Q&A with an Allergist: How to choose products that won't irritate your skin

Get the lowdown on the best moisturizing cream for eczema patients, advice for avoiding common allergy triggers, and more.

Recently I had the opportunity to conduct a Q&A with Dr. Ratika Gupta, an allergist and mom based out of New York. As someone who has eczema, I’m always on the lookout for tips on finding skin care products that won’t aggravate my skin. I really appreciated getting advice from a professional who specializes in this for a living. Read on to learn about her favorite product for soothing eczema, common allergy triggers in beauty products, and her thoughts on organic skin care.

Alba Botanica Fast Fix for a Pimple spot treatment review

This spot treatment includes some irritating ingredients that could make it too drying for some people with sensitive skin.

Who doesn’t love a good spot treatment? I’ve tried many kinds over the years—ones that contain salicylic acid, others that use benzoyl peroxide, ones that are clear gels, others that are thick pastes—but I like the ones that contain sulfur the most (even though they smell the worst). Alba Botanica Fast Fix for a Pimple spot treatment is one such spot treatment, and it’s also tinted. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients.

Missha Magic Cushion SPF 50 PA+++ (No. 27) review

This cushion compact isn't exactly 'magic,' but it does do a decent job of creating a smoother complexion and a dewy finish.

People in my family don’t wear makeup, so I never grew up buying or testing it out on my face. However, now that I’m a so-called “adult,” I find that, once in a while, I need a little something extra to make myself look just a tad bit more polished when I’m off to a party, wedding, or job interview. It turns out that compact cushions are perfect for people like me who don’t normally wear makeup.