If you know me, you know I have sensitive skin—partly because I don’t shut up about it, and partly because I have a rash, breakout, or irritation 70 percent of the time. I have rosacea, eczema, and perioral dermatitis, along with a general proclivity for mysterious red splotches and bumps. “Sensitive skin is generally characterized by the experience of unpleasant sensations like stinging, burning, pain, or tingling without any visible clinical signs,” board-certified dermatologist Dustin Portela, MD, previously told Marie Claire. “It’s a condition where the skin gets easily irritated by various elements such as skincare products, environmental factors, or physical factors.”
The best way to manage sensitive skin is to keep things pretty pared back—nothing too irritating or too fragranced. That said, as a beauty editor, I refuse to let my skincare routine be sterile and boring, so I’ve made it my mission to discover the most effective, gentle, still-look-pretty-on-a-vanity products. I’ve found soothing moisturizers and SPFs, along with skincare that excels at neutralizing redness. But my routine would not be complete without the best serums for sensitive skin.
