Cassandra Bankson's Sensitive Skin Guide: What She Rates and What She Skipped

"This right here is the Airy Sunstick Soothing Bar SPF50+ PA+++, and it's [...] water resistant for 80 minutes. [...] It might look like a deodorant for your face, but it is literally one of the most beautiful sun sticks in the entire world. You can use it on your face, you can use it on your chest, you can use it on your neck. It goes on like a dream. It's kind of like this half moon shape, so it's really easy to apply, especially to the contours of your face. It feels like mango butter on the skin. This is one of probably the best sunsticks I've ever used. It's great for combo skin, it's great for all skin types. If [...] you want something right in the middle, this one layers well over and under makeup, over and under other sunscreen. It's water resistant. This is absolutely one of the best Korean beauty sunscreens I have ever used. [...] The sun filters it uses are both Korean and American, so you're getting the best of both worlds because you're not getting the greasy nastiness and the white casty that comes from America."

"The INKEY List does toners phenomenally, and I don't know why they don't get a lot of attention for that. This is the PHA, polyhydroxy acid, toner. [...] If the Ordinary's toning solution is too much for you, this is a godsend, it's your guardian angel. [...] It is non-irritating compared to the Ordinary's, and yet it's a little bit hydrating and nourishing to the skin. It has a really low molecular weight, [...] I think it's 73 or 74 grams per mole, but it's absolutely wonderful. If your skin needs a little bit of a glow, maybe you have a little bit of acne or post acne marks, this stuff is so good. Polyhydroxy acid is a big, thick, chunky molecule. These PHAs are super good at holding onto water and they kind of hang out on top of the skin because of how big and chunky they are. They don't penetrate, but they exfoliate gently on top, and they're really good at holding moisture into the skin. It's like a leveled up, even more sensitive version of the glycolic toner, so if you're super sensitive and even glycolic is too much for you, or if you're much drier and you just need the moisture, that's when the PHA comes in."

"This one from Bubble, the Overnight Hydrating Sleep Mask, I absolutely love because of the applicator you can twist it on or off so it's really easy to carry with you on the go, but it's also something that I can keep by my bedside. One pump and it's so gooby and hydrating. It doesn't tent up the same way that other ones do, but this one is so good and so luxurious on the skin. I would say that this is the best luxury option that doesn't cost a luxury price. They also recommend that you use this over damp skin, so if you do have a toner in your routine or a serum or some other form of moisturizer, this is fantastic to layer with. This is an absolute slam dunk."

"The hyaluronic acid watery sun gel is one of my favorite sunscreens [...] of all time. [...] It even works on my oily prone skin because it's actually hydrating. Oily skin can be dehydrated and I feel like this hydrates deep down. This does have hyaluronic acid but it goes on so beautifully and it actually keeps the skin moist. It doesn't have a tint, [...] but if you're looking for [...] intense hydration, this is it. And for 18 to 25 bucks, K Beauty has done it again. [...] I've purchased so many of these that I am out now."

"The Squalane + Omega Repair Cream is phenomenal. I have been going through this and I barely have any left because it is just that good. I have had to rely on this when my skin is dry, dehydrated, and hurting. This has both squalane as well as Omega fatty acids which really help to nourish and protect the skin. These oils help to lock in moisture deep in the skin, but they also help to fend off dryness from the outside. When you apply them to the skin, they soak in and coat the skin, but then they protect you from losing water from the inside of the skin out, which is called transepidermal water loss. It also prevents the dry, blistery crack from the outside world from being able to touch your skin because it coats the skin so well. This is phenomenal, and it's also a really good eco-friendly option because of the glass package."

"This is one of the best and it's inexpensive. [...] This is the natural moisturizing factors plus phytoceramides and if you are looking for one of the richest most hydrating but inexpensive creams that The Ordinary has to offer this is going to be it. This is kind of the updated version of their NMF moisturizer which I personally love but this is the phytoceramides, phyto coming from plants and ceramides relating to those fatty acids that are so amazing in our skin and they actually make up half of the very outside layer of our skin. The problem is as we get older as weather changes as temperature changes and as our stress levels change our skin can kind of start breaking those ceramides down or not building them back and replenishing them as needed and that's why a great moisturizer is essential. This is so good but it is so hydrating. For me acne and oily prone, not my top one, not my favorite, [...] but this one is amazing for dry skin. [...] It's like butter, it's like vegan ceramide butter. [...] It is so nice and I have used this as like a night mask but for dry skin this is perfect for everyday. What's great about this formula is that it's also got glycerin, remember that's that humectant that we also found in the cleanser, so this is giving you a leave on form of the same ingredient that was in here that's so good for the skin."