The Best Beauty Products For Sensitive Skin | The Skinny Confidential

Hi everyone!

My name is Hilary and I’ve been working for The Skinny Confidential for about 8 years now. I love working for Lauryn and over the years I have learned a lot from her and the incredible people we invite on the blog. Things like time-batching (life-changing), not living in your inbox, finding and supporting small businesses, double-cleansing, and how to make healthier non-toxic switches in your home. AND OF COURSE, skincare.

Here’s the thing: my skin is SENSITIVE. And I mean REAL sensitive. Even things labeled ok for sensitive skin are not ok for me. Anyone else like this?

I used to dream of being able to buy and try any product I wish, but after a lot of wasted money (and face rashes), I’ve discovered some tried and true products for hyper-sensitive skin like mine.

Also I want to mention that I’m not a ‘product person.’ My bathroom counter isn’t full of a million products, I wear the same makeup every day, and I don’t get sucked into the marketing of the beauty industry anymore. And that’s because I now know that there are only a handful of items in the sea of beauty products that work for my skin.

If you have SUPER sensitive skin, I hope you find this post helpful, because this skincare routine has taken me years to finally find.

Let’s get to it.

THE BEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN:

CLEANSER:

Jojoba Oil

This specific jojoba oil is my favorite for double-cleansing. This natural oil is organic, cold-pressed and affordable. If you haven’t heard of double-cleansing, it’s the best way to clean your face if you have dry or sensitive skin.

CeraVe

I switched from Cetaphil to CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser after a facialist told me that it’s more hydrating than Cetaphil, because it has ceramides in it.

With CeraVe my skin doesn’t feel as tight or dry after rinsing it off.

Fun sidenote: a tip I learned from GTFOOTS is to not spend your money on expensive cleansers. They’re only on your face for a few seconds and there are a lot of good, affordable options at the drugstore.

EXFOLIANTS:

MARA Beauty Enzyme Cleansing Oil

I use this a couple times a week and I love it. It’s silky and smooth, I can’t really describe how good it feels on your skin. It definitely does have a gentle exfoliating effect, which is why I do not use this every day.

Dr. Dennis Gross Ultra Gentle Daily Peel Pads

You have probably heard and seen Lauryn with Dr. Dennis’s peel pads. They’re amazing. Often my skin feels like it needs a peel but when you have sensitive skin, it’s just not an option.

There are different Peel Pads to choose from for every skin condition and skin type. But these are the ones for sensitive skin and do not irritate one bit. The first time I used one I couldn’t believe how smooth my skin felt. I could ‘feel’ my serum and moisturizer absorbing into my skin better. You might be a little bit red after using them which is why I like to use them before bed, but it won’t sting.

Dermalogica Milkfoliant

This is a recommendation from Alex Potora, the founder of Vrea. This exfoliant is gentle enough to use every single day. You only need a small amount so it’s great value in a little bottle.

TONER, MISTS, MOISTURIZERS:

Tower 28

Tower 28 is one of my favorite brands. You can read an inspiring blog post from the founder, Amy, here. I use their hypochlorous acid spray, redness recovery lotion, and concealer.

Dermalogica Biolumin C Serum

All vitamin C products had given me a million tiny bumps on my forehead. Guess I was allergic? I’m on my 4th bottle of this one and absolutely love it.

Witch Hazel

I used to tone my face every single night after double-cleansing, but my facialist told me I should cut it down to twice a week. I use straight, unscented, alcohol-free witch hazel by Thayer’s on an organic cotton round.

BioEffect

This is a brand that I’ve been using since I discovered it in Iceland years ago. All of their products are gentle and effective (which is why it’s a bit of a splurge). After trying everything I settled on the serum as my go-to nighttime moisturizer. This is another product that you only need a small amount of, so it’s a good value if you ask me. You can feel it absorbing into your skin and you’ll be shocked how little goes a long way. I use 3 drops for my entire face, neck and chest every night.

SUNSCREEN:

TSC Caffeinated SPF

Cannot express how happy I was that this agreed with my skin. But not only did it agree with my skin, it made it feel soft, smooth and hydrated. Really, this is one of the best products Lauryn ever created.

IS Clinical Eclipse

This was recommended to me by a PRP specialist actually. I love to use this on my neck and chest, and even though it’s tinted, it doesn’t rub off on your clothes.

HAIR CARE

Davines Hair Products

Hair products when we’re talking about sensitive skin? YES! A Dermatologist told me that when you have sensitive skin, everything matters. The fragrance in your body lotion can travel up to your face, the nickel/metal used to plate your eyeshadow pallette can cause a reaction, the shampoo and conditioner you use in the shower runs down your face and IT MATTERS.

I’ve used Davines products for a while now and love them. I use the Volu shampoo & the Dede leave-in conditioner. The smell is light and fresh, it’s formulated with no nasties, and they have products for all types of hair.

OTHER PRODUCTS AND BRANDS SAFE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN:

Lux Unfiltered

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask

Physician’s Formula

Vrea Eye Masks

Merit

Rare Beauty liquid blush

TSC Mouth Tape and Brow Peptide

If you have sensitive skin and have developed a skincare lineup that works, I’d love to hear about it. Let me know in the comments below. The ice roller and face massager (I keep both in the fridge) are also wonderful tools that reduce redness, increase blood flow, and depuff the face. Perfect for sensitive, irritable skin.

It took me years to find the products that work because we’re all different. You can’t always trust the reviews or the ‘safe for sensitive skin’ label. So I hope this post helps at least one person.

x, Hilary

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