Glowy skin is in again! But this time the routines that people are having success with are shorter than the 10 step skin care routines of the past. I’ve been keeping a list. 40+ little finds that earned their spot on a shelf. Mine specifically. Keep scrolling.
1. A Three-Step Skincare Routine That Won’t Wreck Your Budget
The Ordinary The Daily Set
See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Three products, one routine, and zero guesswork. Here's the thing about skincare. I freak out in the aisle and buy stuff like cake. This set makes it easier, which is a relief. The Squalane Cleanser removes my mascara without that weird squeaky-clean feeling my grandma loves. Then, there's the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum. It uses five types of HA (I guess more types of HA means more moisture layers). The Natural Moisturizing Factors finish locks it all in. It works for dry, oily, combination skin, and sensitive skin, too. Basically, it’s like working with someone who quietly knows what they’re doing. In a good way.
2. A Triple Collagen Peptide Cream That Firms Skin in a Week
Olay Face MoisturizerSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
A new and improved drugstore anti-aging cream has actual evidence to back its anti-aging claims. The new formula, with its upgraded ingredients, relies on Triple Collagen Peptides and niacinamide to provide the skin with multiple benefits, as dermats everywhere rave about the ingredient due to its skin barrier protecting qualities. The whipped cream texture is thick, but absorbs quickly. The Vegan Pro-Vitamin B5 ensures moisture is supplied to the skin, and the brand claims skin will visibly tighten in one week. The cream feels substantial. It's a difficult balance for an inexpensive cream. It's also Phthalate-free, Paraben-free, and Dye-free. If you use it twice a day, its great value for money. It performs better than many others in the same price bracket, and it's the kind of bottom-shelf product you keep getting without really thinking about it.
3. Vegan Biotin Gummies for Stronger Hair, Nails, and Skin
WEEM Hair Skin and Nails GummiesSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Biotin gummies are all the rage these days, and the vegan option means you don’t even have to deal with the chalky aftertaste of many others. With biotin, these stack with Vitamins A, C, E, B5, B6, and B9. They’re a rainbow of vitamins in the form of candy! They’re chewy and fruity, not the kind that makes you wince going down at 8am. The promise is to help your body produce collagen and will theoretically help your hair, skin, and nails. Obviously, results take time because supplements do. If you’ve been deterred from taking a pill every day because of the size, the chewable format makes it super easy.
4. Ceramide Body Cream That Tackles Itchy, Extra-Dry Skin for 72 Hours
La Roche-Posay, Lipikar AP+Max Triple Repair MoisturizingSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Winter can be a nightmare for your skin. You may find yourself experiencing skin that is tight, itchy, and dry to the point that it actually hurts. Most lotions don’t help at all and just make the problem worse. That’s where this lotion comes in. It’s made with ceramides, shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide. It also features a special technology to help with the itch! It leaves a soft and nice finish that some may consider velvety. The best part is that it is gentle enough for babies as young as 2 weeks old, and can even be used on people undergoing chemotherapy.
5. Six-Piece Collagen Set That Targets Fine Lines and Pores
Collagen Skin Care Set (6 Pieces)See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
I know, six steps feels a little excessive, but this collagen-focused kit is perfect because it has all of the products in a set order for you. You don't even have to think about order, which is very difficult considering how many products people get. This is enough of a headache as it is. The serum is one of those watery ones that evaporates before you can even think about it. Collagen is the main feature, targeting fine lines that show up in your early thirties. The brand states this is gentle enough to use on even sensitive skin. This is a perfect gift for an aunt that still uses bar soap on her face. Bless her.
6. Three Clay Masks for Oily Skin, Blackheads, and Big Pores
ANAI RUI 3 Pcs Face Mask Set (3 Pieces)See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
This turmeric, green tea, and dead sea mud three clay mask set is targeted for oily to combination skin and offers three different jobs. Um, so this is kind of perfect for that, you know? The mask with turmeric is aimed for skin with uneven dullness. The green tea mask treats the skin with antioxidants and helps with refining pores. The Dead Sea mud mask provides gentle exfoliation and offers a mineral boost. Each of the clay masks contains hyaluronic acid, which is a small but important detail so for once, the masks won't make your face feel like drywall. They even include a little applicator brush which, honestly, is way less messy than using your fingers. This would make a nice gift for someone, or for yourself, but you don’t have to tell anyone!
7. Vitamin C Sugar Scrub That Smooths Skin Without Slipping Around
Tree Hut Vitamin C Body ScrubSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Sugar scrubs can sometimes be more of an experiment than an exfoliant. Maybe they’re too oily, too gritty, or maybe both. We’re happy to land in the middle ground. Exfoiliants are real sugar crystals. Shea butter and essential oils work on the rest of the skin and the no-slip formula means you can relax a little. The scent is the real deal though. Pink grapefruit up front. Jasmine and peach nectar trail behind. Yummy. Smooth instead of sandpaper on elbows and knees. Vegan too! Free of parabens and sulfates. Nice gift that reads thoughtful but doesn’t require an inside joke or guess at someone’s skincare politics.
8. Rose Water Face Mist That Doubles as Makeup Setting Spray
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with AloeSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
A cult classic, this pink mist has been featured on countless desks and in gym bag side pockets long before TikTok discovered it. The formula softens and clarifies skin thanks to aloe vera, gardenia, thyme, and bladderwrack, but the real selling point is the smell. Actual rose, not perfume-counter rose. Light. Fresh. Faintly grandmotherly in the best way. Spritz it over makeup to achieve a dewy finish, or use it post-cleanse as a toner before applying serum. The mist is fine enough to not streak foundation, which matters more than you’d think. Four ounces lasts forever, too.
9. An Overnight Collagen Mask That Peels Off in One Satisfying Piece
medicube Wrapping Mask Collagen Overnight Peel OffSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Some people find peel-off masks to be an oddly satisfying experience and some people find them to be a little traumatic. This peel-off mask is the weirdly satisfying type. You only put on a thin layer of the mask, then sleep on it for 8 hours. In the morning you get to peel it off in one whole piece, which honestly feels a little thrilling. There is some hydrolyzed collagen, ceramide NP, and adenosine in the mask to improve your skin while you sleep. Collagen improves elasticity, ceramide strengthens the skin barrier, and adenosine helps with fine lines. In some clinical trials people showed a 31.4% increase in skin elasticity after 2 weeks. The mask goes on cold and tacky, but then it dries and feels like there is a second layer of skin over the top. The mask definitely has a faint chemical scent, but it doesn’t smell bad.
10. Centella Cream With 30,000ppm of TECA for Firmer, Smoother Skin
CENTELLIAN 24 Madeca Cream Time Reverse (1.69See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
There's a solid reason why Centella asiatica is a staple in Korean skincare. This cream has 30,000ppm of active TECA which actively works on inflammation and collagen. Translation: redness fades, fine lines soften, and your skin quits being angry. It has a light, whipped texture that absorbs quickly, and leaves no sticky feel like most anti-aging creams. The combination of Hyaluronic Acid and Elastin in the formula adds to that plumpness you want. Dongkook Pharmaceutical, the parent company, has researched centella for five decades which is longer than most of us have been alive. Seriously, it’s enough with a pea-sized portion.
11. Lightweight Collagen Moisturizer That Fills In Wrinkles Over Four Weeks
L’Oreal Paris Collagen Daily Face MoisturizerSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Most drugstore anti-aging products are thick, smell like perfume, and have a weird medicine smell. However, this product is very different. The texture is lightweight, like a lotion, and it absorbs quick. The main ingredient is collagen, which works to fill fine lines and restore moisture quickly. Based on L’Oreal’s testing, users claim to have smoother skin in one week and wrinkles decreased after four weeks. These are good, affordable, and realistic promises. You can use this on your face and chest, which is nice because it’s easy to forget your neck is below your jaw.
12. Daily Supplement Clinically Shown to Reduce Shedding in Six Months
Nutrafol Women’s Hair Growth SupplementsSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
You don't notice how quickly your hair sheds until you see it everywhere. In the shower, on your pillow, practically everywhere except on your head. This supplement that most dermatologists recommend works for six different reasons that cause hair thinning. Stress, hormones, nutrition, the whole anxiety girl starter pack. It uses ashwagandha, marine collagen peptides, and tocotrienol complex. You take it with four capsules a day. They're a small size, and they're somewhat easy to swallow. They smell a bit herbal *but* don't go sniffing them. It takes 3-6 months to see clinical results. Which feels fair, considering that's also how long it takes for me to finish a craft project. In one study, 90% of women reported improvement in hair growth after six months. This can also be taken alongside GLP-1 medications which is surprisingly useful.
13. Seaweed Body Oil That Firms Skin and Smells Like Grapefruit
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil 5 ozSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
The Undaria seaweed is harvested by hand and the leaks are soaked in real botanical oil that is aged in barrels. The scent of the oil is what everyone comments on. There is grapefruit, lime, cypress, and some mango mandarin. It has a bright scent and has real citrus but doesn’t smell like candles. For me, I like that this oil sinks in quickly. I am a person who doesn’t like to feel slick under pajamas. In a third-party study all participants after a single use reported better levels of moisturization and elasticity. The oil is meant to be applied to damp skin after a shower for maximum glow.
14. Hydrogel Mask Set With Low-Molecular Collagen for Tighter Pores
BIODANCE BioSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
So these went viral on TikTok, and… yeah, the hype checks out? Each hydrogel sheet starts opaque and slowly turns translucent as it sinks in, which is honestly mesmerizing to watch in the bathroom mirror at 11 p.m. The mechanism is ultra-low molecular collagen plus oligo-hyaluronic acid, which sounds like a lot of words but basically means the good stuff actually gets past the surface. You wear it overnight. You wake up looking like you drank water for the first time in your life. Pores feel tighter, fine lines look softer, and there’s a dewy thing happening that’s hard to fake. Comes in a pack of four. Great for travel. Or, you know, Tuesdays.
15. Heavy-Weight Repair Cream That Targets Dehydration and Collagen Loss
Dermalogica Super Rich Repair AntiSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Some people get scared when they hear the term heavy-weight cream. And it makes sense, but not for this one. This one's for skin that's been through it windburn, central heating, that strange tightness around the cheekbones that wasn't there last winter. So, the texture is rich. Super rich. Almost like a balm, but it sinks in without sitting on top like frosting. The formula relies on ingredients that help stimulate collagen production while jacketing the moisture barrier against atmospheric bullies (read: the dry office air that's been cyberbullying your skin since October). Dermalogica has been in the clinical-skincare lane for decades and this one feels like it. A moisturizer. For really thirsty skin.
16. Gold Under-Eye Patches With Collagen for Puffy Mornings
NAZANO 24K Gold Under Eye Patches (60 Pack)See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
You can get sixty patches for the cost of a fancy coffee (that’s a lot of under-eye real estate). The gel pads are designed to stay in place for the entire twenty minutes without sliding into your tear ducts. They include hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed collagen to help you combat those late nights in the office staring into spreadsheets. After you peel them off, you can pat in the remaining essence and feel a difference in your under-eye area. Not a miracle. Just a sticky moment of feeling like you have your life together. Sort of.
17. Overnight Jelly Mask That Turns Clear When Your Skin’s Done Drinking
medicube Jelly Gel MaskSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
The idea of having Salmon DNA in a face mask is really unappealing to me, but PDRN is currently trending in K-beauty for a reason. It helps with hydration and collagen production, which is definitely something I would look for. The gel goes on to your face a cloudy pink and then turns clear, which is very reassuring because I tend to overthink whether or not my skincare is actually working. The consistency is interesting, somewhere between jelly and pudding. It’s cold to the touch and a little bouncy. After you put it on, you leave it overnight. The brand claims there is a 39.4% increase in moisture retention for 24 hours. Also, the eye and mouth cutouts aren’t garbage because you can press them onto dry patches. Waste not, glow on.
18. Lightweight Salmon DNA Moisturizer That Won’t Pill Under Makeup
Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing CreamSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Korean skincare has fully embraced salmon DNA. To be honest, I was a bit doubtful. But the PDRN ingredient here derived from the salmon, sounds weird, I know, is actually doing something. It makes the skin feel plumper. It also gets that K-beauty glassy look on your skin. They texture really surprised me. It’s super lightweight and almost watery at first. Plus, you won't get a weird layer that will ball up under sunscreen or foundation. I even tested it under makeup, and there was absolutely zero pilling. If you've ever had a moisturizer betray you at the wrong time, you understand how that's a big deal. It's non-comedogenic, so it won't clog your pores. It's genuinely a great everyday option.
19. A Three-Step Korean Routine for Glass Skin Beginners
Anua 3-Step Glass Skin Beginner SetSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Three products, one starter pack, and zero guesswork. Which, honestly, is the appeal here. Double cleansing can be intimidating. The whole oil-then-foam thing sounds fussy. That is, until you try it and realize your skin feels like a perfectly smooth, not chalkboard, surface. The cleansing oil that comes in this set MELTS off SPF and mascara without leaving a greasy film. The heartleaf foam cleanser is gentle enough for daily use, so it will handle whatever is left. Then comes the TXA serum, the one that went a little feral on TikTok. THIS ONE has niacinamide which is good for the post-breakout marks that seem to linger way too long. This is a reasonable entry point into the K-beauty rabbit hole.
20. An 11-Piece Avocado Skincare Set That Covers Pretty Much Everything
Avocado Skin Care SetSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Eleven products in one avocado theme set. Eleven is a lot, but I'll explain why this is gift territory, not personal haul territory. Think of the set as something you'd give to a sister-in-law who has been talking about her dry T-zone. Each piece is individually packaged and includes a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, face cream, lotion, and five sheet masks. All of the products use avocado oil and hyaluronic acid for moisture. My personal favorite is the cream, which goes on like soft pudding and is surprisingly not greasy. It's a complete routine in one box, which sounds overwhelming, but actually removes the choosing-things-on-Amazon part of self-care. Also skin types across the board are included, sensitive too.
21. Vitamin C Serum With the CE Ferulic Formula for Way Less
SeoulCeuticals Korean Skin Care 20% Vitamin CSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Twenty percent vitamin C is impressive, and that concentration is typically found in serums that cost over $100 and have scary packaging. This one is less than $20. This formula combines vitamin C with hyaluronic acid and ferulic acid, the same three ingredients found in those celebrity dermatologist cult favorite products for fine lines, dark spots, and dull skin. It has a light, slightly slick texture that is not sticky. You can pat it in, wait a minute, and go. Reviewers say that just a few weeks of consistent use leads to a brighter complexion. It is not a quick fix, but it is the type of effect that builds over time.
22. Pro-Retinol Night Cream That Skips the Prescription-Strength Irritation
Olay Retinol Night Cream for WomenSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Let's talk about retinol for a second. Everyone wants it but it’s usually paired with peeling, flaking, and red skin? This night cream doesn’t make you go through that. It has Pro-Retinol and Triple Collagen Peptide with Niacinamide so it supports surface skin cell turnover without any prescription strength side effects. There is no fragrance to it either which my sensitive cheeks are glad for and honestly a lot of people are sensitive so this is the direction you should be going. If you’re going to pick the “friendliest” moisturizer, you just might like this one. Wrinkles in a week and dark spots in four. It’s probably worth it.
23. One Concentrated Vitamin C Serum That Replaces Five Steps
Vibriance Super C Serum for Mature SkinSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Most vitamin C serums are usually painful, require a cast of moisturizer, and oxidize the second you open them. Um, this one is different? This one uses evaporated lemons instead of water, meaning the formula concentrated instead of diluted. One drop covers the entire face, including the eye area. You know, that's kind of a big deal because most serums are only for certain areas of the face. The texture is also silky and not tacky. People over fifty are saying they're seeing positive results like firmer skin and less dark spots after using this for a few weeks. It's not magic. It's just consistent.
24. Foaming Cleanser With Niacinamide That Won’t Wreck Your Skin Barrier
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial CleanserSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Most foaming cleansers are either too tight or too loose. This one strikes a balance between the two. The foam is very soft and wipes off without that annoying tightness effect after washing your face. The actual work here is done by the niacinamide and ceramide 3 meaning one calms down your skin and the other one helps your skin barrier which you have probably been wrecking with everything else in your routine, I mean on your shelf. This cleanser is soap free, sulfate free and fragrance free; a lot of frees. Sensitive skin usually responds well to it and the 400ml bottle lasts a really long time so it feels like a small win when most cleansers disappear in 6 weeks. It's a good cleanser; not glamorous but it gets the job done.
25. Color-Changing Foundation That Adjusts to Your Skin Without Settling Into Lines
Prime Prometics Color Changing FoundationSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
I know white-to-beige changing pigments sounds gimmicky, but the technology works for fair to medium skin tones, and after spending years buying the wrong undertone at the drugstore, that's pretty nice. The finish is dewy, and gives light to medium coverage. It does not settle into fine lines, which is something that matters more than the bottle lets on after you turn 40. Niacinamide, bisabolol, jojoba, and squalane provide the hydration, and because of that, it won't cling to any dry patches around the nose and mouth. It is hypoallergenic, and it is dermatologist approved. It is not bad for a product that comes out of the tube looking like white cream.
26. An Oil-Control Face Wash That Lathers Without the Tight, Stripped Feeling
CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
It sounds kinda sketchy, but when you see the ingredient list, it’s all good. Ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. A barrier friendly ingredient list like that usually costs the same as a serum. It comes out as a clear gel, then it foams, and gives that squeaky clean feeling to oily skin types. It is dermatologist developed, non-comedogenic, and fragrance free. You can use it on your face, body, and hands. To be honest, my husband uses it for everything, and I have given up on correcting him. The bottle is also huge, it is nice to see something generous in a market that usually isn’t when it comes to face wash.
27. Three-Step Acne Kit With Benzoyl Peroxide That Actually Reaches Your Pores
Proactiv 3 Step Acne TreatmentSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
This is like an infomercial kit, like the one Jessica Simpson endorses. It's still around because it works. Simple three steps: a cleanser with very very finely milled BP, an exfoliating toner, and a leave-on repair treatment. The cleanser has a gritty sand feeling that's the BP getting in there and cleaning your pores instead of sitting on top. Travel sized and good for sensitive skin/teens which is good because sometimes my skin acts like a moody teenager. What's not to love? Really, nothing.
28. A Ceramide Moisturizer and Cleanser Duo for Reactive, Easily Annoyed Skin
La Roche-Posay Toleraine Skin Care SetSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
There's a reason dermatologists recommend La Roche-Posay and this duo is entry level. The cleanser being non-foaming may sound counterintuitive, but it leaves your face feeling soft instead of squeaky. That's the whole point with a compromised barrier. It's the moisturizer that does all the heavy lifting. With ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin, and prebiotic thermal water, it absorbs in seconds so there's no tacky residue and no scent. The brand claims it provides up to 48 hours of hydration while also doing barrier repair within the hour.
29. Kojic Acid Soap Bars With Turmeric for Stubborn Dark Spots
VALITIC Kojic Acid Dark Spot Remover Soap (2 Pack)See price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Two bars. One mission: fading the leftover marks from last summer’s mosquito situation and that one breakout from, um, 2022. The turmeric is the star here it’s what gives the lather that distinctive golden-mustard color and earthy, slightly spicy scent that I, personally, find weirdly comforting? Kojic acid handles the dark spot work while hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, shea butter, and castile olive oil keep things from going full desert on you. Massage for about 30 seconds, rinse, move on with your day. Safe for face, neck, underarms, bikini line. No SLS, no parabens. Just, you know, a multitasking yellow bar doing more than my last three serums combined.
30. Travel-Sized Hydration Kit With Five TSA-Friendly Skincare Essentials
e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Jet Set HydrationSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Five steps and one little kit? Sounds so convenient! Honestly, I would have snagged one of these for my Jamaica trip if I hadn’t gone with the moisturizer-in-a-contact-lens-case approach (long story). Anyway, you get a TSA-approved cleanser, a not-so-hydrating-it’s-just-a-balm toner, a day cream, an eye cream, and a night cream. Each product comes in under 30 mls and the heaviest ingredient is a balm that has (or will have) hyaluronic acid, peptides, jojoba oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. The balm has a weird texture (almost waxy) that feels unexpectedly luxurious for the price. It’s vegan and cruelty free so you can put it in the little zip pocket of your carry on like the rest of your civilized compatriots, you know, like it's supposed to be.
31. Retinol Face Cream With Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C for Wrinkles
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power AntiSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Pro-Retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C all in one jar? That's pretty much the trifecta, and now it's available at drugstores. Nice! The cream has a pretty thick consistency but absorbs quickly so I don’t end up looking shiny at my desk. It targets every wrinkle, firmness, brightness, texture, and moisture all at once. It may sound a little ambitious, but the formula really does work, especially the hyaluronic acid, I was noticeably plump around 2 hours in. You can use it day or night, and it doesn’t pill under foundation. Honestly, that's the miracle I care about the most. If you want to be taken seriously without spending $80, it's definitely worth it.
32. Vanilla Cashmere Body Lotion That Sinks In Without the Sticky Aftermath
eos Shea Better Body Lotion Vanilla CashmereSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
The combination of whipped vanilla, soft musk, and comfy caramel smells like a dessert but it avoids that bakery smell. If you've ever used a body lotion that smells like cupcakes, you know how important that is. Made with 7 oils and butters (actual shea butter and shea oil!), it is really moisturizing. The 24-hour moisture claim is not just marketing. You can be generous with the lotion because it comes in a big 16 ounce container. Rationing lotion seems like something very organized people do. It's vegan, hypoallergenic, and paraben-free. If you layer your perfume on top, you can keep the scent all day long.
33. Nine Collagen Sheet Masks in Flavors Like Pomegranate, Chamomile, and Honey
KONEUK 9 Pack Collagen Face Masks SkincareSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
We got nine sheet masks, and nine different ingredients! They have lemon, aloe, grapefruit, pomegranate, honey, hyaluronic acid, chamomile, tomato, and lavender. It sounds like a song from the kids menu, but the variety is good! Every day your skin feels different, and different moods need different masks. The collagen essence is super cool and slippery, and it feels amazing when you sit with it on your face for 15 to 20 minutes. It’s the best part of my Tuesdays! Each little packet has a cool plant design on it, so they look cool in a guest bathroom or in a bridesmaid bag. They are good for a night out with your friends at a spa, or even for hiding and pretending to ignore the doorbell.
34. Salmon DNA Serum That Targets Dull, Uneven, Tired-Looking Skin
medicube PDRN Pink Peptide SerumSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Using salmon DNA in your skin care products sounds a little crazy. But PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), which is a type of DNA taken from salmon, is used in K-beauty for skin renewal. And this serum has it! Not only does it have PDRN, it also includes a five-peptide complex, niacinamide which helps improve your skin tone, and adenosine which helps improve skin firmness. It has a light, almost watery, consistency and that signature soft pink color that absorbs quickly and won’t pill under sunscreen (it also doesn’t take long to dry). When used a.m. and p.m., it helps improve dull skin and uneven marks that a basic lotion can’t help get rid of. This product is dermatologist-tested, gluten-free, and has no artificial dyes. It is gentle enough to use every day which is good if you’re going to be combining it with retinol or other strong products in your routine.
35. Six-Piece Skin Care Set With Vitamin C and Niacinamide
Glown 6-Piece Hydrating Skincare SetSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Six bottles just for your skincare routine? YES! Think of how great it is to come home after a long day and be able to wash your face and use a ton of products! This set includes some of the most popular ingredients; vitamin c and niacinamide which help with skin dullness and uneven skin tones. All the products have a lightweight texture so they sink in super quick and you’ll be able to finish brushing your teeth before any of them are still on your skin. This is the best birthday gift for your friend that keeps stealing your moisturizer or even for yourself. There is no shame in gifting this to yourself!
36. A Cult-Favorite BHA Exfoliant That Unclogs Pores Overnight
Paulas ChoiceSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
I know salicylic acid sounds a bit intimidating like it's some sort of horrible substance out of a failed chemistry exam, but don't worry. This is a leave-on liquid product, meaning no scrubs, no microbeads, no face washing situations. Just some cotton pad application, and that's all. The consistency is so fluid, it's like nothing at all. It sinks into your pores and targets blackheads, dead skin, and those little fine lines around the eyes that you get from smiling (totally guilty). Salicylic acid is unscented, which is a huge plus for my sensitive skin, and Paula’s Choice continues to sell this formula because it works. There's a reason it has stood the test of time.
37. Ceramide Moisturizer That Rebuilds Your Skin Barrier in an Hour
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face MoisturizerSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
There are so many different moisturizers at the drug store, but this one actually has the documentation from dermatologists. This cream has ceramide-3 for repairing the skin barrier, niacinamide to help with discoloration, and glycerin to keep your skin hydrated. The cream dries very quickly so it doesn't leave that greasy feeling when you put it on. It has no oils and no fragrance, and the documentation says that french pharmacie has been stocking this cream for years. If you have sensitive skin, that is totally okay, and it is also fine for combination skin. Just a simple moisturizer, but it gets the job done.
38. Retinal Booster With Micro-Particles Sixteen Times Thinner Than Your Pores
celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot TighteningSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Retinal, not retinol, is what we're talking about here. It's a few steps away from retinoic acid which means faster results and, fair warning, a tougher adjustment period. So uh, ease into it. Label says every other night for the first two weeks. The dropper gives you something almost weightless, more watery than oily, and the micro-particles (supposedly 16 times thinner than a pore) sink in without that classic retinol sting. Along for the ride is Matrixyl 3000 for the peptide assist that targets fine lines and those annoying large pores that no primer can fix. This is night use only. Sunscreen the next morning is a must. This is a small, serious little 15ml bottle that actually does work.
39. Liquid Multivitamin With 10,000mcg of Biotin for Thicker Hair
MARYRUTH’S Liquid Multivitamin+Hair GrowthSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Two tablespoons a day. Peach mango or dragon fruit melon. That’s not bad and I can do that, especially since there is a spoon involved and not another giant horse pill to choke down at my desk. The standout here is Lustriva which has real clinical data behind it for thicker hair and smoother skin in women. Plus 10,000 mcg of biotin in a form that is 40 times more soluble than the usual D-biotin. There’s a full B complex, vitamin D3, chromium picolinate. Vegan, sugar free, gluten free, the whole list. It tastes like a smoothie that happens to be working on your hairline. I'll take it.
40. Three-Step Acne Kit Gentle Enough for Sensitive Skin
The Ordinary The Acne SetSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Three products, one box, no guesswork. Um, which is honestly the appeal here? Acne routines spiral fast.
You won’t need to get a ton of different products like toners, masks, and spot treatments. This makes everything simple. The Glucoside Foaming Cleanser leaves your skin soft and smooth. The brand even claims it is safe enough for babies, so there’s no way it will make your face feel like it is peeling off. Then we have the Salicylic Acid 2% Pore Solution which actually does something about your pores. Lastly, we have the Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan moisturizer. It feels like you applied water to your face, but it does help your skin’s moisture barrier. It’s great for teens who steal things from your bathroom. It’s great for adults who are still breaking out at 34. Hi, it’s me.
41. Business Card That Pays 5% Back at Amazon and Whole Foods
Small Business Cobranded CardSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Sure, it's probably more of a credit card than a beauty product, but hear me out. A credit card lives in the same little zippered pouch as my lip balm and my receipts, so I'm counting it. The pitch: 5% back at Amazon, AWS, and Whole Foods (with eligible Prime membership). 2% back on your top 3 spending categories outside of Amazon. 1% on everything else. No annual fee. No foreign transaction fees, which matters when you're expensing a conference hotel in Toronto. It's a small business card, so it's aimed at, you know, small businesses. Sole proprietors included. The rewards structure does the talking. I find that very refreshing.
42. Glycolic Acid Toner That Doubles as a Scalp Treatment
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating TonerSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Glycolic acid, with a 7% concentration, is strong enough to resurface skin, yet gentle enough to use most evenings. Expect a watery, face mist-like texture. It'll tingle for about 10 seconds, but then the sensation will subside. Tasmanian pepperberry, an anti-irritant that helps reduce the prickly sensation from the acid is included. The formula also contains Aloe and Ginseng. After a few weeks of use, the skin appears more alive than before, texture is softened, and dark spots will fade. This is a nighttime treatment, and wearing sunscreen the following day is non-negotiable!
43. Hyaluronic Acid Serum That Plumps Skin in One Hour
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Hyaluronic AcidSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
The short list of ingredients that are doing the tough work include pure hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin B5. I also want to mention the texture. It's gel-like and watery, doesn’t stick, and absorbs before you can doubt it. It may sound like marketing when I say it, but the skin feels cushioned really soon. The formula was tested on GLP-1 users that had the specific dehydrated and slightly deflated look, and 90% of users said their skin was smoother and tighter after 4 weeks (when combined with the cream). It has no fragrance. It's allergy-tested. It works well with sensitive skin and on nights you use tretinoin which is honestly rarer than it should be. Dermatologists keep recommending it, there's probably a reason.
44. Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer With SPF 25 and a Vitamin C Boost
Neutrogena Triple Age Repair Face MoisturizerSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Wrinkles, dark spots, loss of firmness. Neutrogena’s big three, and they claim this drugstore cream targets all three. It has Hexinol (one of their exclusive formulas) and vitamin C for dark spots, plus and of course, SPF 25. What I care about most is that it saves me a step. The texture is lightweight and whipped. It isn’t that heavy department store cream that sits on top of your skin. Shea butter and glycerin are used for hydration. The brand cites 4 weeks for visible results, so, you know, patience is key. Most good skin stuff requires that.
45. Silk Peptide Ampoule With 18K Gold and 30 Peptides
SUNGBOON EDITOR Glow Intensive Silk Peptide AmpouleSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Encapsulated silk-texture actives are crazy how they melt into your skin. In addition to the 30 suspended peptides and 18k gold pieces, I also love that the formula comes in a clear ampoule with a little precision applicator that looks like you're using an eyedropper. Super lab-coat-meets-vanity. The four-collagen blend also has 120Da Deep Collagen, which is small enough to actually make a difference in the appearance of firmness rather than just sitting on top and doing nothing. The texture is a little slippery at first but sinks in and feels nice with no tackiness, weird scents, or anything like that. I mostly pat it on my smile lines because that's the area that worries me, but I like to do it post toner and pre moisturizer.
46. Three-Product Brightening Set That Tackles Dullness From Different Angles
The Ordinary The Bright SetSee price on AmazonSee on Amazon
Okay, I know three steps may sound like a lot, but it really isn’t. First is the Glycolic Acid 7% Toner that you will swipe with a cotton pad after cleansing, and it may be slightly tingly, but that means it's working. After that, you will use the Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, which is the one doing the work on dark spots and post-acne marks, but that one is in there for the long haul. We can't forget about Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG for the under-eye bags. (Trust me, mine is a whole situation.) On top of all that, it is cheaper than a department-store serum. It is kind of odd how cheap it is, but it is the truth. The Ordinary has low prices because their formulas are stripped down to honest ingredients. I'd say it is pretty great!
