My morning routine has changed drastically over the years, largely because I became a dad and switched careers. Before I made the leap into freelance writing, I was a communications consultant at a Very Corporate Company with a newborn at home. While juggling the high-wire act of new parenthood, a full-time day job, and trying to squeeze in writing between 9 p.m. and midnight, I burned out spectacularly. After a year of running on what felt like a never-ending hamster wheel of emails, diapers, and half-written drafts, I was cooked. With the support of my wife, I quit my day job to become the primary caretaker of our son (who’s five now) during the day and take writing more seriously at night, typically from 6 p.m. to midnight. What started as a temporary fix somehow stuck. The result? My circadian rhythm is now less corporate warrior and more creative raccoon.

Corporate Me woke up at 5:45 a.m. to work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Now that I control my schedule, I wake up around 7:45 or 8 a.m. That means no alarm clock, no chaos, just the gentle hum of responsibility waiting downstairs. It feels great. I usually shower in the morning and have my skin care routine dialed in. As a parent, time is money, so I stick to what works. After years of trial and error—thanks to eczema flare-ups and occasional skin irritation—I’ve figured out what my face and body will tolerate (and what they absolutely will not). Friends and relatives love to joke, “How do you never age?” First of all: genetics. Second: delusion. But also—serums, shave creams, cleansers, moisturizers—you get it. If I have a secret, it’s consistency and a bathroom cabinet that looks like a low-budget apothecary. So for anyone asking, here’s my nine-step morning (and sometimes night) routine.

My Nine-Step, Headache-Free Morning Routine for Sensitive Skin

The Superlative Shave Cream

Malin + Goetz Chamomile Shave Cream

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The Sensitive Cleanser

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Cleanser

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The Ultimate Body Bar

Bonjout Beauty Le Balm Unscented

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The High-Octane Hydrator

Ursa Major Alpine Rich Cream

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The Must-Have Moisturizer

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion

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The Shaving Cream: Malin+Goetz Chamomile Shave Cream

I shave once a week, either to go full baby-face mode or to carve out some much-needed neck-and-face separation while I grow out my struggle beard. For years, I used Malin+Goetz’s Vitamin E Shaving Cream until they discontinued it, but redemption came last year when they launched their chamomile shave cream, and my shaving ritual has been thriving ever since. I use about a nickel-sized amount. It lathers, but not in that over-the-top foam way, which means you can actually see the hairs you’re shaving. The chamomile and shea butter calm and soothe my skin (especially my sensitive neck), while glycerin and squalene help the razor glide smoothly and keep razor burn at bay. Once I’m finished, there’s a subtle cooling effect from the menthol that tones down any irritation or redness. For someone with delicate skin, this stuff has been a lifesaver.

The Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Milky Cleanser

I use this La Roche-Posay milky cleanser morning and night—and the same goes for my serum and moisturizer, since they’re all gentle enough to use more than once a day. I’ve tried other milky cleansers before, but none have left my face feeling hydrated after a pat-dry like this one. With only nine ingredients, one of them being the brand’s signature thermal spring water, it’s tailor-made for dry to very dry, sensitive, and allergy-prone skin. It’s super lightweight, non-foaming, and fragrance-free.

The Serum: Bonjout Beauty Le Balm

I’m fully aware the price is borderline berserk, but hear me out: This is the best serum I’ve ever used, and I don’t say that lightly. It took five years to develop, courtesy of French pharmacist Dr. Natacha Bonjout, who makes exactly two products: this one and a lightly scented version. That’s it. I use it as a serum, but technically it’s an 8-in-1 treatment salve, moisturizer, eye cream, night cream, lip care, primer, and overnight mask. Packed with hibiscus and prickly pear stem cells, plus ceramide III, it leaves my skin with a healthy sheen—not greasy. It genuinely makes my skin look stronger and more even. And because it’s a solid serum, you can toss it in your bag and take it anywhere.

The Moisturizer: Ursa Major Alpine Rich Cream

I’m a longtime fan of Ursa Major’s body oils for locking in moisture from the neck down, so naturally, I needed the same energy for my face. It’s a clean formula with zero synthetic fragrances, powered instead by a natural botanical blend that actually nourishes my skin. I love that it’s a thicker moisturizer—I want to feel the hydration, that plush, plump glow, and this absolutely delivers. With tremella mushroom to hydrate and absorb quickly, plus red maple bark to help soften the appearance of fine lines, it rounds out my facial routine. At night, especially in winter, when the heat is on full blast, I’ll layer a facial spray on top for an extra hit of hydration.

The Body Lotion: Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion

My affinity for the Oat-GOAT brand is well documented, and their body lotion is a forever resident in both my bathroom cabinet and my dopp kit. The fragrance-free formula has a creamy, no-nonsense texture that tackles dryness head-on, smoothing flakes and rough patches. Powered by the brand’s signature Triple Oat Complex (oat flour, oat extract, and oat oil), it calms irritation and alleviates itchiness. Honestly, the convenience alone puts it ahead of the pack. I can stroll into my nearest Target, grab a fresh bottle, and re-up before I even hit that tragic, pump-sputtering final squeeze.

The Hair Balm: Aesop Violet Leaf Hair Balm

I apply this to my damp hair straight out of the shower. It keeps things bouncy, not crunchy. The fragrance isn’t overbearing—just that signature Aesop scent: earthy, grounding, quietly expensive. You can thank camellia nut and carrot root extract for that. They smooth and condition while nourishing the scalp, and violet leaf oil brings a natural antimicrobial muscle to the mix. Shea butter steps in with moisture that doesn’t weigh my hair down. I usually scoop out a quarter-sized dollop. It’s lightweight yet effective, so my hair feels healthy and defined. It’s also one of the rare products my wife will sneak from my side of the sink to tame last-minute flyaways—so yes, it’s officially household-approved.

The Deodorant: Nécessaire The Deodorant

I’ve always tried to stick with gentle, lightly scented deodorants, but this one truly takes the cake. I’ve had some rough experiences in the past. Clear gels? Betrayal. They’ve broken me out thanks to all the alcohol and synthetic fragrance, and somehow they still manage to stain your shirts. Nécessaire’s deodorant, on the other hand, is free of aluminum, baking soda, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. It controls odor with a blend of zinc ricinoleate and triethyl citrate, and is formulated for sensitive skin with mandelic acid and niacinamide. And because I wear fragrance, I appreciate that there’s zero scent clash. The deodorant smell is nonexistent, as it should be.

The Toothpaste: TheraBreath Healthy Gums

Finding a trusty toothpaste is harder than it sounds. Some are great for whitening, others are made for sensitivity, and a few feel like you’re brushing with lava. TheraBreath is none of the above—in the best way. I originally bought the brand’s watermelon mouthwash for my son to make brushing feel less like a chore and more like a treat. While I was at it, I grabbed the Healthy Gums toothpaste because, one, you can’t have healthy teeth without healthy gums, and two, I figured my coffee habit could use all the backup it can get. Turns out, it’s a winner. It cleans deeply, doesn’t come with that five-alarm burn most toothpastes pride themselves on, and it’s gentle around my sensitive teeth. The formula is dentist-developed and uses stannous fluoride to reduce plaque along the gumline and help treat or prevent gingivitis. I’ve also noticed my teeth looking a bit brighter, which is impressive considering I drink several cups of coffee a day. It protects against cavities, keeps my gums happy, and, most importantly, doesn’t make me feel like I just gargled with alcohol.

The Scent: Le Labo Tonka 25

While this might be a deep cut from Le Labo’s greatest hits, it’s one of my personal favorites, and the one I’ve been faithfully spritzing every morning. I usually gravitate toward warm, woodsy scent notes, and while this one leans sweeter than I typically wear, there’s something about its softness that keeps me coming back for more. It’s faint in a way that feels intentional—subtle enough to make me reapply each morning. You’ll catch notes of Atlas cedar, styrax resin, orange blossom, and vanilla, layered with a powdery sweetness. I love how understated it is. It doesn’t barge into a room five minutes before you do—it lingers closely.