Quick answer: choose Insight's Sensitive range for everyday care if your scalp reacts easily, and the Lenitive range when your scalp is actively red, itchy, sore or irritated and needs soothing. Sensitive is a full gentle routine (shampoo, conditioner and mask) mild enough for the whole family. Lenitive is a calming duo: a soothing shampoo plus a leave-on scalp cream for comfort between washes. Many people keep both: Sensitive for every day, Lenitive for flare-ups.
Both ranges are made for reactive scalps, both are COSMOS Natural certified and dermatologically tested on sensitive skin, and both are vegan. So what's the difference, and which do you need? Here's a simple guide.
Sensitive vs Lenitive at a glance
| Sensitive | Lenitive | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Scalps that react easily, as everyday care | Scalps that are actively red, itchy, sore or irritated |
| Role | Gentle daily routine that helps prevent redness and itching | Soothing care to calm and restore comfort |
| Key botanicals | Organic quince and pumpkin | Organic prickly pear, aloe and mallow |
| Products | Shampoo, conditioner, mask | Shampoo, leave-on scalp cream |
| Certification | COSMOS Natural, dermatologically tested on sensitive skin | COSMOS Natural, dermatologically tested on sensitive skin |
The Sensitive range: gentle everyday care
The Sensitive range is for scalps that tend to react: to new products, hot water, weather or colour services. It's designed to be used every day to keep your scalp calm and comfortable, and it's mild enough for the whole family, including children. Organic quince and pumpkin extracts help prevent redness and soothe itching, and the formulas respect the scalp's natural hydrolipidic balance.
- Sensitive Scalp Shampoo: an extremely mild shampoo for frequent, everyday washing.
- Sensitive Scalp Hair Conditioner: detangles and softens, with a boost of moisture and shine.
- Sensitive Scalp Hair Mask: a weekly mask for extra moisture and softness, spread along the lengths after shampooing.
The Lenitive range: soothing care for an irritated scalp
"Lenitive" means soothing. The Lenitive range is what to reach for when your scalp is already red, itchy, sore or irritated. A soothing phytocomplex of organic prickly pear, aloe and mallow helps relieve redness and irritation and restore comfort.
- Dermo-Calming Shampoo: an extremely gentle shampoo that cleanses while calming and rebalancing an irritated scalp.
- Scalp Comfort Cream: a leave-on scalp cream that brings an instant feeling of freshness and comfort. Apply it to the scalp after washing with Dermo-Calming Shampoo; there's no need to rinse.
How to tell which you need
Choose Sensitive if: your scalp is usually fine but reacts easily; it feels tight or prickly after some shampoos; you want one gentle routine for the whole family; or you want to keep a reactive scalp calm day to day.
Choose Lenitive if: your scalp is red, itchy, sore or uncomfortable right now; it's flared up after a colour service, a new product, heat or stress; or you want a leave-on treatment that brings comfort between washes.
Not sure? Start with how your scalp feels today. If it's comfortable, Sensitive. If it's uncomfortable, Lenitive.
Can you use Sensitive and Lenitive together?
Yes, and many people do. A simple way to use both:
- Every day: wash with Sensitive Scalp Shampoo and condition the lengths with Sensitive Scalp Hair Conditioner. Use the mask once a week.
- During a flare-up: switch to Dermo-Calming Shampoo and apply Scalp Comfort Cream to the scalp after washing until things settle. You can keep using the Sensitive conditioner on your lengths.
- Once your scalp is calm: go back to the Sensitive routine, and keep Scalp Comfort Cream on hand for uncomfortable days.
What if my itchy scalp is flaky?
Itching with visible white or yellow flakes may be dandruff rather than sensitivity, and needs a different approach. Read our guide to dandruff causes and treatment, or try Purifying Shampoo.
A note on fragrance and why certification matters
Both ranges contain fragrance, and Scalp Comfort Cream also contains essential oils. Every product in both ranges has been dermatologically tested on sensitive skin and is COSMOS Natural certified. That matters for a reactive scalp: dermatological testing means the finished formula, fragrance included, has been checked for tolerance on people with sensitive skin under a dermatologist's supervision, and COSMOS Natural certification is independently audited and sets strict rules on which ingredients can be used and how they're made. Everyone's triggers are different, though, so if you know you react to a specific fragrance ingredient or essential oil, check the full ingredient list on the product page and patch test first.
When to see a professional
See your GP, a pharmacist or a dermatologist if your scalp is very itchy, painful, weeping, bleeding or scaly, if you notice patches of hair loss, or if symptoms don't improve after a few weeks of gentle care.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Sensitive and Lenitive?
Sensitive is gentle everyday care for scalps that react easily. Lenitive is soothing care for a scalp that is already red, itchy, sore or irritated.
Which is the best scalp soothing shampoo?
For an irritated scalp, Dermo-Calming Shampoo from the Lenitive range is made to calm redness and irritation. For everyday sensitivity, Sensitive Scalp Shampoo.
Do I need to rinse Scalp Comfort Cream?
No. It's a leave-on cream for the scalp, applied after washing.
Can I mix products from both ranges?
Yes. For example, Dermo-Calming Shampoo with Sensitive Scalp Hair Conditioner on the lengths works well during a flare-up.
For more on choosing a shampoo, read our guides to shampoo for a sensitive scalp and the best shampoo for an itchy scalp, or shop all itchy and sensitive scalp care.
About the author
Charlotte Read has spent six years in the hair industry with Insight Professional and holds a First Class BSc in Business Management and Marketing. She writes with reference to real salons across social media and the wider Insight community, and draws on the Insight office team, who between them bring over 100 years of combined experience on salon floors.
Where technical expertise is needed, Charlotte consults Lorraine Matic, Head of Insight UK Education, who brings over 38 years of global experience in colour, technique and hair science.