A new Go-To for sensitive skin

As a 42-year-old, perimenopausal gal with very dry, very reactive skin, product testing, for me, is an extreme sport. Great fun, high risk, high reward (sometimes). When Go-To Skincare asked if I'd like to test their new sensitive range, I jumped at the opportunity (then called my bestie and squealed because what do you mean Go-To asked if I wanted to test their new sensitive range?).

What is sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin is caused by differences in how your skin barrier functions. These differences leave your skin vulnerable to everyday triggers that might have no effect on other people's skin.

People with sensitive skin might experience stinging, burning, itching, dryness or breakouts when exposed to things like harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures or environmental factors.

There are some skincare ingredients, like fragrance and essential oils, that commonly irritate sensitive skin. That doesn't mean they're unsafe or shouldn't be in beauty products. If you've got sensitive skin, pay attention to your triggers and patch test, patch test, patch test.

Sensitive by Go-To

Like so many Aussie women I've loved Go-To for over a decade. Founded by Head Girls Girl, Zoe Foster-Blake, the brand is playful, intentional and makes skincare fun. A loyal daily Face Hero girlie for years, I was devastated when, with age, my skin sensitivity got worse and I had to stop using the oil. When I heard Go-To launched were launching a sensitive range, it felt like getting ready to catch up with an old friend.

Sensitive by Go-To is made up of five new products: the Mellow Milk cleanser, Much Calmer Skin serum, Supremely Soothing Moisturiser, Gentle Exfoliator toner and Soothe Operator Mask. Each has been formulated without fragrance or essential oils and is approved by the Eczema Association of Australasia.

I would have loved to see some independent third-party testing results for the range, but clinical data and product claims are based on ingredient supplier testing, rather than the Go-To products themselves.

My first impressions of the range were exceptional. I started using Mellow Milk, Much Calmer Skin and Supremely Soothing Moisturiser during a skin sensitivity flare brought on by travel. My skin was spotty, extra red and uncomfortably dry. Within three days, the spots were all gone, my skin tone was back to normal and my skin felt hydrated and supple again. 

Mellow Milk has a rich, creamy texture that gently removes sunscreen and daily yuck in one cleanse. During testing, I massaged the product onto dry skin (as directed) for 30 seconds, then added water and massaged for another 30 seconds before rinsing. My face felt super clean, well hydrated and calm after every cleanse. No tightness, no discomfort, no worries.

Key ingredients: Colloidal Oatmeal (soothing), Saccharide Isomerate (hydrating), Glycerin (hydrating)

Much Calmer Skin is my favourite serum discovery for 2026. I said it! Like Mellow Milk, it's rich and creamy, but it melts into the skin quickly for an instant (yes, instant) soothing effect. My skin felt softer, supported and immediately more comfortable after each use.

I've got very dry, very needy skin, but I don't always want to use moisturiser at night. Much Calmer Skin has become my substitute when my skin needs a little love, but I want something light. It's so nourishing and hydrating that I don't need to add a moisturiser to keep my skin calm and balanced.

Key ingredients: Sea Buckthorn Extract (soothing), Oat Kernel Oil (nourishing), Bacillus Ferment (soothing)

The texture of Supremely Soothing Moisturiser is unbelievable. Dense, creamy, silky, luxurious, it's become the standard against which I'll measure all rich moisturisers in the future.

I prefer gel moisturisers during the day, so I only used Supremely Soothing Moisturiser at night. In the morning, my skin always felt supported, calm and super comfy, even after cooler nights that normally leave my skin flaky and a bit rough.

Key ingredients: Oat Kernel Oil (nourishing), Centella (soothing), Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract (soothing, hydrating)

The Gentle Exfoliator has been developed with Lactic Acid, an alpha hydroxy acid known to support cell turnover with minimal irritation.

My fussy skin doesn't respond well to leave-on exfoliating products. So, during testing, I only used Gentle Exfoliator once a week, always in the evening, followed by Much Calmer Skin and Supremely Soothing Moisturiser. My skin was quite red for about an hour after application, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. In the morning, my skin felt smooth and looked clear with no signs of irritation (yay!).

Key ingredients: Aloe Vera Leaf Juice (nourishing, soothing), Lactic Acid (exfoliating)

The Soothe Operator Mask is my favourite sheet mask ever. The tissue is drenched (drenched!) in a gorgeous, silky, milky serum that instantly calmed my skin.

I used the mask during a level 10 skin crisis...

It's 9:00 am and I have a photoshoot at 11 o'clock. My skin is flaring so it's red, hot and spotty. I try to cover it (my face, my flare, my insecurity) with makeup but my skin immediately starts stinging, so I have to remove the products and cleanse (again). My skin is miserable. Thinking it can't get any worse, I decide to test Soothe Operator. Within minutes the stinging stops, and my skin is cooled. I remove the mask. My skin looks gorgeous (see piccy). Calm, no redness, glowy, comfy.

Soothe Operator is the treatment I never knew I needed and now can't live without.

Key ingredients: Oat Kernel Oil (nourishing, supportive), Sea Buckthorn Extract (soothing), Glycerin (hydrating)

Final thoughts

When I'm testing a full range of products, I consider each product individually then look for a theme - a thread - that connects the products. For Sensitive by Go-To, that thread is a glorious creamy comfort that calms and supports your skin.

It's everything I've come to expect from Go-To with a few surprises (see Soothe Operator Mask). The products work beautifully and feel sensational when used together, and they layer well with your other products and favourite active ingredients.

Much Calmer Skin and Soothe Operator have become essentials in my rescue routine. The combination of soothing botanicals, powerful humectants and nourishing oils supports and restores cranky skin like mine.

If you've got sensitive, sensitised, dry or stressed skin, the Sensitive by Go-To range will be a comforting addition to your gentle routine. Check out the range at gotoskincare.com.

Tenille Hellier is the founder of It’s Tenille, an online personalised skincare service based in Adelaide. A certified skincare coach, Tenille’s practice is build on the idea that skincare should be as simple as possible for consumers. Her personalised skincare plans and product recommendations are based on her rigorous product selection protocol because Tenille believes every product should earn its place in your routine. Book a free 15-minute skin chat with Tenille to figure out the right next step for your skin.

You can find Tenille on Instagram, Facebook and Substack. She’s not cool enough for TikTok.