sensitive-safe makeup and skincare for when your routine needs to change

Some moments make you look at your bathroom shelf differently. A diagnosis, treatment, pregnancy, or simply a change in how your skin feels can make you look at your routine differently. You may find yourself reaching for simpler, more hydrating formulas that still feel like you. 

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're sharing a story from Alicia, who reached out to tell us what a gentler routine has meant for her mum. 

If you'd like a simple reminder this month, our guide to checking your breasts covers what to look for and when to speak with your doctor.

Prefer to read? Here's Alicia in her own words: 

"Towards the end of last year, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. This meant lifestyle changes while she undergoes treatment, including changing a lot of her skincare and beauty products. We were lucky enough to find Ere Perez, a beautiful natural alternative that has been so gentle on her skin while still maintaining the hydration she needs. 

Some of her favourite products are the Moringa All-Beauty Crème, which keeps her hydration so well, and the Oat Milk Foundation, which I also use, and we're both completely obsessed with. It's great for people with sensitive skin, maybe people with compromised skin who are undergoing certain treatments. It's a great brand to keep an eye out for." 

what do you reach for when your skin needs extra care? 

Alicia's mum is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, and with it came the need to rethink every product she used. She tried a few of our favourites in person through the testers at Activeskin, and two stayed. 

The first was the Moringa All-Beauty Crème, a rich yet comfortable moisturiser made with moringa seed oil to help nourish and soften the skin. For Alicia's mum, it became one of the products she continued reaching for when her skin needed extra hydration 

The second was the Australian Blue Cypress Face Nectar, a botanical face oil built around Australian blue cypress (Callitris intratropica), a native tree. Together, Alicia says, the two have been "so soothing" on her mum's skin and "great for restoring hydration." 

can sensitive-safe makeup still feel like you? 

It can, and for Alicia's mum that mattered as much as the skincare. Makeup is how many of us feel ready for the day. 

She recently started wearing the Oat Milk Foundation, which Alicia loves too. It's a clean foundation for sensitive skin: breathable, medium coverage, with a dewy finish, making it an easy everyday option when you want your base to still feel like skin.

In Alicia's words: "It means so much to have a brand this natural and beautiful available to her right now." 

how do you simplify your routine when skin feels more sensitive? 

Start with less. Skin going through treatment can feel drier and more reactive than usual, so a short routine of simple, hydrating formulas, like a face cream and a nourishing botanical face oil, often feels kinder than a shelf full of new products. 

Then look at what's missing from the label as much as what's in it. Your skin is your body's largest organ, and at Ere Perez we believe less is more. We leave out more than 2,700 ingredients because of concerns around safety, skin sensitivities and environmental impact. 

That includes parabens, sulphates including SLS and SLES, phthalates, talc, GMOs, phenoxyethanol, carmine, PFAS, formaldehyde, BHA, BHT, EDTA, nanomaterials and microplastics. These choices form part of our wider approach to creating considered, transparent formulas. You can read more about how we formulate in our Clean Beauty Benchmark.  We also generally formulate without fragrance. 

Skin is personal, so introduce one new product at a time, patch test first, and check in with your care team before adding anything new. 

Why do stories like Alicia's mean so much to us? 

Because they're the reason we make what we make. Our very first product, the Natural Almond Mascara, launched 24 years ago with one goal: thoughtfully formulated beauty designed to feel good on the skin. Stories like Alicia's mum's remind us why that goal hasn't changed. 

In an industry where standards can vary, we love working with our community to share what we know and make the switch to clean beauty feel easy. Reading a label should leave you feeling confident, not confused. 

Thank you, Alicia, for sharing your mum's story, and thank you to everyone who chooses clean beauty that cares for the earth and people. 

frequently asked questions

What's the best foundation for sensitive skin?
Look for a breathable formula that feels light on skin and matches your tone closely. The Oat Milk Foundation fits that brief, and Alicia and her mum both wear it. Our Find My Shade tool takes the guesswork out of the match, and it's worth checking against a tester in daylight too. 

Can I wear the Moringa All-Beauty Crème under makeup?
Yes. It sits comfortably under foundation as a hydrating prep, so your base looks smooth instead of dry. Give it a minute to absorb first.  

What is the Australian Blue Cypress Face Nectar?
It's our botanical face oil, made with Australian blue cypress, and one of the two products Alicia's mum reached for first. Pair it with the Moringa All-Beauty Crème if you'd like to build a simple, hydrating routine, as Alicia's mum did. 

What should I look for in skincare and makeup for sensitive skin during treatment?
Look for simple, hydrating formulas and introduce one new product at a time so you can see how your skin responds. If you are undergoing treatment, check with your healthcare team before introducing anything new.  

Are Ere Perez products fragrance free?
We generally formulate without fragrance, and our formulas are free from parabens and PFAS. Check the ingredient list on each product page for specifics, and ask us if you'd like help choosing

shop now

Oat Milk Foundation

Moringa All-Beauty Crème

Australian Blue Cypress Face Nectar

Black Tea Face Toner