5 Products that Saved My Sensitive Skin

You’ve probably noticed I’ve been posting less skincare product reviews and it was a break I definitely needed. Trying new products on a daily or even weekly basis can be overwhelming for my complexion.

Several weeks ago, I tested a new cult favorite mask, and my skin was never the same. I’ve always maintained pretty clear skin, thanks to good genes and a consistent skincare routine. However, that hasn’t been the case lately. Between breakouts, blackheads and redness, it’s been stressful trying to “normalize” my skin again.

Thanks to a handful of skincare products, I’m proud to share that I’m well on my way to happy, healthy skin. Here are five products I’ve been using consistently for several weeks now that saved my sensitive skin and brought me back to life:

Origins Cleansing Makeup Removing Jelly with Willowherb: I feel like I’ve been cheating on my Glossier Milky Jelly… but I don’t feel bad about it. The consistency is very similar to Milky Jelly except this cleanser is more jelly and less milky. I like to slather this on my face before I hop in the shower and just let it “melt” away the makeup. After a few minutes I splash some warm water on my face to rinse. I just love how soft and smooth my skin feels after using this.

Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream: I have combination/really dry skin and this exfoliator really works its magic to remove dead skin cells without leaving my skin red and blotchy. I use this twice a week after cleansing. This is definitely a “luxury” beauty product but totally worth every penny.

Tula Pro-Glycolic pH Resurfacing Gel*: These Tula products are relatively new to my routine but the more I use them, the more I love this brand. For starters, this is a gel toner… which honestly took me by surprise because I’m so used to liquid toners. I’ve been using it once or twice a week after I cleanse and before I moisturize. Compared to other toners, this feels less tingly and has no odor. While I’ve only been using it a few weeks, I have started to notice reduced redness and improvement in my skin texture.

Tula Aqua Infusion Oil-Free Gel Cream*: After using the toner, I’ve been using 2-3 pumps of this oil-free moisturizer. The lightweight consistency makes it a perfect moisturizer for summer and it feels so good on my sensitive skin. I also love the pump applicator, I never have to worry about wasting any product.

OLEHENRIKSEN Cold Plunge Pore Mask: I think this will be my go-to mask for summer. It’s a very minty cooling mask (with a matching bright green color) that doesn’t irritate my skin. It also dries pretty quickly without feeling too tight. After rinsing it off, the sides of my nose and forehead feel super smooth and clean. The cooling effect is not as intense as you would imagine—but it’s definitely refreshing for the summer months.

I did my best to swatch each of these products on my hand so you can get a closer look at what each one looks like. The bright green/turquoise is the pore mask, the top right is the jelly cleanser from Origins, in the middle is the Tula oil-free gel moisturizer, the bottom right is the toner, and the bottom left is the exfoliator.

I’d love to know if you’ve experienced similar skincare issues and what products you used (especially if you have sensitive skin) to help you bounce back. 

*Means product was free but I only write about products I’ve tried and loved. These are my honest thoughts. 

Sensitive Skin Essentials