Best Skincare Routine for Dry, Sensitive Skin
It has taken me a long time and a lot of trial and error to find a skincare routine that works for my dry, sensitive skin. My mom got me into skincare when I was in middle school, and over the years I’ve tried just about everything - from drugstore picks and Sephora sets to medical grade skincare from dermatologists and estheticians. These are the products that I’ve found give the best results and are truly worth the money, along with a few budget-friendly options, too.
morning skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin
In the mornings, I typically only splash water on my face. Washing your face too much can dry it out, and I’ve found that just water does the trick for me. if you are like me and hate the feeling of water dripping down your arms, add a scrunchie to each wrist as it catches the water for you.
vitamin C serums
Dr. Dennis Gross 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum - I like that you can get this at Sephora or most department stores, and it’s gentle enough to use daily while still seeing and feeling an improvement. A little goes a long way, so it’s worth the price.
Obagi Professional C Serum - This is the first Vitamin C serum I tried, and it comes in three different strengths (10%, 15%, and 20%) so you can acclimate your skin slowly, which is key for dry, sensitive skin as it’ll dry your skin out if it’s too strong. This product can also have somewhat of a sticky texture so it’s a nice primer for makeup later on.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum -This has more of a creamy texture as opposed to the sticky texture you find with a lot of Vitamin C serums, and it doesn’t have a harsh scent to it. While it is white in color, it goes on sheer, so if you don’t like the orange color of other Vitamin C serums, I recommend this.
Biossance Squalene & Vitamin C Rose Oil - This is my nighttime oil, but i’ll also wear it during the day if i don’t plan on wearing a lot of makeup or am dealing with dry patches. It is probably the most mild Vitamin C formula you will find, and while some of the other products I mentioned have stronger Vitamin C in them, this adds a ton of hydration and glow to your skin. I can’t go a day without using it.
eyes treatments
Tula Skincare 24-7 Power Swipe Hydrating Day & Night Treatment Eye Balm - This is easy to use and glides well; your eye area is sensitive so you don’t want anything that will pull or tug. The formula is lightweight and doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.
Tula Skincare Rose Glow + Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm - This has a pink tint and slight shimmer (not glitter) to give you a brightening effect and glow underneath your makeup. I apply it under my eyes as well as to the top of my cheekbones where you’d usually apply highlighter. Tula often comes out with other tints (like blue or gold) and they’re just as good, too.
moisturizer
Yonka Booster Defense+ - One of the biggest struggles of having dry skin is putting on your makeup and then seeing dry patches emerge, because you know your makeup isn’t going to apply as nicely. To prevent this, I like to add this really lightweight oil as my base. It absorbs quickly and your makeup lays over it really nicely. It hydrates those dry patches and also protects your skin from pollutants. I don’t buy skincare based on scent, but this has a really light herbal scent that reminds me of a day spa.
Obagi Medical Hydrate Facial Moisturizer - A straightforward moisturizer totally worth the money. I’ve tried so many different moisturizers over the years, and I think this is the best. It’s unscented, lightweight, won’t clog your pores, and doesn’t make you greasy. They also offer a luxe version if you want something heavier.
Yonka Sensitive Creme - Having sensitive skin, I deal with redness quite a bit. This is a green-tinted moisturizer, and the green cancels out the redness better than most color-correcting makeup primers that I’ve tried. It’s also not greasy, light-weight, and unscented.
sunscreen
PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 - More often than not, I use this sunscreen on my face even though I think it’s marketed for body, and the brand has face-specific formulations. Living in southern California and spending time outside, I need a higher SPF, and this doesn’t need to be reapplied as often as the products they make specifically for your face. This is a clean brand and it doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts.
Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 Sunscreen with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide - When i want extra glow, I like this shimmery sunscreen in the shade Sunrise. It gives you a good glow without any chunky glitter, and doesn’t break up or cause your makeup to separate throughout the day.
lips
Supergoop! PLAY Lip Shield SPF 30 - I need SPF for my lips every day, so i buy the three-pack of these and keep one in pretty much every bag.
Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy - This feels like a true lip gloss but isn’t sticky. The coconut scent is light, and the tinted options are really pretty, too.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm - This is really lightweight, and comes in a few different shades if you prefer a tint. It’s not thick enough for me to wear at night, but I like it for daytime.
nighttime skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin
makeup remover
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover - I use this only to take off my waterproof mascara; it dries out the rest of my skin too much.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm - This is the best cleansing balm on the market, and truly worth the money. I previously used the Farmacy Clearly Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm but found it left a film and didn’t fully remove my mascara. While the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm isn’t a “clean beauty” product and does contain fragrance, it hasn’t irritated my skin or caused breakouts, and it easily removes all of my makeup.
cleanser
SkinMedica AHA/ BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - My favorite cleanser; this is a gel but lathers well and doesn’t dry me out. The only downside for me is that local stores don’t sell it in person, so I always try to have a back-up on hand for when I run out, or take advantage of the discount by subscribing on Amazon.
Murad AHA/ BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - Murad also provides a really similar version; this one is a little more watery in texture and laters a little foamier than the SkinMedica version. I like that you can get this at Sephora or a department store, which makes it more convenient to repurchase.
ZO Skin Health Hydrating Cleanser - This is a really foamy cleanser if you like a good lather. I recommend this to everyone who has really dry or sensitive skin, as it is it so gentle, especially if you don’t want to use a chemical exfoliant on a daily basis. I typically travel with this since the air conditioning in hotels/ on planes can be really harsh, and you only need the smallest amount so it lasts a while.
exfoliator
ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish - The only exfoliator I’ll use, and 100% worth the price. I’ve tried other options, but this is the best. It has a fine grain that you can work into your face really well without causing any micro-cuts or damage to your skin barrier.
toner
Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel - I wish I could use these every day, but they’re a little pricey so I reserve them for when I’m breaking out, wearing makeup more frequently, traveling, or have a special event coming up. Elemis and Tarte make similar versions, but I like that the Dr. Dennis ones come in different strengths so you can pick the best intensity for your skin. I started with the sensitive formulation and have worked up to extra strength, so I think you can find a strength that works for you no matter how sensitive your skin is. They tingle slightly but I swear that makes me feel like it is working even better haha. These also don’t dry out my skin, even when I was using them daily.
moisturizer
Obagi Medical Hydrate Facial Moisturizer - The most straightforward moisturizer you can get, and I love that this works on all skin types. It doesn’t leave you greasy, doesn’t leave a white cast or wierd residue, and you can use it day or night. There’s also a luxe version, which I use during the colder months.
retinol
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex - Retinol is really tricky for dry, sensitive skin; take your time introducing it into your regimen. There are different strengths (0.25, 0.5, and 1) so start small and slowly work up to a stronger version if you’re not seeing results, but be patient. Going too hard will cause dry patches and irritate your skin. I skip retinols in the summer or when i’m traveling, and honestly only use it 2x a week. You only need the smallest amount so it will last you a while.
face oils
Biossance Squalene & Vitamin C Rose Oil - I’ve been using this for years and it was the first oil I tried for my face. I definitely thought oils would clog pores and cause breakouts, but it keeps my skin balanced so i’m not breaking out or dealing with dry spots. The vitamin C is very gentle, too.
Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil - This is newer to me, but I love the scent. It is really hydrating and I like it more than their Phoenix oil (which caused me to breakout). A little goes a long way, and I like to keep the extra on my hands.
overnight lip mask
LanoLips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm - This brand is my absolute favorite for a night lip mask. I’ve tried absolutely everything (Summer Fridays, Bite, Laneige) and this is the only one that lasts until morning. If i have any dry spots on my face, i’ll also apply this as a spot treatment and it heals them overnight.