According to a BDG Trends Study, 41% of shoppers today say that customer reviews and recommendations from people they trust help them determine which skin-care products they’ll buy. Well, we (as in, our team of veteran beauty editors) are here to give you our top recommendations for skin-care essentials that are worth every penny. Our glowing reviews are based on formulas that feel good on skin, really impressive results, and these ten products’ creme de la creme quality ingredients. Because an investment in your skin is truly an investment in yourself — after all, what’s more confidence-boosting than skin you feel amazing in?
CLEANSERS & SCRUBS
1.
Looking for a non-stripping cleanser? This one gently removes stubborn makeup while nourishing with amino-acid rich soy proteins and soothing rosewater. A medley of borage seed oil and cucumber extracts add additional calming benefits that also help soften skin.
2.
This cushiony, sulfate-free gel cleanser is like the Goldilocks of face wash: It’s juust the right amount of deep cleaning without being stripping, and it’s hydrating, but not so much that it’ll clog your pores. It’s an everyday staple for any skin type, especially because it’s pH-neutral — whether you’re oily, acne-prone, dry, or somewhere in the middle, this formula is going to balance things out and leave your complexion looking and feeling healthy.
3.
You don’t need a harsh scrub for a more radiant complexion, and this water-activated exfoliating powder is proof of that. A little bit of H2O transforms the granules into a fluffy, coddling foam that gently buffs away dull skin with hojicha powder (an ancient green tea that’s rich in glow-boosting antioxidants), mung bean, oats, and brightening lactic acid. You can use it 2-3 times a week and expect the kind of luminosity that comes from a highlighter... only it’s your real skin.
4.
Oily skin 101: Look for a face wash that’s going to whisk away excess grease without leaving skin totally devoid of moisture. Even shiny types require adequate hydration. While $15 isn’t a crazy amount to shell out, we know there are cleansers for less but this one is totally worth those few extra bucks. The gel wash lightly foams to remove surface oil and relies on nourishing glycerin, soothing niacinamide, and skin-barrier-protecting ceramides to achieve equilibrium.
MOISTURIZERS
5.
In skin care, prebiotics act as building blocks for good, skin-balancing bacteria. This tinted fluid contains a mix of prebiotic-rich kombucha and fermented ginger combined with finely crushed, illuminating minerals. The result is a formula that not only looks good on skin but that actually does it good, too. Use it on its own for a subtle sheen or before makeup to give anything you layer on top a dewy base
6.
There are very few things that get a seal of approval as easily as skin care that’s been developed with plastic surgeons. This quick-absorbing moisturizer from It Cosmetics helps neutralize redness while also smoothing out the look of fine lines with ingredients like avocado, collagen, and plumping peptides. Pat it on when you wake up for skin so soft and glowy, you’ll feel like you’re walking around with a real life filter.
7.
This brightening, skin-protecting cream contains the vitamins and cutting-edge herbs you’d usually find in supplements. First up, three (!!) forms of vitamin C help repair skin from daily irritants like pollution and UV rays and lessen the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. Antioxidant-rich adaptogens make it easier for your skin adapt to stress, while shea butter intensely moisturizes.
TREATMENTS
8.
All you need is a drop or two of this invisible, supercharged spot treatment once a day to clear up breakouts. That’s all thanks to gold-standard ingredients like salicylic and lactic acids that act as pore vacuums, cleaning up congestion while brightening discoloration from current and past zits. It’s also got a special patented ingredient called phytoplankton extract that reduces the bacteria acne thrives on and preserves the good, skin-clearing kind.
9.
Eyes are the window to anything you did last night… unless you’re using this product. Apply it day and night to instantly tamp down puffiness and blur fine lines. The cream-gel formula won’t pill under makeup (it actually helps lock it into place), so it’s our favorite sidekick for early mornings.
SUNSCREEN
10.
This sunscreen has none of the goopy, greasy, or chalky texture you might imagine when it comes to your SPF. The completely translucent formula has a lightweight gel texture that glides onto skin and then sinks right in without any kind of oily, heavy feel. Vitamins A, C, and E add a nice boost of antioxidant protection and leave skin feeling silky.
