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Skin Care for Sensitive Skin: Best Ingredients to Use and Avoid


How to use PHAs: Like classic AHAs, polyhydroxy acids can be swiped on in toner form or applied via a brightening treatment or mask.

What to try: This toner chemically exfoliates just like an extremely tingly AHA toner, but thanks to the PHA swap, it sweeps away dead cells with zero sensation. You’ll still see plenty of brightening and smoothing, though.

The Inky List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Gentle Exfoliating Toner

The Inky List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Gentle Exfoliating Toner

$11

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Vitamin E

Why you should swap it out: The commonly used ingredient helps stop free radical oxidation and extend the shelf life of your product. But tocopherol (another name for the active) can also trigger contact dermatitis for a small percentage of people. Palm says this reaction will likely materialize as redness, rashes, irritation, itchiness, or a burning sensation.

What you should swap it with: Melatonin. The same stuff we rely on for sound sleep also acts as an indirect antioxidant in skin care. According to Palm, topically applied melatonin works by signaling enzymes that can trigger blocked or accelerated oxidation.

How to use melatonin: As you would with supplements, Palm suggests saving your topical melatonin for nighttime. “Especially when paired with a retinol alternative such as bakuchiol, melatonin enhances skin recovery, repair, and cell turnover,” she says.

What to try: This instant hit overnight mask, which sold out just 48 hours after launch, contains both bakuchiol and melatonin—plus hydrating squalane and soothing arnica.

Alpyn Beauty Calming Midnight Mask

Alpyn Beauty Calming Midnight Mask

$68

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Hydroquinone

Why you should swap it out: There’s plenty of controversy surrounding the melanin blocker (it fades hyperpigmentation) due to animal testing that raises questions about possible carcinogenic links. While the FDA still considers hydroquinone safe, it can also cause irritation, redness, and dryness for some.

What you should swap it with: Tranexamic acid. “TA is a potent new agent for the treatment of melasma, but without the irritation or risk of hydroquinone,” says Howe. The scientific community still isn’t quite sure how TA minimizes dark spots, although Howe says it may work via “anti-palmin activity, which leads to decreased melanin synthesis.”

How to use tranexamic acid: Apply TA-infused serums and spot treatments morning or night.

What to try: This serum contains 3% TA and kojic acid to fade dark spots. “Kojic acid, a natural byproduct of fermented soy sauce and rice wine, blocks the formation of melanin production,” says Howe. For a more budget-friendly offering, we also like Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Treatment, which contains 2% TA to even your skin tone.

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense

$98

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I Tried the 60-Second Face Wash Challenge, and It Changed My Skin


when taking a slower and more methodical approach to cleansing. (Jegasothy notes preservatives in cleansers also commonly cause irritation, and may have been the culprit.) So to give the 60-second face wash challenge a real try, I made the switch to low-surfactant formulas for a month, opting for concentrations of around 5%. I also made sure to follow Jegasothy’s instructions and spend the full amount of time at the sink. Because, as she puts it, if you don’t use these gentle cleansers longer, you might not be giving them enough time to truly do their job.

With that in mind, I tested out my new crop of cleansers, making sure to give each a full 60 seconds to work their magic, and came up with a newfound obsession for gentle face washes. I loved the Holifrog Shasta AHA Refining Acid Wash, which houses a party pack of exfoliating acids—the combination closely replicates the cleansing action of higher surfactants, but is gentle enough that it doesn’t irritate your skin. When I wanted to switch things up with a solid cleanser, I reached for the Arcona Kiwi Cream Bar, which swaps out sulfates for saponins (plant-derived surfactants that create foaming action). The result is a gentle cleanser that works up a more traditional lather, but doesn’t strip your skin. A solid choice for acne: the Kinship Naked Papaya Gentle Enzyme Face Cleanser. The creamy gel combines papaya enzyme and probiotics to exfoliate and support a healthy microbiome.

Holifrog Shasta AHA Refining Acid Wash

Holifrog Shasta AHA Refining Acid Wash

$38

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Arcona Kiwi Cream Bar Facial Cleanser

Arcona Kiwi Cream Bar Facial Cleanser

$40

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Kinship Naked Papaya Gentle Enzyme Face Cleanser

Kinship Naked Papaya Gentle Enzyme Face Cleanser

$20

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I also found oil cleansers to be particularly clutch for 60-second washing because you don’t have to spend too much time scanning ingredients labels—most of them naturally contain very low or no surfactants. I had the best luck with Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil, which is free of surfactants, emulsifiers, alcohols, salts, and water. The ritualistic experience is a good bet for dry skin. After massaging it in for a minute, wipe everything off with a damp cloth—no splashing of your face (and countertops) required. Cleansing balms work similarly, and I had no problem eating up 60 seconds with Ranavat Botanics Luminous Ceremony Cream Cleanser, a luxurious cream-balm hybrid. It smells faintly of fresh-cut flowers and feels amazing when you massage it in. Although the hero ingredient is manjistha, an Ayurvedic herb meant to clear blemished skin, the formula still manages to feel intensely moisturizing.

Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil

Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil

$43

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Ranavat Botanics Luminous Ceremony Cream Cleanser

Ranavat Botanics Luminous Ceremony Cream Cleanser

$42

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One month after my cleanser overhaul, I was treated to a spectacularly unforeseen outcome: My monthly cystic zit never surfaced. Even better: Another 30 days of slow and gentle cleansing yielded the same result. Jegasothy points to increased surface blood flow and circulation as a key benefit of extended cleansing, while Robinson says that a longer wash with lower-surfactant cleanser is “absolutely” more advantageous. “There’s less stripping,” he explains. I’m chalking up the Great Zit Disappearance of 2019—and my newfound glow—to the new habit. While both experts said they couldn’t pinpoint my skin’s sudden clarity to this specific change, I’m with the internet on this one: The 60-second challenge is gold.

Erika Stalder is a freelance beauty writer in Los Angeles. Follow her on Instagram @erikaxstalder.





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Clean Skin Care Routines: 4 Women With Great Skin Share Theirs


We all have those Instagram accounts we check daily, turn post notifications on for, and refer to in conversation like they’re our actual friends. If you’ve ever scrolled onto one of these photos and wondered, How does she do it? you’re in luck. Welcome to our series Insta Stalking, in which we talk to the women behind the accounts we’re obsessing over about their beauty secrets. Below, four women with great skin share their clean skin care routines.

Thanks in part to the internet, we now have more information than ever about what we are actually putting on (and into) our bodies. As women gain awareness and interest in what’s in their products, the “clean beauty” movement has rapidly grown. While there’s nothing wrong with pushing for products that are better for us and the planet, there are so many buzzwords—clean, green, natural, organic—floating around that it’s hard to sort through the noise. Add to the fact that every retailer and brand has their own definition of the word clean, and things can get a little murky.

Generally speaking, clean beauty refers to products free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrance (again, this varies depending on who you ask), but has grown to lump products with all-natural or organic ingredients. Some also take sustainability into account. There’s also a lot misinformed stereotypes associated with clean beauty: That it’s crunchy (think more Whole Foods than Sephora), ineffective, or expensive, which can make going green intimidating. To make things a little easier, we asked four women who are passionate about clean beauty to define what it means to them, and share their clean skin care routines. Read on for the products they can’t live without.

Gabby Azorsky, 23, e-commerce sales assistant in Brooklyn

The beauty industry is fairly unregulated, so it’s important to me to use products with ingredients and from companies that I trust (I follow the EU’s standards as a guideline, which has stricter policies than the US). Sometimes I’ll use a product that isn’t “clean” for special occasions or a fun makeup look, but for daily wear, keeping it clean makes me feel like myself.

I eat colorfully, organic, and as unprocessed as possible, and think of my personal care in the same way. Eating lots of leafy greens, nourishing foods, and drinking plenty of water is the most important part of my skin care routine. Product-wise, I like to keep it simple. I have a few core products that I stick to, and then rotate or play with new products as I run out. I also generally switch out my cleanser and face oil with the seasons.





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12 Best Silk Pillowcases for Smoother Hair & Skin


Few things are as soul-crushing as going to bed with a fresh blowout only to wake up with a rumpled mess of frizz. Chances are a night of particularly deep sleep has wreaked havoc on your hair at least once before, but the best silk pillowcases can help you avoid crazy bedhead in the future.

Aside from keeping your hairstyle intact, the smooth texture prevents hair breakage caused by friction (something that can happen with regular cotton pillowcases). What’s more—sleeping on a silk pillowcase can help prevent wrinkles, so bringing them into your bedroom could have a positive impact on your hair and skin, and who doesn’t want that?

Why should you use a silk pillowcase?

Derived from domesticated silkworms, silk pillowcases are naturally hypoallergenic, so they prevent build-up of dust mites, fungus, mold, and other allergens. Silk pillowcases also tend to be good heat regulators, which means no flipping your pillow over to the cold side every 20 minutes. But the main draw to silk pillowcases is the potential hair and skin benefits.

As mentioned above, delicate silk won’t cause fine lines that rougher materials, like cotton, are believed to contribute to, and they can actually help make your skin care products more effective. “They keep your products from escaping from your skin, so you can really ensure they are penetrating,” says celebrity facialist and La Mer global skin care adviser Georgia Louise. Last (and perhaps most importantly), they lessen the amount of breakage you get from moving around on your pillow while you sleep, making for smoother, healthier hair.

What’s momme, and how much of it do I want in my silk pillowcase?

Momme refers to the density of the silk and indicates the quality of the material. Think of it like thread count—where more threads mean extra durability, making for a more luxurious experience. A 12 to 19 momme count is perfectly fine, while 25 is top of the line. A 25 momme variety is going to be significantly more dense than 22 or 19 momme—and far more expensive. If it’s your first time buying a silk pillowcase, one with momme in the teens will get the job done. Really looking for a splurge? Pick an option that’s at least 22 momme and made with mulberry silk, which is basically the equivalent of Egyptian cotton. The fibers are longer and more uniform, so the fabric is smoother and will hold up through more washes.

What are the best silk pillowcases?

Great, we’ve convinced you. There are plenty of silk pillowcases out there, and we’ve tried many of them. In an effort to upgrade your beauty sleep, we asked our editors to test the best silk pillowcases out there and report back with their favorites. Read on to find out which brands made the cut.



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Pregnancy Skin Care: Best Tips for a Pregnancy-Safe Routine


My skin is still adjusting to pregnancy life, so I’m trying to give myself a little grace that this is just part of the process. I certainly don’t have a pregnancy glow, more like a few hormonal acne spots and undereye bags. I have had lots of issues with nausea and exhaustion, so I don’t have the energy to stand at the sink and do a long skin care routine. Three to five minutes, and I need to be done.

I’ve always been obsessed with beauty products. My pre-pregnancy skin care routine was pretty intense. I would try new brands and products every few weeks. If it was new and trending, I wanted in.

But with pregnancy, you have to be careful about what might be harmful to you and baby. Early on during my pregnancy I learned that I had to stop using tea tree oil, which I used faithfully on my breakouts, because it could potentially send me into early labor. It’s a muscle relaxant, and my doctor immediately alerted me that the scent alone could be a trigger.

Finding products that are safe and useful during pregnancy can be tough, so my pregnancy skin care philosophy became “get back to basics.” Clinique’s 3-Step System was one of my go-tos, since it had worked for me in high school when I had crazy hormonal outbreaks. I also indulged in my fair share of vitamin E oil. I really liked Nature’s Truth. The oil really helped with the extreme dry skin that pregnancy brought on.

That was probably the biggest change I had to deal with–I found that throughout each trimester, my face slowly became more and more dry. So every few weeks I found myself adding more moisture to my skincare regimen. I vividly remember my skin feeling rough and scaly the last week of my first trimester. It was so hard to camouflage the changes, especially because I kept my pregnancy a secret until 16 weeks. [Triena’s son, Brave, was born in late October 2019.] I indulged in facial masks, steam sessions, and heavy creams and oils. The Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator was one of my favorites.

My favorite part of my pregnancy was my second trimester. It was primetime! I had the mom-to-be glow, and my skin tone was even and radiant. I felt beautiful.

Aadilah Tootla Saley, founder of South African modest apparel brand Zaynah

I have always been a firm believer in taking care of my skin through nutrition. Vitamins and raw foods are the best ingredients for hydrated, youthful glow. And eating a clean, balanced diet—including a lot of greens and protein—has always contributed to my skin being clear and bright. In the morning, I have a green smoothie with spinach, cucumber, green apple, and vegan protein powder. After my workout I usually have eggs. Lunch and dinner consist of fish or chicken, rice and broccoli. In between I eat plenty of fruit, and I keep away from dairy. I also take a marine collagen with vitamin C. I actually started my own supplement brand, called FitForce, to get the exact mix I like. It really makes a difference.

This is my second pregnancy, and my skin is still pretty clear and glowing, but relatively dry compared to normal. I don’t have specific brands I’m loyal to—I change it up depending on how my skin feels. But I do always use a face wash and a konjac sponge, followed by an SPF. At night, I use a cream and I add a lemon anti-bacterial night serum to deal with my skin dryness.

Sara Gaynes Levy is a writer in New York City. Follow her on Instagram @saragayneslevy.





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19 Best Skin Care Sets to Gift for the Holidays 2019


The holidays are fast-approaching, and between scheduling travel and nailing down gifts for friends, family, colleagues, and pets—clear complexions run the risk of being totally out of whack by the time the ball drops. Once reserved for hormonal, acne-prone teens or those seeking solutions for fine lines and wrinkles, detailed skin care routines are the now the norm. Which means a skin care set could be the greatest gift of all this season, especially for someone who prioritizes a radiant glow over of a full face of makeup.

Everyone has their own unique skin struggle, and for each individual concern, there’s a product ready to address it. But the cost of a well-rounded skin care routine adds up quickly, which is why bundles are your best friend. Several top brands offer skin care sets in one package—best-sellers like Sunday Riley’s Good Genes and Tatcha’s The Water Cream included—making it easier (and more affordable) to build out a stellar lineup at home.

In the world of skin care, there’s power in numbers—and miniature, curated sets also just so happen to be pretty adorable. Treat your friends and family to a glow-up this holiday season with 19 of the best skin care sets out there right now. We won’t blame you if you decide to snag one (or a couple) for yourself, too.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.



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