Red, itchy skin can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing.  If you suffer from irritated or eczema prone skin, your main skin care goal is to avoid irritating ingredients.  Potentially irritating ingredients may include fragrance, dyes, sodium, parabens and lanolin.

Wash with gentle facial cleansing creams, oils and gels; they are less drying than cleansers.  Here are our top picks:

Spectro Derm Cleanser Dry Skin ($14.15) is a very gentle, fragrance free formula that deep cleans and moisturizers to hydrate skin.

Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser ($20.50) is an non-drying cleansing cream that helps calm redness and irritation.  It soothes to preserve your skin's natural moisture balance.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/I ($72) is a luxurious rich cleansing oil that moisturizes your skin using plant extracts.

To follow up, keep moisturized with a light lotion designed specifically for sensitive skin.

We hear good things about Diane Lai Rejuvenate ($45).  This all-natural lotion can be used daily to protect and restore skin's natural barriers and reduce dryness and irritation, as well as for immediate relief on rough patches on the face and body.

Do you suffer from itchiness, irritation or eczema?  What do you use to soothe your sensitive skin?