath gels, the more you’ll strip away your so-called protective bodily oils, and dry skin is a key cause of flare-ups.”

The primary antagonist in your suds? Self-foaming sulfates, which can usually be found in the innocuous guise of sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS on the back of your beauty bottle. While lovely for their lathering properties, sulfates’ overly exuberant grease-cutting powers are precisely why they’re bad for you: They can actually lift off layers of fragile skin.

The solution is imperfect but probably necessary: Wear gloves when handling detergents, or actively seek out bath unguents explicitly labelled “sulfate-free”. Here’s more from Joshua Wong, Guardian Senior Patient Care Pharmacist, Guardian Health & Beauty: “Look out for cleansers that bear the label ‘soap-less’ or ‘soap-free’.”

“These products are gentler to the skin and less likely to cause any irritation or dryness. In any case, limit facial cleansing to a maximum of twice a day. Over-washing your face can cause more damage than you can imagine!” Hear, hear.

Dr SK Tan on the perils of peeling agents: “There are many cases of mild eczema in which the causes cannot be definitively identified. In cases like those, the best rule of thumb is to go simple and skip harsh products with exfoliating acids.”

Unfortunately, these astringents would include the mainstays of most off-the-counter acne and anti-aging medications: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid and retinol, for instance.

Adequate hydration, especially in Singapore’s seasonal equivalent of summer, is of the essence. Joshua Wong, Guardian Senior Patient Care Pharmacist at Guardian Health & Beauty, says: “The haze can also trigger eczema flare-ups in some individuals. If you suffer from eczema, make sure you moisturise your skin thoroughly as it will act as a barrier to block haze particles from irritating the skin.”

Make a beeline for moisture magnets like soothing shea butter, thirst-quenching hyaluronic acid (which sounds scarier than it really is) and omega-6 fatty acids, all of which help to plump skin without the potential inflammation from stronger exfoliants.

Products like Dermaveen are great for soothing sensitive skin while moisturising it as the same time. 

Be a beauty brainiac by doing your research and arming yourself with a comprehensive overview of the “good” and “bad” brands on the market.

There are a ton of advocacy groups and sites out there, so it’s really just a click and bookmark away to your virtual beauty manual.

We like browsing the National Eczema Association’s searchable cosmetics database whenever we need an overview of products that have earned the organisation’s Seal of Acceptance.