Makeup Worsened My Acne-Prone Skin, so I Created My Own Skincare-Spiked Formulas

The Lineup is a monthly series where we're giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of the most sought-after experts and tastemakers in the industry. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can't-live-without products that make their worlds go 'round.

If there's one thing I've learned about beauty, it's that your makeup is only as good as your skincare. When I was younger, I neglected to nourish my skin with the right ingredients, instead covering up my redness and blemishes with heavy makeup and wondering why my skin still didn't look better. Well, after some trial and error, I learned that following a consistent skincare routine is the key to unlocking your makeup's maximum potential. You want to make sure your skin is glowy and lifted before a drop of highlighter or a swipe of bronzer even touches your face.

What if your makeup could benefit your skin as much as your skincare products? That's exactly what Sheena Zadeh set out to do with clean beauty brand Kosas. "I struggled with sensitive, acne-prone skin growing up and the endless cycle of makeup making my skin worse," she tells me. "This personal struggle ignited my desire to create products that not only enhance beauty, but also support skin health." Each Kosas product is infused with ingredients that hydrate, brighten, or soothe—including a hyaluronic acid–infused blush, a castor oil–spiked brow pencil, and a foundation that contains niacinamide and caffeine. "It's makeup that you can feel good about wearing, knowing it's doing something positive for your skin."

If you also want to give some extra love to your lashes, today Zadeh is launching a new mascara that helps give you long, fluttery lashes—even after you take it off. "It took years of development to create this mascara," she explains. "I wanted to get the formula just right." According to Zadeh, this mascara and lash serum hybrid doesn't just lengthen and lift your lashes, but actually helps grow them. The formula includes an amino acid peptide called myristoyl pentapeptide-17, which is incredibly effective for lash growth. Want in? Keep scrolling to get your hands on this new mascara and the rest of Zadeh's favorites, from her go-to hair tool to the only micellar water she uses.