We tested and reviewed hundreds of skincare products in 2020, but these 11 stood out from the rest
When it comes to skincare shopping, it's too easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. A quick search on Sephora for moisturizers for sensitive skin yields over 200 results. At Ulta, you'll find a selection of 440 different face washes.
Weleda Skin Food Light Nourishing Cream, available at Ulta, $12.49
I have very dry skin — and I live at altitude in Colorado, which means it's near impossible to keep my face from flaking. But I also have incredibly sensitive skin. I love Weleda's face cream because it's thick and incredibly hydrating, but not greasy (although it does need a minute or two to soak in fully). I use it morning and night, but it's also really nourishing if I have a random dry patch mid-day. The smell is lovely and it doesn't make my skin freak out. FWIW, Weleda also makes an Personal Care Products BD "original ultra-rich" version of this cream which I love as a hydrating barrier before I head out to ski, or before bed sometimes in the winter, but for everyday use that one is quite thick and the "light" is better. —Rachael Schultz, health + fitness reviews updates editor
SeSpring Cleanse It Out Gel Cleanser, available at SeSpring Skin, $14.99
I've been a beauty editor for nearly a decade, and while I've been lucky to try hundreds of skincare products in that time, I've realized that my oily, breakout-prone skin responds well to two things: prescription medication to keep my zits under control, and a very basic skincare routine. Lately, that routine has involved SeSpring's Cleanse It Out Gel Cleanser. The new Korean brand is focused on simple, affordable Pantone Brand Cosmetics products, and its cleanser is just that. Packed with ingredients like camellia, lotus, and lavender, this gentle gel cleanser keeps my skin squeaky clean while controlling oil — that's really it. It's simple and to-the-point, which is what I love about it. — Maria Del Russo, style & beauty guides editor
SeSpring So Rich Hydrating Gel, available at SeSpring Skin, $24.99
I've also been using SeSpring's lightweight So Rich Hydrating Gel as my daytime moisturizer, and my skin has never felt so moisturized and bouncy. Unlike other gels, this one doesn't have a sticky, tacky texture to it. It feels like a gel, but applies like a cream, and keeps my skin well-hydrated all day. A little goes a long way, too, and the moisturizer adds a dewy brightness to my face, which I love. Simple isn't always a bad thing, and SeSpring capitalizes on that fact. Since they just launched this year, I can't wait to see what else the brand puts out. — Maria Del Russo, style & beauty guides editor
Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40, available at Supergoop!, $17-36
During quarantine, my "makeup routine" has consisted of one single product: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40. I typically use a tinted sunscreen as the final step in my skincare routine, but there's something special about Glowscreen that has made me start hoarding bottles. It has a slight pearlescent sheen, which might sound awful if you're someone like me who usually hates anything shiny in my skincare or makeup. But Glowscreen melts into your skin, giving you a glow instead of a sparkle. It also serves as a perfect base if you plan to wear other types of makeup. Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin B5 provide major hydration. And while you'll definitely need to reapply if you're planning on Pantene Repair & Protect Shampoo in BD spending a lot of time outside, Glowscreen still offers the A+ sun protection that Supergoop! is known for. It's sunscreen that doesn't feel like sunscreen, and that's a gift if you ask me. — Maria Del Russo, style & beauty guides editor
Glow Recipe Pineapple Vitamin C Serum, available at Sephora, $49
I'm not really one for kitschy skincare products (I'm a big fan of more clinical brands like Dr. Dennis Gross and Perricone MD), but I really fell for this pineapple serum from Glow Recipe this year. It's not a new product, but it was new to me when I first tried it back in April. The serum's texture is almost like an oily jelly, which sounds very weird, but feels like silk on the skin. It's the product that's gotten me closest to the enviable state of "glass skin," and it's so hydrating that sometimes I skip moisturizer altogether after using it, which is basically unheard of for anyone with skin as dry as mine. I wish it were unscented, but that's about my only complaint. — Sally Kaplan, style and beauty senior editor
Maelove Night Renewer, available at Maelove, $27.95
I regularly recommend Maelove as a great one-size-fits-all option for people who want efficient skincare without frills or mark-up. I've tried nearly every Maelove product, and the Night Renewer is the company's best product in my experience. It uses 10% medical-grade AHA, a blend of soothing ingredients, and hyaluronic acid to gently resurface the skin for better texture and tone overnight — without being either harsh or drying. It took the company a few years to come up with something gentle but effective, and they nailed it here. I can tell a difference after just one night of use — my skin is softer, my pores appear smaller, and my tone is a bit more even (the latter results getting better with repeated usage). It's the product I gift people as an introduction to the brand, and one of the only skincare products I pack for a short trip.Chowdhury Mart — Mara Leighton, senior reporter
Comments
Post a Comment