The 32 Skincare Products We Rely On Over And Over Again
Getting the most out of your skincare routine starts with understanding which products best target your specific needs. There's no singular regimen that works for everyone, but there are products that we turn to time and time again. With the ever-expanding skincare space, narrowing down your search can become a tedious, even defeating process. And with the changing of seasons, you may be seeking out ways to optimize your routine, introduce new products to your process, or tackle different skin complications as your needs change.
Oxygenating Cream
As cooler weather creeps up on us, it's important to find a face cream that is rich enough to soothe the driest of skin without being overly-oily or heavy. Guinot's BiOXYGENE oxygenating cream works with all skin types, but vitamin E and green tea extract fights fine lines and other signs of aging, while soothing and protecting against environmental irritants.
Differin Gel Acne Treatment
Found in many prescription acne medications, the adapalene in Differin's gel treatment targets clogged pores and inflammation, and can be used daily without irritation.
Hyaluronic Acid
It's easy to forget that standard moisturizers don't do much to actually hydrate the skin, so incorporating a hyaluronic acid is key to a supple complexion. Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by your body, but most can use the extra boost from a well-formulated serum. The Ordinary's is a cult favorite.
Phytoactive Hydra-Firm Intense Mask
Plant extracts are incredibly important in creating firm, strong, and plumped skin, and Dr. Timm Golueke's royal fern mask uses chlorophyll and royal fern complex to do so. The best part: you don't have to wash it off, so it's perfect for some overnight rejuvenation.
Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel
Everyone can benefit from the occasional use of an exfoliant, but not all are created equal. Naturopathica's enzyme peel is delicate enough for sensitive skin, but thanks to the AHAs in its formula, helps with uneven texture, fine lines, and dry skin.
Indian Healing Clay
A budget-friendly cult favorite, this bentonite clay powder (which can be mixed with water or apple cider vinegar to create a mask) sucks up dirt and oil from your skin, reducing impurities and leaving your face feeling clean and smooth.
Acne Spot Treatment
For stubborn, deep pimples, Clean & Clear's spot treatment works impressively fast at breaking down acne, while reducing the size, redness, and swelling of pimples.
Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil
The calming and nourishing properties of lavender oil, plus the acne-fighting and inflammation-reducing properties of primrose oil make Kiehls's Midnight Recovery Concentrate so effective. Even when used once every week, the face oil restores dry, tired, acne-prone skin quickly and delicately.
Purifying Cleanser
An all-natural cleanser featuring 17 high-performance ingredients like pomegranate and papaya enzymes to sweep away surface impurities, dirt, and debris without dehydrating the skin. When you rinse, skin will feel cool and refreshed and the scent is divine.
Power D Treatment Drops
Provitamin D proves a game-changer for anyone whose skin is looking a little worse for the wear, whether that's because of acne, rosacea, or dryness. Think of this like a protective coating for your skin, banishing environmental aggressors and reinforcing a healthy lipid barrier. Simply put: your skin will be healthier no matter when you use this.
Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
If you're seeking an eye cream that's gentle and hydrating, but still wears well under makeup, look no further than Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment. Pat on daily for hydration, courtesy of rich avocado oil, and protection against the first signs of aging in the eye area.
Pixi By Petra Glow Tonic
The internet's favorite exfoliating toner, and for good reason. Aloe vera and glycolic acid gently, symbiotically soothe and exfoliate, revealing brighter, glowing skin. Bonus: it's good for all skin types.
Hydrating Accelerator
A moisturizer, toner, and hydrator in a handy spritz format. Aloe and herbal anti-inflammatories calm and relieve redness, while helping the skin reset its ability to heal itself. Use as a booster for other hydrating creams, balms, and serums and you'll see a major difference.
Protini Polypeptide Cream
Drunk Elephant's Protini is like a protein shake for you skin. The blend of actives and peptides work together to improve firmness and elasticity, leaving you with a complexion that is moisturized and strengthened, with signs of sun- damage, lines, and wrinkles diminished.
Amla Purifying Cleanser
A classic cleanser that lightly foams while it cleanses with aryuvedic amla extract and green papaya enzymes, which remove impurities and helps unclog pores to reveal bright and radiant skin with reduced inflammation.
C E Ferulic with 15% L-ascorbic acid
For those who find classic vitamin C serums slightly irritating or drying, behold SkinCeuticals GOAT (Greatest of All Time) serum that has a blend of 15 percent pure vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to enhance protection against environmental damage and atmospheric aging.
Rapid Response Detox Masque
Rouleau's mask is liquid gold. Smooth it on to remedy anything from pre- menstrual acne to post-party puffiness. The blend of soothing allantoin, hydrating hyaluronic acid, exfoliating BHA, and microbe- and bacteria-busting manuka and tea tree oils makes this one of the most versatile treatments in any beauty lover's arsenal.
Black Rose Cream Mask
There's a reason why Hollywood's biggest beauty pros reach for this when prepping their clients for A-List events. It's perfect for when you need to look fresh and youthful in a jiffy: swipe on a thick layer and watch all evidence of fatigue vanish in just 15 minutes.
TCA Lactic & Glycolic Body Peel
Bodies can have breakouts too, and when that happens, look no further than this self-neutralizing blend of five exfoliating acids (lactic and salicylic included) strong enough to treat dark spots and body acne, but gentle enough for sensitive skin and eczema.
Hydraphase Intense Hyaluronic Acid Face Mask
Every mask collection needs a classic hydration treatment. French drugstore brand La Roche-Posay's Hydraphase Intense Mask intensely plumps and rehydrates for long-lasting dewiness. Pro-tip: pop it on during a long haul flight to keep your skin bouncy and fresh for touchdown.
The Problem Solver
May Lindstrom's small-batch skincare has a cult-following for a reason, and The Problem Solver is proof of why. Mix with water to form a mousse made of antioxidant rich cacao, activated bamboo charcoal, salts, and spices that brighten, heal inflammation and irritation, fade hyper-pigmentation, stimulate collagen production and prevent breakouts. See? That's why they call it the 'problem solver. '
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
Sure, the name says 'night', but you can use this anytime of the day to improve moisture and radiance, and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It all comes down to patented ChronoluxCB technology, which harnesses the skin's ability to naturally renew itself, ensuring skin always looks luminous and youthful.
Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel, 60 pack
Pre-packed so that you can boost your complexion on the go, Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel tackles everything from fine lines, large pores, dark spots, and breakouts thanks to a blend of willow bark extract, CoQ10, AHAs, and vitamin A.
Lash Conditioning Cleanser
If you have sensitive eyes that sting when you use eye makeup remover, then Talika's lash conditioning cleanser is non-negotiable. Not only does it prevent dryness and irritation of the eye skin, but hydrolized silk proteins help lashes stay strong.
Texture Reform Gentle Resurfacing Serum
The perfect gentle retinol for wetting one's feet in the retinoid game. Because it's a mild formulation it works to refuse sunspots and redness while softening fine lines, but without the dryness one might get from other vitamin A products.
Hyaluronic Acid Face Moisturizer
A simple formulation of mineralizing thermal water and hyaluronic acid delivers hydration, but also gently fortifies the skin barrier. Sure, it's fabulous for the most sensitive of skins, but great if you need a little moisture too.
Night Magic Intensive CBD Face Oil for Moisture & Radiance
This blend of 300 mg of broad-spectrum hemp CBD, moringa oil, and prickly pear, isn't just soothing and coddling to dry skin that needs some love. Vitamin k, fatty and amino acids work to brighten the skin, while vitamins A and C boost glow considerably. A couple of drops go a long way to add some luxury to your day.
Kantic+ Intensely Nourishing Cream
Red and dry skinespecially sensitized skindoesn't stand a chance to the powers of this emollient packed cream. Between the jojoba, grapeseed extract, and blueberry-derived antioxidants, tightness and discomfort is relieved, the skin is plumped, and redness is reduced almost completely. Also, the moisturizer is great for menopausal-related skin flare-ups.
Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%
Not only is Naturium's Niacinamide serum formulated with a 12% concentration of the texture minimizing ingredient, but it also boasts 2% zinc to help reduce oil production and reduce congestion. But this isn't just a serum that purifies the skin, it also has hyaluronic acid as well as vitamin E, to keep the skin barrier moist and youthful looking and help fade pigmentation. The all-rounder is also made with botanical ingredients, fragrance-free and pH balanced.
Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40
A good skincare routine isn't complete without a SPF that protects from UVA/ UVB damagebut Supergoop outdid themselves with a formulation that doesn't just protect your face, it also treats it with hyaluronic acid and B5 (for hydration), sea lavender (anti-oxidant protection) and cocoa peptides (to protect against blue light damage). And the glow it gives? Major.
Como Popp-E Renewal Scrubby Wash
This scrub essentially exists at the intersection of a face oil, a cleansing gel, and a physical exfoliant, so it's great for skin that's dry, acnei and even sensitized. You get all the benefits of a manual exfoliant (without jagged shells thanks to poppy seeds and bamboo powder) in an ultra cushiony base, so skin feels polished and dewy, not raw and irritated after use. Add to your routine if you need an exfoliation boost and reap the smooth, silky, and hydrated rewards.
Hot Flash Cooling Mist
Who doesn't love a hydrating mist? Pause Well-Aging has upped the ante on the mist game with a formulation meant to provide instant relief from hot flashes that peri-menopausal and menopausal women get, reducing the skin's temperature and calming redness. But beyond that, the proprietary pause complex blend and false daisy extract, holy basil leaf and menthol, all work together to help boost collagen production and minimize fine lines.