With so much chaos and stress in my life right now (busy work season, not sleeping great, just… a lot), I wanted to lean on the skincare routine I always come back to: my holy grails. In this video I walk you through both my daytime and nighttime “fallback” routine—the products that feel like instant comfort and keep my skin steady when I’m not actively testing new launches. It’s very bare-bones in the best way: effective cleansing, redness + acne support, barrier comfort, and a glowy base that still feels lightweight. I start with my holy grail cleansing balm (Remedy for pre-cleansing) and my go-to gel cleanser (Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée) because I care most about cleansers actually cleansing—without leaving me dry or sensitized. From there, azelaic acid is non-negotiable for me (TIRTIR 12%) for redness, acne, and post-acne marks. I also break down my night actives (Differin for active breakouts and Geek & Gorgeous A-Game as my retinal option), plus my “no chance” spot treatment (The Ordinary sulfur) when I feel a zit coming. To round it out, I layer in ectoin comfort (The Ordinary microemulsion), antioxidant/barrier support (Remedy Daily Defense), my perfect peptide moisturizer (Stratia Interface), and I seal dry areas with Prequel’s ointment. And because it’s daytime, we finish with my comfort sunscreen: Round Lab Birch—plus a couple makeup extras I love for a glowy, acne-friendly finish.