My words on this matter are purely anecdotal; I don’t assume that what works for my skin (oily/dehydrated, mature, acne prone) will also work on or for other people. I’ve come to rely on three (maybe four) products in the event that my skin gets irritated. My skin complains are usually due to prolonged exposure to heat (I sauna regularly and teach in infrared heat), my routine dermaplane (which is usually fine but occasionally aggressive), or a nasty combination of oil and bacteria and the threat of a pimple.
These products stay in constant rotation for both quick fixes and anytime I want to add a distinctly soothing touch to my skincare routine.
I’m From Mugwort Essence contains one ingredient: Mugwort extract. It hydrates and calms my skin on contact. I’ve even put it directly on a pimple (before covering it up with a Hero Patch to take down the redness and help prevent scarring.
Mary & May Calendula Peptide Sleeping Mask is one of my favorite skin-soothing products. It’s wonderful as part of an indulgent facial, and it works very well as a sleeping mask. It doesn’t adhere to my linens, so I don’t have to stress about my sleeping positions throughout the night. And what I love most is that it actually serves as a moisture barrier; I can feel it when I rinse my face off in the morning.
Alteya Organics Rose Water is such a staple in my skincare routine. I use it as a toner, to rinse my face after teaching for hours, or just as a pick-me-up throughout the day. It’s antibacterial, so my acne prone skin loves it. I’ve been through more bottles of this stuff than I can count, and I don’t see letting it go any time soon.
The best part about all of these products are that they aren’t punitively expensive, and they’re fairly easy to access. They’ve been skin saviors for me when my skin gets a little too reactive. Here’s hoping they’ll work for you too!