One thing about me: having sensitive skin is my main personality trait. My teenage years were filled with super fun cystic acne (bless you, spironolactone). My early 20s introduced me to the joyous, redness-filled world of rosacea. And my current cross to bear is a seemingly never-ending bout of perioral dermatitis, which for the uninitiated, is a pimple-looking rash around the mouth triggered by just about anything and everything.
But! The bright side! I have spent well over a decade determined to find the skincare products, beauty tools, and makeup capable of shedding the unsexy stereotype that coincides with having sensitive skin. Don’t get me wrong: I love CeraVe’s no-frills Moisturizing Cream and Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo as much as the next person, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting a little luxury when I begrudgingly roll out of bed.
Through many years of trial and error (I’ve tested hundreds upon hundreds of products), I’ve found my failsafe tools, body staples, skincare, and makeup (because, yes, some foundations will cause irritation) that calm inflammation and soothe my skin without burning or stinging or redness. So, if you’re wondering what an editor-approved morning routine looks like, keep reading.
Rise & Shine
Despite my well-curated collection of matching pajamas and a nightly blowout before bed, I consistently wake up looking like a puffy dungeon rat. Give me five minutes, though? It's like a Mia Thermopolis makeover.
Save my morning coffee, there’s nothing in this world I take more seriously than matching pajama sets. I’m all for a good Eberjay or KIP Collection situation, but this Cozy Earth French Lavender print is my newest obsession. They are quite possibly the comfiest fabric to have ever touched my body. Bonus: as a hot sleeper, the lightweight feel is next level.
Board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, M.D., has been my guiding light through the highly irritating world of perioral dermatitis—a not-fully-understood, itchy, bumpy rash that appears around the mouth. I’m on three prescription creams (please! consult your dermatologists!), but switching my toothpaste has actually made a huge difference. Marvin’s is my current go-to. It’s free of preservatives, fluoride, gluten, and parabens.
Ever since I did a deep dive into the biohacking world for Marie Claire’s 2023 Ambition Issue, I’ve been fascinated by the longevity space. That’s why I’ve been taking this NAD supplement every morning. It promises to give my body a boost of energy and improve my focus and mental clarity.
I have an allergy to the sun. I know it sounds crazy, but so goes the sensitive skin life. I’ll spare you the medicalize, but when it’s too hot and humid, my face and neck break out into hives. That why I keep this ice roller on standby every morning and by my side during beach days. The titanium rod stays cooler longer than any other option I’ve tried, while the comfort grip makes going to town on my face a fairly comfortable experience.
Time for a Quick Rinse
I’ve been on quite the hair journey over the past three years. After losing nearly half my hair courtesy of maybe COVID, maybe hormonal changes, I’m finally getting back to a thickness and length that I feel good about. I’m getting trims every four weeks with Temur Hamilton, who has a gorgeous studio on the Upper East Side, and washing my hair every other day. These are the products you’ll find stocked my shower.
Dianna Cohen hooked me with the Crown Affair Signature Scent (this is me, begging for a rollerball perfume once again), but made me a loyal customer when I saw how well my thin hair responded to her formulations. The gel conditioner is my holy grail—it gives me insane volume and a soft, silky feel.
I love this Cyklar body wash and moisturizer so much, I genuinely don’t believe words do it justice. The warm scent of vanilla is like a cozy wave of happiness that floats through my shower. (I know that sentence is extra, but it’s true.) It’s a little luxury worth every damn penny.
I’ll be totally honest: my heels are pretty nasty. Despite my every 10 days pedicures, they are perpetually dry and cracked. With sandal season upon us—and new Khaite strappy heels begging to be worn—I simply have no choice but to get my feet in shape with the best foot scrubs. Enter: Osea’s scrub, which has single-handedly transformed my grimy heels into soft and supple skin.
If you have hair, this product is a need not a want. I’ve watched my flat, slicked-to-my-forehead roots levitate with just a few sprays of this. It’s genuinely non-sticky (serioulsy, no crunch), and has a hold that lasts me overnight. Celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak told me the other week that I can use this guy on dry, day two hair for extra lift and it’s been a game-changer.
Sensitive Skin Staples That Won't Irritate
Having incredibly sensitive skin means that every new product is a gamble. Will I break out? Will it burn? Is it going to give me a rash? But I like to walk on the wild side apparently, so I became a beauty editor in which my job description is quite literally to test products. Here, you’ll find my failsafe, go-to product that never, ever let me down.
I have been in a committed relationship with this face wash for eight (!!!) years. Not a day has gone by since the vitamin E beads exploded onto my skin. I know it’s quite pricy for a face wash, but even as a broke college student, I would set aside enough money to afford a restock. It easily makes the biggest difference in keeping my skin hydrated and glowing.
Anyone who knows me, knows that Dr. Barbara Sturm is my luxury skincare brand of choice. My skin is it’s happiest when I’m on a steady diet of Dr. Sturm moisturizers and Calming Serum. Something in the formula (my money is on the purslane) doubles as a soothing medicine for my reactive skin. Redness disappears (so much so, you wouldn’t even know I have rosacea) and my skin adopts a literal sparkle.
I’m on a constant search for the most hydrating lip balm in existence (no one wants chapped lips), and this little guy is currently at the top of my list. The tint is perfectly subtle and the ceramide-infused formula gives a nourishing, but not sticky finish. I apply this every night before bed and approximately 45 times throughout the day.
Sunscreen and sensitive skin can be best friends or worst enemies. I swear by a few—iS Clinical Extreme Protect, EltaMD UV Skin Recovery, Ciele Prime & Protect—but this Clé de Peau option is magic in a bottle. There is no sunscreen that gives a better glow. It’s not my go-to for a beach day, but I swear by it under makeup. It grips onto foundation and provides a pearly sheen better than any primer to ever exist.
Sensitive skin and vitamin C serums are typically enemies. They can be too harsh, too active, and too irritating. I had really given up on finding one that worked for me until Molly Sims (a fellow perioral dermatitis and melasma girl) talked me into trying hers. I’m on my fifth or sixth bottle and have seen such a huge difference in my skin. I’m glowier, smoother, and brighter.
If you’re not down to splurge on Sturm, Embryolisse is just as incredible—and available at a fraction of the price. It’s a French pharmacy and makeup artist favorite for a reason. It instantly plumps my skin, works incredibly under makeup, gives a healthy dose of hydration. I go for the fragrance-free option to keep my skin happy and any flares at bay.
Easy, Glowy Makeup
I am not a makeup artist. You’re not going to find me with a blown-out smoky eye or eyeliner on the regular. Instead, I focus on products that are easy to apply, finger-friendly, and come equipped with a good glow. I’m also pretty conscious about the ingredients in my makeup products—nothing comedogenic or too fragrant is going near my face.
If I could only use one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be this. I wear shade two pretty much year-round. In the summer months, I’ll wear a thin layer solo for an all-over, slightly wet-looking glow. But in the spring, fall, and winter, I layer it under the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Stick, which is essentially a ring light in a tube.
With a reputation that precedes it, I am happy to confirm that the NARS concealer is worth every little bit of hype. It’s creamy, lightweight, and brightens the under eyes, bridge of the nose, and high points of the face. If dark circles are a concern (mine are) try layering an orange-tinted color corrector underneath. My go-to is Tom Ford’s Shade & Illuminate. It’s expensive, but one jar lasts me more than a year.
Introducing: my favorite discovery of 2025. The pigment housed in this watermelon-smelling, niacinamide-powered blush product is nothing short of impressive. I do three dots per cheek and blend it all out with my fingertips. It looks so natural and I never have to worry about patchiness or clumping.
I have waxed poetic about this tubing mascara to everyone with ears. It is truly the best tubing mascara on the market. I have sensitive, chronically dry eyes (because why wouldn’t I?) and this is one of the only formula to not give me bloodshot, watery eyes after use. It never smudges or flakes, defines each individual lash, and adds a good chunk of length. Buy this and you will not regret it.
For the eyeshadow inept (hi, yes, that would be me), Bodyography Glitter Pigments will have you cosplaying a makeup artist. I live and die for Off the Hook, the perfect taupe shade. One swipe with my fingers is a recipe for compliments. Bonus: this glitter eyeshadow has a better payoff than any of its expensive counterparts.
These are my best kept secret. Because my eyes are chronically bloodshot, I do not leave the house, go on a date, or head to an event without a drop in each eye. Within 60 seconds, all my redness disappears, the whites of my eyes appear whiter, and I swear by eyes look bigger. They’re Disney princess eyes in a bottle.
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