AliceintheRabbitHole: 754 skincare products reviewed

Every review.

All 754 products AliceintheRabbitHole has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Against the gurus

Type

Serums132 reviews

Experiment Super Saturated 30% Glycerin Hydrating Barrier Serum

"This is an incredible serum and I really love this with devices. It's two times the size of the original and ten dollars off, which is great value. I find it's a little heavy in the warm months so I set it aside in the summer, but come the winter months when your skin feels extra dry, this is so incredible to have."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum

"I do not recommend the Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum. I did a PDRN video a while back and I felt like this was the least effective in terms of making my skin feel repaired. I like Anua, don't get me wrong, I just don't feel like that's a good pick for a PDRN serum. There are so many other PDRN serums I'd recommend before this one."

✕Nay

72%Guru Score

Virtue Alpha Keratin Healing Oil

"I used to love the Virtue Hair Oil, it's really more of a serum you shake up. Since I stopped bleaching my hair I don't have the same level of damage to fight, so I'm just letting this sit now, but I have completely finished these products in the past and I like their shampoo and conditioner too for the same reasons."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

BYOMA Barrier Repair Treatment

"The Bioma Barrier Repair Treatment is such an incredible repairing moisturizer. I feel like a lot of brands charge so much for this, but Bioma's is just as good as some of those much more expensive moisturizers."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Collagen Peptide Cushion Liquid Balm

"The Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm is a very good lip balm. This is one of those where you apply it and your lips feel more nourished, more hydrated, and more moisturized."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum

"Azelaic acid has traditionally been a difficult ingredient for me, and potentially the reason this didn't work out for me at all could be the propylene glycol they use to make the formula so watery, though it also could be something else. Even though I don't feel the Anua is for me, it seems like something wonky might be going on with this particular product."

✕Nay

65%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Camo Triple Peptide Cover Drops

"I actually think this is an incredible primer for sunscreen. Overall, I like this, but I do feel like it's a little hard to control the amount you pump out, and I actually wish I could get less out. It's a full coverage product where the idea is you mix it with another moisturizer to make your own tinted moisturizer. I like it, I think it's a well done product, but for me I still think I prefer the Mixoon I used recently. It is a surprisingly good shade match and beautiful over the sunscreen, but the only catch is I have to set it now, whereas I didn't necessarily have to before."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

Remedy Daily Defense Vitamin C Serum

"This has to be one of the most requested product reviews I get here on the channel. I like it a lot, it's a really nice kind of more moisturizing feeling vitamin C derivative serum that includes a lot of other nifty ingredients. I love that you can go to the Reme website and look at all of the ingredients and see the published literature listed for each one. Such a good formula, there are plenty of brands that would charge a lot more for that exact product."

✓Yay

93%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Serum

"I've been using this more as a spot treatment under my patches, which helps with the bad smell of the product and with general peeling, though I don't think I really experienced peeling myself. I'm not going to finish this in two weeks like I thought, so it's lasting longer than I expected. In a week of use I feel like I'm already seeing results from this, though I have been pairing it with the Edom so maybe it's a synergistic effect. I'm wondering if this is the hyperpigmentation treatment I've been looking for."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Prequel Redness Reform Soothing Serum

"The Prequel Redness Reform contains sulfur, which is a really great, more gentle ingredient, and I do feel like this is a little more of a thorough cleanser. I'm able to use this to remove light makeup, which I really can't quite do with the PanOxyl."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Edom Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum

"I would use the Edom The Mark Advanced Dark Spot Concentrate in conjunction with SK-II. This is great, it's really gentle, and unfortunately for me that is something I need. I think this duo would be super potent, though I haven't committed to it yet."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Cocokind Hydrating Electrolyte Rescue Serum

"The new Cocokind Hydrating Electrolyte Rescue Serum is a potential new favorite. It's brand new so I'll follow up with longer term thoughts, but it turns out the serum is incredible. The electrolytes almost sound gimmicky, but they do in fact have research supporting their use for hydration and skin support."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Prequel Lucent-C Brightening Vitamin C Serum

"I get why she chose L-ascorbic acid at 15%, it's very similar to the $180 SkinCeuticals in terms of formula, with vitamin C and ferulic acid, and it even smells like the SkinCeuticals, like meaty water. But I just don't like it, it's runny, it will oxidize in time, and it's got a real heavy sticky feeling that doesn't fully absorb. It also has to be at a pH of 3.2, which is a bit low, so if you're reactive it can sting. I absolutely prefer the Remedy Skin vitamin C, even though its ingredients don't have the level of research that L-ascorbic acid does, because I just can't do L-ascorbic acid, it's stinky and it stings my skin."

✕Nay

82%Guru Score

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum

"This is an incredible hydrating serum with 10% glycerin, polyglutamic acid, and ectoin, and it's affordable, 1.7 fluid ounces for $28. But I didn't find myself loving the way this feels, it feels a little heavy, and as a sensitive skin type I think I need something a bit more soothing. I can use it, but it felt like an additional step, so it just didn't fit into my routine very well, nor did I like the feel of it."

~Mixed

63%Guru Score

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner 20% L-Ascorbic Acid

"This is the BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner, twenty percent L-ascorbic acid, now in squeeze tube form. I think this is going to be so much better, it's the exact same format as the J-beauty product that never oxidized. I wish it was at a more standardized level, but it is twenty percent L-ascorbic acid. It's got that silicone like feel, and you have to make sure to use the right amount of it and not overdo it."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Cocokind Chlorophyll Serum

"I used the Chlorophyll Discoloration Serum from Coco Kind during the month of March and I fell in love with it. It has alpha arbutin at 1%, and I wondered if that ingredient could be my substitute for niacinamide. I bought the full size and I'm continuing to test it."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Cream

"I finished a mini of the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Cream, a nice travel size that I traveled with. I love this moisturizer, I love the new Innisfree, I'm so glad they went in the direction of fragrance free since they used to use a lot of fragrance. I moved on to the full size of this one for my niacinamide-free trial and absolutely loved it."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Pro-C Vitamin C Serum Brightening Solution

"I received the In Beauty vitamin C serum in PR. At first I felt like it was kind of an expensive form of vitamin C, but In Beauty is a small independently owned brand that has found their niche making less expensive versions of very expensive products. They're comparing this to the SkinCeuticals vitamin C, so at sixty four dollars it doesn't feel expensive once you put it next to a hundred and eighty dollar product. There's a lot going on in it, fifteen percent stabilized vitamin C in different forms, ferulic acid, anti-aging peptides, and niacinamide. I personally really like peptides, and to see that alongside a vitamin C is shocking, but I love to see it. This is one I'd like to try out longer."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

SkinFix Ceramide Prime+ Whipped Cream with Niacinamide

"I really do like that they disclosed the percentage of niacinamide, it's two percent, which is a nice lower level and yet a level where we see research. Oh, this is a really nice moisturizer. I see why my partner keeps taking it for her own collection. I really do like the texture of this too, I think it's something like a six percent complex of hydrating ingredients."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Eadem Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum

"This product uses multiple different ingredients all targeting hyperpigmentation from different angles, and they're transparent about the percentages: five percent tranexamic acid, one percent alpha arbutin, one percent kojic acid, leaving out niacinamide. I've been using the tiniest amount of this for eight weeks, tapping it right onto my hyperpigmentation. Those spots are still there because that kind of hyperpigmentation is difficult to treat, but they're fading and I'm not even done with the tube. It's thirty eight dollars for a half ounce. I am absolutely blown away with this product. This is now my favorite dark spot product as well."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The INKEY List Exosome Hydroglow Complex Serum

"The Exosome Hydroglow Complex is a wonderful serum, this is my serum pick in the sale. The research and traditional use of exosomes is as an injection, which is different from applying it topically, but that said, this is a beautiful formula. I think it's nice that you have a vegan option, and whether it's the exosomes or the entire formula, your skin does look better and healthier after using this."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Decorte Liposome Advanced Repair Serum

"I received this in PR and finished an entire bottle. That's on my list to buy again as well."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Educated Mess Golden Hour Gold Stabilized Vitamin C Serum

"Golden Hour is supposed to be a gold stabilized vitamin C, and it's a little pricey. I let it sit for about six months to see how true that stabilization claim was, and with that gold stabilized vitamin C, it is working. This is the most expensive product in this video by a lot, I know not everybody has the money for it, but I do feel like this is a much better option compared to similar products that are double the price."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

"I like the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. I think it's a beautiful primer, though it is a bit expensive and it does have fragrance, which not everybody enjoys. It's a pretty product, that's why I go back to it. I did manage to repurchase the pink version at fifty percent off in one of Sephora's deals, but I only buy it on sale."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3:1

"This is NIOD's copper amino isolate serum, and I didn't feel like it did that much for me. I really like peptide ingredients and copper peptide is supposed to be an incredible one, but when I looked into the data there isn't much research on copper peptides. My biggest issue though is how runny it is, it's incredibly unpleasant to use, nearly unusable, and it's still not inexpensive. So that's a no for me."

✕Nay

83%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Rescue Party Barrier Restore Serum

"This Peach and Lily Rescue Party Barrier Restore Serum lived up to its name. It did feel restorative. I used it at a point when I had messed up my skin and it helped my skin bounce back. But do I need to spend quite the amount of money that this product costs? Maybe, maybe not. It was great for skincare enthusiasts though."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Abib Glutathione Dark Spot Serum Vita Drop

"This was one of the viral products of 2025. I used it every day and got about halfway through my first bottle, but I just didn't feel like it was doing all that much for me. I'm not putting this in the worst category, I think it's a good product, but my sneaking suspicion is that it's good because niacinamide is a good ingredient. If you're buying this to target age spots specifically I think you're going to be disappointed, the vitamin C ingredients that are great for fighting age spots appear too far down the ingredients list to be at effective levels, so it's just not what I'd recommend for age related dark spots."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

"Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment is such a beautiful eye cream. I kept looking at the ingredients list wondering what makes it feel so special, and I think it's just the blend of ingredients, it's surprisingly heavy and yet somehow sinks in and feels so nourishing. It's beautiful as a night cream, my goodness, I love this as a night cream, and I'm very tempted to pick it up."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Power Cocktail Lactic Acid Serum

"I picked the Peach and Lily Power Cocktail Lactic Acid Repair Serum as my brightening serum, and I think it's a good example of why I like Peach and Lily so much. It has 12 active extracts with no added fragrance, and I feel it's more potent than Clinique's lactic acid serum while also not being harsh, it just doesn't feel as irritating. It's a really, really nice exfoliating serum."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Dermalogica NeuroTouch Symmetry Serum

"This is the Dermalogica Neuro Touch Symmetry Serum, and I do think it's the most overpriced product in this video. The thing about it is that it's not really a serum, it's actually a facial massage oil. There is nothing in it that is designed to target asymmetry in your face. If you ask how it actually treats asymmetry, the answer is it's a massage oil that's supposed to make it easier to massage your face, and the idea is that massaging your skin somehow makes your face more symmetrical. If you really want to do what this product is doing you can just use any oil, like jojoba oil, and massage that into your skin instead. I just really don't like how unclear this one is, and the price."

✕Nay

54%Guru Score

Medicube Age-R Booster Pro

"I absolutely love the Medicube Booster Pro because it's an electroporation device that helps you get more from your favorite skincare products. I don't love some of the claims, they market it as five in one or six in one, and with the moving LED lights you don't know the intensity or how long it's staying in one spot, so I don't think you can count on that. I never use the microcurrent setting because I love my Zip, but I mostly use the booster setting and sometimes the dermashot mode. I do love it and use it almost every single day. The one caution is to be careful not to use it with active ingredients, I don't use it with my retinoid or with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, but I do use it with humectants and soothing ingredients."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

K-Secret Soul 1988 Liposomal Serum

"This is a 15% niacinamide serum, so I wait until my skin is fully dry before applying it, because if you have moist skin it will absorb the applied skincare faster and I don't want to flood my skin with niacinamide. Not everybody has niacinamide sensitivity, some people can use these higher levels with no problem, but I'm a bit more sensitive and I find I can max out on niacinamide and irritate my skin, so that's the reason for the caution, if it works for you that's fantastic. This does feel nice though. It's a brightening product with a high level of niacinamide, but I see ingredients like squalane and panthenol which I feel are helping to explain that lovely texture. I expected the feel to match the sensation of most brightening products, but it felt more like a hydrating, moisturizing product."

~Mixed

81%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Elastic Skin Firming & Plumping Growth Factor Serum

"The elastic skin is such a great vegan alternative to snail mucin."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Numbuzin 5+ Vitamin Niacinamide Concentrated Pads

"I finished off the Numbuzin vitamin niacinamide concentrated pad, the 5 plus. I don't think I'll repurchase this, the pads are just never my personal favorite, I am team mist."

✕Nay

66%Guru Score

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Night Restore Serum

"I finished the Dermalogica Biolumin-C Night Restore, but I finished it on my chest area, it was one I was sent in PR. It does have fragrance and some essential oils, so I was only comfortable using it there. I was happy with it, but I wouldn't spend the money again when brands like Geek and Gorgeous exist."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.3 Vitamin Concentrated Serum

"This is the Vitamin Concentrated Serum. I am so much more impressed with this than I thought I would be. It has five percent niacinamide, which is such a good level, and four percent tranexamic acid, combined with a tried and true ingredient in niacinamide rather than relying on the tranexamic acid alone. It also has some vitamin C derivatives lower on the ingredients list. It's a little bit thicker in texture, it feels a little heavy when you first apply it but then it absorbs really nicely. I do feel like this helped my skin bounce back after I had some breakouts. I have loved using this product, this is my second favorite product in the video."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Numbuzin Number 3 Blue Bio Retinyl Pore Refining Serum

"This is the bio retinol. When companies put some kind of prefix on the word retinol they usually mean it's a retinol alternative, but this actually does contain retinol, it also has ten percent niacinamide, salicylic acid, and copper tripeptide, which is why it's blue. I had a very difficult time adjusting to it at first, I was even layering other actives on top of it before I realized it actually contained retinol, but my skin eventually did get used to it. The texture is surprisingly watery. In the end I have to say I'm very impressed with this, it's something completely different from what you'd find on Sephora shelves, though I don't understand the brand's claim that this is a blue retinol as opposed to a yellow one."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age-Defying Concentrate

"The Clarins Double Serum is a product that I will only ever get at 50% off. I did like it, I liked Double Serum back in the day, but I feel like there are so many options at this point that I just personally would not repurchase it."

~Mixed

62%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Amino Rain Glass Water Serum

"This does not feel like a 2025 product to me, it feels like 2023. It's a nice product, I do like the luminosity, you can definitely see it. But at fifty eight dollars I'm just going to have to wait for some kind of sale before I repurchase a product like this."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Klairs EGF Blue AC Calming Serum

"This is the Klairs EGF Blue AC Calming Serum. I was quite surprised to see tea tree oil, an essential oil, in this product, which is technically a fragrance ingredient, though it's a potent antimicrobial ingredient, fantastic especially if your acne is related to bacteria. It has malachite extract, tea tree, LHA which is a more gentle alternative to salicylic acid, and hydrating amino acids, so this is quite a nice formula. But know that even though tea tree oil works for a lot of people, it still is an essential oil, so it still won't work for everyone."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide

"I used the Beauty of Joseon serum with centella and a vitamin C derivative, three-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, at ten percent. Even at the end of this trial I still do think the Beauty of Joseon is a good option."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum

"I used the Peter Thomas Roth Potency serum, which is twenty percent THD ascorbate vitamin C. Even at the end of this trial I do like it, and I get the feeling it's stronger, but it's a lot more expensive and it also kind of smells funky."

~Mixed

72%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum with Vitamin C & Ginseng

"It's got eight different technologies in here, one of which is ginseng, and I'm a huge ginseng fan so I was really curious to see how this would go. It's got a bit of a yellow color and no smell, which is really good for those of you that don't like the hanbang scent in a lot of ginseng products out of Korea. It's more watery than I thought it would be, but it feels very viscous going onto the skin, so it sits a bit on the surface, it's one of those slower absorbing serums. That's okay to me, I can wait a little longer in between steps for my products to absorb, but if that's a dealbreaker for you that's where you might want to look into the next price range. I love this new direction of The Ordinary, eight different technologies all in one place for fourteen dollars."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Bubble Water Slide Hydration Boosting Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and Peptides

"This is one I just received in PR from Bubble, their Water Slide with hyaluronic acid and peptides. The ingredients list is really quite impressive on this. I want to apply it for the ceramides, the lipid-like ingredients, because I had that breakout a few days ago and I want to focus on getting my skin back in shape."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum

"This just did not work for my skin type. I felt like I was getting an increase in redness when I used this product, though it's possible that came from the fragrance or the vitamin B12 ingredient rather than the PDRN itself, since this is a higher concentration than I'd knowingly tried up until this point. So for me this is a no, I'm sure it will work for some amount of people, but it was sadly a no-go for me."

✕Nay

67%Guru Score

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules

"I've talked a lot about those Elizabeth Arden capsules, I feel like those are great for travel. If you have ever had a little glass bottle of serum break in your luggage then you know how traumatizing that can be, and that's why I always like to bring up these capsules. You can't break it, the packaging is hard plastic and the capsules are capsules, super for travel."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Beekman 1802 Milk Drop Ceramide Serum

"I tried Beekman 1802 a long time ago, and I see what people like about the brand, but I also find them to be a difficult brand for me to use. I noticed that anytime I used my retinoids and then used the Beekman products, the next day just felt more sensitizing. I don't know if it's something to do with the goat milk, or just a me thing, but a lot of people really do like the Beekman 1802 serums. I still do like their body care though."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum

"This is the Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum from Innisfree, a new release sold at Sephora, with suspended oil droplets in it, made with 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. Since it's a new release I don't have long term thoughts on it yet, but it did kind of jump in and become my primary vitamin C for these past few days. It's really easy to use, and I like the enzyme ingredients, those seem to work for me even though I struggle with a lot of chemical exfoliants."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

VT Reedle Shot 100 Collagen

"I got to try the VT Reedle Shot along with some sheet masks that go with them, and I remain convinced that it's just one of many ways to increase absorption. I've had strange experiences with them getting too close to my eye area, and I do not like feeling those needle sponges in my skin all day. If you like the Reedle Shot products, that's great, more power to you, but they're not for me."

✕Nay

59%Guru Score

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1

"NIOD's copper peptide serum is extremely watery, too lightweight to really help you out if you have dry skin. I wouldn't buy this or their other copper peptide product again."

✕Nay

73%Guru Score

Remedy Clear Serum

"I pulled out the Remedy pore treatment. I want to make sure I say I'm not the one who really used this, it was gifted by the brand, and I just didn't feel like it fit into my routine that well. My partner loved it so much though, she still can't stop talking about the brand."

~Mixed

89%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum

"I still like Peach and Lily's copper peptide serum the most."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skin Injection Amplified Wrinkle Fix Refillable Serum

"I've been wanting to try this one for so long, the Peptide Skin Injection Amplified Wrinkle Fix Serum. This has 19% peptide complex of amplified matrixyl and argireline. I do like that this is a refill system, the lots of plastic refill system, it's better than not having a refill at all. I would say it is the kind of creamy texture of a serum, they've got the cosmetic elegance down, it feels lovely to apply."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

The Ordinary Growth Factor 15% Solution

"It's the Ordinary's GF 15% Solution, a product that contains growth factors, and it's a hundred and fifteen dollars and fifty cents for one fluid ounce of a product that contains 15% growth factor solution. The predecessors of this serum, the other growth factor serums on the market, are not in this price range, we're talking hundreds of dollars instead. The ordinary pulling this off with a growth factor serum shows that it's possible. Is it a simplified formula? Yes, of course, that's the Ordinary's whole thing. You can see exactly what they're talking about in the ingredients list, EGF, IGF, TGF technologies, which they claim is for replenishing moisture, elasticity, and firmness. The highest level you'll actually see of these in the product is about one to two percent, and the complexes contain water and butylene glycol. It's in your standard dropper bottle, it's got a watery texture, there's nothing really super special about the packaging or the feel, but again this is all in line with the Ordinary."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Remedy Healthy Aging Serum

"I had some requests to include a retinoid in this video, and Remedy sent me all three of their retinol serums. With my sensitive skin, I felt like using them was a big risk, so it was actually my partner who tried them, and I have watched her skin improve and improve. She does a very simple routine, just cleanser, one of their serums, and a moisturizer, and I cannot get over how much her skin has improved. So Remedy is doing something very right to win a spot in this video."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

OSEA Hyaluronic Acid C Serum

"This is a nice hyaluronic acid serum. I love marine ingredients, algae ingredients work really well for my skin, but it's an expensive product, 88 dollars for one fluid ounce, it will be 44 dollars in this sale. If you enjoy it, pick it up at that price, but for me I stopped buying this kind of product because we can find so many better prices in K beauty."

~Mixed

83%Guru Score

Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Solution

"Magic Molecule has a Hypochlorous Acid Solution, and they've actually disclosed the percentages, ionized water at 99.91 percent, which is the kind of stuff that makes people mad because it looks like such a tiny amount of the actual hypochlorous acid, the hypochlorite ion, but that tiny amount is what makes the difference. I'm so excited, I am absolutely planning on picking that up."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Abib Heartleaf Tika Capsule Serum Calming Drops

"I don't know about this, I'm feeling more mixed than I thought I would. The capsules are not breaking open as easily as I thought they would, it's a beautiful formula, but I don't like to be rough on my skin and I have to be more rough to get them open. I absolutely love the ingredients here, this is a lot of my personal favorites, and as long as I can get these beads to burst open on my skin it does seem like this should work out for me. I really like this brand overall, but the only product where I'm a little worried about how I'll feel long term is actually this one."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone & Texture Serum

"My favorite vitamin C has been the Bubble Daydream serum, I've called it my favorite for a long time. I've come to realize there are certain products where if my skin is a bit more sensitized I can't use them, but as long as my skin is in a good place, this is a preferred serum for me. I'll admit I'm slightly compromising here, it's eighteen dollars for one fluid ounce, which isn't bad especially with the coupon at Ulta, but I've come to enjoy a higher end product with that same ingredient more than this one, even though the price per ounce on this is technically less."

~Mixed

83%Guru Score

Parnell Sea Manuka 92 Serum

"My only complaint with the Sea Manuka 92 Serum is that it's such a small product, I feel like I finished it off quite quickly, but I loved it. It's another one of those serums that's great for problem prone skin, it's hydrating, it's soothing, it's calming, it's everything I could want."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Torriden Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum

"This is also another surprisingly great serum where I felt like my skin bounced back quickly with it, but I have to be true to me."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum

"I do like the Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum a bit more, the packaging is a pump which is what I prefer to a jar, especially since it's a more runny product. I honestly do think this is a great niacinamide serum, it features 5% niacinamide and sea buckthorn extract, one of my favorite ingredients, and since it's a leave-on product you're probably going to see more from these ingredients. I do think the 5% niacinamide level could help with post-inflammatory marks from acne, though probably not with age spots. It's a nice niacinamide serum, that's primarily what this is going to give you, and it's going to be hard to beat the price of this too. It's a little lower on my list, but it is one that I would consider repurchasing."

✓Yay

64%Guru Score

Ness A-Control 10% Azelaic Acid Serum

"I really do like azelaic acid as a very gentle treatment for my acne, it has antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and it may even be helpful for hormonal acne. But the catch is the research is conducted at 15 to 20 percent and this is only 10 percent, and you often don't see results after just one bottle, it took me a while to get on board with azelaic acid in general. As for this particular serum, I don't know if I would recommend it. Looking at the ingredients and feeling the texture, it was a lot runnier than I thought it would be. I can see why it has mixed feedback, some people love it, others said it didn't work as well as the one from COSRX, but I can only know if I try it for myself."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Medicube AGE-R Booster H

"I already had the Booster H that I received in PR, and I loved the Booster H so much that I bought the Booster Pro the second I could."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Medicube Collagen Glow Booster Serum

"I like the product inside, it's a great formula, kind of a creamy serum, but I honestly don't like this packaging. I feel like this is just expensive packaging, and you only get a half ounce of product in here. This is K beauty at practically western prices in terms of price per ounce, all for this packaging. I like Medicube, I really do, I love their devices, but I'm iffy on this one."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Brightening Treatment Serum

"This is the guava vitamin C serum. I bought it, finished it, and enjoyed it, it had the same problem as the guava eye serum where it's a little hard to get the last bit of product out. But I moved on from it because this tranexamic acid ingredient doesn't quite have a body of literature behind it that you might think it has given how popular it is. I'd rather go with something tried and true like L ascorbic acid instead."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum

"This is the Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum, and this never did it for me. I like ceramides, I really do, but I can't quite tell you why I'm not the biggest fan of this one. It's just another fine product, and forty five dollars for fine, no, I'd rather pay that for something great."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum

"I love the plum plump hyaluronic cream, I think it's a beautiful nourishing moisturizer, great for dry skin without being heavy. It really works year round, and I like that it's in refillable packaging. This specific bouncy gel cream texture is kind of all over K Beauty too, so if you like the glow recipe one it's fine to stick with it, it's a great product, but it's far from the only product with this texture."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum

"This is the Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum, and I'm so grateful I only picked it as a Sephora sample. It looked nice initially with ingredients like copper peptide, but I can't help but feel like this was released just because peptides were popular at the time rather than any real innovation. For me it didn't deliver on any of the benefits I've seen from peptides, it just hydrates and that's about it."

✕Nay

64%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum

"I've been using the Drunk Elephant C-uma Hydrate Serum during the day. It has 9% sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which is my favorite vitamin C derivative because it's the form of vitamin C that may be helpful for antioxidant properties and gentle brightening, and also to help reduce acne. Nine percent is actually over the research level of that ingredient, but it's such a good serum. I know the price point is high, I don't know if $68 is worth it, but I'm very happy with it. Part of me almost wishes I hadn't tried it."

✓Yay

60%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream

"With this being only one fluid ounce I went through it very quickly, much more quickly than a moisturizer that's 1.7 fluid ounces or more, but I did really like it. What's smart about this product is that because it can be refilled, people are more likely to go back and buy the refill, and they got me, I know I'll buy the refill because I'm planning on holding onto the packaging."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Abib Jericho Rose Bifida Serum

"Bifida ferment lysate is an ingredient that works really really well for me, it's very calming and has done a lot for me in terms of barrier support. I bought this serum and I actually really like this, I would have to say it's up there with my holy grail bifidus serum, maybe second place, but if I saw this at a better price I would really have to think about which one I want. It has beautiful glass packaging, and because it's more of a creamy base you're actually getting a little bit of moisturizing with this too. Great product, if you like a bifidus serum you'll probably like this too."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Anua Rice 7% Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum

"I like rice, it's a nice non-irritating ingredient, but I wouldn't say it's in my absolute favorites, though to be honest it works really well for me. Upon first pump of this product I found myself feeling shocked in the most joyous of ways because of the texture, which is much more like a high glycerin product. That texture is so reminiscent of my favorite serum to use with my Medicube device, and that's invaluable for me because I need serums that stay on my skin a bit longer. Now understand this may not be for everyone, it definitely has a bit more of a heavy feel to it, it's more of a reparative nourishing type of product than a lightweight one. It's meant to be a hydrating barrier serum. I am so so happy with this that I went back for more."

✓Yay

65%Guru Score

Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum

"Mandelic acid overall is a gentle AHA, this is probably fine to use, though not alongside a retinoid, I'd alternate nights. Why does nobody talk about this brand anymore, they're such a good brand, nothing to hide on the ingredients list, are you kidding me, I love it so much. It has ten percent mandelic acid, one percent gluconolactone so some PHA in there, and point five percent allantoin, and they say to use it up to four times weekly."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum

"I absolutely bought the old formula, and honestly I think I might prefer the new one. I mixed the liquid into the powder and it stayed completely clear, so good job to the formulators, because the problem with ascorbic acid is that it's just not that stable an ingredient. Vitamin C really is a great ingredient, and unlike peptides this has a lot of evidence backing it. We know it can help with hyperpigmentation and increasing collagen production, it's a great antioxidant, great to use in the morning paired with sunscreen. I do want to let you know that the low pH can be difficult for some people to use."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

"This is the product that sold me on Drunk Elephant. When I bought it years ago I could not believe how much it helped clear up my acne scars, by the time I finished the bottle I didn't need to buy a second. It's a strong product, ten percent AHA, one percent BHA, so it's very much not for kids. It's still hard for me to swallow that this is now ninety dollars, it wasn't when I bought it, but there are booster ingredients in here, including a stem cell culture ingredient, that help with soothing and boosting the efficacy of the potent ingredients. It makes it so I can't hate on this product, even though it's always been expensive it worked for me. I think it's extremely well done and will probably work for a lot of people, though it won't work for everyone."

✓Yay

65%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil

"I won't deny that the quality of a carrier oil is affected by where it's grown and the nutrition it had while it was being raised, so it does make a difference, and some people do swear by these more expensive oils, but I don't even swear by marula."

✕Nay

59%Guru Score

The Ordinary Balancing & Clarifying Serum

"This is a twenty dollar serum from The Ordinary, the Balancing and Clarifying Serum, with seven active ingredients targeting oily and acne prone skin. I have a dry and acne prone skin type so I wasn't sure how this would go for me, but I am super happy to report that at about six weeks of using this I feel like it's helped me keep my acne at bay in a very gentle way. It has a thicker consistency so a little goes a long way. None of the ingredients are harsh and yet they all help with acne, and together you get seven times the gentle potency against acne. Overall I do like this, as a person with acne it's so much better to focus on these kind of calming, hydrating products than on harsh acne attacking products, because those can end up damaging your skin and creating a much worse situation."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

"I decided to repurchase the Ordinary azelaic acid serum, and I immediately remembered why I stopped buying it. The Ordinary has such a tendency to cause pilling, whereas I don't feel like I have that problem with the other one."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid Serum

"I was not a big fan of azelaic acid initially, but I figured out that the trick is you have to use it often, so I started stocking up on the Cos De BAHA azelaic acid serums. I have two backups of this product. It does tend to separate, you can see the powder all over it, and it really does get messy and spill everywhere, but I can put up with that."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

"This is Sulwhasoo's bestselling product, it has recently been updated. What this product does is immediately after cleansing you apply this and it boosts your barrier for better absorption of everything you apply afterwards, and in addition to increasing absorption and boosting the skin's barrier, Sulwhasoo also claims that this helps to address ten different signs of aging. This one to me is very worth the hype, I think this is a fantastic place to start if you are curious about this brand, it's their bestseller for a reason, they are proud of this new formulation for a reason, and I actually think this is even better than the last version."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Minimalist Multipeptide 10% Facial Anti-Aging Serum

"I got this recently, the Minimalist Multi-Peptide 10% Serum. Looking at the ingredients list, it's so much more simplified, we're not talking about complicated extracts, it gets right down into the peptides. As somebody with sensitive leaning skin, I feel more comfortable using something like that with the Booster Pro, that's what I want to use with it, I actually bought the Booster Pro to go with serums like this."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Centella 4% Tranexamic Acid Dark Spot Go Away Serum

"This claims to help treat dark spots with 4% niacinamide and 4% tranexamic acid. The niacinamide is a great ingredient and does help even skin tone, but I've since learned that skincare researchers actually studied tranexamic acid, found it did not work, and weren't able to publish those findings because of who funded the research, which is why I'm changing my opinion on the ingredient. I still do think this is a nice product, just a nice niacinamide product."

~Mixed

79%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Facial Oil

"This has fragrance, which isn't my personal favorite, but I just think indie brands do oils the best. This is fine, I don't hate it, but I just find it to not be anywhere near as exciting as the indie brands that use beautiful lists of carrier oils, perfect combinations that I feel really make a difference in your skin."

~Mixed

65%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice 10% High Hyaluronic Acid Cream

"This is a nice lightweight to mediumweight cream, and to me it's the definition of a fine moisturizer. It's so important to find the right texture for your skin type. If you are oily this might be too heavy, if you are dry this might be too light, but if you have a normal skin type this might be perfect. It does have essential oils, so if you have sensitive skin I'd skip it, though there is a fragrance free version too."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous Power Peptides Pro Collagen Multi Peptide Serum

"This could become my favorite Geek and Gorgeous product. They are all about transparency, they tell you everything about the peptides used in this formula on their Instagram, it is a tetrapeptide complex, with tetrapeptide 21 being the actual peptide in that complex, and the research on these individual peptides seems very promising so far for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines through mechanisms like upregulating collagen production. We have an incredible affordable anti-aging product here, and at the very least a very hydrating product, that creamy sensation. I probably now have an absolute favorite from Geek and Gorgeous."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Tirtir SOS Serum

"This serum uses polyglutamic acid instead of hyaluronic acid, is free of niacinamide, and has witch hazel like the ceramic cream, but with a nice list of peptides too. It's quite a light, watery gel that almost feels made more for oily skin. I used it twice a day for about a month, but towards the end I went back to my usual serum. This is probably my least favorite skincare product in this video, but that is not an insult, my least favorite was still a good product. I think you're probably going to like this a lot more if you have oily skin, and it could be a holy grail if you're someone sensitive to ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid."

~Mixed

62%Guru Score

R&W Ceramide Plus Serum

"The R&W Ceramide Plus Serum is also a very good strengthening, calming, anti-dryness product, I like that one a lot too. It really just comes down to the Manyo doing a smidge more for my skin, but this proves that ceramides are also a great family of ingredients for that type of repair."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum

"I don't do well with these high levels of niacinamide. I was actually seeing my skin looking more irritated, I was getting more breakouts, so I just kind of gave up on this one. This just is not for me."

✕Nay

77%Guru Score

Anua Peach 70% Niacinamide Serum

"I was very tempted to tell you this just doesn't do anything, but I'm working on banning that phrase. It's got a humectant in it, it's going to hydrate, but I might not notice that hydration if my skin is already thoroughly hydrated, and it is also lightly hydrating with 5% niacinamide, but I already had a 5% niacinamide product. I was really hopeful with this one, I thought maybe it would be kind of similar to the Glow Recipe dew drops, but it's just not, to me. Alpha arbutin is in this product, it should have been slightly brightening, but I already use azelaic acid anyway. In spite of all those ingredients, some of which I love, like algae, it just wasn't giving me enough added effects. This added nothing to my personal skincare routine."

✕Nay

58%Guru Score

Mary&May Six Peptide Complex Serum

"We could consider this Mary&May peptide serum, that is also a wonderful peptide product with full disclosure of the peptide concentration."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Purito Wonder Relief Centella Serum Unscented

"This is the Purito Wonder Relief Centella Serum, unscented, the brand new reformulation and updated formula from Purito. I never fell in love with the original, I thought it was good but it didn't really blow my mind. I love this one. I feel like it might be a little thicker than the original, and I do feel like it is even more soothing, which makes sense since they say it now has more centella asiatica even if the packaging lists less. It's a really beautiful formula featuring panthenol, centella asiatica, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, all in a fragrance free formula."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster for Firming, Smoothing Skin

"I'm trying so hard to use a serum I got from Paula's Choice, the Peptide Booster. It is so smelly."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

PSA Skin GOALS Multi Acids & Probiotics Perfecting Night Serum

"This is the PSA serum with exfoliating acids. It's a great product, very strong, and I have to use it only occasionally because I already have a lot of strong exfoliants in my routine. I just didn't gauge properly how long it would realistically take me to finish something this strong."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

BYOMA Hydrating Serum

"The Hydrating Serum contains ceramides, this is a big part of the Byoma brand, as well as squalane and glycerin, and it has a little bit more of a milky texture. This too feels like it is both hydrating as well as moisturizing in a fragrance-free formula. I enjoyed this, not among my absolute favorite serums, but I did enjoy this, I think it's overall a good choice."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

BYOMA Brightening Serum

"This is their Brightening Serum, more of a gel texture, and it contains ceramide ingredients, hyaluronic acid, but also niacinamide. I would say overall I found this to be a mild Brightening Serum, not brightening in the way that your AHA ingredients are, but just kind of more of a product that contributes to an even skin tone. For me this one was a like but not a love."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

BYOMA Hydrating Recovery Oil

"This is the Hydrating Recovery Oil, one of my most used products from Byoma before we went into this trial, I love this oil. It's a beautiful formula, and because it's a fluid ounce it's going to take me a long time to finish, oils last a very long time. It has some seabuckthorn oil, a bit of rosehip, some added ceramide, and that constituent of licorice. I really, really like this, one of my favorite, maybe my favorite, budget friendly oil."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum

"Even when it does seem that a specific product is consistently causing problems for me, that doesn't mean I can identify why. To this day I don't know why the Ordinary Soothing and Barrier Support Serum didn't work out for me, I just know it didn't."

✕Nay

76%Guru Score

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum

"The Klairs Vitamin C Serum, I wish I had better things to say about this. I like Klairs, they're a K beauty brand that has some great options, but I didn't love this, though some people do. Mine arrived oxidized, so at the very least with this one I think it's something where you want to make sure you're buying it fresh, and also it's not a very high concentration of ascorbic acid."

✕Nay

61%Guru Score

Fresh Rose and Squalane Deep Hydrating Oil Infused Serum

"The very last product, one more skincare product from Fresh, the Deep Hydration Oil Infused Serum, which somehow I still haven't tried. I liked the moisturizer, why did I never get around to trying this. It does look a little basic in my opinion while still having some fragrance, it's got some squalane and some plant ingredients so you're going to get some antioxidant activity, but you can also get that elsewhere in a lot of products. Still, it might be nice, Fresh is really good at giving you a nice skincare experience."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

COSRX 23% Ascorbic Acid Pure Vitamin C Serum

"I didn't love the vitamin C though."

✕Nay

67%Guru Score

COSRX Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum

"I actually was pretty impressed by their hyaluronic acid version."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Hyaluronic Acid Serum

"Out of the four peptide serums I finished, my favorite was actually the one from The Ordinary. I'm comfortable with the cost of that, given that we don't have a lot of peer reviewed primary literature on peptides. That's my go to peptide serum. I enjoyed getting to test the others, but for me personally, this one still remains the one I'll go back to."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

COSRX 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum

"I went through this skin booster the quickest out of everything because I really liked it. It's a very gentle product, it contains peptides, which act as a humectant and maybe do more for your skin, although we don't get much disclosure on the percentage of peptides, which is always very low. Overall I did like it, but I'm not going to run out and repurchase it because I want to see what else is out there."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

"This is the new reformulated Hyaluronic Acid 2% plus Vitamin B5 serum. It still has that goopy texture to it, but they've now added ceramide ingredients, listed as sphingolipids. Neither the original nor this will ever be among my absolute favorites, because hyaluronic acid serums are not enough on their own for me to continue with this type of product. I still completely respect this product, The Ordinary was the first to ever have this kind of approach to skincare, where you had so much control over your own routine on a very affordable budget, and I appreciate that they're still trying to keep their products current. Two percent hyaluronic acid is actually a very high level of hyaluronic acid."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

VT Green Fragrance-Free Nature Mucin Serum

"I used the V'Green snail mucin alternative serum on half of my face compared to the Jumiso snail essence on the other half, and I could not tell a difference in my skin. I will say the V'Green feels a little less goopy and you get a little less product, but in terms of results I noticed no differences."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Experiment Buffer Jelly Barrier Boosting Oil Gel

"This is a product with three percent petrolatum that you apply as a thin layer as the last step in your routine for micro slugging, and I didn't like it when I first tried it because the packaging is a squeeze bottle that's really hard to squeeze out just the right amount from, I either got too little or way too much came out. But then I saw you can also mix it into your moisturizer when your barrier needs a boost, and that in my opinion is how to use this. I've been mixing it into a moisturizer that's nice but too light on its own, and using that at night as the final step over my adapalene has been wonderful, I've really loved it in that way. I still think they should improve the packaging though, I still don't think it's ideal, it would be better in simply a squeeze tube."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

StriVectin Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Plump Serum

"They sent me the StriVectin anti-wrinkle peptide plump a while ago. I do like this product, but I can't just comment on how it feels nice and cosmetically elegant, I have to dig deeper, especially with peptides. It has one single peptide, alpha3, which they say encourages the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin, so it's positioned as a well-rounded, does-it-all peptide. They also say they designed this peptide using AI, which I have mixed feelings about. They did their own consumer study, but it's not placebo controlled, so it's not a very rigorous study, and you don't really know what's doing the work in the formula. I do like it, I've been using it, but it's another example of how you can spend more on peptides without necessarily getting more."

~Mixed

65%Guru Score

Tarte Maracuja Oil

"I did originally enjoy the Maracuja Oil, I just don't personally think you necessarily need to spend extra on it, there are a lot of great oil options from much more affordable brands, and to this day my absolute favorite oils are still from indie brands."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum

"I feel like I've seen people reduce the Peach and Lily Glass Skin Serum down a little too much in my opinion. I think this is a phenomenal serum. Yes it's basic, it is a basic niacinamide and hyaluronic acid serum, but it doesn't stop there, it's multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, it's got a peptide ingredient, it's got sea actives in it, and I think that's what makes this formula so special. You're getting hydration and also some barrier boosting properties, some plant ingredients for antioxidants, hydrating beta glucan. I really think it's such a nice formula, and if you get it for fifty percent off this will be under twenty dollars. The one catch is if you're a K-beauty enthusiast this might not be that unique to you, it reminds me a lot of the Torriden serum, so it has some competition, but in this sale it's a great price."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil

"This looks fine, it does have some fragrance in it. I'll recap my experience with Sunday Riley: I did not have a great experience with the brand. I know that some people do like them, that is skincare in a nutshell though, most products work for most people but there are always exceptions."

✕Nay

76%Guru Score

Isntree Ultra Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Serum

"I like the serum from this line as well, although I don't use it quite as much as the toner myself. This one too doesn't have that sticky sensation, it just sinks right into your skin with no tackiness, it's completely unscented, and I feel like you get a soft plumping effect from it."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Green Machine Jelly Oil Serum

"I did try this and my skin didn't like it. It's stinging my hand and I don't know what I'm allergic to in it, but there has to be something. I can't really review it, it's just best for me to say I can't review it rather than say it's a bad product, because I reacted and not everyone will. What I didn't like, for me, was the Green Machine line, maybe because of the essential oils, maybe because it's designed more for oily skin. I'm not sure, but it wasn't for me."

✕Nay

67%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Needleless Growth Factor Serum

"I do think this is a good peptide serum. I like that it's nonirritating and fragrance free, it has some ceramides and panthenol in it, and it's got a nice lightweight texture, I think everybody will like this one. I received it in PR, but in all truth I don't think I'll buy it again because I like the Ordinary's multi-peptide serum just a little more, and if the Ordinary is working well for you, why change things."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum

"This is the Ordinary's Multi-Peptide and Copper Serum, which is the Ordinary's Multi-Peptide Serum with the addition of copper peptides, so it also has neurotransmitter inhibiting peptides, matrixyl peptides, natural moisturizing factors, two forms of hyaluronic acid and amino acids. When I finished my bottle of this product I didn't really feel it did anything in addition for me from the regular multipeptide serum, whereas for me the copper peptide just didn't stick. Every time I used it my partner gave me grief about the smell. I don't have a strong nose so I never really smelled the copper, but she smelled it every time, even when I tried to be sneaky, and she did not like it."

✕Nay

89%Guru Score

Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum

"I'm not really going to rave about this one. I do see why some people like it, it's got that creamy texture which is always nice in a serum, and it's a Ceramide Barrier Serum which sounds wonderful, but I don't know what my problem is. I react to a lot of these barrier support products with ceramides when my skin is going through something, but when my skin needs repair I can't seem to use them, which doesn't make sense to me since it does work when my skin is already in a good place. I have a backup that was sent to me by the brand, so I'll use it in a preventive sense rather than for repair."

~Mixed

86%Guru Score

Stratia Rewind DMAE Serum

"I pulled this serum back out after doing my Perricone MD and Stratia re-reviews and realizing the similarities between them. It's a niacinamide serum with some DMAE in it, and it's an alternative to Perricone MD's very expensive products at a fraction of the price, and it's fragrance free too."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C5

"I don't like to use vitamin C and AHAs together, it's possible but it can increase irritation, and I'm a little more sensitive, so I kept putting this one off. Now I have a glorious example of what oxidized L-ascorbic acid looks like, if your ascorbic acid looks like this don't use it, if it's brown, flush it down. We will not be trying this on today, but that really is a drawback in spending a lot of money on an L-ascorbic acid product."

✕Nay

60%Guru Score

Honest Beauty Daily Green Juice Antioxidant Super Serum

"The Honest Beauty Daily Green Juice Antioxidant Super Serum comes in a nice glass bottle, I don't know why I wasn't expecting that. It feels nice, there's an interesting smell to it, I kind of like it, it smells earthy. I'd say it's an antioxidant serum with some niacinamide and a little bit of hyaluronic acid, which is something I look for, I want an antioxidant rich serum in the mornings because that pairs really nicely with sunscreen. I'm pretty impressed with this, especially because I got such a good deal on it, and it's even made in the USA."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

COSRX Oil-Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion

"This is the Oil-Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with birch sap, and it's a bit more lightweight, which is why with my dry skin type I'm ranking it a little lower. This really might be a perfect moisturizer for normal to oily acne prone skin. They start with a hydrating birch base and added in the four terpineol ingredient, one of the active constituents found in tea tree oil, which may give antibacterial benefits without the full tea tree oil profile. It's more unique than it sounded to me on the surface."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum

"This claims to target texture and dryness with forty two percent bifida ferment lysate, an ingredient where the research is still emerging but looks pretty promising for restoring your skin's barrier and helping with dryness, which is absolutely what I've experienced with that ingredient. It also has twenty one percent galactomyces ferment, plus niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol and some goat milk extract. I think it comes together for skin health, and especially the bifida and panthenol are wonderful for helping maintain skin health, I do think that is the strength of this product. All that said, at the end of the day I like the Manyo more, though I don't know if that's just because it uses more bifida, since we don't have enough research to know the effective percentages. This one is a bit more accessible though, so it's a great way to see how that ingredient works for your skin."

✓Yay

65%Guru Score

Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum

"I know some people who really enjoy the Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum and will be restocking it in this sale, and that makes sense to me. It has a lot of brightening ingredients: glycolic acid, tranexamic acid, some licorice, some urea. It does also have denatured alcohol, though that can help push ingredients deeper into your skin, and it does also have fragrance. I'll be passing, but I know a lot of people will be restocking this."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

Philosophy Dose of Wisdom Bouncy Skin Reactivating Serum

"I have not tried this, but looking at the ingredients, some people are going to rule this out. I see some denatured alcohol as well as fragrance in here, and it also has 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid. I wish that this brand excited me more with their formulas."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

Tula Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum

"I do like some products from Tula, but in all truth, this triple vitamin C serum is not one of my personal favorites. It uses ethyl ascorbic acid, and the catch with vitamin C derivatives like this one is there's just not the body of literature supporting them. This isn't to say they don't work, I do believe they work for some people, but I think it's worth trying L-ascorbic acid first before you try the derivatives."

~Mixed

63%Guru Score

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus Advanced Serum Concentrate

"I do like the cold plasma collection. I'm a little bummed to see it's the Sub-D neck item in this sale, that is my personal least favorite from the cold plasma collection, and I didn't feel like I also needed a separate neck cream, so I'm going to skip it. I really like the serum and I do like the moisturizer though."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

"I don't actually love the SkinCeuticals, I don't think it is better than Geek and Gorgeous. Skincare is personal, so you can feel free to disagree with me if SkinCeuticals is your holy grail, but for me it's not my holy grail. I bought this on some kind of a discount and I feel like I stressed myself out with this purchase because I felt like I had to love it, but I didn't. It's too expensive not to love it, but I didn't, it was this continuous internal conflict. This is not my personal favorite, I'm sure it is for some people, but it's not for me, and I need to stop buying it and thinking it's going to be different this time."

✕Nay

77%Guru Score

Peach Slices Redness Relief Azelaic Acid Serum

"I'm getting the Peach Slices Redness Relief Azelaic Acid Serum. I might up my quantity of it because it's a favorite product for me."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

"I continue to be perplexed at The Ordinary's choice to make this a 10% niacinamide serum, because usually that brand is so good at making products where the percentages used match the literature for results. With niacinamide, the research says somewhere between two to five percent is effective for different skin concerns, and for whatever reason they decided to just double that."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

Remedy Copper Peptide Complex Advanced Firming Serum

"I've moved on to this remedy serum, which is their newest for skin elasticity with a copper peptide complex. I feel like PDRN might compare a lot to copper peptides, and you know, people talk a lot about how copper peptides are some of the most studied peptides, but really there are not a ton of studies on this ingredient and yet there are a lot of people who absolutely swear by copper peptides. Maybe that's what's actually happening with PDRN—maybe the formulas are nice and so people are seeing nice results. At thirty dollars, it will do just fine compared to the sixty dollar PDRN serum."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Experiment Continuum Daily Multifying Multi-Clarifying Treatment

"I did a sponsorship with Experiment and I'm glad I did, because I never would have buckled down and tried that serum otherwise. What I didn't expect was that I was going to love it to the extent that I'm over here going, 'Seriously, it's this hard to get a friends and family code right now. I need to buy more Continuum serum.' That serum blew me away and I think a lot of the clarity I saw in my skin during my PDRN comparison was actually from using this serum."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Peach Slices Super Fade Discoloration Serum

"This is twelve dollars for their new Super Fade Discoloration Serum with three point five percent cetyl tranexamate methylate, a derivative of tranexamic acid, plus four point five percent niacinamide, licorice, and centella. It's another one of those multifaceted approaches to dark spots. The one catch for me is they say to shake it well, and I'm going to have a hard time remembering that. It has no smell at all and it's a lightweight milky serum. I'm excited about this, especially because dark spots are so hard to treat. This price is wonderful, and I like that it's combo therapy."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Mary&May Idebenone Blackberry Complex Serum

"This is the very first product I ever tried from Mary&May, the Idebenone Blackberry Complex Serum. Idebenone is a potent antioxidant which makes it an excellent choice, in particular in my routine for the morning, but you can use this serum day and night. If you find vitamin C, in particular ascorbic acid, to be a little too irritating for your skin because of the low pH required, this could be a good direction. It contains one thousand parts per million of idebenone along with twenty percent blackberry complex, combined with blackberry, acai and blueberry, so you're really getting a complex antioxidant rich formula. I love a short ingredients list like this because we can really figure out what's going on. This is one of their most popular products."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Moisturizers75 reviews

Dr. Jart+ Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream

"My results from this comparison were fine, but I still find myself questioning whether the results are really because of the PDRN or if I'm just seeing the benefits of niacinamide and panthenol and other ingredients in the product. The PDRN itself didn't feel like it was doing anything particularly special, and beyond that, I've decided to quit PDRN again because of the ethical concerns with the salmon byproduct used in products like this."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream

"Another top recommendation is the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream. It might be too light for dry skin in the winter, that's the only catch, but it's non-irritating, has gorgeous ingredients, and is lovely under makeup or before a night mask. I'm recommending it because I think it moisturizes well, period, not because of any particular ingredient claim."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Kopari Moisture Whipped Ceramide Cream

"The Kopari Moisture Whipped Ceramide Cream is always a treat for me, a wonderful cream for dry skin types."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Zeroid Soothing Cream

"This is the Zeroid Soothing Cream, one of my YesStyle influencer freebies. This one pleasantly surprised me, and I have absolutely ended up enjoying it."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Dr Sam's Flawless Moisturizer

"This is a new moisturizer from Dr. Sam Bunting, and I absolutely loved her explanation for why she came out with it, it's for when you have more dry skin but are still dealing with difficult skin, since sometimes it can be better to go for a more lightweight moisturizer. Wow, this is a really nice moisturizer. I wish it was a little less expensive, but I also understand why, since her brand never quite got the popularity of some others, and when you have more people buying products that's how you're able to make them more affordable."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Augustinus Bader Rich Cream

"For the rest of my face I'm using my Augustinus Bader cream. I love this product, the only thing I don't like about it is I don't know when I'm going to run out, it's a pump system so I thought I'd finished it but there were actually ten more uses left. I know a lot of people don't like jar packaging, but the benefit of a jar is you can get the very last bit out, whereas with a pump you probably end up leaving some behind, especially when you can't see it."

✓Yay

65%Guru Score

BeautyStat Universal Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer

"I'm using the BeautyStat Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer on my forehead. This contains those botox in a bottle ingredients, I don't love that phrase, but I do think what these companies are doing with those ingredients is interesting. I feel like I move my eyebrows a little less since using it, it could be completely in my head, but regardless, I like this product."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Alpyn Beauty Barrier Repair Cream

"I use the Alpyn Beauty Barrier Repair Cream as the heavier moisturizer to lock in my adapalene at night. I actually like it a lot, though it's funny because I don't think it's the best texture I've ever seen, and that's odd for me to say about Alpyn Beauty since I used to say all the time I loved their incredible textures. With this product it feels more like an incredible formula and results rather than the best texture I've encountered. Not bad, I just like to use it more as a night cream."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Peptide Night Cream

"I finally finished the Dermatology Peptide Night Cream. I know a lot of people really love this brand, and they were kind enough to send me products, but I didn't feel as wowed by this as I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, I like it, I finished it, but there wasn't a lot that stood out to me. The ingredients look great, but the experience of use just didn't stand out the way a product like the Experiment did."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

BYOMA Hydrating Milky Moisturizer

"The Bioma Hydrating Milky Moisturizer is such a good product. It's the one that is all I can use when my skin is in a disastrous state. I'm going without it for now, but I might end up needing to add it back in."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream Anti-Aging, Firming & Lifting Moisturizer

"In Beauty's Extreme Cream is a wonderful moisturizer, especially if you have more dry skin. It feels super nourishing and yet doesn't have that real heavy feel to it, no peeling, it glides on beautifully. While it is expensive, this is considered a dupe of the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream and it actually works for me, which that one doesn't. The problem is if I try to use it on a damaged barrier it stings, it's so reparative that it can make my skin feel rough when my barrier is compromised."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Prequel Half & Half Peptides & Ceramides Fluid Moisturizer

"I've been a big fan of peptides for a long time but I haven't been a big fan of emulsions until recently. This has real competition from my other favorite lightweight moisturizers, and I didn't expect that, but I keep going through the 1.7 fluid ounce bottle quickly and mixing it up. I'm not ready to call this an absolute holy grail yet, but I'm continuing to use it, and this could end up being my favorite lightweight moisturizer of 2026."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Prequel Reactive Skin Solutions 5% Ectoin Cream

"This is like an even more effective Aquaphor, with 5% ectoin, 5% urea, 3% hydroxyethyl urea, and 0.3% allantoin. This was such a helpful product when I was dealing with skin reactions this past month. It's only a 1 fluid ounce tube so I use it in targeted areas rather than all over. I would like to not have to repurchase it, only because I'd like to not have issues in the first place, but this could prove to be a holy grail."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

VT Reedle Shot PDRN Capsule Cream

"VT's PDRN ended up being my favorite and it still is my favorite. I'm okay with these capsule products, where you get a scoop and mix a cream capsule suspended in gel, but honestly I don't think this category is as much for drier skin types because I need more cream than gel. On a dry skin type like mine it's just not my absolute favorite format, but I didn't expect to like the VT as much as I do. If it ends up that I'm okay with using niacinamide, this really seemed like a nice product."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Purito Oat-in Calming Gel Cream

"This is a product I'm familiar with, although I didn't feel it was a perfect match for my dry skin type. I really do like the packaging of it, it's a big moisturizer in a tube, and it has a very basic, short ingredients list, which I like because it helps reduce the risk of me accidentally overlooking one of my allergens."

~Mixed

67%Guru Score

Eadem Cloud Cushion Airy Brightening Moisturizer

"I still absolutely adore this moisturizer. It's a wonderful, gently brightening, rich moisturizer that still sinks into your skin quite quickly. It's rich and nourishing enough for my dry skin, but it doesn't feel heavy. It's fragrance free, non irritating, works really well under makeup, and I love the gorgeous glass packaging. The only reason it's moved down for me in terms of favorites is that it's expensive. The truth is when I ask myself questions like, would I pay full price for this again? The answer is no. Could Eadem tempt me with a good sale? Yeah, probably. But full price, no."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

COSRX Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer

"This is another great K beauty option, and if you need fragrance free, this ceramide moisturizer from Cosrx is the one I'd recommend."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Abib Jericho Rose Cream

"The Abib Jericho Rose Cream is a wonderful heavy duty moisturizer. The only con is that the packaging peels if you bend it repeatedly, so I'd recommend a tube squeezer for it."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

"The COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All-in-One Cream is a bit of a confusing product, it's meant to be a serum, ampoule and cream all in one, but like anything that tries to be more than one thing, it doesn't necessarily excel at everything for every person. I've talked to people who love this and they tend to have oily skin. If you have dry skin, you might wonder what kind of moisturizer this is because it's not very moisturizing at all, and you might do better using the essence and then following with a heavier moisturizer. But I've also talked to people for whom this is their holy grail, and it's a great price in this sale."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Rich Barrier Moisturizer

"As a dry skin type, I've got to say the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Rich Barrier Moisturizer. You never need to spend this much, but on sale for $30 it is gorgeous, and it's fragrance-free. It uses a 30% hyaluronic acid complex, though that just means it has some water in it since you're never actually going to see 30% pure hyaluronic acid, that would be impossible to work with. The thing that's special about this is the texture, not that supposed percentage."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

"The Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is such a good moisturizer. It's not the heaviest moisturizer I've ever tried, but it's a good heavier moisturizer. If you have oily skin you could like using this as a night cream, if you have dry skin you could like this during the day. It has a lot of soothing ingredients, and at $15.50 for two fluid ounces that's an amazing price point."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Mary&May Spicule Collagen PDRN Cream

"This has that hydrating spicule sponge ingredient along with sodium DNA PDRN, so it's two of the biggest viral trends of 2025 in one product. I tried it last night and washed it out this morning and it's fine, but my biggest critique with this product is that this is just so SEO coded, chasing whatever's trending. I love Mary and May as a brand, but for me I just can't help wanting to see something new instead of the same trending ingredients repeated across different brands."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream

"This is not my absolute favorite as a dry skin type, I'm going to choose a cream over this personally, but I still see the hype with this one. I definitely see how if you have normal to dry skin you could love this, it's surprisingly moisturizing for a non cream, for something that looks like a gel."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream

"The Aestura Atobarrier Cream is a wonderful heavier moisturizer for my fellow dry skin types."

✓Yay

95%Guru Score

Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Acid Cream Moisturizer

"The Laneige Waterbank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer was sent to me, and I like this, but it's so scented. I think there's a new version out now, I'll have to see if it's as scented as this one, but Laneige reformulates all the time."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer

"I am actually really excited about the Ole Henriksen Strength Peptide Moisturizer being in this sale. That is a beautiful heavier but not heavy heavy cream, it's one of those where I actually think probably everyone could like it."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

OneSkin OS-01 Face Topical Supplement

"I've been testing these OneSkin products for three or four months and I'm calling it quits, not because I don't like them but because I don't think they're ideal for my skin type, which is acne prone and sensitive. Looking at their funded studies, the research was well designed, but I ended up feeling like it might just show that good moisturizing ingredients work well rather than that their OS01 peptide specifically is amazing. My bottom line is I don't think these are bad products, I actually think they're well made, I appreciate that they're fragrance free, and I like peptides, but I don't think I'm the target audience, so these are out for me."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream

"This is the Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream. I absolutely think this is going to be the next big thing, or at least other companies think it's going to be the next big thing. The hero ingredients are magnesium PCA, sodium PCA, zinc PCA, manganese PCA, and glycerin at 5%. It reminds me of Elemis, with the seawater and algae ingredients in here, it's such a cosmetically elegant moisturizer, and to think it's $20."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Stratia Liquid Gold Barrier Cream

"Stratia's Liquid Gold is a forever favorite. I'm now on my last one and hoping it lasts until their sale, but if it doesn't I'll bite the bullet because it's not that expensive, twenty seven dollars for one point seven fluid ounces."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Ultra Plush Rich Cream

"I'm so glad that I just finished my Peach and Lily Ultra Plush Rich Cream. This was a really nice heavier moisturizer. Peach and Lily is expensive, but because they're at Ulta and usually included in points multiplier events, I mentally calculate about sixty percent off their prices and buy them then. This is one of those moisturizers where I would not be surprised if it's somebody's favorite."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream

"I saw someone rank their Korean skincare with another brand at number one and Haruharu Wonder at number two, and ever since reading that I've been thinking Haruharu Wonder might be my second favorite brand. This moisturizer feels like they're coming for Illiyoon or Aestura, it's got those melting beads in it but it's so well done, just an absolute delight to apply and feels super nourishing too. It doesn't feel super heavy while you're applying it, but it feels more heavy after you apply it because of those beads. I converted the ceramide content and it was ten thousand parts per million, which is one percent, the highest ceramide content you typically see in skincare."

✓Yay

Notverified

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Cream

"I loved using that Dermalogica, the texture is absolutely gorgeous and it's chock full of essential oils. But will I repurchase it? No, because I feel like another cream gives me that same really rich sensation. I also had more breakouts on that side, which might be explained by the essential oils in it, since I have a bit of sensitive skin."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream

"This Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream just disappears into my skin, it feels incredibly hydrating, soothing and calming. Panthenol is my favorite of the B vitamins for skincare, bring on the 10% panthenol. It's a beautiful product with a beautiful ingredients list, they say it strengthens the moisture barrier to reinforce moisture retention and it certainly feels like it does."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

"I like the way Kiehl's has their refill system set up with the Ultra Facial Cream and the refill bags. I tried it in the past and I think it's a fine moisturizer, I like it, but it just didn't stick for me personally. Very few moisturizers actually end up in my holy grails."

~Mixed

90%Guru Score

Tula 24/7 Moisture Cream

"It is a nice moisturizer, and they released a fragrance free version of it. The 24/7 moisturizer is definitely made more for dry skin types. I do love the ingredients, it's got some phytofilaggrin in it, it's got quite a few plant extracts even in the fragrance free version, but no essential oils or fragrance. It might be a nice option for a dry skin moisturizer for under $30 in the sale."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eyed Gel Cream

"I also finished another Glow Recipe guava vitamin C bright eye gel cream, this is one of my absolute favorite daytime eye creams of all time. Glow Recipe is a little bit expensive of a brand, but I absolutely love this. It has this perfect soft pink color to it that gives you very subtle color correction, and I love the brightening formula, it's not harsh or intense, it's gentle. I just wish Glow Recipe would be a bit more generous with sales."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Anua 3 Ceramide Panthenol Moisture Barrier Cream

"Look at this ingredients list, it has ceramide ingredients in it plus some of those more synthetic ceramides, it's even got the lanolin alternative in it, and it's a huge tube. This is a moisture barrier cream for sensitive skin, and K-beauty is really coming through for dry skin lately. It's actually for dry skin but it's not super heavy, I really thought this was going to be exclusively for nighttime use, but it could work for day or night. That's going to be a big thumbs up for me."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream

"I recently tried La Mer again, and that darn moisturizer, it's nice, but the price tag just makes me mad, it's too expensive. I truly don't feel that it really takes my routine to the next level."

~Mixed

48%Guru Score

Tula Bright Start Vitamin C Antioxidant Brightening Moisturizer

"The Tula Vitamin C Moisturizer has a clear pump system, and the vitamin C would get exposed to light and air, so you would see brown gunk at the tip every time you tried to pump the product out."

✕Nay

66%Guru Score

BYOMA Moisturizing Gel Cream

"I prefer Bioma to Bubble just a bit, simply because this brand feels like it's more for sensitive skin, and by being a brand more for sensitive skin, this is a brand where you can go even younger in usage. Bioma also has some amazing sets, and some of you told me you picked up the Bioma sets in the Urban Outfitters sale."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Dieux Instant Angel Lipid-Rich Firming Moisturizer

"I received the Dieux Instant Angel lipid rich moisturizer in PR and I absolutely loved it. What a gorgeous moisturizer, it feels almost lightweight when you apply it, but then you realize it's incredibly nourishing on your skin, that's the best way I can describe it. I'm going without it for now because there are so many good moisturizers out there, but I love the brand, and my ethics align with it."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Thank You Farmer Rice Pure Gel and Cream

"This is still among my absolute favorites, it is this absolute joy of a cream and a gel in one tub, you can mix and match to your heart's delight."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

107 Everyday Plump Hydro Cream

"This is probably the heaviest cream in this lineup, and one of the few heavier cream options that doesn't leave that matte look to your skin. It actually is kind of a glowy finish."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Cream

"The Dark Spot Correcting Glow Cream feels very much like a serum to me, like a serum in jar packaging with the name cream on it, it feels forced. I have a dry skin type and that makes a significant difference in how I feel about this product. If you have a dry skin type like I do, probably don't bother, I don't think you will enjoy this product, though it might rank higher if you have oily skin."

✕Nay

61%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

"The watermelon glow moisturizer is a standout too because it's one of the most lightweight moisturizers I've ever encountered. Obviously it's not for me, I have dry skin and prefer something heftier, but you put it on and your skin feels tacky, almost sticky for a bit, then you wait five minutes and it just disappears into your skin. It's a magic trick of a moisturizer, I'm just not used to seeing that."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream

"The Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream is made for combination to oily skin, it has green tea, a balancing ingredient for oil production, and aloe juice, a very simple and straightforward ingredients list, just a simple lightweight moisturizer. Not enough for me personally because I do like heavier moisturizers, but I absolutely get it, it's just not right for my skin type."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

Lion Pose Pep Talk Biopeptide Barrier Cream with Triple Lipid Complex

"The Lion Pose Pep Talk Biopeptide Barrier Cream claims to be a vegan product made to mimic human placenta, with ceramides, glutathione, and ashwagandha, meant to help restore your skin barrier. When I finally tried it I absolutely loved it, it's a gorgeous moisturizer. It does have pump packaging which personally I'm not the world's biggest fan of, but I do like that it's smaller in that design. They're marketing this for retinol and AHA users to help your skin bounce back, which is a smart and unique approach, and it works well day or night, you can use it under makeup or in your PM routine. It is really well done. There are a lot of good moisturizers out there, but if you struggle a lot with your barrier this could be a good one to try."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

"I'm a big fan of peptides, and this formula has a lot going on: signal peptides, growth factor supportive amino acids, pygmy water lily, a probiotic based ferment, and even some stem cell based ingredients, which makes it very hydrating. But because the brand avoids silicones I don't think this buffs into your skin very nicely, it's slow and kind of tricky. That's actually the reason I don't think I'm going to buy this again. So while I do like this and understand why it's their bestseller, it's going to be the last time that I buy it."

~Mixed

65%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream

"This is really a fantastic repair cream, fantastic. It has the qualities I like supercharged, with oils, zinc, copper, ceramides, the list goes on and on, it's a beautiful formulation and a thick moisturizer. I think it's a night cream because of how heavy it is, but I'm somebody with irritation prone skin and I can tell you this is very calming. I really think it's an incredible moisturizer, by far my favorite."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Rescue & Recovery Moisturizer

"As a person with dry skin I like the thicker feel this has, it's tailored more for a dry skin type with multiple carrier oils and three different kinds of ceramides, it's meant to be a barrier boosting moisturizer. I always preferred the texture of this. I like it, but I wonder if this will eventually be discontinued."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Neogen Hyal-Rewind Exosome Cream

"I finally finished the Neogen High Exosome Cream. I liked it, but it was just a little bit too lightweight for me personally."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

"This is the moisturizer pairing for that serum, it is absolutely a beautiful product, one where you really get that rich hanbang scent from this while you get those incredible ginseng ingredients. Because it is such a rich texture, so rich in its formulation, I do think that even with just this moisturizer you could see amazing results. This is really a nice option if you want to splurge, it's another one where I just don't think you'll be disappointed if the price point doesn't bother you, but if it does, I don't think it will be life changing."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Centella Asiatica Vital Miracle Healing Multi Balm

"The brand says this multi stick can be used on your hands, your elbows, your knees, and your face, but it can't, it's way too stiff for those purposes. What this is actually perfect for is cracked heels, they even say it in their own gallery. I can see why people who have cracked heels would love this, but I can also see why people would be very frustrated with it because it just does not work for those other purposes the brand suggests it does."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Abib Heartleaf Calming Cream Tube

"I did quit using this heart leaf cream, not because it's a bad product but because if you are more on the normal to dry side of things I think this is just going to be too light for you. It certainly was for me. It's a beautiful formula, but you need a certain texture in your moisturizer and that ends up being personal, so make sure you buy the correct moisturizer for your needs. I did quit using this, honestly I'd rather pass it along to someone that'll enjoy it more, especially given how much I liked the moisturizer for dry skin."

~Mixed

Notverified

Tirtir Ceramic Cream

"This might be one of the most underrated products from this brand. It's designed for dry skin, and I have so much respect for the fact that they say it's not for oily skin, because it really is too heavy for that skin type. The latest formulation is fragrance free, uses polyglutamic acid instead of hyaluronic acid, and has no niacinamide, with witch hazel added for pores even though it's a moisturizing formula, which is a bizarre but interesting combination. I loved it so much, but I don't actually think I will repurchase this, simply because pores aren't as big of a concern for me."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

BYOMA Moisturizing Rich Cream

"I'm finishing this routine with a thick heavy moisturizer, the Byoma rich cream. A lot of people ask me what's the heaviest, thickest moisturizer I know of, and this is such a good thick moisturizer. This is a good affordable one, you do not have to spend a lot to get a great moisturizer for dry skin. Look at how rich this is, this moisturizer is so rich it got into college on a bribe, and yet it's still cosmetically elegant. It's a beautiful way to finish up this retinoid sandwich."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Fresh Rose and Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Moisturizer

"The Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream, I finished off my tub of this, I did get it in PR but I liked it enough to finish it, and this is impressive because I do not like rose scents. I like a nice thicker moisturizer and this was that, very cosmetically elegant, I got to give it to Fresh. Do you necessarily need it? Not necessarily, there are other less expensive moisturizers that work well, but to the credit of Fresh, this was nice to use."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

"I separated out the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, these are fine, they're fine moisturizers, they're meant to be a second moisturizer. It is a gigantic bottle, it is not too expensive, and for once it is also fragrance-free and non-irritating."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream

"Dermalogica as a brand has been very hit or miss for me, but I feel like this product right here is really Dermalogica at their best. They kept this repair cream free of essential oils, and I think that's the right choice. Texture wise it's another hefty moisturizer, a little less thick than the Drunk Elephant but still has that thicker, more occlusive feel. They recommend rubbing it between your hands to warm it up before applying. The ingredients include shea butter, fatty acids, licorice root, centella asiatica, and a blend of plant extracts including punarnava root extract, pepperberry, lactobacillus, and bisabolol. In contrast to the Drunk Elephant, this one contains pseudo-ceramides and the precursors for ceramide so you can make your own ceramide in your skin."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Murad Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Cream

"This moisturizer is a little bit of a thicker product, but less so than either of the first two we talked about, and it's still stinky to me, though scent is personal. There is so much in this moisturizer that is of note. The 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol is such a smart choice, an ingredient that reduces stinging and burning with decent research behind it for sensitive skin, dermatitis, and rosacea. They also included hydroxyphenyl propamidobenzoic acid, which they say mimics oats, another skin soothing ingredient, combined with bilberry and niacinamide antioxidant ingredients. It's still a bit hard for me to say this is guaranteed not to cause any stinging, because as you can see from the ingredients it does have fragrance, and probably essential oils because of the two ingredients listed before the word fragrance, so that makes it tricky."

~Mixed

60%Guru Score

Torriden Cellmazing Firming Cream

"This product reinforces why I like Torriden so much. This is such a beautiful formula, fragrance-free, low irritant, rich in amino acids, with five different forms of collagen, hexapeptide-2, and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid. It's surprisingly lightweight compared to their toner. K-beauty has some incredible anti-aging options for people who don't want very heavy, occlusive sensations, but if you have dry skin, you might find yourself craving a bit more dryness relief from it."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

"This is a classic product for a reason, I do think you're going to like this a lot more if you have either a more normal to oily skin type, or if you just don't like the feel of moisturizer, as this one absorbs really fast. It's a fine product, if you have a drier skin type it's probably not going to be for you."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

"I was looking at the ingredients on the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer and it looks beautiful, it looks non-irritating. It's got some urea in it, some allantoin, just a really overall nice formula. They also have a moisturizer with SPF on the same day, a hybrid as well."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb

"I got another sample of the belif Aqua Bomb and used it today, and it reminded me of why I did like belif. This is such a good moisturizer for under makeup, it is so cooperative. If you also wear makeup you know you can run into moisturizers that don't get along with makeup, this one does."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Isntree Onion New Pair Gel Cream

"This is my second tube of the Onion New Pair Gel Cream, I finished off a full size. It's surprising because gel cream is typically not my favorite category as a person with dry skin, but it feels like Isntree got this right, it actually does feel moisturizing and hydrating. They say it's made to help with blemish prone skin and to boost your skin barrier, and I feel like it does. It's these other elements, blemish care and barrier support, that make this a product I enjoy so much."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream

"I still have the Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream, and I found myself going, why haven't I been using this more, this is a great winter moisturizer. It's definitely more of a thick product, which as a dry skin type is my love language. For as much as this is an excellent product, I will tell you there is an even better moisturizer for my skin type."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Cream

"I found myself being mad at myself, why have I not been using this more. This is such a hefty, occlusive, deeply nourishing moisturizer, it is so perfect for this colder weather and yet it's so beautiful, it sinks into your skin so nicely, a level up from the hyaluronic acid moist cream. It is just so well made, you see emollient oils in the ingredients list in addition to five different types of ceramide. This would easily be a sixty dollar product in Sephora at 2.7 fluid ounces. I'm so glad I sat down to try some more of these products."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Slurp Serum Moisturizer Crush

"I really like this product. It's a serum moisturizer all in one, and even though it's not enough for me as a moisturizer on its own, especially in the winter months, there's something so enjoyable about using it. It has bakuchiol and other plant extracts for antioxidant activity, plus fatty acids, which is why in spite of its very light texture it actually feels moisturizing. It's such a nice product to use before my retinoid in a retinoid sandwich. I absolutely see why this is one of their best sellers, I absolutely love Slushie."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT 10+10 Moisturizer

"This is a vitamin C and peptide product, it has a 10% complex of two different forms of vitamin C derivatives plus a 10% peptide complex, and it also has shea butter in it. I've enjoyed this, it buffs in really nicely, a true cream, perfect for dry skin types. In all truth though I don't think I'm going to buy a full size of this, because I like a vitamin C serum in the mornings and a peptide serum at night, so it's just not a perfect fit for my routine, even though I've enjoyed using it."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

I'm From Licorice Calming Cream

"I like the I'm From Licorice Calming Cream, I think it's a nice formula, it is kind of light. I have a dry skin type and this just doesn't work as a moisturizer on its own for me, especially now going into the winter months, so I've kind of been plowing through it. I like licorice, it's an excellent ingredient for helping to brighten your skin, and I think most people will like it, it blends out really fast and nicely, but it's just not moisturizing enough for my skin type. I don't see myself repurchasing it because I don't think it's ideal for my dry skin type, but you might really like it if you have more oily to normal skin."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Purito Deep Sea Pure Water Cream

"This is the Purito Deep Sea Pure Water Cream. It has 60% deep sea water and 2% niacinamide, that's a perfect level for me. This formula is so interesting, they actually have multiple forms of algae in here. It's so nice to see that in an affordable moisturizer."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Strivectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus

"I like this one, of course I'm going to, it is thick, it is heavy, which I guess does make for a good cream for the neck area since that skin is more thin, so something thicker and more occlusive makes sense there. It does feel really nice and it does deeply moisturize. I don't think I'm going to repurchase it, but I'm also not going to completely write it off, because I feel like it might be one of those products where as you get a bit older you appreciate it more."

~Mixed

63%Guru Score

I'm Unique Centella Calming Gel Cream

"This is the I'm Unique Centella Calming Gel Cream, and while it's an award winner I think this is for oily skin types. As somebody with a drier skin type, this is never going to be a moisturizer texture that works for me, it's never going to give me enough moisture. Nonetheless I like the idea of it, 72% centella asiatica leaf water, 10% tea tree leaf water, much more diluted than the essential oil. I'm Unique does like to include a small sprinkling of essential oils, including one that I sometimes react to, so know about that. I can still see this being a product a lot of people like, I just won't be able to give a very in depth review on this particular product."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Repair Balm

"I'm always trying alternatives that don't use products from the oil industry, and this one from Pyunkang Yul, the Calming Moisture Barrier Repair Balm, is nice, it was a very nice product. But it's a lot more expensive than Aquaphor, and I still do feel honestly nothing really quite beats petrolatum."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Mary&May Idebenone Blackberry Intense Cream

"This is a perfect AM moisturizer for dry skin types. The idebenone ingredient gives antioxidant protection, and I'm also getting this incredibly unique texture, while it feels light it also feels intensely nourishing, which is such a good choice for daytime use under sunscreen and makeup. It also has ceramides and it's a fragrance free formula. This isn't even an expensive product, but in every aspect it feels like it should be, and it's glass packaging."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Cleansers74 reviews

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

"My top recommendation for a cleansing oil is the one from DHC. The brand had some drama in their past, but they removed the problematic person from the company, and their cleansing oil is a great cleansing option."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash for Face and Body 4% Benzoyl Peroxide

"The Panoxyl Acne Creamy Wash is included in the 10X event and it's on sale, and this is the best product for acne in my opinion, period."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Prequel Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser

"I'm using my Prequel Redness Reform Cleanser, you can use this as a mask but I'm just using it as a cleanser. Prequel came through so much for me, I feel like I was just looking for the perfect cleanser and they ended up having it."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Prequel Pre-Cleanse Cleansing Oil

"Prequel's Pre-Glance has completely replaced my old cleansing oil. It's fragrance free and it's also a way better price. I'm happy to replace an old favorite that cost me more money with a new favorite that I both like more and that's saving me money."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Prequel Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser

"This is a very affordable gigantic cleanser you can use on your face and your body, and I deeply respect it because cleanser doesn't have to be an expensive step. If I pump it into my hands, add water, foam it up, and then wash my face, there are no issues, it leaves my skin feeling thoroughly cleansed without a film. But if I pump it directly into my hand and put it on wet skin, it leaves a film behind, and because the cleanser I actually need as someone with acne has to be applied on dry skin, I struggle to remember to use it the right way. Otherwise it's a fantastic cleanser, but that's why I'm keeping it in my just okay category."

~Mixed

85%Guru Score

PanOxyl 4% Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansing Wash

"This gives me the acne prevention that this honestly boring product does. The product I'm holding up is the PanOxyl Benzoyl Peroxide 4% Wash, I talk about this all the time, it's very repetitive on this channel because I am somebody who has acne prone skin, it is sensitive, and this was my solution."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water with PHA and Glycolic Acid

"This is the Garnier micellar gentle peeling water with 1% PHA and glycolic acid. I'm normally very careful with glycolic acid, but this is an example of a product I was actually able to use, probably because the glycolic acid in it is at such trace levels that it's mostly the PHA doing the work, since it's made to be used around the eye area. I don't think this was significantly different from the other Garnier micellar waters, and ultimately I still think Bioderma is a little bit better."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Regelica Cleanser

"I absolutely adore that company's essence. The cleanser is nice, but it's a little bit too foamy for my skin type, it's a gentle foaming effect but still a foaming effect, and I tend to like non foaming cleansers. It's perfect for my partner though, she loves it."

~Mixed

61%Guru Score

Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm

"You get almost an ounce of the Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm, which truly is incredible."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Tower 28 Daily Balancing Gel Cleanser

"The Tower 28 is more of a gel cleanser, and it's under twenty two dollars. The truth about it is that it's very, very basic, but I think that's all you need in a cleanser, there's no need to overthink it. I like Tower 28, I recommended their gel cleanser."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Kate Somerville Eradicate 3% Daily Foaming Cleanser

"I really appreciate Kate Somerville as a brand and I've gone through quite a few bottles of their sulfur cleanser, but I don't see myself buying that again, even at 50% off, because Prequel's new cleanser replaces it for me. I think I like the Prequel version more."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide

"This CeraVe benzoyl peroxide cleanser isn't my favorite. I only have it because of a points promotion at Ulta."

✕Nay

76%Guru Score

Cocokind Milky Soft Face and Body Cleanser

"This is a face and body cleanser, and if you use it on your face you need the lightest touch because it is easy to press down on the pump too hard. It's definitely a lighter cleanser in terms of not feeling too stripping, but it's not the lightest, so if you prefer cream cleansers with absolutely no bubbling effect, you do get some bubbling with this. But it is absolutely lovely, and I feel like this is what the world needs, more affordable options like this."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Lancôme Bi-Facil Makeup Remover

"Lancome's Bi-Facil is my one product with fragrance in this video. You do not need this if you don't wear heavy eye makeup, but if you do, especially if you know the struggle of staining your eyelids with an eyeshadow palette, this is good stuff, very good stuff. One bottle should last you a very long time since you only need it on your eyes and lips for matte liquid lipsticks."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

"The Fresh Soy Face Cleanser is my cleanser recommendation in this video. It's a fragrance-free, super gentle cleanser that also removes makeup, and the big size will last you a long time. It's still a little expensive, and I don't think you have to spend this much on a cleanser, but if you want to spend more, want a fragrance-free option, and don't want to think about cleanser for basically the rest of the year, this will do it. That's the one cleanser I've picked from the sale."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Whipped Cream Cleanser

"This is a cleanser from Peter Thomas Roth that dispenses like whipped cream. As a cleanser it's honestly a bit odd, definitely a cream cleanser but not really the best cream cleanser I've ever tried. It's on my list because this got in my eyes once and I was done with it, and it turns out everyone who tried it had the same experience, it stings so badly. You can't use it around your eyes even though they advertise it can remove makeup, so if you can't use it where you tend to apply makeup, then what's the point. You also have to clean the nozzle after every use or it gets gunky. There's not a lot in this product that redeems it aside from the whipped cream aspect, but I want my cleanser, especially one that's over thirty dollars, to do a bit more than that."

✕Nay

65%Guru Score

Remedy Derm Dissolve Cleansing Balm

"This is the Remedy Derm Dissolve Cleansing Balm, a pre-cleanser. It's not a lot that comes out at once, but it's actually quite fun to grind the cleansing balm through the mechanism, I enjoy that aspect of it. The drawback is that this is only 1.5 fluid ounces, which is basically a travel size amount, but because of the grinding mechanism it needs more space so it looks like a full size product. I went through my product in about three weeks, and it's frustrating to have to buy things so often. I would love to see the brand acknowledge this and come out with at least a jumbo size for people who want to make this their go to cleansing balm. Then again, maybe this is the right choice for somebody who doesn't double cleanse every day. I have had some cleansers that get in my eye and sting the daylights out of my eyes, and this is not too bad."

~Mixed

80%Guru Score

Tatcha Rice Wash Skin Softening Cleanser

"This one is from Tatcha. It is expensive, but you use so little of it. It's such a luxurious experience and your skin feels great. You've got to have a gentle enough cleanser, and this is gentle in such a way that I really feel your skin looks better after using it long term."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Prequel Non-Drying Glycolic Acid Cleanser

"This is Prequel's newest cleanser, a Non-Drying Glycolic Acid Cleanser. I have to be really careful with glycolic acid, but I think we can use it in a cleanser because you're getting short contact therapy, and it's also a high glycerin product, so it's more hydrating while you wash your face. My skin does not feel dried out. I cannot believe I just used a non-harsh glycolic acid cleanser. Another wonderful addition to the Prequel brand, which has grown a lot."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Ginger Melt Oil Cleanser

"I finally finished the Peach and Lily Ginger Melt Oil Cleanser. I really enjoyed this, it's just a really well-made cleanser. It's one of those cleansing oils that thoroughly comes off your skin, some feel like they leave behind a film, some burn and sting your eyes, and this was just pretty much as close to perfect as you can get. I guess the one con would be that it has been a little bit more expensive than some of the K-beauty brand options, but that might be changing."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

"I absolutely love this type of foaming cleanser, it's not an aerosol type like some others, just a standard whipped foaming cleanser that's fun to use. You don't even need any water, you just throw it on your skin, lightly massage it in, and it feels wonderful, it cleanses thoroughly. CeraVe designed this for normal to combination skin with ingredients that help fight oil production, plus ceramides and humectants that make the cleansing process hydrating. The only thing that was a bit of a shock to me was the price, I expected it to be affordable drugstore pricing around $13.99, but it's actually $18.99."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Tula Cult Classic Purifying Cleanser

"I have tried the Tula Cult Classic. I wish they included the fragrance free one, I just don't love the rose smell in that one."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser

"I really like that you can grab the First Aid Beauty cleanser at any point during week two. That is a very reliable cleanser, and I think you'll like it regardless of your skin type. If your skin is more dry, use a pea size amount, if you're a bit more oily, use a little more."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Foaming Gel

"This is the Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Foaming Gel. Their prices are really quite reasonable, and while I was making the ingredients list for this product, one thing I was really thinking about is how nice and straightforward it is. It's foaming up more than I expected, I saw a review from someone who said it didn't foam, but it foams. There's no added extracts in this, no fluff, and in a lot of ways I think that's great in a cleanser. Nice, simple, straightforward, under $10."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Anua Heartleaf Plus Vitamin E Pore Control Cleansing Oil

"This is the sensitive skin Heartleaf version of the Anua cleansing oil. For me, I really liked this, and I liked the original as well. I do feel like I go through the Anua cleansing oils faster than some others because I tend to unintentionally pump out more from lightweight cleansing oils versus heavier ones."

✓Yay

62%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil

"One of the ones that lasted a very long time for me was the Haruharu cleansing oil. It's just got a lot of body to it."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Tula Acne AllStar 3-in-1 Acne Cleanser, Mask & Spot Treatment

"The Tula acne allstar three in one, now discontinued, was my favorite product from them. It had a pinch of sulfur, which is a great but more gentle ingredient for fighting acne. The problem with sulfur containing products is they all smell a bit funky, even with fragrance added, but it's worth it if you have really bad acne, because that's better than dealing with painful cysts."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Mugwort Pore Clarifying Wash-Off Pack

"I actually like the Axis-Y mugwort mask even more, it just works better for me for some reason, so I had just repurchased that."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

TOCOBO Calamine Pore Control Cleansing Oil

"This calamine cleansing oil, at 5,000 parts per million, I like calamine, it's a nice calming ingredient. This is definitely a traditional cleansing oil. I feel like that was not the best for makeup removal, it was very good for just sunscreen removal, and I like how it applied and removed, but not the best at makeup removal."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

"I do like this, it's a very good balm cleanser, a fragrance free balm cleanser. For a while K Beauty has had arguably some better or at least competitive prices to the sale on this, but it's nice to know that we do have an option here in Clinique."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser

"I like that one but it's not an absolute favorite for me. It's not too intense or harsh of a cleanser, but I just kind of feel like there are cleansers that I personally like more."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

"I do love a good high-end cleansing balm. I had a hard time picking between Eve Lom and Elemis, but in the end I went with Elemis because I like how there are now different scents from them. This cleansing balm just smells so enjoyable, and there's something in the texture and the whole ritual of using it to remove all your makeup and sunscreen. Nobody needs this kind of a fancy product, but if you like it, you're allowed to enjoy it."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Numbuzin Glutathione Cica Facial Spa Cleanser

"I bought the Numbuzin Glutathione C Facial Spa Cleanser Number Five because I saw somebody on Reddit rave about it. This is my third time trying it and I am not feeling this. The first two times I used it I needed a second cleanser, and I felt like it left a film behind. I am not a fan of the smell, it is very herbal. I am also not a fan of them calling this a fragrance free product when they list fragrance ingredients like lavender oil right below that, it is baffling. This reminds me a lot of the way the Drunk Elephant cleansing balm and the Glow Recipe cleansing balm felt on my skin, and I did not like any of those either. I cannot get this to emulsify the way I would like, I have to break out a cloth to get it off, and afterward my skin actually feels kind of dry. Me and Numbuzin, it has not been the best of experiences over the years."

✕Nay

72%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser

"I absolutely love cream cleansers, and this is an exception, it's actually a light lather. It has a very pleasant smell to it, which shocked me, and I do like this, I like it a lot, I like how gentle it is. I haven't tried it to remove makeup because that's not typically how I use cream cleansers, I prefer oil cleansers for that, but as a morning cleanse this is really nice. Do you need to spend this much on a cream cleanser? Absolutely not, but did Drunk Elephant do a nice job on this? Yeah, I think they did, and this is the first product they've actually sent me that I've liked."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

"I have called this my absolute favorite cleansing oil in the past, and I completely plowed through an entire bottle of it. Using it again for this video, I don't think I have a cleansing oil that I like more than this even all these years later. It's light, it works really well at removing makeup and sunscreen, it emulsifies beautifully, and it leaves your skin clean, not feeling dried out. You don't necessarily have to follow with a second cleanser, it's really hard to leave residue behind with this product, though if you have oily to normal skin you might prefer to finish with a second cleanser. It also includes essential oils, some of which I typically react to, and yet I don't with this cleanser. This is truly a wonderful cleansing oil, one of the best if not the absolute best, well deserved to be their number three bestseller."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

BYOMA Milky Jelly Cleanser

"The Bioma milky moisture cleanser is a great milk cleanser."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Pacifica Vegan Ceramide Extra Gentle Face Wash

"The Pacifica Vegan Ceramide Extra Gentle Face Wash is an incredibly gentle, milky, creamy cleanser."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm

"The e.l.f. cleansing balm is still a fantastic cleansing balm."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Bubble First Class Oil Cleanser

"Bubble really surprised me this year. Their First Class Oil Cleanser is such a good oil cleanser if you're just looking for a basic oil cleanser."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Arencia Rice Mucin Cleanser

"This cleanser was super fun, remember when it went viral this year. It was kind of a short lived virality, a fun product, but you don't necessarily need your product to be fun, and you're paying a price for fun."

~Mixed

58%Guru Score

iUNIK Centella Bubble Cleansing Foam

"I love that whole category, those bubble cleansing foams are super fun, but I go through them so fast. I've also had pumps break on those. I just don't always feel like I get my money's worth with that type of product."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser

"This is the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser, and I really regret that I did not return it. When this product released it had a huge design flaw, it just pours out everywhere, gunky all over the packaging. As a cleanser itself I think it's nice, but in faulty packaging. They say the packaging is improved now, but I bought it when it released, and it was such an insult to your biggest fans to release a first batch with a design flaw like that. It's a lot of why I ended up falling behind with this brand."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm

"This is the Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm, and I actually returned it. When I did a side by side comparison against the heimish all clean balm, one of the most popular K Beauty cleansing balms, I felt like there were almost no differences in the entire process of using them. It turns out glow recipe reformulated this cleansing balm to be better, it's just that now it's very similar to other K Beauty cleansing balms that cost a lot less. Some people say this is their absolute favorite cleansing balm they've ever tried, so it's all personal opinion, but for me it wasn't worth it over the cheaper K Beauty option."

~Mixed

72%Guru Score

Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm

"The Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm still exists. This is a good cleansing balm, I originally loved it but I've become more critical of it as better and better balms have entered the market. What I like about this is that the second it touches your skin it melts your makeup right off. What I don't like is I feel like it could emulsify a bit better, it's not as bad as some cleansing balms that leave a lot of film behind, but I do feel like it leaves a little bit of a film behind. It also has essential oils, eucalyptus oil and clove oil, I like the smell of this, but this product works just fine for me, I just ultimately prefer other products."

~Mixed

79%Guru Score

Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser

"This gel cleanser is very affordable, it gets the job done, and it's not stripping. The only thing I don't like about the packaging is that because it's so big, it's hard to guess how much is left, I was shocked the day I finished it. I am absolutely every bit as happy with this cleanser as I am with some much more expensive cleansers, and I love it."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Beplain Mung Bean pH Balanced Cleansing Foam

"This is Beplain's Mung Bean pH Balanced Cleansing Foam. I cannot wait to give this a try, I like the bright green fun packaging too. I have a feeling it's going to be a little more intense than the foaming cleanser in the Stylevana Advent calendar, but to its credit that means it will last longer."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Dermalogica PreCleanse

"I was thinking about Western options here, largely because in the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty we had the Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse Oil available, and that's a great cleansing oil, it really is. I feel like it probably costs more, or at least about the same price as this entire box."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Arencia Fresh Green Rice Mochi Cleanser

"I actually do like this cleanser, it's kind of an indie brand out of Korea which is exciting. It starts out with a really fun texture and it actually is a lovely cleanser, it feels more gentle than a lot of Korean cleansers which can feel very same-y to me. But I think it's a little in that overhype territory at the moment, it's a fun cleanser and that's why it's getting so much hype. It's a four star cleanser, it's fun, it is nice to use, it didn't change the way I do skincare. You only need a small amount mixed with water, so it's not too expensive if you use it correctly."

~Mixed

62%Guru Score

Tirtir Hydroboost Enzyme Cleansing Balm

"I bought the baby size of the Tirtir Hydro Boost Enzyme Cleansing Balm. This is another product that is absolutely fine. It's a gentle cleansing balm, no added fragrance, it emulsifies, it works, it removes makeup and sunscreen. The problem is it's like so many other cleansing balms out there, and I feel like it's a little expensive because Tirtir is a little expensive."

~Mixed

72%Guru Score

Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Cleanser

"The yam root cleanser is an incredible cream cleanser."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Isntree Green Tea Fresh Cleanser

"The green tea cleanser is amazing as a gel and gentle cleanser."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Beekman 1802 Vegan Goat Milk Oil Eliminating Foaming Gel Cleanser

"I've been using the Beekman 1802 facial cleanser recently, I almost put it in our haul follow up last week. I really like it, it's more gentle, and it smells like oats."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

"This is a nice jelly cleanser, it's not harsh at all, there's some foaming but not a lot, and it's a product where you can actually use a lot of it without drying out your skin. I like it, but I won't buy the full size because there are so many other jelly cleansers I love just as much."

~Mixed

57%Guru Score

House of Hur Purifying Cleansing Balm

"This is the Purifying Cleansing Balm from House of Hur. This is not your standard cleansing balm, it's the kind of product where you twist it open and the product comes out of little slits for a more sanitary way to dispense it, which is genius. They say it's made with all kinds of fruit ingredients, it doesn't really have a lot of a smell, and it emulsifies beautifully, no struggle at all. It does have a little bit of a heavier feel overall. I think this is going to be a hit, I think a lot of people are going to love this method of dispensing a cleansing balm, and this is the kind of innovation I look for in new releases. I really like this brand."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam

"It's the same with the Gentle Cleansing Foam, for me personally I see the appeal, but I actually really like my affordable cleansers, I'm not complaining, my skin occasionally likes some rather expensive products but not with cleanser, with cleanser it likes to go affordable. Still, this is a really well done Korean cleansing foam. A lot of the Korean cleansers that I've tried are a little bit more harsh, this one leans more gentle, it's got that great hanbang smell. If you are somebody who is a bit more sensitive and nervous about the fragrance, you might want to try it in some kind of a wash off product, this is a great option. For me the double cleansing options didn't stick, I don't continue to repurchase these."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel

"This is also a really great cleanser, more of a gentle cleanser, which is kind of hard to find in K-beauty. Most K-beauty cleansers are a little bit more stripping than I prefer, but this cleansing gel really does stand out, it really is more gentle. It's a beautiful product."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

"I went back to my old Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I only use it in my eye area. It's inexpensive but it works."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser

"This is the Round Lab Moisturizing Birch Cleanser, one I've tried before. This is a great K beauty cleanser and such a good example of a cleanser that is quite different from Western cleansers. This is a true foaming cleanser, and in big contrast to Western products you need so little of it, just the tiniest amount, mixed in your hands with water before it touches your face, and then you get such rich lather, a full deep cleanse that doesn't dry your skin out. I didn't like K beauty cleansers for the longest time because I was overusing the amount of product and wasn't foaming it up off my skin, so that's a big tip."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser

"This is the Glow Recipe cleanser. A lot of people had problems with this when it first released, the opening is too large for the packaging so it's impossible to squeeze without making a mess. The problem showed up immediately and I thought about returning it, but I never did, so it's just sat unused since."

✕Nay

59%Guru Score

BYOMA Melting Balm Cleanser

"This isn't Byoma's finest product, it's a little strange. This brand is almost entirely fragrance-free, but this product has an essential oil, rosemary oil, and it doesn't really smell great to me. As far as using it, it's fine, there's nothing inherently wrong with it, I just didn't find it to be, in my opinion, the best of Byoma. On a technicality it does what a cleansing balm needs to do, it's effective for removing makeup, removing sunscreen, it does emulsify, it's just not my absolute favorite."

~Mixed

67%Guru Score

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser

"The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser is a nice cleanser. I don't feel like I have a lot more to add because there are so many cleansers out there."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Peach & Lily PowerCalm Hydrating Gel Cleanser

"This is a great cleanser and a great price for it. I typically love my drugstore cleansers, but this is a sale where this is drugstore pricing."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Prequel Gentle Cleanser

"The Prequel Gentle Cleanser is made with fifty percent glycerin, it feels different, stringy in texture but it still foams up nicely and it's very gentle, gentler than most cleansers on the market. As a facial cleanser I expected it to be earth shattering and it actually felt familiar, similar to the cream and non foaming cleansers I already use, so I felt a little let down even though it's not a bad product, it's a great dupe for the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and it isn't limited to the face. When I took it into the shower and used it as a body cleanser, that is where it really came through, I have never tried a body cleanser like this in my life. It's a fully fragrance free, non stripping face and body cleanser and I really appreciated that gentle cleansing especially in the winter. So the hype did come through for me, but not as a facial cleanser, as a body cleanser."

~Mixed

81%Guru Score

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm

"I love the Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm for traveling because it doesn't have that extremely melty texture that some cleansing balms have, it's a little more firm. The label itself didn't travel too well, but I liked it."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Isntree Onion New Pair Cleansing Foam

"I really did enjoy the Onion New Pair Cleansing Foam. I have dry skin, I don't use a lot of foaming cleansers because if I use them too often they'll start to dry my skin out, but I still enjoy using this. There's something about the texture where it feels almost bouncy, it's very foamy, it definitely is a deep cleanser but it's not too harsh on my skin, especially when I use just a tiny amount and foam it up off my hands. Overall it's too much for me every day, but I like it."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes Fragrance-Free

"Neutrogena is also good, but mine is missing a stopper, and it's amazing how much of a difference that makes. I feel like I get a great deal on Neutrogena, but then I spill half the bottle."

~Mixed

61%Guru Score

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Foam

"This is my personal favorite cleansing foam that I've ever tried, at least from K Beauty brands. There is something about this that makes it feel less harsh, less stripping. It is fragrance free but it has a strange smell to it that I don't know how to describe. As somebody with a dry skin type I can only use this kind of product a handful of times a week, but using a tiny amount of it foamed off my hands makes it easier for me."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

"I'm quite familiar with the original Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water as well as some of the other variants. I like Garnier's cleansing water. I think it's a great option, a budget friendly option. Some people do react with it for some reason."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser

"I didn't buy the Ordinary's Glucoside Foaming Cleanser because I just don't think it sounds right for my skin type."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

Caudalie Vinoclean Micellar Water

"I got the Caudalie Micellar Makeup Remover in PR, and my opinion remains the same. I said it was fine and I still feel like it's fine, but I'm baffled at it being chosen as The Best of Beauty 2023, because there are just so many better options than this. It's a bit of a thicker consistency, and I actually don't like that, because when you pour it on a cotton pad it takes a while to absorb, so it's kind of hard to use. I tried using my hands and that did not work, you have to use a cotton pad with this. It mostly got the job done, but it still didn't remove all of my eyeliner, so I had to go in with more remover afterwards, which kind of defeats the purpose. I just feel like it's mediocre."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

"The Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is just not a good match for dry skin, it's way too stripping for my dry skin. It is a low pH cleanser, but most cleansers are low pH these days anyway. This could be nice for some skin types, but I wouldn't recommend it for really normal to dry skin."

✕Nay

61%Guru Score

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser

"The Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser, personally I didn't love the smell of that one."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

Heimish All Clean Balm

"I went through the Heimish All Clean Balm, the travel size. I actually like the mandarin scent a bit more than this one. Both the cleansing balm and the cleansing oil work great to remove sunscreen, foundation, and so on, though the balm feels like a bit more of a ritual than the oil, which is faster."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Mary&May Vegan Low pH Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser

"This is one of their fully vegan products, the Vegan Low pH Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser. Gel cleansers as a category sit in this perfect in between for me, they are not as harsh and stripping as foaming cleansers but you do still get some foaming, and they're not quite a cream or milk cleanser either. It's a really good in between. This particular cleanser is formulated at a low pH to be less irritating for your skin. It contains ten different types of hyaluronic acid and antioxidant rich red grape extract, and it's formulated to remove makeup and impurities. If you foam it on your hands with a little water before applying, it will not feel too drying nor too stripping."

✓Yay

Notverified

Sunscreen66 reviews

Live Tinted Hue Guard Tint SPF 50

"I'm going with the Live Tinted Hue Guard, this is what I'm wearing today. It is only an SPF of 30, but if you apply enough of it, that blocks 97% of the sun's rays, so if you're going to be mostly indoors like I am right now, it works."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

iUNIK Centella Calming Daily Sun Water SPF50

"This is essentially a spray sunscreen deconstructed, and it absolutely does work as a sunscreen. The biggest catch is figuring out how much to use since you can't do the two finger method, so I measured it out with a half teaspoon. I have got to tell you all, I really, really like this. The finish looks a little dewy but it settles, and it has less of that heavy glow that a lot of K beauty sunscreens have. It's very easy to apply once you figure out how much you need, though I'm still in that learning curve phase and I'm not sure my application was as even as it could be. I like it so much that I'm going to stick with it, and it's also huge, four fluid ounces. I don't intend to carry this with me to reapply though, it's too bulky."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

"I'm going with my Purito sunscreen, I think this is still my favorite. I think it's because I do wear makeup, and like I say all the time, it's just such a good priming sunscreen."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46

"I liked this sunscreen, the Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46 from Dermatology. It's a very true hybrid sunscreen, made with zinc as well as octinoxate."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous 101 Zero Feel SPF 50 Day Cream

"The Zero Feel Daily Mattifying Day Cream is fourteen dollars and ninety cents for two point five fluid ounces, which is an amazing price for a mattifying moisturizer. I still cannot get over the size, the price, and the lack of alcohol and fragrance in it. It is such a non-irritating, sensitive skin friendly day cream here in the US."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Prequel Sun Barrier Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50

"I just do not like this sunscreen. It's got 18% zinc oxide plus bioactive antioxidant compounds plus bisabolol, which sounds wonderful in theory, but it is so heavy feeling, so shiny, I almost feel like it's glittery. It's a mineral sunscreen so I can actually use it without reacting, but I just simply hate how it feels."

✕Nay

57%Guru Score

Goodal Heartleaf Calming Moisture Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++

"I bought this from Yes Style, the Heartleaf Calming Moisture Sunscreen from Goodal, SPF 50 plus PA4 Plus. This is a true Korean market sunscreen, and it's more cosmetically elegant than the versions that will be made just for the US market. A lot of Americans are realizing they might lose access to sunscreens like the one I'm currently applying, once Olive Young stops shipping from their global site."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30

"I bought quite a few of the whipped sunscreens from Vacation on a pretty good discount. I think it's fun, but it's really hard to figure out if you're using the correct amount because it's whipped. I do prefer the SPF 50, but I got an incredible deal on the SPF 30, and I think we in the skincare community do tend to underestimate SPF 30. It still blocks 97% of the sun's rays if you apply enough."

~Mixed

65%Guru Score

Klairs All Day Airy Sunscreen

"This All Day Airy Sunscreen from Klairs, SPF 50 plus PA4 plus, is absolutely gorgeous."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

COSRX Ultra Light Invisible Sunscreen

"This invisible sunscreen ultra light from COSRX is like applying a moisturizer. It's gorgeous, and it's amazing that it's so much more affordable than western sunscreens."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Hero Cosmetics Force Shield SPF 30 Sunscreen

"This Hero Mighty Shield is meant to be a liquid pimple patch that works under makeup. I have tried this before and to be honest with you, it didn't work for me, it comes out pretty sticky, kind of like using hot glue, and it strings when I try to apply it. I love the idea of it, but I'm not entirely sold on this just yet, and I haven't figured out how to make it work. I noticed a lot of people online are struggling with it too, so maybe the technology just isn't there yet for a liquid patch."

✕Nay

76%Guru Score

Good Molecules Moisturizing Rich Sunscreen SPF 30

"This is the Good Molecules Moisturizing Rich Sunscreen SPF 30, with 11.2% zinc oxide. Applying it did not go well, it pilled badly and my skin actually started stinging, and I'm not sure if that's from the booster ingredients, which are similar to octocrylene, an ingredient my skin typically doesn't do well with. It only has a three star rating on the Ulta website too. This sunscreen is definitely not for me, and this is why I don't love mineral sunscreens in general, they just take so long to apply."

✕Nay

55%Guru Score

Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen SPF50 Clear

"I finished off another of the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV. This might be one that I end up returning to a lot, it depends on several ongoing things with the US and regulations."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

TOCOBO Bio Watery Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++

"The Tocobo sunscreen is fast to apply, that's why it's so easy to reach for. But I only choose this one when my skin is in a good place, if it's not I reach for the Purito or the Canmake instead."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Merit The Uniform Tinted Moisturizer SPF 50

"This is probably the best version I've seen of a skin tint slash sunscreen, where you can actually apply a lot of it and it still looks decent, though it still feels a little heavy, which I think is what you'd expect. I use about this amount twice, which is the amount you need to actually get the SPF advertised, and they have a full shade range, I use shade 28."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Tatcha Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 Weightless Mineral Sunscreen

"This is a $64 sunscreen that's finally 50% off for $32, and it's a good price for Tatcha, but I thought long and hard about it and decided not to repurchase this, at least not right now. Genuinely, this is one of the best mineral sunscreens I've ever tried in my life, and it's one of the few that really works on my dry skin because zinc oxide is a mineral filter that's also a drying, astringent ingredient. But it simply doesn't compare to a $10 sunscreen out of Japan or Korea, because the chemists formulating for those brands have access to much better UV filters that aren't approved in the US. I also think this might be a little too heavy if you have oily skin, you might be just fine using a much more affordable mineral sunscreen instead."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30

"I have a real life friend who swears by this Cicapair Tiger Grass color correcting treatment, so I was curious to try it. It's thicker than I thought it would be, I expected it to be more thin like a moisturizer, but it still works as a moisturizer too. Oh my gosh, I cannot believe how good this looks."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50+

"IT Cosmetics is always fooling people with that CC cream, yes, that is absolutely a full coverage foundation."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Daily

"This is the EltaMD UV Daily. One thing I really like about EltaMD formulations is that they don't use the two typical sunscreen filters I react to, avobenzone and oxybenzone, instead they have a hybrid formula with zinc oxide and octinoxate, and octinoxate does tend to be pretty non-irritating for most people, myself very much included. It has petrolatum in it, which I personally love to see, though I think that's going to make it shiny, and it does look pretty shiny, but not too white cast. This feels amazing, this really could end up being at least a backup for me if I lose my K beauty chemical sunscreens. It does feel really heavy though, so we'll see how it goes in high heat, I think melting off my face would be my only concern."

~Mixed

81%Guru Score

Ultra Violette Velvet Screen SPF 50 Blurring Mineral Sunscreen

"This whole video I'm applying the Velvet Screen that we have over here in America. It's a 22.75% zinc oxide formula, that's a lot of zinc oxide, and I thought it was okay. What I actually like about this kind of formula is that because it is so thick I feel like it doesn't get in my eyes, but it does also feel really thick."

~Mixed

50%Guru Score

Versed Multi-Serum Skin Tint Foundation SPF 40

"I get the idea of the multi serum skin tint SPF 40 but I think this is one that's more for oily skin types. It has zinc oxide at 13.1 percent, and even when they try to add emollient ingredients, a mineral based product like this can start out feeling almost oily but then through the day start to feel drying, and that's what I noticed with this product. Shade 2 is a good match for me, and I personally didn't notice it oxidizing like some people said, it didn't change color on me. But I just didn't like that drying sensation that I felt with it."

~Mixed

81%Guru Score

Supergoop Resetting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35

"The Supergoop Resetting SPF 35 powder, I just think this is not worth it, this was PR and I already put this in some kind of a fails video. You're going to have such a hard time getting an SPF of 35 from a powder without also looking extremely cakey. I can never recommend you an SPF powder for your face for actual SPF protection, you're not going to get it from that powder. At the very least try a stick instead, but really nothing replaces a good liquid sunscreen."

✕Nay

62%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++

"I finished my Beauty of Joseon ginseng moist sun serum, this is that newer formulation and I really liked it. It does have some essential oils, which I know isn't for everybody, but I absolutely loved the texture. I'd put on two full finger lengths as a primer and then put my makeup on, and it sat so well. I really hope we can still get it, it was absolutely my favorite sunscreen to wear under makeup."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++

"This is such a 2023 sunscreen, it was so viral, top of all the trending products, but viral doesn't mean best and bestselling doesn't mean best either. This sunscreen could leave a white cast depending on your skin tone because it used the filter Tinosorb M, which behaves more like a hybrid filter. The newer 2024 formulas have ditched Tinosorb M with no white cast at all, and the application is even faster, which is what matters most to me in a sunscreen. So this may be the bestseller and I totally understood that in 2023, but in 2024 I truly think you should try some of the new formulas instead."

~Mixed

90%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Stick

"This is actually a really good size, not too small and not too big, with a simple twist mechanism that rolls back down. I like to use sun sticks exclusively for touch-ups rather than as my base sunscreen. I do feel that this isn't the best over makeup, but it's also not the worst. In short, for me this is a good sunstick, a good to great option, though still not my absolute favorite."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Good Molecules Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

"This is the Good Molecules Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, and here's why I pick it. It's twelve dollars, and I don't find most Western sunscreens to be great even at much higher price points, so I'd rather have an affordable one. It's mineral, only SPF 30, this isn't what I wear to the beach, and it's not my favorite under makeup, I get moderate pilling in some places with it. But it's fine, and this is a case where fine becomes the best I can get in a pinch, especially picking it up at Ulta with a coupon."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Jumiso All Day Airy Fit Sunscreen SPF 50

"I believe I received the Jumiso All Day Airy Fit sunscreen through Style Vana. I liked it, it's another sunscreen that buffs in really quickly, in line with the other sunscreens I like, though I like the other ones I've talked about more."

~Mixed

80%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Complete No Stress Physical Sunscreen SPF 50+

"My least favorite product from Axis-Y is the Complete No Stress Physical Sunscreen. It's a rare K-beauty mineral sunscreen, but every time I try to apply this or any mineral sunscreen it takes so much longer than a chemical sunscreen, about eight times longer, because you have to buff it in to get rid of the white cast, and I'm very fair so it will still leave a white cast on some people. I do still use these mineral sunscreens sometimes because there's research that zinc oxide may be beneficial if you deal with acne, so it's kind of an acne treatment and sunscreen all in one, but at the cost of a very slow application. This is version three and it's actually the best version yet of the mineral sunscreen, you're just going to have a hard time working with mineral filters."

✕Nay

64%Guru Score

Purito Wonder Relief Centella Daily Sun Lotion SPF50+ PA++++

"This is the new Purito Wonder Relief Centella Daily Sun Lotion, and I think this is incredibly close to perfect, maybe the fastest sunscreen to apply. It has a little bit of a thicker texture, which actually makes it easier for me to apply than the runnier sunscreens, because I have more control over where I'm putting it and can see better that I've covered every inch of my face. The catch is it still shares that ingredient I'm hesitant about, so on days when I've overdone my actives or exfoliation, my skin feels a little more sensitive when I use this."

✓Yay

Notverified

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule SPF 50+ PA++++

"In the number one spot is the Skin1004 Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule SPF50 plus PA4 plus. This is from Skin1004's line for dry skin, so it has much more of a nourishing and moisturizing feel compared to their other lines, and they delivered on a lightweight, fast to apply sunscreen that truly feels like it's made for dry skin. If you have dry skin, I'd prefer this one just by a hair."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Versed Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

"The guard's up daily mineral sunscreen, broad spectrum SPF 35, made with 15.2% zinc oxide, is the one product I didn't end up loving. It does have a tint. It's not a bad mineral sunscreen, is it completely mineral, probably not, it does have octyl salicylate in it after all. It's just that now that I use K-beauty sunscreens, it's so hard to use mineral sunscreens, even the best of the best, my seventy dollar mineral sunscreens, I still struggle to use those because it's just so much faster to put on a chemical sunscreen. My worst from Versed is worst because it has to be, because this is all the US government will allow in products that I can use. Mineral is just a pain, it takes a minute to buff in and that's my problem."

✕Nay

60%Guru Score

Bloom Effects Tulip Dew Sunscreen Serum SPF 50

"This is the Bloom Effects Tulip Dew Sunscreen Serum, it's $68 for 1.86 fluid ounces, and I love it as a luxury sunscreen. I've tried a lot of these tinted sunscreens and the tint is almost always kind of off, but this is the first time I've ever tried a tinted sunscreen where I really feel my skin immediately looks better upon putting it on. It's a gorgeous sunscreen. Not everybody wants that foundation-like effect in their sunscreen, but if you want that, it's pretty hard to accomplish, and this is the best I've ever seen it done."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Kopari Sun Shield Body Glow SPF 50

"This is one of our most purchased and repurchased body sunscreens in this house, it's just such a beautiful product, nice to apply, which is very hard to say about a lot of body sunscreens, but they nailed the scent, they nailed the experience. My one tip is that because it has more of an oily, emollient feel, make sure you really pay attention to applying it and letting it sit on your skin, if you apply it and then immediately jump in the pool I feel like that might not go that well."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Stick

"This is the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunstick. They changed the packaging since I tried this before, when it was in a little round stick. Personally I like this shape better, it's just a bit faster, and that's a great sunstick, so I'm happy to have that back in my collection."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

"Octinoxate is another chemical filter that's pretty gentle, which means I can use a hybrid, this is the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, and it uses both zinc oxide and octinoxate. It's not that I can never buy a sunscreen in the US with some of our chemical filters in it, it's just that I have to be careful and keep an eye out for avobenzone and oxybenzone."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Naked Sundays Collagen Glow 100% Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion SPF 50

"This is a very recent purchase for me, the Naked Sundays Collagen Glow 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. As far as I understand, this is a brand that only does SPF 50, nothing under that. This is also unquestionably the thickest texture I've ever encountered in a sunscreen. It's actually free from boosters, so it does have a higher level of zinc oxide in the formula, but it's completely non-irritating to my eyes, and I think that's down to both the formula and the thick texture, it's not going to drip into my eyes because of how thick it feels. My goal isn't to recommend specific products, but at the same time, this is best in category."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Peom Water Barrier Sun Cream SPF 50 PA4+

"This option right here from Peom, their Water Barrier Sun Cream, I find to be the most non-irritating, most reparative sunscreen in this category. I still personally think the Purito does a little more for repairing my skin, but this one won't leave a white cast the way the Purito sometimes can."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Kopari Bright As Day Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

"The new Kopari Bright as Day Sheer Mineral Sunscreen reminds me a lot of the Tatcha in the way that it sits on my skin without feeling too drying. It does have an illuminating finish as a heads up, but I really am happy with how it feels. It's a non-drying formula in spite of having an astringent ingredient in it."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Vichy Capital Soleil UV-Age Daily SPF 60

"Here's an example of a broad spectrum SPF 60 product from Vichy that has 14.8% titanium dioxide. I like this one, I don't find it as drying as zinc oxide, which is practically to be expected. Although it's funny, after explaining all that about booster ingredients like butyloctyl salicylate, this one is labeled a 100% mineral sunscreen, but is it really."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

"This is the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen. It has become such a popular sunscreen, but honestly for very good reason. It's such a moisturizing sunscreen that I'm not adding in an additional moisturizer, even though moisturizer is absolutely a necessary step in a skincare routine. I do feel this might actually be one of the most moisturizing sunscreens I've ever tried, it really is a nice product. It does have some tinosorb M in it, so you might see a little bit of a white cast as I start applying it, but on my skin type at least it does vanish in once I massage it in. If you have a deeper skin tone, you might want to look for the newer colored formula instead."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airy Fit Daily Sunscreen SPF 50

"I didn't like this at all the first time I tried it, it felt sticky and tacky, but I figured out the problem was applying it over a heavy cream. If you wear this over a light moisturizer or no moisturizer at all, it works beautifully as a moisturizing sunscreen. The finish is gorgeous, velvety, not too shiny, and this new formula doesn't have the filter that used to give a white cast. It's fast to apply, no white cast, and still gives SPF 50 plus PA four plus coverage. It's a wonderful product, wonderful formula, one of my absolute favorites from the brand. The only reason I'm out of it is because I gave away my backups, not because it's bad, because I love it so much it's hard for me not to share."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sunshield SPF50+ PA++++

"I like to use stick sunscreens for touch ups over makeup, but this one is actually surprisingly not a good one for that purpose, it moves your makeup around too much. It does tug on your skin a bit at first like most sun sticks, but once you get it going it glides really well. I actually used this as my base sunscreen, and I do like this one, that's why it's going in the good category."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++

"I originally reviewed the very popular Biore Watery Essence SPF50 PA4+, but I didn't like it because I don't like dewy finishes. My skincare routine already leaves my dry skin so dewy, and I really felt like it looked greasy on me, maybe not on everyone, but on me."

✕Nay

86%Guru Score

Skin Aqua Super Moisture Barrier UV Gel SPF50+ PA4+

"The Skin Aqua Super Moisture Barrier UV Gel SPF50 PA4+ has the same filters as my favorite one and doesn't include fragrance, but when I tried the older version on my face for a month it did not go well, my skin was drying out and just not thriving. What I ended up discovering is that this is great, this is fantastic for wearing on my body. Skin Aqua also claims they've added ingredients that help protect from pollution. Overall it's a good product, and it's also incredibly affordable, one of the more affordable per ounce options. I will absolutely keep buying this, but for me it is primarily a body sunscreen, specifically the one I choose when I'm doing outdoor activities."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50

"I gave the Biore Watery Gel SPF50 PA4+ a try since this is a brand new reformulation. It turns out to be the Taiwanese version, still under Biore Japan's technology. Honestly, this is not my favorite sunscreen, it's got a little too much of a white cast, and I have a pretty fair skin tone, so if you're much deeper toned than me you probably shouldn't buy this. To its credit they're claiming excellent adhesion, and I do actually like the way this sits on my skin, I'm just not the biggest fan of that slight white cast. For me it's my least favorite in the video, but I'm still glad I got it just for getting to finally see the actual filter percentages."

✕Nay

67%Guru Score

Nivea UV Super Water Gel EX SPF 50+ PA++++

"My personal favorite sunscreen in the whole video ended up being the Nivea UV Super Water Gel EX SPF50 PA4+. The older version wasn't my favorite, but this one just feels improved in so many ways. I recognize it won't be for everyone because it contains alcohol and fragrance, but I'm comfortable using those personally, and I actually like the smell, it has a nice floral scent instead of smelling like spirits. They say this product now has 70% toner in it, and it really does feel like you're just applying water to your skin, like a nice pleasant moisturizer, except it's an 80 minute water resistant sunscreen. The texture is perfect, not too runny, just thick enough to work with. The only real catch is that it's easy to under apply because it sinks into your skin so beautifully. It uses four sunscreen filters so you get absolutely no white cast. This is as close to perfect as I feel you can get in a sunscreen, as long as you're okay with those two ingredients."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream

"The Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream, this is that new formula, no white cast, it is such an upgrade. This is so dreamy to apply, it still gives a bit of a dewy look but it's very lightweight in the way it sits on the skin, it feels just like applying a nice moisturizer or primer. It works really well for me, but I did see some people saying they experienced some irritation from this, and this is just a consistent thing with Anua, they've added a lot of plant extracts and that's not going to work for every last person."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

iUNIK Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

"Our final step is the iUNIK Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++. If you've never tried K beauty, much less a K beauty sunscreen before, you're in for such a pleasant surprise. K beauty sunscreen is like applying a nice moisturizer except you get amazing sun protection. You can see the finish is still a little dewy, and it does absorb a little more through the day, but you get that dewy finish typical of most K beauty sunscreens."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Anua Zero Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen SPF 50

"I used a very lightweight sunscreen today, the Anua sunscreen. It doesn't feel heavy and it's easy to remove."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick SPF 50

"Of all the sun sticks I've tried, the Beauty of Joseon has to be the absolute worst for gliding properties."

✕Nay

72%Guru Score

TOCOBO Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++

"This is the Tocobo Cotton Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++. It's a little bit more of a soft matte finish, that's the word they use to describe it. I like this category because I find sun sticks easy to apply over makeup, though there's a catch, it's easy to apply over light makeup and not heavy makeup. If you are wearing a full coverage foundation this might not work, it might move the foundation around a lot, but later in the day if I'm wearing a skin tint or a light coverage foundation I am able to glide a sun stick over my makeup and it does not disturb it too much. If I'm in direct sun I would still recommend reapplying with a full finger length application of a standard sunscreen instead."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Isntree Onion Newpair Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

"This is the sunscreen we have been waiting for. It's Isntree's onion line, which is absolutely one of my favorite lines from them, and it's made with those new K-beauty filters, that newer formula, although for some reason it has Tinosorb M instead of Tinosorb S, which I thought might make me dislike it. Then I tried it, and no, it is fantastic. It has this incredible lightweight feel, sinks in rapidly, and doesn't leave behind a white cast on my skin. It does have Tinosorb M so this may not be true for everyone, but it applies beautifully and sits fantastically under makeup, with a little bit of a dewy look on its own. The full formula includes onion extract, niacinamide, and some soothing and calming ingredients, which makes it a sunscreen designed in particular for oily and combination skin types, although everyone can use it, and for blemish-prone skin. I'm really happy with it, it's the sunscreen I hoped they would come out with originally."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

make p:rem UV Defense Me. Daily Sun Essence

"This is the make p:rem UV Defense Me. Daily Sun Essence. The texture of this is wonderful, it feels just like you're applying a beautiful moisturizer. It's great under makeup, gorgeous under foundations, skin tints, and powders. As for the filters, this is a formulation similar to the Skin1004 and the original Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, a very popular classic formula at this point because it works well for a lot of people. Just do keep in mind it contains that kind of hybrid Tinosorb M filter, which can leave a white cast on the deepest skin tones, if that doesn't work out for you look for sunscreens that use Tinosorb S instead. Overall another fantastic fragrance-free sunscreen that feels exactly like you're applying moisturizer."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Skin Illuminator SPF 25

"This is the foundation that went viral. I like it, I don't love it, but I like it. My problem with Laura Mercier is that it doesn't seem like she has a good shade for me, the shades might be a little more saturated, my skin is desaturated, it's got a little bit of olive in it and a little bit of gray in it, so I'm going to skip it, but I know a lot of people do really like Laura Mercier's complexion products."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Moist Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++

"This release was met with so much criticism because a lot of what people including myself were enjoying about Beauty of Joseon is that it was a very low irritant option, they avoided fragrance and essential oils, and then they came out with this sunscreen with essential oils in it, which was very confusing. It took me months to work up the nerve to try it, but I got it in and I love it so much. The reason I love it so much is because it's almost like the perfect primer, it's that new formula so there is truly no white cast, but it has that kind of silicone like feel, it feels like a primer. You can apply two full finger lengths of this to your face and get SPF 50 plus PA plus plus plus plus coverage and the most beautiful primer effect as well. I'm somebody with a bit more sensitivity and this is going great for me. It really just smells like nothing, it's bizarre, it smells like nothing. Yes, this is my favorite product from Beauty of Joseon."

✓Yay

64%Guru Score

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50

"Shiseido is exactly like Lancome in my mind, I do not think I can use these because of their fragrance blend. That said, I do like Shiseido, I think they're a great company. I cannot use their sunscreen for whatever reason, probably because of my sensitivities to chemical sunscreens, but I do trust in them, these are probably very nice."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Tula Protect + Glow Daily Facial Sunscreen Gel SPF 30

"This is a chemical sunscreen with avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate. It does have a nice texture though, I swatched it in store, it's a nice yellow based sunscreen, blends in beautifully."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++

"I see the appeal with this, there are even times where I do like this, it's just not my absolute favorite sunscreen simply because it is so glowy. My skincare routine is already adding so many humectants that increase the shine factor in my skin, so by the time I get to sunscreen I typically need to turn the shine down a bit. But if you have been craving even more shine, you could love this one. If you took this and compared it to any US chemical sunscreen, I still like this one more than all of them, because of these newer filters being overall better."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Airy Sun Stick SPF 50

"My final product, my absolute favorite sunstick. A lot of the other sunscreens ranked lower because I said there was a little bit too much shine, but I feel like it might be that exact property that's making this my favorite sunstick. As somebody with dry skin I do not like sunsticks that tug, and I need them to glide really well because I wear makeup and often apply my sunstick on top of it. This sunstick glides so nicely, it is easy to apply, whereas sometimes I struggle with other sunsticks."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Isntree Yam Root Milk Tone Up Suncream SPF50+ PA4+

"I actually do like this one, it's a mineral sunscreen that's kind of more of a foundation, and they acknowledge that right on the packaging. The problem is it comes in one shade, and given that this was supposed to be a release designed for the US market, we are not all this shade, so I'm not able to wear this foundation. I do like this for me personally, but as a US release I feel like it's limited. I feel like they could have done something more similar to what Tower 28 did with their tinted sunscreen."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++

"This just vanishes into your skin, it is truly a sunscreen that does not feel like sunscreen. It is alcohol free, fragrance free, has the perfect packaging, and does not have a white cast as you're applying it, it just sinks in and disappears. It's SPF 50 plus PA4 plus and wears beautifully under makeup. The only potential drawback is that it has a lot of plant based ingredients, and that doesn't work for everybody, some people need a more simple ingredients list."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Torriden Dive-In Mild Sun Cream SPF 50

"This is a zinc oxide sunscreen, though technically it has a booster in it so you could view it more as a hybrid sunscreen. As someone who once thought I couldn't use anything other than mineral sunscreens, this is a good option, it doesn't feel too drying and it doesn't leave too much of a white cast on my skin tone, though I'm not sure it'll work for deeper skin tones. Comparing this to Western mineral sunscreens, this is good, and it's actually SPF 50 plus PA4 plus, which we almost never get in mineral sunscreens over here. I think it's a great option."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer

"I like that Bumble and Bumble primer, I'm almost out of it, so I might restock it in this sale."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Live Tinted Skin Tint SPF 50

"I love Live Tinted, and that does include the sunscreen, probably one of the best mineral sunscreens I've ever tried."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Missha Waterproof Sun Milk SPF 50+ PA++++

"This is the most runny sunscreen in this entire video, and in applying it, wow, there is a strong scent, a strong baby powder scent to my nose, very very strong, and I really do not like the smell. I do like the finish, it's a little more matte than some of the other options, though it's still semi matte, still a little glowy. I like that it's more affordable and you're getting a good amount of product. But this ended up being not my favorite sunscreen in this video, it's just a combination of that runniness and that strong scent. I still think it's a good option, I'm giving it an A minus, but it's just not my favorite. I do like the lack of a white cast, and I do think the filters used in this are a good choice for some of the areas that have restrictions on what filters you can use. I probably won't repurchase this, I'll probably pass this one along."

~Mixed

62%Guru Score

Mary&May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF 50 PA++++

"This is the Mary&May Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++. It's more of a satin finish, and personally, as a person with dry skin, I do slightly prefer this one because I like how beautifully it glides on my skin. I like this category because I find sun sticks easy to apply over makeup, though there's a catch, it's easy to apply over light makeup and not heavy makeup. If you are wearing a full coverage foundation this might not work, it might move the foundation around a lot, but later in the day if I'm wearing a skin tint or a light coverage foundation I am able to glide it over my makeup and it does not disturb it too much. If I'm in direct sun I would still recommend reapplying with a full finger length application of a standard sunscreen instead."

✓Yay

Notverified

Other46 reviews

About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paints

"I want to mention the About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paints because they are nice, and I adore the About Face brand."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Cinema Secrets Original Travel Pro Starter Kit

"I'm once again recommending the Cinema Secrets Original Travel Pro Starter Kit. I bought the travel kit a long time ago and it's still worth it, it's what removes the stains from my brushes, and I've never found another brush cleanser that actually removes stains that way. It's not a substitute for actually washing your brushes, but it's incredible for removing stains, especially if you use a lot of colorful eyeshadow."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Half Magic Sparkle Stick Eye Crayon in Cloud Skin

"The Half Magic Sparkle Stick, who would have known it, these sparkle sticks are some of the easiest, fastest to apply, and yet just really pretty eyeshadows available."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Good Molecules Hydrocolloid Patches

"The best of the best for hydrocolloids is Peace Out, but Good Molecules are the best considering the price point. Honestly, they're really good, I like that you can use them day or night, they're never too thick, not quite as thin as some of the options, but they're a really good budget friendly hydrocolloid."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

FOREO BEAR

"Some microcurrent devices are even uncomfortable. I talked about the Foreo Bear before, and that one, I did not like."

✕Nay

65%Guru Score

Medicube Zero Pore Pad

"I love Medicube's devices, but their skincare has been very hit or miss for me, and this one was a miss. These toner pads contain essential oils, so big heads up if you're a sensitive skin type. A lot of Korean products are fragrance free, but this is not one of them."

✕Nay

55%Guru Score

Fwee Blur Pudding Pot

"I thought this was just going to be another hyped brand, but I tried the products and they're quite nice. I'm wearing it today on my cheeks and I do like it there, but I don't like it at all on my lips, on my lips it feels drying, that's why I only wear it on my cheeks."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Beautyblender Biopure Sponge

"I have the Biopure Sponge, and this is nice for right under the eye for powder application. You can flip it over for a beauty blender type experience, it's not quite the same, but the powder side is the winner if you ask me, and you can put your finger in it for greater control. I do like it, and I find it a lot better than the Real Techniques version."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops

"I'm wearing the Drunk Elephant B-Goldie Bright Drops today as a primer, and I think it's a surprisingly pretty product. It has some skincare ingredients in it, and honestly I quite like it as a highlighting product."

✓Yay

65%Guru Score

Dermaflash LUX

"I would like to start this video with the Dermaflash as my number five regret. I have used this a total of one time, and the one time I used it my skin was a wreck for at least a week afterward. My skin type is dry, acne prone, and a bit sensitive, and that sensitive part makes something like this not at all ideal for me. This is hard on my skin, so of course after I used it my skin was irritated. My partner actually quite likes it and uses it all the time, so what works for one person may not work for another."

✕Nay

74%Guru Score

COSRX Master Patch Intensive

"I used up the COSRX Master Patch Intensive. These are nice, these actually are, they have some salicylic acid and tea tree leaf oil as well."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher

"I picked the Peach and Lily. It's a Korean exfoliating cleanser, you pour it into the palm of your hand, similar to the Dermalogica powder cleansers. The Peach and Lily is a good option, it's a very gentle way to exfoliate, much more friendly towards your skin."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original

"I love the Hero Mighty Patches. I wish so much they weren't so expensive, because these micro dart patch products really make such a difference. This is probably the most impressive category I've found."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Touchland Hand Sanitizer

"I bought this Touchland Hand Sanitizer in the vanilla blossom scent. Ten dollars for Hand Sanitizer is very expensive, though to their credit it does last a while. I don't think I'd buy this one again."

✕Nay

66%Guru Score

Medicube Medicube

"We're going to be getting Metacube at Ulta soon, I'm so excited for that. I love the Metacube devices."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad

"We knew there was going to be a Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad and it is indeed the Anua. I had a feeling it would be, and I think that's probably part of why I was so tempted to get this box. I know not everybody likes this, but some people do, and I'm one of them, and this is currently retailing for $22, so about half the cost of the box."

✓Yay

52%Guru Score

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

"I bought the Living Proof Triple Bond Complex in a past 21 Days of Beauty. I love how easy this is to use, in contrast to something like Olaplex number three where you have to let it sit on your hair, or K18 where you have to use it after shampoo but before conditioner. With this you just put it on after your shower. There is one catch, you use less of this than you think, otherwise I find my hair gets kind of grimy feeling. But I do really like this, I think if you have any kind of hair damage it does make a difference."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Color Wow Root Cover Up

"I got the Color Wow root coverup powder in blonde, the company had sent it to me, and I kind of thought it was horrible, it wasn't doing anything to cover up my roots. Then I used it on my mom's grays and it actually worked so well, so I gave it to her. It's just interesting, while I was using it on my own roots I was thinking this is terrible, meanwhile on my mom it worked. It goes to show how we can have such massively different experiences."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Temporary Eye Tightener

"The Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX does work, you remember when it went viral with the video of a lady applying it to her eye area and you could instantly see it tighten. The catch is you cannot easily apply makeup on top of it, it basically ruins the effect, so you have to choose between wanting your eye area to look a bit tighter temporarily, which isn't a permanent effect, or wearing makeup. For me, makeup wins every single day over a temporary tightening sensation that I didn't even like on my dry skin. No, no, no, no, no."

✕Nay

68%Guru Score

Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant

"The Daily Milkfoliant from Dermalogica is my favorite of all their cleansing powders. This particular one is the most gentle form, made with oats. It's expensive, so catching it for 50% off can actually be quite worth it. I think this is a good product."

✓Yay

93%Guru Score

Foreo Luna

"I've tried the Foreo Luna cleansing devices, I feel like these are nice, every generation has improved a little from the previous one. I don't think you necessarily need one of these, but what they're good for is if you struggle to wash your face thoroughly enough or long enough, they can make it a lot more fun to wash your face. I really do understand why some people enjoy those."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek

"I recently tossed one of my RMS Lip2Cheek products, I think they're expensive. In their defense, I like that I could scoop it out and recycle the glass container, but I won't buy it again, it's too expensive and it goes bad too quickly."

✕Nay

56%Guru Score

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex

"I finished a mini size of the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. I used this instead of my other serum for a while, but I still think I like the other one more."

~Mixed

65%Guru Score

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Lipid 1%

"I received the NIOD copper amino isolate lipid one percent, a copper peptide product that's more of an oily moisturizer rather than a cream. It's great if you have dry skin, unlike their serum which is too watery and lightweight to really help with dryness. That said, I wouldn't buy this again, I didn't hate it or anything, I finished it, but I wouldn't buy this or their serum again. I still like Peach and Lily's copper peptide serum the most."

✕Nay

68%Guru Score

Foreo Bear Mini

"The FOREO Bear Mini is probably my least favorite microcurrent device that I've ever tried. I don't know if it's just a me thing, but the FOREO Bear Mini zapped the heck out of me every time I went to use it."

✕Nay

61%Guru Score

Versed Dermaplane System

"I still have and use my Dermaplane System. I do love their Dermaplane System, that's why I've stuck with it for years. It does actually work better than the cheap ones, I went and bought some cheap ones recently and realized Versed is much, much better."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Beauty of Joseon

"I still like Beauty of Joseon, in fact I think they might be the best brand to try K beauty with. Their serums are a good way of understanding what K beauty is, what makes it different from Western brands, they're all very gentle, straightforward, and they tell you exactly what's going on in the product. As you get more into K beauty you might find products more tailored to your needs, but Beauty of Joseon will always hold a special place in my heart. This is a K beauty brand that's actually more popular globally than in Korea, and I think that might mean they'll have to grow with their audience and offer something more unique as we move past these simple straightforward products."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Haruharu Wonder

"I love this brand. They started out focused on fermented black rice, which is rich in antioxidants and even more bioavailable when fermented, and they did the thing I respect so much, offering both a scented and an unscented version so people who need fragrance free products aren't left out. They didn't stop there either, they kept innovating: they came out with a much more affordable EGF serum, an incredible centella phyto and five peptide concentrate cream in refillable packaging, and they didn't delay on a sunscreen with a new no white cast formula that's become one of their most popular products for good reason. It's also a woman owned, dog mom owned brand that donates one percent of domestic sales to the Korea Assistance Dog Association."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Kiss ImPRESS Press-On Falsies

"The Kiss ImPRESS lashes, y'all got me with these, they got me. I really love that system. Make sure you do have some kind of applicator, the one from this set is actually the best."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Stratia Interface

"I absolutely love the Stratia Interface. This is an incredible, not too expensive peptide cream. It proves that you don't need to spend a lot on a good peptide product. I bought another one."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Indeed Labs Snoxin 2

"I used the Indeed Labs Snoxin 2, another one of these neurotransmitter inhibiting peptides. I did like this. The one catch is we just don't know if these work. Use it if you'd like, we know that you will get extra hydration, we just don't know how much."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

"The Lancôme Génifique serum and cream are kind of another option in terms of a bifida product, similar to the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. However, Lancôme as a brand seems to have added something into their formula that does not get along with my skin, which is why I can never really give you a good review of Lancôme skincare. Their lotions just irritate my skin, and I've had to accept that it must be something in the fragrance blend they use, since I have certain allergies."

✕Nay

57%Guru Score

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD

"I do have my own experiences with these, and I won't use them anymore, I got irritation."

✕Nay

47%Guru Score

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother

"I love Olaplex, it works really well for me. I have bleached my hair a lot and Olaplex works for me. I know it's a controversial brand, but it works for me."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Kenra Volume Spray 25

"I'm actually currently using this hairspray, but I do feel like I've been on the quest for the perfect hairspray for several years now, maybe someday I'll find it."

~Mixed

86%Guru Score

Beautyblender Puff

"I bought one of these a long time ago, I am now on my second one. I really do like this, it's great for precision powder."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

RNW Ceramide Plus Concentrate

"This is my third bottle of the Ceramide Plus Concentrate. It's an ampoule serum meant to reinforce your skin's barrier with five different forms of ceramides plus peptide ingredients, in a texture that's neither too thin nor too thick. It absorbs beautifully, works well under makeup, and works great in a nighttime routine, and for me it delivers on repair. As someone with dry and acne prone skin this works out great for me. No fragrance, no alcohol, it's a great formula and it has served me very well. I am happy with my results from this serum and it remains one of my two favorites from the brand."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%

"I don't dislike this product, I've loved it for a very long time now, but like I said in my products versus ingredients video, I'm setting this one aside. I'm not a loyalist to it, so I'm trying an Indeed Labs peptide product with a similar neurotransmitter inhibiting mechanism instead."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioning Milk

"It's one of the very few affordable J Beauty products I found that's free from denatured alcohol as well as fragrance. It's a very budget friendly, lightweight moisturizer, it is everything you need. This bottle is 230 ml, almost 8 fluid ounces, and you can usually get it for around $10 or less. It is a very basic, non-irritating moisturizer, but sometimes that's all you need."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA

"I like using The Ordinary Matrixyl all over my entire face combined with Argireline on my forehead. I'm not going to buy Matrixyl again though, because I personally like a multipeptide serum that much more."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Face Glaze

"This brand says this is a moisturizer but it is absolutely a highlighter. I tried it as a moisturizer one day and I really regret that choice. As a highlighter, this brand is incredibly good at this makeup skincare hybrid category, and I love this and I love the amount you get, usually when you buy a highlighter you get so little product and this is a lot. It has squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, which kind of reads like a moisturizer, but I just cannot use it that way, for me it's a highlighter."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Missha Magic Cushion Cover Lasting

"This is the Misha Magic Cushion Cover Lasting foundation in shade number 21. I felt so happy to find a good shade match. Watch how nicely this applies, it is beautiful, and it fully evened my skin tone. I can't get over how fast it is to apply this cushion foundation, it's just so easy to blend into your skin just by pressing it."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color

"My favorites when it comes to shadow sticks are Bobby Brown, Laura Mercier, and also elf. Laura Mercier is one of my favorites in this category."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

BeautyBlender Pro

"Beautyblender Pro is ten dollars, and I respect that Beautyblender has not inflated their prices. I do personally still like the elf total face sponge more, but if you do like Beautyblender, this is a great time to get it, and it's a good sponge."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops

"I do like the D-Bronzi drops too."

✓Yay

58%Guru Score

ZIIP Halo 2.0

"In the number four spot is my Zip. This is the microcurrent device I would recommend for my fellow acne prone skin types. It has a setting that is supposed to help with problem skin, and I truthfully think this is the next level of a microcurrent device. It's more of an investment, especially once you fall in love with the most expensive gel they offer, but this is something I use all the time."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Mists & Essences44 reviews

VT PDRN Essence 100 Elasticity and Wrinkle Care

"I do really like their PDRN serum. It's a little bit more of a moisturizing serum, but it's a great PDRN based serum, and it's even on sale."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Teca Ampoule

"It had been so long since I used this kind of product that I forgot their amples are almost more like toners, it's in between a toner and a serum, very watery but a nice, refreshing product. To give you some quick thoughts, I like this. I feel like this ingredients list is truly the updated answer for what's in this type of ampoule from this company now that Korea's regulations have changed."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

"This is my beloved SK-II, if we're doing an Alice bootcamp we're going back to the SK-II. I'm at the point of just gently patting it into my skin. This is a very expensive product, I am so happy and jealous of the people for whom the dupes work. She's back in my routine."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Manyo Factory Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule

"I've loved the Manyo Bifida Biome ampoule for years. I think it's a wonderful dupe for Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, but I'm trying not to purchase it again so I can discover new products."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Cocokind Calming Magnesium Mist

"I restocked the full size of the cocokind Calming Magnesium Mist, but it was so nice to have a travel size too. It's a great quick touch up, great for over makeup or under makeup, one of those all in one products."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Celimax Noni Ampoule

"I tried the Celimax Noni Ampoule and I really liked it. It does have some scented ingredients, but my skin actually did really well with it, and I felt like it helped with radiance and skin health overall. I finished it and I'm going without it for now, but I might add it back into my routine."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray for Face and Body

"I haven't felt like there's a lot of difference in the hypochlorous acid mists I've tried personally, it's not a complicated product and not one that maybe everyone needs, it's more of a quick spray cleanser. The nozzle and sprayer are great and it's not too expensive, but it is one that I wouldn't go out of my way to buy. It's a great hypochlorous acid mist option, but my favorite is still the one from Pacifica because it's accessible and it's $12."

~Mixed

82%Guru Score

Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Mist

"I bought the Anua PDRN and Hyaluron Mist because of the little PDRN oil capsules in it, curious whether they would need shaking. I do feel like it gave me a glow."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

"I did not need another hypochlorous acid spray, but that is what was in the rewards bazaar that period. I got the Tower 28 hypochlorous acid spray and I am super happy with it."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Rejuran Turnover Ampoule

"I bought the mini set from Rejuran, which has the original PDRN. There's still not real data behind PDRN, this ingredient just will not go away and we still don't have the data, but they're not only claiming it's an anti-aging ingredient, they say it can also help with irritation, and that's something I do need, so that's ultimately why I grabbed this. I don't love the packaging though, it's the same dropper style on the mini as the full size, and it almost looks like it's meant to resemble a needle. I might even grab another set like this in the sale, I'm contemplating it."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

Rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence

"Rhode sent me just a little mini of the viral glazing milk essence, and it's fine, it's fine. I think Rhode is just one of the most overhyped brands I've ever seen, when I tried their products I was just kind of baffled that they were so popular. I think Cycler's essence is just as good."

✕Nay

77%Guru Score

Neogen Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence

"I get asked a lot what dupe is closest to SK-II. There's no perfect dupe, but I enjoyed the Real Ferment Micro Essence, I think it's a very well made essence, and that's my essence pick for this video. It's an absolutely gorgeous formula using bifida ferment lysate, one of my favorite ingredients, plus saccharomyces ferment, lactobacillus, and amino acids. It's not SK-II, but it is a fermented essence and I did feel like it brightens."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Tirtir Ceramide Milk Ampoule

"This is a really nice, super rich ampoule for the driest of dry skin types. It's even too much for me in the summer months, very very heavy, but you could absolutely love it if you're experiencing a lot of dryness."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk Barrier Essence

"I've always felt like this brand, even when they make products for dry skin, feels like what an oily skin type would imagine a dry skin type would like. It still feels lightweight, but I will say it does feel nourishing. And there's no niacinamide in it, so this is another one I'll set aside for when I stop using niacinamide."

~Mixed

82%Guru Score

Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream Mist

"I also really like the Aestura cream mist."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.9 NAD+ Bio-Lifting Sill Essence

"This is the No.9 NAD+ Bio-Lifting Sill Essence. It has a string-like texture, almost like another vegan alternative to snail mucin, and I love that texture, there is something about it that is so good at locking in moisture. It says essence but it is the size of a standard moisturizer and I find it to be a moisturizer. I have loved using this in the daytime under sunscreen. It contains fifty peptides and an NAD ingredient, and while I do not think we can say with certainty how much of that is doing the work, I think they did an incredible job on this product. Ultimately it is a really great fragrance free, non irritating product. I absolutely love this, I think this might be my favorite product from this entire video."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

"The COSRX Snail Mucin Power Essence is a very deeply hydrating and nourishing essence. It used to be my favorite, I just kind of gradually moved away from it."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

BYOMA Balancing Face Mist

"The Bioma Balancing Face Mist is such a good face mist. I feel embarrassed because I found it in the back of my toner collection during a declutter and had completely forgotten about it, that's how good it is."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule

"At the end of the day, as funny as it may sound, I still just like the original SKIN1004 ampoule the most. It's so simple, but sometimes there's something so special about simple. I enjoyed this, I love the classic SKIN1004 ampoule."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence

"This has a creamy appearance with postbiotics. I love this product so much, and look at the ingredients, the formula on this is so good, it's got ceramides, cholesterol, fermented ingredients, it absolutely rivals products that are three times its price. I apply it kind of heavily since this is the kind of product that can act as almost a moisturizer and an essence, you're really getting both hydrating and moisturizing properties from it."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Gothamista Masterpiece Essence

"It is the Gothamista Essence and I absolutely love it. It reminds me a lot of using a ginseng serum, even though it is technically an essence. It uses black ginseng, the most aged form of ginseng, which has the highest concentration of those ginsenosides. It's an expensive product, but I see the same results with it as I do with my Donginbi serum. It is truly a phenomenal product, it's an absolute joy to use, and I love it."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule

"I think this is a well deserved spot on the list. They did a great job formulating this and communicating what it is and how it works, with little beads that burst open on your skin and four percent niacinamide, which I think is mostly responsible for evening out the skin tone. Niacinamide is a great ingredient, though if you're a big skincare enthusiast you might be a little tired of seeing it everywhere. They do add in some two percent tranexamic acid, and I'm hesitant to say much about that since I feel like we just don't really know enough, plus some unspecified amount of vitamin C. If you're looking for a simple skincare routine this could be a great serum, it's a gigantic bottle, very cost effective, and the packaging adds to the enjoyment. I do think this is my second favorite ampoule from the brand."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Skin1004 Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule

"This is their newest collection, the Probio-Cica line, and I love it. It's an intensive ampoule with fermented cica ingredients like panthenol, which is great for nourishing and caring for your moisture barrier, plus the active parts of cica like madecassoside and asiatic acid, all making a product that is very hydrating, moisturizing, and great for sensitive skin. It makes sense they made this a milky serum, and you really do see soothing benefits from it. I'm happy to see this in ninth place among their bestsellers."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

By Wishtrend Propolis Energy Boosting Essence

"The By Wishtrend Propolis Energy Boosting Essence was nice, I like propolis, but I'm finding myself moving away from propolis as an anti-inflammatory ingredient because I already love another product so much for fighting inflammation that I don't feel like I need to keep looking for extracts to give me that. This essence is hydrating, but it's more than that, it's also calming and soothing. Still, I probably won't repurchase it."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Jumiso Snail Mucin 95 Plus Peptide Facial Essence

"This is also a good example of an essence, very similar to the Dr. Ceuracle. It's got that thicker feel to it, deeply hydrating."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Mixsoon Bean Essence

"This is the Mixsoon Bean Essence. You can use this in two ways, massage it to create a physical exfoliant, or leave it on for an incredibly hydrating experience. It might be too much for some people, but I've been surprised, this ended up a very popular product, definitely one of the products of 2024."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

ILIA Base Face Milk Essence + Lightweight Moisturizer

"This is the Ilia The Base Face Milk. This is a beautiful product, it feels very hydrating as well as moisturizing, which is what you should expect in this category of milky toners. It's cosmetically elegant, it feels great to use, and it works beautifully under makeup. I honestly think if that fifty eight dollar price tag doesn't bother you, you'll like it. However, you also don't need to pay fifty eight dollars for this category, we have a whole video on milky toners, mostly Korean, that are all a fraction of the price of this one. It's also worth pointing out that the box itself calls this a lightweight moisture product, so at what point have you moved from a milky toner into simply a lightweight moisturizer, an emulsion. I see why it's viral, it really is a nice product, but I also think that maybe people should know that you can also just stack moisturizers instead."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence

"I finished the Fresh Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence, which was gifted to me in PR. I liked this, and I do appreciate that it's fully recyclable packaging, but I wouldn't repurchase it because there are so many good, more affordable options."

~Mixed

79%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Botanical 2GF Ampoule

"This contains EGF and fibroblast growth factor combined with fermented black rice, meant to support the skin's barrier, and it really does work well for me. I personally love to use this after microneedling. A lot of brands charge $300 for this kind of product, but here you can get one from K-beauty for somewhere between 20 and 80 dollars."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Essence

"This is primarily a hydrating product with a bit of essential oils, and it's just not a perfect combination for me. I have dry, acne prone, sensitive skin, and I need more in my products than just hydration. It's not that there's anything wrong with it, and I can see someone really enjoying this as a hydrating product that isn't too sticky or heavy, but it's just not a product I would purchase myself."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

Farmacy Honey Milk Hydrating Essence

"This is actually my partner's favorite milky toner, she loves the way it feels. It has a thicker feel to it, aloe is the first ingredient, and it has this smooth consistency that makes it feel like a truly high end product. My gripe is that the packaging is small and it's a little hard to get the product out. I really do feel this is a great product for supporting your moisture barrier, and I'm not surprised I ended up liking this, it grew on me."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Biome Radiating Intensified Essence

"Axis-Y also has a biome essence. I don't think it'll ever be as big on the internet because it uses certain essential oil ingredients, but surprisingly my skin gets along with those essential oils. I just still prefer the Manyo in the end."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam

"The Skin1004 ampoule foam is a little drying in my opinion."

✕Nay

74%Guru Score

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence

"For the essence step I used the Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence. I think I'm going to really like the Benton Essence."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Skin Food Royal Honey Propolis Enriched Essence

"This is a product I like to use for bouncing back. It's a really great reparative product."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Melano CC Vitamin C Essence

"I am so, so happy with the Melano CC Essence. I bought this probably a year ago, and ascorbic acid serums are notoriously unstable, and yet this product has stayed crystal clear, as clear as the day I opened it, which I think comes down to the packaging keeping the air out. I've heard this is only 5% ascorbic acid, which is lower than the levels usually studied for results like collagen production, around 15%, but ascorbic acid can be a tricky ingredient to stabilize so I still think this is a very good option. It also has some licorice in the formula. It does contain fragrance so I know it won't be for everyone, but overall I do think it's a great option."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Missha Time Revolution Artemisia Treatment Essence

"The Missha Time Revolution Artemisia Treatment Essence, I enjoyed that before my red light therapy, but I want to see what else is out there so I'm not going to repurchase it."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water

"I love Beauty of Joseon dearly, but their Ginseng Essence Water is too good an example for this conversation. I liked this product, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, I thought it was a nice hydrating product, but I didn't think it did much for fighting hyperpigmentation."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

Isntree Real Bifida Ampoule

"I always kind of felt like this one is okay, I just prefer the mono bifida ampoule, it feels a little more condensed and has a bit more going on. But I challenged myself and switched over to this product more recently, and I think the issue before was that bifida ferment lysate only showed results in about two months of use in the research, so I hadn't given it enough time to truly appreciate it. I do think this is an alternative to the mono product, just keep in mind it may take a few months to really see that skin strengthening effect, but if you want to try it and not spend as much money as the mono product costs, this is a good option."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence

"This is tied with the Mary and May Blackberry Complex for best moisturizing essence. If fermented ingredients don't work for you this wouldn't be the best idea, but a lot of us do well with those ingredients, and you get added brightening with this one. For me personally it didn't last as long, it started to smell a little funny, I keep my house pretty warm so you may not experience this."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence 5X

"I'm going to use the Missha Time Revolution essence, this is the old packaging by the way, I'm almost out of it. I probably won't rush out and repurchase it, but I have enjoyed it."

~Mixed

79%Guru Score

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence

"This is the Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence, and I feel like it looks like I really loved this, but in all truth I'm looking forward to finishing it. I did a comparison of this with SK-II a while ago, since they both claim similar levels of galactomyces ferment filtrate, and my results from the SK-II were on a completely different level, though so is the price point. My perception is also influenced by the texture, it's thicker than water, but for some reason I get a lot of pilling when I use it, which just means it's a PM product for me. There's nothing terrible about it, it's just that I'm struggling to finish it when there are galactomyces based products I like more."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Peach & Lily Wild Dew Treatment Essence

"The Wild Dew Treatment Essence, this one is nice, it contains niacinamide, panthenol, some lotus extract, which I personally do really well with. It does have some eucalyptus oil though, which I like the smell of."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Mary&May Vegan Blackberry Complex Cream Essence

"This is also an incredible option, this time focusing on blackberry essence, you're getting antioxidant properties and even some B12 in the formula. They say this is great for boosting your skin barrier and for soothing your skin. It feels like almost the exact same product as the Dr. Ceuracle kombucha essence to apply, you just might find you like one a little more."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Masks & Peels42 reviews

Beauty of Joseon Mask

"I don't really do masks that often, I feel like it's a skincare category that isn't necessarily a perfect fit for dry and acne prone skin types, but this mask is an exception. This is incredible on my dry skin and it still includes some of those clay ingredients, kaolin clay, honey, which is another ingredient my skin does really well with. This mask does not dry down in the same way as most clay masks do, it's almost as if it kind of sets but it doesn't dry down, and that's absolutely a lot of why I like this. It's easy for me to remove, my skin does not feel dry afterwards, but it does seem to help with mitigating breakouts. It's only $18 on the Sephora website, this is some of the most affordable skincare at Sephora, period."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads

"There was a time where I absolutely loved the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads. I don't know what happened, but at some point that just became too much for my skin."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Experiment Avant Garde Reusable Sheet Mask

"One of the best investments I've ever made is their silicone mask. It's almost expensive sounding at first compared to a sheet mask, but considering the number of times I have used this, it is so inexpensive. You apply your serum, your milky toner, whatever you want, slap this on, and it just helps your skin feel more hydrated, more moisturized."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

"The Don't Despair Repair Mask is one that both me and my partner use a lot."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Abib Rice Probiotics Overnight Mask Barrier Jelly

"This ties for my favorite, along with the PDRN collagen overnight mask. This is an incredible occlusive mask that is fantastic for preventing transepidermal water loss. It's a product you can use for slugging, though you want to be careful if you use strong actives at night since slugging locks those ingredients in more and could end up irritating your skin. To be totally honest, I do slightly prefer this original over the PDRN version, but they're both so similar that I don't think you need to pick up both, you can just try one and see if the category works for you."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Gel Mask

"This is a new release from Round Lab, their Chameleia Deep Collagen Jelly Mask Cleanser, and it's one step cleansing, you can add water for a standard foaming cleanser or apply it to dry skin and use it as a mask. It's not an essential oil free product, so it really comes down to individual allergies whether sensitive people can use it. I don't think it's too harsh, and I feel like I'm getting really light physical exfoliation too. I am beyond happy with this cleanser. I've been really picky for a very long time with K beauty cleansers, a lot of them are very foaming which is great if you have oily skin, but if you have dry skin that is difficult for me to use. It's got a true jelly texture that you can use as a mask, but I also foamed it up in my hands, and it is not too foaming. It is really well done and different. Well done, Round Lab."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask

"From Beauty of Joseon I'm holding up what might actually be my favorite mask ever, the Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask. I feel like it just gently exfoliates, gently brightens my skin, and it's always such a joy to use."

✓Yay

97%Guru Score

Edom Cashmere Peel

"I have one more recommendation, the Cashmere Peel from Edom, something I got in PR recently. I didn't even think I was going to try this out, much less love it. My skin is extremely picky with exfoliants, but this is a milky exfoliant that my skin actually can use."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Bouncy Bright Facial Brightening Mask

"The Drunk Elephant Bouncy Bright facial mask, I really enjoyed this, but I'm just stuck in the affordable azelaic acid products again because I also want to be able to afford groceries. I do actually think they came up with a really smart system if you hate the pilling associated with azelaic acid."

~Mixed

87%Guru Score

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

"This is my worst value pick. It's really just a rich moisturizer that you're supposed to tissue off, which feels like an older outdated concept to me. There is some peeling if you use it as a moisturizer instead, which I guess is why they tell you to tissue it off, and sometimes it irritates me and sometimes it pills. I don't get it, even though I do quite like some of the other Summer Fridays products. For me, I just feel like get a better moisturizer."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.9 NAD+ Bio-Lifting Sill Full Face Sheet Mask

"These are the NAD+ Bio-lifting Sill full face masks. I bought them and I don't think you should buy them. It's not that I think they're a bad product, I just think your money can go farther with something other than this. They are kind of expensive, about eighteen dollars for four of these plus the lifting band, and while the material feels really nice and they are very soaked with the essence, I think it's a bit wasteful and a bit expensive because you can get the same occlusion effect by applying a serum and locking it in with a reusable sheet mask instead. This is going to be a one and done purchase for me, I'll finish off what I have but I will not repurchase it."

✕Nay

73%Guru Score

Summer Fridays Gentle Reset Daily Exfoliating Pads

"I'm always a little scared of exfoliating ingredients, but in the ingredients list gluconolactone, which is a PHA, is listed before the lactic acid and mandelic acid, so I figured that would be more gentle. I don't feel any stinging, this actually just feels like I'm applying a hydrating toner, and that is such good news. I definitely do feel like this is gentle. These also have tea tree leaf oil, which I typically do well with, so I'm very glad to report that these are definitely quite gentle."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

I'm From Mugwort Face Mask

"It's the I'm From mugwort mask mini. I like this, but as I talked about in a recent video, I actually like the Axis-Y mugwort mask even more, it just works better for me for some reason, so I had just repurchased that. I don't particularly need this, and it is on sale."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask

"The Biodance mask certainly did go viral, I have a video of that, I was not that impressed with it personally. I still like a good old sheet mask more than the hydrogel masks, especially the overnight thing, it's just way too uncomfortable for me."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

"Way too strong for me now, that's another product that I did try in the past, that one is a lot more intense of an AHA treatment."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Pore Minimizing Quick Clay Stick Mask

"I never bought this because with dry skin I don't really need clay masks, but I tried it out and was shocked at how well executed this product is. This is probably the best execution I've ever seen of a clay mask in a stick, it glides so nicely across your skin, actually applying instead of just staying in the container the way older versions did. You get a very gentle exfoliation from the seed powder, not too drying, so even normal to a bit dry skin like mine could like it. It's nice not to get your hands and fingernails into it while applying, and it removes easily. It's well done."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

VT PDRN Hydro Gel Mask

"This is the PDRN Hydrogel Mask from VT Cosmetics. Even though I've been a bit of a skeptic of this category, the hydrogel masks you sleep in, this one is my favorite that I've tried so far. I like that it's vegan PDRN, since most PDRN isn't vegan. Using my skin analysis device before and after, dryness dropped by thirteen points, which is exactly what I expected, but redness went from fifteen to seven, which surprised me. It has ingredients like panthenol, ginseng, and lactobacillus that make sense for targeting redness. This could be the reason I'm enjoying this one from VT more than the other hydrogel masks I've tried."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

I'm From Honey Jelly Mask

"This is a very longtime favorite. I do think that if you have a similar skin type to mine, if you have a lot of issues with inflammation, sensitivity, this could easily be your favorite here, and I still think this is a great product."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Laneige Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask

"This is one of my favorite finds, new releases of 2024. Absolutely love this, though it's a little expensive."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask

"My top pick here for another year is this mask. This brand is usually very expensive, this product is some bizarre exception, it's actually bizarrely affordable in terms of price per ounce. This is another one of those brands that is designed for more mature skin needs, and I think this is such an interesting case of a product because it has such a long ingredients list, wherein I really can't look at the ingredients list and pick out specific ingredients that I think are responsible for the results."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

COSRX Propolis Honey Overnight Mask

"This is a great, kind of more of an occlusive sensation type of mask, and that's exactly what you would expect from this category, is occlusion. You would expect it to be that final layer that locks in everything."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

AXIS-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel

"The PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel is a real surprise to me, I normally avoid products marketed as peels because I'm too sensitive, but this is different, it's 10% PHA, which is a much larger molecule than something like a 10% glycolic acid peel, and studies on gluconolactone find it's a hydrating exfoliating ingredient. It's not just PHA, it also uses papaya, so you get a dual mechanism, enzymatic exfoliation plus that larger PHA molecule exfoliating the surface of your skin. This is a really nice product for sensitive skin, though you could be underwhelmed if you have a tougher skin type since the PHA molecule doesn't travel as deep as something like glycolic acid. As somebody who is scared of peels, I am happy to report this actually works really well for me. It is a wash-off product, which is a bit of a catch since most PHA products are leave-on, you apply a nice thick layer and remove it after 10 minutes. This one very much surprised me and ended up being towards the top of my ranking."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum

"This is the Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum, and I think it stands out because of this blend, two percent encapsulated salicylic acid, mandelic acid, and azelaic acid combined in a more gentle way. It targets acne in cute and fun packaging, which isn't something I'm used to since most acne care looks very clinical and boring. Is it my absolute favorite acne treatment? No, that's adapalene for me, but acne is nuanced and I think this might be the right treatment for some people. I'd rather see a product like this on the market next to a standard salicylic acid serum with no added fluff, so you have distinct options to choose from."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment

"This is the Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment, one of the first products that really put glow recipe on the map, and I think it is still a hit even though they've reformulated it over the years. It's less for me personally, I'm a bit more sensitive and don't use these types of ingredients too often, but I know a lot of people love this. It has a two and a half percent AHA complex that the brand says acts like a ten percent glycolic acid ingredient. I think this is a good example of a beautiful merging of Western and K Beauty concepts into a product that doesn't really exist in either category on its own, so it's a standout."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask

"This is the Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask, and it used to be one of my absolute favorites from this brand, if not my absolute favorite. But the catch with eye creams is that they're so expensive in the West and so affordable in K Beauty. I'm glad that I moved on from this, and I think it might be on its way out for me."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

Versed Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask

"The Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask contains an AHA and BHA complex plus pineapple enzyme, so you're getting chemical exfoliation through different sizes of AHAs as well as enzymatic exfoliation. The percentages of these ingredients are very low, and that's intentional. This is exactly the right level of these chemical exfoliants for those of us with sensitive skin. Versed is very transparent about the percentages of actives in their products. Because I struggle so much with high percentages of glycolic acid and lactic acid, these levels in a quick two to three minute mask are absolute perfection. This is one of very few chemical exfoliants that I can continuously use."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask

"I'm very picky with masks, but I actually liked this mask. I think the reason it worked out for me is because it's mostly a calming mask but it's got a little bit of exfoliating properties to it in a wash off format, and that seems to work for me."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask

"This is Medicube's Collagen Night Wrapping Mask. I've tried it and I'm iffy on this product category, I think because I need to sleep as comfortably as possible. I can do it for a couple hours but not overnight, I just can't do it, I find these all to be a little bit uncomfortable."

✕Nay

64%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Centella 3% PHA Gentle Liquid Exfoliating Serum

"When I first tried this I really loved it, for a couple of weeks, and then I quit using it. It's 3% PHA in orange water, which is an odd choice, but I have sensitive skin and ingredients like AHA are so hard for my skin type, so I loved how gentle this was. After a couple weeks though I was thinking, it's gentle, but is it doing anything? I still feel unsure that it's giving me quite the level of results I maybe hoped for. I've only used it about a month, so maybe I'm speaking too soon, but as of this moment I feel more eh about this one."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

I Dew Care Tea Tree Soothing Sheet Mask

"I bought a lot of these in a Black Friday sale, and I am so saddened because I feel pretty certain this is going to get discontinued, even though this is my favorite sheet mask. I know these are not going to be for everybody because it's a tea tree oil product that also has fragrance in it, but it also has an ingredient I love, and I just felt like it does so much for me, it really helps my skin reduce breakouts and bounce back."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

"I was so scared when I first got this because my skin is pretty sensitive, but I have to say I'm not at all disappointed, it's another good product from Paula's Choice. Mandelic acid is a more gentle AHA, as is lactic acid, and six percent and two percent are great levels. It's fragrance-free, still an exfoliant, but a good choice for sensitive skin. It's great that Paula's Choice came out with this since otherwise they have quite a lot of rather strong exfoliating options."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask

"The SK-II Facial Treatment Mask, while it's nice, it's just a little bit too expensive for me to commit to."

~Mixed

59%Guru Score

Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid

"My favorite BHA toner is the Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. It does contain 2% salicylic acid, but what's different is that it's using a bit of a higher pH, around 3.5 to 4 last time I tested it, and newer research suggests salicylic acid is not pH dependent the way AHAs are. As somebody with a bit more sensitivity I prefer not to use low pH products, they can really disrupt my barrier, and yet I see the same reduction in acne from using this as I do from our Western 2% salicylic acid products at a lower pH. It's watery, so I prefer to apply it onto a cotton pad. It's an incredible product with a very short ingredients list."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Isntree Real Mugwort Clay Mask

"I have never bought the mugwort calming clay mask because I'm always hesitant on clay masks, a lot of them feel really drying on my skin type, but this one doesn't. They say it's designed for sebum control, but it's also using artemia, another ingredient that works really well for my acne prone skin, so it might be really great for oily skin types but it's not too drying for a dry, acne prone skin type like mine either. It smells so good, it's calming, and in spite of all the clays used in this formula I suspect the panthenol and other humectants keep it from being too drying. I did not expect to like this and yet I very much do."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence

"I don't use AHA ingredients too often, I have to be really cautious spacing them out in my routine, but I have to admit this is an excellent option for AHA ingredients. We don't see these higher percentages too often, this product uses 4% glycolic acid and 4% lactic acid to target different levels of your skin for exfoliating. For me personally this one does have a little bit of a tacky sensation, but it's such a rare category, especially in K-beauty, and I do appreciate it. I appreciate that they upgraded it to fragrance-free too."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Sleeping Mask

"I have been sleeping on the Hyaluronic Acid Water Sleeping Mask, I was missing out for way too long. This might even be better than Abib's sleeping mask. I was looking at the ingredients list feeling shocked at how much is going on, it's a wonderful occlusive sleeping mask where you get such intense nourishment every time you use it. Look how high up beta glucan is, in addition to the panthenol and allantoin, it really is a product that's so much more than just hyaluronic acid. I'm going to continue to use this."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 4%

"This is the BHA blackhead power liquid and I was really surprised by this one. It has four percent betaine salicylate, which is the gentler ingredient they're calling BHA now, not the same as salicylic acid. If you have more reactive or acne prone reactive skin like me this might actually be a really good option. It has a little more body to it than a lot of COSRX's watery toners, which makes it easier to work with, you don't need a cotton pad. It also has willow bark in it, which has anti inflammatory properties rather than being an exfoliant like salicylic acid. It's gentle and straightforward, and gentle can be the perfect fit."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

"The ultimate nourishing rice overnight mask is actually really nice, though I feel like it's a little more of just a moisturizer for me personally. This may be exactly the right consistency if you have more normal to oily skin. It's a nice moisturizer, no complaints, there's a lot of great moisturizers out there and this is one of them."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel

"You massage this onto your skin and the product balls up on itself, but it's not like wow, look at all the dead skin coming off. There's a lot of products like this in K-Beauty for a lot lower price points. If you enjoy it, at least get it at 50 off, but for me personally, not gonna buy it."

✕Nay

60%Guru Score

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

"There's this hard rule going around that you should never use the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, but I actually think that's wrong. There was a lawsuit against St. Ives over this idea of micro tears in the skin, a concept that people on the internet basically invented, and the case was thrown out because they couldn't prove that made up concept actually happens. So no, the scrub everyone should eliminate from their lives isn't the St. Ives Apricot Scrub."

✓Yay

39%Guru Score

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

"This is a very strong product and it is definitely one where a lot of precautions should be taken. It may not feel that harsh for every person out there, but for some of us it can do a lot of damage, you really want to make sure to use this one correctly. It's not okay to leave this on overnight. Its really low price point makes it appealing to just try out for fun, but in my opinion you should take all of the precautions with this, use it as directed and be careful, because I really cannot use this at all and I don't think I'm alone, even though I still do believe the people who say it's not strong for them, everyone has different skin."

✕Nay

58%Guru Score

Qure Q Rejuvalight Mask

"LED is my number one pick out of all the skincare devices, and Cure's mask is the LED mask I keep coming back to as my top recommendation. It is designed in accordance with the research, with the correct energy output, the correct wavelengths, and even the placement of the LEDs, including around the eye area, which some devices neglect. It has both an anti-aging mode using red light and infrared light and an anti-acne setting using blue light. I saw real results with my acne in as short a time as two weeks. It's also a three minute mask, which makes it the easiest device in this whole video to use, you just put it on, sit back, and you're done. The one risk is if you use the blue light setting, which can be a concern for your eyes, so I'd recommend wearing cheap tanning goggles, though the app also lets you target blue light to just specific areas so you may not need them at all. They would have been my top pick even if they weren't my sponsor for this video, I absolutely adore this brand."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Toners39 reviews

Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner

"The Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner is another really good go to. It's a hydrating, non-irritating, unscented essence that's really good if you have dehydration or dry skin. Even though milky toners have been trendy for a while, I still like this simple kind, and if you need even more hydration you can use it up to seven times, the seven skins method."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner

"I finished off another Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA and BHA Pore Tight Toner. I keep saying I'm going to quit buying this, but I do like Glow Recipe, even though I know a lot of people don't like them for being a cute brand."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner

"I no longer have the Anua Heartleaf 77 Toner because it was just so expensive. It didn't used to be expensive, but it started getting super popular and the price crept up too much."

✕Nay

87%Guru Score

Peach Slices L-Glutathione Glow-On Brightening Toner

"The Peach Slices Glutathione Glow On Brightening Toner has 0.5% glutathione, which you don't usually see in affordable products, you usually have to spend a lot more to get this antioxidant ingredient. It has a distinct smell, it smells a bit like deli lunch meats that have gone a bit off, and eventually the one star reviews are going to start rolling in because of that. But I actually think this is an incredible product and I'm really excited to start using it again, especially at its price point of $18. It is runny though, so I apply it with cotton pads."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Peach Slices Snail Rescue Blemish Busting Toner

"I went back to the Peach Slices Snail Rescue, which is made from snail mucin. I hadn't used it in a very long time since I usually gravitate towards vegan products, but it's niacinamide free and I had a bottle so I gave it a try. I ended up remembering why I've liked that product so much in the past."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Abib Glutathiosome Dark Spot Vita Touch Toner Pads

"I finished this Abib glutathione toner pad. I like the way Abib divided the pack up between sheet mask options and essence options, but I just don't like toner pads as a format, so I'm not the best judge of them. If you're looking for the best toner pads, you'll have to find a different creator who likes toner pads more."

~Mixed

82%Guru Score

COSRX PDRN B5 Vital Soothing Toner

"I originally saw this new COSRX toner on the Ulta website, then went to Yes Style because it was a little less expensive. I don't think we're going to escape PDRN, but at least COSRX is doing something different with this one, it's five different types of PDRN, vegan types and salmon PDRN, though I don't know if that's actually going to win people over, I sort of feel like it might be the opposite. I didn't buy this product for the PDRN at all though, I really bought it because B5 panthenol is one of my favorite soothing ingredients and it's a really nice formula. It looks great for my sensitive skin, no fragrance, all those different forms of hyaluronic acid, lactobacillus ferment, peptides. It does have niacinamide, and I know some people can't use that ingredient, but it works for a lot of people. Now, I will say the texture of this is not as watery as I thought it would be, so it's surprisingly a little harder to make DIY sheet masks since it's more viscous. But this really is a huge bottle, fantastic."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Cocokind Rose Water Toner

"The toner I am picking is this one from Cocokind. I only bought this in November, but I traveled throughout the holidays with this and it has absolutely shot to the top. Somehow Cocokind came out with a mist that is just as fine as toner pads and yet has less risk for allergy, a super simple formula, but my skin responds so well to this. I adore the Cocokind brand."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Bubble Cosmic Silk Hydrating Milky Toner

"I had a feeling this was going to be more like a milky toner, and it is thick. This is absolutely coming for the Ilia toner for a fraction of the price, and it has really nice ingredients too, more balanced moisturizing and hydrating properties. You see fatty acid ingredients in here, you see ceramide ingredients, but you also have hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid in four forms. It actually sinks in nicely. The only funny thing is they say to wait fifteen seconds after dispensing before closing it, but that's not a big deal."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

"I tried First Aid Beauty's Facial Radiance Pads and that's how I decided I am done forever with glycolic acid as an ingredient. The second those touched my skin I felt a heat in my skin and saw my skin turning red, so I washed it off, but what follows for me is a couple of weeks of a damaged barrier, and that is why I have breakouts going on right now. It is not a bad ingredient, it is a great exfoliant for a lot of people, but I think I am too sensitive for it and this has happened too many times now."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

Beekman 1802 Milk Shake Hyaluronic Acid & Squalane Facial Toner Mist

"This is a fantastic mist. It comes in a two fluid ounce size in the set, which is a nice size."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

"My winner in the toner category is the Ordinary's Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. I love that the Ordinary has shared so much information about how this product works, what the fermentation means, and how it's a brightening product, not just a hydrating one. I have a lot of respect for them for explaining that instead of hiding behind proprietary information. I know some people criticize it for being a small bottle, but it lasts a long time, you need so little of it."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Stratia Aquala Hydrating Toner

"There's the new Stratia Aqua Factory. I was so tempted to pick this, but I try not to pick brand new products for my absolute best of the year. I think this could easily be a winner in 2025."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner

"This is the cloudberry toner, my very last purchase from the brand, which I promptly returned. I've said this is a brand that has some fragrance, but this has a long list of essential oils, more than I'm used to seeing from them. I got too comfortable with the brand not formulating like this, bought it, and realized it wasn't going to work for my skin, I have a sensitivity to one of those essential oils, so I promptly returned it."

✕Nay

77%Guru Score

Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner

"I can't buy the Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner again, I can't do it, because I've gone through maybe six bottles of this and now I don't want to use any other toners in my collection. I am saying this is an incredible toner, it's so nice to use, you just spray and go, it smells nice from the ingredients even though there's no added fragrance, and coenzyme Q10 is a great antioxidant. It's overall non-irritating, I think it'll work for most people, you just let it absorb, no worrying about peeling, no way it's going to be too heavy. I really think it is a fantastic toner."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Anua Rice 70% Glow Milky Toner

"I went back and bought the Anua 70 plus rice toner and I am not as blown away by it. This is another one of those so called milky toners but a lot lighter. I think I probably could have skipped this one. It's still a nice formula overall, it has some niacinamide, panthenol, and antioxidant ingredients, it's just that I feel like this isn't as unique, you could probably find a lot of similar products."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Milky Toner

"I'm really blown away by the Haru Haru Wonder Milky Toner, it's so unique. I do like doing toner pads with this category specifically because it stays so well in the toner pads."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Abib Heartleaf Calming Toner

"The Abib Heartleaf Calming Toner is a great product. I love how they list out all of the ingredients on the bottle, and every time I pick it up I sit here rereading it just for fun. I would actually say this rivals the Anua toner, and something very interesting is they claim this has 5% heartleaf."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner

"This is the fragrance free version of Haruharu Wonder's core black rice line, and it's what put them on the map. Rice is a great ingredient for sensitive skin, very gentle, with great antioxidant activity, and this toner has such great body to it. I would say this is one of the most hydrating toners I've ever tried, it's absolutely up there. A little goes a long way with this product since it's so thick."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Tirtir Milk Skin Toner

"This is one of the most moisturizing options in this whole video, very softening and it really supports your skin barrier. The ingredients list actually matches what's printed on the box, panthenol, oat, niacinamide, so you know exactly what you're getting. It's one of the most glowy products in this video, it gives you that instant glass skin effect."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Isntree Yam Root Vegan Milk Toner

"It's wild how similar this feels to apply compared to the TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner Light, the only real difference is that this has a bit of a beige color to it. It's built around being a vegan dupe for snail mucin, supposed to be this very hydrating ingredient that compares to snail mucin. They say it relieves dryness, hydrates, is great for sensitive skin, and even relieves itchiness you may get from dryness."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Tirtir Milk Skin Toner Light

"This was made to be the oily skin version of the TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner, it discloses four percent niacinamide. Like the others, they claim it hydrates and moisturizes, and they say this one provides more balance to the skin. I don't want it to sound like this is strictly for oily skin though, I really think all skin types would like it, it's just that the heavier milk toners might only appeal to people with very dry skin."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Thank You Farmer Rice Pure Essential Toner

"This is one of the most moisturizing options in this whole video, very softening and it really supports your skin barrier. They talk about how the rice was harvested and what kind of rice it is, and rice is a very gentle, innocuous ingredient that just about everybody will be able to use, great for sensitive skin. Next to the TIRTIR toner it looks a little more natural. The price is actually pretty good, I saw it for about twenty dollars on the iHerb website for about 6.76 fluid ounces."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner

"This is the glow replenishing rice milk, a toner with a hydrating layer and a powder layer, it actually contains clays like a clay mask but in a toner they're calling a rice milk. Shaken up, it feels like a lighter weight toner with a bit of milkiness to it. This was an exciting release for me because the brand said this is a line for acne prone and sensitive skin, and they're saying it hydrates and the rice ingredient is gentle for sensitive skin, but there's still some odd choices to me in this one, I'm perplexed by the anti-perspirant ingredient in a toner meant for sensitive skin."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner

"I have a little bit of inner conflict on the Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner. I love seeing this as an alternative to the Paula's Choice exfoliating BHA 2% toner, it's more affordable, it's the same general concept. They added ceramides, hyaluronic acid, some tea tree extract. Overall it is a nice formula but I feel like it's kind of strong. At the end of the day I like this one more because it does feel stronger, but is it necessarily better, that's debatable. I'm glad I tried it, and it's a more affordable option."

~Mixed

63%Guru Score

COSRX Full Fit Propolis Toner

"If you asked me what my favorite hydrating toner was, for years it's been the Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner. But I just finished another one of these, and in an effort to not get stuck on one product, I thought I'd replace it and try something else for a while."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner with Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment

"This is the Peach Slices Acne Solutions Exfoliating Toner. I said before it was a great product and I still think it is, it works well. The reason I can't finish it is because it's an active product made to target acne, and I can't use all of my active products at once, it would be way too much on my skin and I'd end up constantly red and inflamed. So it just sits, because I tend to reach for a different BHA toner instead."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

BYOMA Milky Toner

"This is the hydrating Milky Toner, an incredibly welcomed addition to the Byoma lineup. This feels a little bit more like that Korean essence step, it has a more milky texture, a little bit more body to it, more deeply hydrating and perhaps a little moisturizing. I am not kidding when I say this feels inspired by K beauty, it even contains some centella asiatica extract in addition to a long list of humectants, we even have some oils in this product. The only catch I have with this product, otherwise I love it, is that most of Byoma's products are a liftoff top, it took me a while to figure out it's actually a spin top."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

"I've decided to just stick with this AHA acid toner. This tends to cost less, about half what the pricier one costs. I actually prefer the other one's texture, but in terms of results I feel they compare, so I'm willing to save a little more money and go with the product where the texture is not a favorite, but I like the results."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Biome Comforting Infused Toner

"I finally finished this toner. I really liked it, it's a bifida based toner that worked well for me, even though it has essential oils. It's hard for me to talk about essential oils because I don't dislike them, but I know some people avoid them."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Kaine Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner

"If you love the Kane toner, I think you're going to love this Combo Barrier Ampoule. I'm so happy this is glass packaging, since I've been burned so many times buying K-beauty products that look like glass but are actually plastic. The formula is seventy three percent saccharomyces ferment just like the toner, five percent soothing panthenol, and one percent ceramide. Fantastic, I'm very excited to use it more."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

NuFACE Trinity+ Advanced Facial Toning Kit

"The NuFace Trinity Plus Advanced Facial Toning Kit is finally in this sale. I bought the NuFace mini in one of these past events and I like it, I think NuFace has high quality devices. I will tell you honestly I personally prefer the ZIIP, I like the features in it more and I like the gel from the ZIIP more, though you can buy the ZIIP gel and use it with the NuFace. The problem with ZIIP is I've never really seen a big sale on it, you have to pay fairly close to its retail price. That's where I feel NuFace has an advantage when they have this kind of sale, fifty percent off the NuFace is a great price, and I am a fan of microcurrent, I believe in the boost of ATP production, though I wish there was more primary research into it. If you're interested in microcurrent and think you'll use it, I do think this could be a good investment, especially if you want to keep the price lower. I don't find the NuFace to be uncomfortable, which I did find the Foreo Bear devices to be."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

CeraVe Hydrating Toner

"The CeraVe Hydrating Toner, I liked that so much more than I thought I would. It's rare to see ceramide ingredients in a toning step, but it was a wonderful product. I'm still not going to repurchase it because there are other products I want to try."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner

"I think this might be more for oily skin types, and I have dry skin. When I use this, it feels like one of those products where I'm tempted to say it does nothing, though I don't think that's true, I think every product does something. As a dry skin type I need hydration, and as somebody with acne I need calming, and I just don't get that from this product. But it might balance sebum production for people with oily skin, and they might really see results from this."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Isntree Ultra Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner

"They came out with this ultra low molecular hyaluronic acid line this year, and even though I knew it was kind of more for oily skin types, I really like it. The toner in particular has really been a favorite for a lot of oily skin type people, and I see why, it does not have that sticky tacky sensation that some hyaluronic acid products do, it's just a very elegant lightweight formula that deeply hydrates your skin with multiple different forms of hyaluronic acid."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner

"This is my pick for sensitive skin. It's such a simplified Essence Toner, talk about a low irritant ingredients list, this product doesn't even have niacinamide or hyaluronic acid, which I know some people say they can't use and they're in everything. This is a product that's stripped everything down to the basics, it's all about adding in hydration. No matter what you do with this, you get such intense hydration with such a low irritant formula. This has been popular for years, and I think it's just a product where when you use it, you understand why."

✓Yay

67%Guru Score

Isntree Onion New Pair Essence Toner

"This is my pick for best soothing essence, though I no longer have it. I loved this, I finished my entire bottle, absolutely adored it, and found it to be a deeply soothing product, which is great for my skin type. Even though it's the onion line, it doesn't smell like onion at all, onion extract is used in products like Mederma, it's an ingredient used to help brighten the skin, so you may be getting a soothing and brightening product all in one. I wouldn't rely on this one for treating hyperpigmentation, I think its strength is soothing, but overall it's a very well rounded product, and it's still unique, we don't see a lot of onion products."

✓Yay

Notverified

Numbuzin No.1 Pure-full Herb Calming Toner

"We did not do well with the number three toner."

✕Nay

74%Guru Score

I'm From Rice Toner

"The black Rice Toner from I'm From, I absolutely loved it. I made sheet masks out of it, and it was wild that I was able to make DIY sheet masks out of such a creamy, milky style toner. I can't believe that I'm a person with dry skin telling you that this toner they supposedly made for oily skin is my favorite toner from I'm From. There are a lot of milky toners out there, but this one actually stood out to me."

✓Yay

95%Guru Score

Eye Care38 reviews

Tatcha Silk Peony Eye Cream

"I was so happy to get this Tatcha eye cream. This isn't new, but it's adorable. I feel like 2026 is my year of eye cream, so I'm excited to get to try this one. I wish I could use more from Tatcha, but have you noticed that they seem to be using more and more fragrance?"

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Then I Met You Snail Mucin Eye Cream

"I'm so excited I finally get to try this. I wanted to buy it in the VIB sale but it sold out, and when they restocked it sold out again, so it seems people are really liking this. I'm about to go on vacation and this is absolutely perfect to take with me."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream

"The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream is my top eye cream recommendation in this sale. The soft yellow tint gives the under eye area a slight brightening effect, not to the level of a concealer, but a nice soft color correction, and it's very moisturizing. They also reformulated it, so if the original irritated your under eyes before, it might work now."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

belif Aqua Bomb Eye Gel

"I don't recommend the belif eye gel. It's a scented eye cream that will absolutely make you cry if it gets into your eyes, and I just feel like it's so underwhelming. I've been trying to get rid of this for months, and every time someone picks it up thinking it's cute, I tell them to make sure they actually like the gel inside because it's kind of light and has fragrance for whatever reason, and then they put it back."

✕Nay

65%Guru Score

Remedy Eye Cream

"The Eye Cream is absolutely a phenomenal price, it is $18. I love that Reme is out here proving you do not have to spend a lot to get an Eye Cream that actually addresses issues like darkness under the eyes."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Abib Collagen Eye Patch Jericho Rose Jelly

"The Abib collagen eye patch, these are still my favorite. If you must buy eye patches, they're quite good. They've got that waffle texture so they don't slip and slide around your face."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

AXIS-Y Vegan Collagen Eye Serum

"My old favorite eye serum is the Axis-Y. I still love this, I'm just out of it now, and that's the problem. They were only ten milliliters, tiny little things, so I finished them too quickly, which is frustrating."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Marian May Tranexamic Acid and Glutathione Eye Cream

"I do like this eye cream. It's very gentle, which is one of the biggest things people get wrong about eye creams, they assume they'll be more intense and target crow's feet or discoloration, but eye creams are made to be gentle. I don't think you'll see as much in terms of results, but it's more of an eye cream that probably won't lead to milia. It's a nice big size and gentle, and it reminded me how much I miss it. Very nice, super easy to use eye cream, no pot required."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Abib Jericho Rose Collagen Eye Cream

"This is getting passed along. I'm a dry skin type and my house is dry, and the truth is this just didn't feel heavy enough or thick enough for my needs. That's not to say this is a bad product, it works really well under makeup and doesn't disrupt concealer at all, and it's a giant tube compared to most Western eye creams which are only half an ounce. But it just wasn't doing enough for me in these colder months, so I'm passing it along."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal

"I would also recommend the Beauty of Joseon retinal eye serum. If you're looking for a retinol or retinyl product in the VIB sale, I can't give you a better recommendation than this. It doesn't have to be used exclusively on your eye area, you can use it all over your face because it's retinaldehyde, which is one conversion away from the active form of retinoic acid, so it's stronger than retinol products, and you just can't beat that price."

✓Yay

95%Guru Score

Peach Slices Snail Rescue Ultimate Eye Gel

"This is the Peach Slices Snail Rescue Ultimate Eye Gel, and I love this system. I've had these on for longer than you've been watching and I love them. This is a lovely fragrance free formula, it looks low irritant. It is definitely snail secretion filtrate though, so not a vegan product, but very nice, I love the texture."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Dieux Forever Eye Mask

"I also tried my Dieux eye patches on top of my eye serum since it was absorbing so slowly, thinking it might pair really nicely with those reusable eye masks, and I'm so happy to tell you that it does."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Dime Luminosity Eye Serum with Cucumber and Peptides

"I like this eye serum. It's fragrance free, with peptides, cucumber, and caffeine, and it's only $19, which is not bad. It has a nice cooling tip and feels lightweight since it's a serum, not a cream, so you can stack an eye cream on top if you want. The bizarre part is it looks so wet on my skin, it stays looking wet for a while before it eventually absorbs, but it's not tinted or glittery, which is good in my opinion. I only bought one skincare item in this sale, but I'm actually very happy with it."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Stradia Lipid Gold Eye Cream

"I'm using the Stradia Lipid Gold Eye Cream, one of the small businesses I love to highlight. I am so happy they fixed the pump on this, it is so much better. I love companies that listen to feedback."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream

"I received the Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream in PR. I absolutely will not repurchase this. I know the brand does have some loyalists, but I just personally do not get it."

✕Nay

60%Guru Score

VT Reedle Shot Lifting Eye Cream

"I used the VT Reedle Shot Lifting Eye Cream, but in the process of using it I came to not like it that much. There were a lot of times where this eye cream just started going off on my counter, like it was having some electrical malfunctioning, and that got very annoying, hearing this loud vibrating sound randomly coming from my bathroom."

✕Nay

65%Guru Score

Patchology Flash Patch Rejuvenating Eye Gels

"I used to buy this kind of product, the Patchology eye gels, from Ulta and Sephora, then I discovered that if you go to the K-beauty retailers you will save so much money on this product category. It's just a better value, it's better for the planet versus these single pouches of eye gels. There is just no way that I can recommend these to you when I know that those eye gels in tubs exist."

✕Nay

62%Guru Score

Tirtir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream

"I finally finished my TIRTIR Collagen Lifting Eye Cream. I liked it because of the packaging, a pump and a roller, which I think is absolutely genius, but it wasn't ultimately my favorite eye cream in terms of the cream itself, so I won't repurchase it. I will keep an eye out for more products that use similar packaging though."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream

"A lot of people have told me they really enjoy the COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream. It's a very lightweight eye cream, more of a day eye cream in my opinion. I did like this for day, it's a great price, 14 dollars in this sale for 0.85 fluid ounces, a great size, most western eye creams are a mere 0.5 fluid ounces. It's in pump packaging, which is not a personal favorite for me, but I see the appeal."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Cocokind Peptide Fine Line Eye Gel

"This Peptide Fine Line Eye Gel has ingredients including some you don't see every day, a total of 1.1 percent skin conditioning agents in a fragrance free formula. I'd absolutely call this a cream instead of a gel, and that's good news if you're dry like me, this is really nice. I'm really impressed with the Coco Kind, that one absolutely stands out to me."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream

"The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream was such a good daytime eye cream for the summer, it's a lightweight eye cream, I really enjoyed it. Not sure I'd repurchase it though, because there are a lot of good eye cream options."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

Versed Water Rush Hydrating Eye Gel

"The Water Rush Hydrating Eye Gel is a bit more up my alley, we have more than hyaluronic acid here, we have soothing and calming ingredients such as panthenol and ceramide. The catch for me with this one is that it's not enough on its own, it's kind of more of a serum to me, so I like to put a heavier cream on top."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

Stratia Liquid Gold Eye Cream

"This is the Stratia Liquid Gold Eye Cream. I was so excited when the brand released it because I already love their original Liquid Gold, but I did not like this at all at first. It says to apply a thin layer to the eye area, a little goes a long way, but I found it so hard to control my application, and every time I used it my under eye area looked yellow in a not flattering way. Then one day I tried it on an especially frustrating dry patch and that is where this product shined, it feels even more rich and nourishing than Liquid Gold. Now that I've figured out to do one single pump around my eye area and spread the rest on my dry patches, I actually like it as an eye cream too. I love it so much that I'm running low and already placed another order."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

belif Moisturizing Eye Balm

"This is Belief's Moisturizing Eye Balm. I've heard that this is new and improved, a new formula that retains moisture for 48 hours, and I'm really excited to try this one. This brand does sometimes use fragrance ingredients, and this product has some fragrance too, so it might not be for everybody, but I'm so excited about trying this."

✓Yay

53%Guru Score

Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Time Reverse Eye Patches

"The one exception is the Pyunkang Yul black tea patches, those are something special. I like to put these in the refrigerator so I get even more depuffing and cooling."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Bright & Tight Dark Circle Firming Eye Cream

"I actually don't love the INNBEAUTY Project Bright and Tight eye cream, I find it too thick and not moisturizing enough. It really feels more like if you took a concealer and mixed eye cream into it, whereas the Alpyn feels like an eye cream with some color correcting pigments in it. It's not enough moisture for me personally, when I tried to switch to this in my review my under eye area was getting dry."

✕Nay

79%Guru Score

Dieux Oracle Reviving Eye Gel

"I am so impressed with this packaging, it's not only a pump instead of a little tub, but there's also a lot more product in here, sixty eight fluid ounces, which is a lot for a Western company. I love how much they're disclosing on the label, glycerin, a tripeptide complex, and algae complexes, and I love seeing multiple different forms of algae in one product. This texture feels like something all skin types will like, it's not too lightweight but not heavy. Their research impressed me too, a comparative study showed a real improvement in crow's feet and under eye wrinkles, and it even outperformed a competitor's product when paired with the Forever Eye Mask, though it's worth noting it's a small study and not published, so we don't get a ton of detail on how they measured it."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Patchology Rosé Gel Eye Masks

"I like Patchology, these are nice eye patches, but if you want to start exploring even better deals, check out K Beauty. I can't separate the K Beauty products I've tried from my experience, they're just so much more affordable and yet in my opinion really compare to Patchology."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Kinship Bright Wave Vitamin C Brightening Eye Cream

"I liked this, it reminds me a lot of the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream, which didn't work for a lot of people, but if you like the concept of a tint in an eye cream that gently brightens your under eye area, you might like this one."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream

"I absolutely believe that if you can include a retinol in your routine, do it, it's one of the most well studied, well documented families of ingredients. This is technically an eye cream but you get so much product, one fluid ounce, so I just use it across my whole face to simplify my routine."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Cream

"I love that bifida ferment filtrate ingredient, but unfortunately I really can't use the Lancome brand. I've got it narrowed down to the fragrance blend they use in all of their products, which contains my allergens. It's not necessarily a bad thing, a lot of brands use a signature scent to prevent counterfeiting, but if you're allergic to that fragrance blend it sure does ruin the whole brand for you. I know a lot of people love Lancome though."

~Mixed

62%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol Plus Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

"It does have a hefty price tag but at least I can tell you it lasts a very long time, it absorbs really quickly, and the brand even says you can actually use this on your eyelids, though not every product can be used there. You're getting caffeine to help with depuffing, brightening ingredients including coenzyme Q10, an alpha hydroxy acid derivative, tetrapeptide-21, all in a fragrance free formula that also highlights the bakuchiol and retinol combination, which I like because you get extra antioxidant effects from the bakuchiol combined with the gold standard retinoid in the form of retinol. There's just so much going on in this product. Really an incredible product, and I have tried products that are more expensive than this and yet have done less for me."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Heimish Marine Care Eye Cream

"This is such an occlusive, hefty eye cream, I definitely prefer it at night but it is also so moisturizing. This has been on my favorites list for years at this point. If you are looking for a heavy duty eye cream, look no further. It's K-Beauty so it's very affordable. In terms of ingredients this gives you algae, some peptides, your argireline, your copper peptides, hyaluronic acid, beta glucan, and for moisturizing you see shea butter. This is one of my picks in this video that has fragrance, and it has a lot of ingredients so it may not be for everyone, but it's remained on my favorites list for years at this point because it's just so heavy duty and yet doesn't cause me any problems in my eye area."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Time Reverse Eye Cream

"I already liked that eye cream, it is a nice one."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum

"I did like this eye serum, but my objection is that it's so expensive for the brand, since it's The Ordinary. This is 15ml, half the size of their regular 1oz bottles like the niacinamide serum or the hyaluronic acid serum, and it's 25 to 50 dollars for the same amount you'd get in other products. Granted, it is an advanced formula with ingredients tailored to the eye area, but it's still so hard for me to wrap my brain around 50 dollars an ounce for The Ordinary. Personally I don't think I'll repurchase it, even though I did enjoy it."

~Mixed

72%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Hydra Gel Eye Patches

"These are 75 dollars, and the claim is that they're inspired by Queen Cleopatra. They're fine, don't get me wrong, that's why you see them in an empties video, but 75 dollars for eye gels claiming to be inspired by Cleopatra is a lot."

~Mixed

62%Guru Score

Clarins Total Eye Lift Firming and Smoothing Eye Cream

"I've talked to a lot of people who really, really love this one. I don't have as much of an opinion on this personally, but I do think it's a good, well done eye cream. Get it for 50 off though, because Clarins is expensive."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Mary&May Tranexamic Acid + Glutathione Eye Cream

"I'm using the Mary and May [tranexamic] acid and glutathione eye cream. It's a bit of a basic eye cream, but I think it's an incredible price point for a fluid ounce, shockingly affordable."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Lip34 reviews

Buxom Power Line Plumping Lip Liner

"The Buxom Powerline Plumping Liner is so convenient, it has a brush on one side and a standard twist pencil on the other."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Saie Double Down Lip Definer

"I got the Saie Double Down Lip Definer and it's actually nice, I'm liking it so far. I don't like reviewing things I've just recently bought, so I'll just say I like it."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Cocokind Lip Balm

"Cocokind has come out with two new flavors, vanilla chantilly and strawberry shortcake, and I'm so proud of Cocokind for this. They smell absolutely delicious, and I love that both colors are light, you have more of a clear option with sparkle and a very soft pink option with sparkle."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil

"This is the new Rare Beauty Soft Pinch lip oil in the shade Fortune, it's really pretty. It actually kind of leaves a stain, so we're going to see if my oil cleanse removes it."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF 50

"I tried the Ultraviolet Sheen Screen SPF 50 hydrating lip balm in the shade Bejeweled. It does have ingredients that irritate my lips, which just makes them look a little more full, but that's not a good thing. It starts out tasting okay, but then it hits the back of my throat and it's just a horrifying, awful sensation you can't get rid of. This was a flop, it tastes terrible."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Supergoop Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm

"I got a new caramel flavor of the Glow Gloss from Supergoop. I was so excited about this one, but it tastes terrible. These chemical filters in lip balms are so awful if they get in your mouth."

✕Nay

73%Guru Score

Edom Lip Balm

"Their Lip Balm is still my absolute favorite. I prefer the clear Lip Balm from them and I love using it overnight, before bed. I feel like this really stays on through the night."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Cocokind Ceramide Lip Blur Balm

"I loved this Cocokind Ceramide Lip Blur Balm too, I finished it just like the Edom one. If you want something more affordable than Edom but still a really good lip balm, I'd tell you Cocokind. They keep it fun, they made a tip you can add a charm to, and they have fun colors."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Abib PDRN Collagen Lip Mask Glazed Jelly

"This is my biggest disappointment from Abib, I really wanted to love this. It went viral and looks super cute, but compared to the Edom lip mask this one is just too light. It also has kind of an absurd amount of scent, it smells exactly like a box of graham crackers and it's really strong. The packaging is adorable but I just can't get it to stay on my lips."

✕Nay

73%Guru Score

Topicals Slick Salve Glossy Lip Balm

"I got a discount on this lip balm trio from Topicals and I love that it is all individually boxed. I feel like topicals came through in terms of fulfilling a category that I think nobody had really mastered. This is a thick lip balm, it feels like Ole Henriksen, but look at that pigment. The only catch with it being this level of pigmented is that it's almost more makeup, I had to put on lip liner first and make sure it's all spread out. But if you have a deeper skin tone and you've been looking for a more pigmented lip balm for your lips, topicals came through."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Remedy Lip Balm

"My only fail from Remedy, I didn't like their lip treatment."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

OneSkin OS-01 Lip Sleep Mask

"This One Skin lip mask is expensive, One Skin is a pricey brand with their proprietary peptide, but I do like this system. It's refillable and it comes with a little scoop to scoop the product out, plus a mirror, which is genuinely helpful. It's quite possibly the smartest design I've seen for a lip balm. The ingredients include microalgae, green algae, chlorophyll, ceramides, squalane, palm oil, hexapeptide, and their OS-01 proprietary peptide. It has a balmy consistency, I thought it would feel heavier from the appearance since it looks like honey, but it's not super heavy, and it will absolutely be comfortable for nighttime use."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

"Summer Fridays, honestly, I think they have the best pigmentation. They also have really good flavors too. It's a little lightweight for my preferences, but this brown sugar color is so pretty. I feel like the Summer Fridays lip balms are for the makeup enthusiasts looking for lip balm."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

K Skin Lip Balm SPF 30

"The K Skin still remains my top pick for an SPF containing lip balm. The Cocoa Cabana color is so pretty. The only thing is all of the SPF containing lip balms are kind of okay in taste until you really end up eating one, and then it's so hard to get past that, but I don't think I can fault any of the SPF lip balms for that."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Sephora Collection Lip Oil

"I'm wearing the glimmer version of the Sephora Collection lip oils. While I do like these, I don't like them for nourishment, I like them for shine, because they're accurate in saying it's an oil, it doesn't last long, you're going to be reapplying this a lot. But otherwise these are really pretty, and you're getting a good value on the sets."

~Mixed

64%Guru Score

Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm

"I finished off one of the Naturium Phyto-Glow lip balms. It was all right, I just would not put it in any of my favorites."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Rabon Ghosted 310 Lipstick

"I am wearing the Rabon lipsticks. Rabon's a luxury makeup brand and their products feel luxury. I feel like because they came out later than Dior and YSL, it's been harder for them to get established as a makeup brand, but yeah, these are really, really nice, I'll probably pick up a few more myself."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Kopari Lip Love

"I've always said Kopari's lip glossy was my absolute favorite. The non SPF version is a vanilla scent instead of coconut and has almost a milky appearance but not in an unpleasant way. I do prefer the feel of the SPF free lip balm and that will always be the case, since I have dry skin."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

CNP Laboratory Propolis Lip Serum

"The Propolis Lip Serum from CNP, this is so good. This is not on sale either, so it is a full $16 retail. It's really lightweight, easy to apply, and yet nourishing on your lips, and a full half ounce, so this is a lot of lip balm. I had one and I lost mine, I'm pretty good about not losing products but I do lose lip balms, so I'm happy to have another one of these. That's a hit."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lip Gloss

"I've been eyeing these Make Up For Ever Super Boost lip glosses since they released them and I didn't buy them because I was hearing mixed reviews, but I absolutely love these lip glosses. I'm wearing the shade Festival Lilac Pearly, it's such a pretty color. Some people said it smells too perfumed and got it in their mouths because of the minty sensation, and if you're super sensitive to scents you should probably skip these, but for me these wear so well, it does not budge and it doesn't get into my mouth."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump

"With the Tarte Maracuja Lip Plump in the Pearl Shimmer Glaze, I just don't understand the hype behind these. The shimmer has that gritty feeling to it, and if I apply a lot of it I feel like it's not a good look, it's one of those that makes my teeth look yellow."

✕Nay

56%Guru Score

Naked Sundays Glow + Go Lip Oil SPF 50

"The last time I tried an SPF 50 lip oil, specifically the one from Naked Sundays, I loved it at first, and then one day I saw it in my mouth."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Maybelline Lifter Lip Liner

"This is the Maybelline Lifter Liner in the shade Line Leader. I actually thought I was going to hate it the first time I tried it because it is so absurdly creamy, so you have to have a light hand or it is going to break on you. I also thought there was no way it would stay on since it feels like a lipstick, but even though it goes on super creamy, once you wait a few minutes and let it set, it does not move. It floored me."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Lip Cream

"I think the Plum Plump Lip Cream is also super cute, I really like the texture, and it's what I've been wearing this whole video. It's not the only lip balm by far, but it's a nice one."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Tatcha Kissu Lip Serum

"Tatcha's Kiss You Lip Treatment, the packaging is supposed to be a luxurious experience, it locks closed and has this pillowy cushion to it, but it's not as soft as you might think. Unfortunately I just don't think this is worth $40, not in this era of lip balms. There's nothing objectively wrong with this, but it's not a problem solver on its own, it's essentially a lip serum and they want you to follow it with their lip moisturizer too. In an era where there are lip balms acting as both a treatment and a moisturizer in one, I just don't see a reason to spend this much more on a product that doesn't do enough on its own."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

Torriden Solid-In Ceramide Lip Essence

"This lip balm is great if you want something more on the go, and it's going to be a fraction of the price of the more expensive lip products."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Gisou Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil

"I bought the Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil because of all the terrible reviews it was getting, I just had to know. I love this, I absolutely love it, it's my favorite so far at least. This is the limited edition coconut, and it tastes and smells so good that it's playing tricks in my mind, it's not necessarily that the formula is that much better, it's just that it perfectly matched my preferences in taste and smell. Otherwise it is a nice lip balm. I thought it was a little expensive when I bought it from Sephora, but I was able to stack points, so I got a lot of points back for buying this."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Cream

"The Buxom lip creams are a product category where I feel like I shouldn't like these, they do not tick the boxes for what I like in a lip product, they are a little minty, they are a little sticky, but somehow I do like them, they look really pretty on. Every time I put these on I actually really like them, I think it's just that the characteristics I don't like are not too prominent, it's not too minty, it's not too sticky, it's just really pretty."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

"I used to love Fresh's lip products so much, but I genuinely don't think I need to keep buying them. I actually feel like I might have outgrown Fresh lip balms. It's funny how you can really love something for years and years and then just end up finding products you actually like more."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm

"I do not like this. My single biggest problem with this lip balm is that I cannot get past the flavor. The texture is more of an emollient, not a super occlusive lip balm, almost more like a lip oil. It has no scent and no flavor, which sounded like a good idea in theory, but I forgot that I taste my lip balms from time to time, and since it contains ingredients that may be beneficial to your lips that don't taste great, without anything in the formula to offset that flavor, it is rough. I've tried to wear this a couple of times now and I can't, I'm too sensitive to bad flavors I guess. I don't think it's just a bad product, some people may not react to flavor the way I do, but if you like flavor and don't like bad tastes in your lip balms, you might not love this one either."

✕Nay

60%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Gloss Balm

"The Glow Recipe Hyaluronic Plump lip mask, I've got to admit I do like this one. I got it in PR, it has a really nice feel to it, it's got that occlusive feel that I like, and it has a pleasant flavor to it too, which is an important characteristic in the lip balms I use."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

COSRX Lip Balm

"I don't love Cosrx's Lip Balm because it just doesn't feel like it lasts on my lips."

✕Nay

56%Guru Score

COSRX Lip Sleep Ceramide Lip Butter Sleeping Mask

"This is the lip sleep mask, and I've never repurchased it because it's not a perfect match for me, though I do respect what it is. It's more of a hydrating lip mask, and very few lip masks are made to target hydration, they're more emollient and occlusive. That might be a perfect pick for you if you have dehydrated lips, but personally I prefer a more occlusive lip balm, so it's another one of those products where I respect it for being different, it's just not a perfect match for my needs."

~Mixed

67%Guru Score

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

"I'm not at all surprised that the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a best seller, that's a very popular product. These come in all kinds of different fun scents, and I think that's Laneige's best selling point, you get to pick the flavor of your lip mask that you enjoy. In my opinion I don't think this is the best lip mask, I already have my favorites, but it's not too expensive, it does have fun flavors, and it is all right, it's a good lip mask, it's just not my absolute favorite."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Eye Makeup27 reviews

Buxom Lash Extension Lift Mascara

"My beloved Buxom Lash Extension Lift Mascara, it is my favorite mascara, a tubing mascara with the newer tubing technology which is way lighter on your lashes so you can build it up and get more volume, but it's a little more difficult to remove, I use a cloth to get it going. I'm convinced that being harder to get going works in its favor though, because if you get rained on it will still stay on."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Dibs Double Standard Primer and Mascara Duo

"This is one of three tubing mascaras that I really like, the Buxom Lash Extension Lift, the Dibs with the brown primer on one side, and the new Merit."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Merit Clean Volume Volumizing Tubing Mascara

"I'm beyond excited about this, it's their Clean Volume Volumizing Tubing Mascara with a tiny plastic bristle wand that gives me a lot of control. Tubing mascara used to always be thin on the lashes and not give much volume, but this formula really gives more volume and it's buildable, I was able to do a second layer and get true volume from a tubing mascara. I like this a lot more than the original Merit mascara because that one was fine but you just couldn't build up volume. Super happy with the Merit mascara."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Cali Ray Come Hell or High Water Mascara

"The Cali Ray mascara is a tubing mascara and it's incredible. That's still going to be my pick."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Unleashia Glitterpedia Eyeshadow Palette

"This is another one of my favorite indie Korean brands, so happy to see them at Ulta. This is much more reflective of Korean style makeup than my Kaja pick, which is formulated more western and more pigmented, especially the lower numbers. Only twelve dollars in this sale, but know what you're getting, I've seen people express disappointment, especially if you have a deeper skin tone, some of these might not show up at all. I know Unleashia tries, they have an expanded shade range for their cushion and they're a smaller brand, it's just that these are made more in line with Korean trends, which is why I'm still ultimately picking Kaja for eyeshadow in this sale."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Kaja Eyeshadow Stack in Rose Water

"This is my top pick for eyeshadow in the sale. The mattes are beautiful to work with, no issues at all, and the shimmers are richly pigmented, which is rarer in K beauty. They're color coded so it's easy to grab a shade, and you get a nice mirror for travel. I've seen people say these are too small, but they're not, each pan has more product than the pricier Rabanne palettes. I just think Kaja is your best bang for your buck, and one of my favorites is the Velvet Dream Matte Trio, the mattes are wonderful."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Makeup by Mario Mega Volumizing Mascara

"This is a mascara from Makeup by Mario, and it completely betrayed me one day, it had flaked and smudged all over my face. I truly feel like Mario has some incredible products so I don't know what happened with this one. They make claims about this being a first to market brush that's supposed to be game changing, but I don't know what's so special about this brush. When you spend extra money on these high end mascaras I feel like you should be getting more from them, and that's just not what I feel with this mascara."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

"I put a star by the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, it's about time I buy another one."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

IT Cosmetics Superhero No-Tug Shadow Sticks

"I do actually like the IT Cosmetics Superhero No Tug Shadow Sticks. For me, I need an eyeshadow stick that is not going to look cakey, one that's going to blend after I apply it and then wear for a long time. My holy grail is Bobbi Brown, but these were not bad, they actually pleasantly surprised me. I wasn't going to pick any up, but I was happier with them than I expected to be."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara

"The Hourglass betrayed me. I really liked this Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara when it came in, I was using it almost every day, but at about the three or four week mark it started getting clumpy and terrible to work with. It says it's good for six months, but it really went bad on me at about one month. This is too expensive to be incredible for only two weeks."

✕Nay

66%Guru Score

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

"I know some people do like the Anastasia Brow Wiz Precision Pencil, but I still don't buy from Anastasia personally."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara

"The Lancome Idole mascara, both the regular and waterproof, is a very good mascara. It's not the most intense if you're looking for volume, but it's extremely reliable. It's easy to use and hard to mess up, a really good mascara if you're the kind of person who's rushed in the morning."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Benefit Bad Gal Bounce Mascara

"This is the new Benefit BadGal Bounce mascara, I picked it up as a freebie in my last Sephora order. I do like it, it has minimally smudged on me. It's got that brush tip where one side is for application and the other side is for volumizing, it's pretty good."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Giorgio Armani Liquid Eyeshadow

"I do not like the Giorgio Armani. I heard so many good things about these, and yet I don't think it worked for me, I think I bought it after the reformulation."

✕Nay

73%Guru Score

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara

"Lancome's Monsieur Big is a much more wet formula than Benefit FanFest, which means you get more volume with Monsieur Big. I think you could hate Monsieur Big if you aren't somebody that uses a tool like a lash separator, but yes, personally I do like Monsieur Big a bit more, and I also cannot stand mascaras that are very hard to remove, which Benefit's FanFest is. I like that your lashes don't get crunchy with Lancome's mascaras."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

r.e.m. beauty Liquid Eyeshadow

"The r.e.m. beauty liquid eyeshadows are so good, unexpected so good. I bought the Fbot shade, which is a shifting blue pink shade, and I'm wearing Comet today, a peachy gold. The reason I like these is because they have that thinner feel to them, similar to the About-Face Foundation, and you want your products to feel thin on your skin so they can bend with it instead of sitting chunky in your grooves and moving around."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Flower Knows Midsummer Fairy Tales Eyeshadow Palette

"As for their eyeshadow, I feel like they have this really soft and smooth eyeshadow formula, and while that sounds gorgeous, you have to keep something in mind, because the shadows don't have a lot of texture. It's actually kind of hard to build in layers, your base layer, then a matte on top, then shading that matte, this gets really hard to do with the Flower Knows formula. I feel like their formula can be a little tricky. I do think you can work with the formula if you really want to, that said, I do think there are formulas that are easier to work with. Does Flower Knows have the prettiest packaging out there? I kind of feel like it's an objective yes, I don't think I've seen prettier packaging and embossing in combination."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

Tower 28 Make Waves Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara

"The Tower 28 is a good mascara."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

"The Superhero Mascara from IT Cosmetics has that kind of thinner wand to it, some people really like this, it wasn't for me, but mascara is very personal."

✕Nay

59%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum

"I wasn't really sure if I was going to keep using it, so I tried using it on only one eyelash to test it, and I did feel like that eye looked just a little bit more full than the other. But vanity got to me, I didn't want to walk around with one eyelash looking that much better than the other. I do really like this product, but I'm setting it aside because I found something that gives more product for less money."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara

"This is the Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara. It's a true tubing mascara, so it removes with water instead of oil cleansers, which makes it ideal if you're oily or don't want to scrub at your lashes, and it really is incredibly easy to remove. But tubing mascaras aren't very volumizing by nature, and I think Milani tried to make this a volumizing tubing mascara, and combined with a real skinny brush, the initial application is such a mess, it instantly clumps all your lashes together and looks horrible at first. It does get better if you brush it out with a spare spoolie and as it dries out a bit. It's not the worst mascara I've ever tried but it's not the best either, and I ultimately think it's not easy to apply the way it advertises. I think the Hamish mascaras are far better than this."

~Mixed

65%Guru Score

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette

"This is the Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked, I'm glad it's unlocked so I can use whatever carrier I want with it. It already had some of my favorites in it, the Diffused Light yellow shade is so nice to use in the center of your face for a different ambience, and if that warmer tone doesn't work as well on you there's also the Ethereal Light, a solid white finishing powder that smooths out your skin without adding color. It's got a soft highlighter, two different blushes, and a bronzer, I do like the curation, I think it's actually an excellent finishing powder, blush, bronzer, highlighter palette. The only thing is this palette was designed for lighter skin tones, so I'm bummed that not everybody will be able to find their shade."

~Mixed

71%Guru Score

Morphe 350 Palette

"I bought the Morphe 350 and I was actually surprised that it wasn't total garbage, but I did discover that I absolutely never reached for it because it was too big. You grab that palette and look at all the shades and just feel overwhelmed, I felt overwhelmed, so it's easy for me to pass on."

~Mixed

59%Guru Score

About-Face Shadow Stick

"I would say to skip on the Shadow Stick, this was disappointing to me, as it contrasts to the matte fluid eye paints. I had a lot of trouble getting this up to higher pigment, I never got to the looks in the pictures. It might just be the shade though, this is pearly."

✕Nay

61%Guru Score

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade

"I don't buy from Anastasia anymore because of what happened, but I have had a Dipbrow for a long time. Taupe is a really good match for my brows, but trying to do a much lighter application with it is just so hard. For me personally pencils work best, I have to not try to do too much for my brows because they're barely there, and if I try to force it, it doesn't look right in my opinion."

~Mixed

81%Guru Score

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightening Eyeshadow Stick

"I bought a shadow stick from Thrive, and oh my gosh, it was so stiff, really hard to work with."

✕Nay

61%Guru Score

House of Lashes House of Lashes

"A while ago I bought a lot from House of Lashes, and I am blown away by how great this brand is for really good prices. In the sale you're going to be able to get some for six dollars, and you can clean them up and use them more than once. The light collection works out much better for me, I can't quite get the really heavy lashes to work, it's harder with those."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Foundation23 reviews

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation

"My favorite foundation is the Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation. I do feel it was overhyped, but I did a five foundation comparison and it absolutely was my favorite. It's formulated for the dryness that comes with maturing skin so it doesn't sink into fine lines, but it does have decent coverage so you have to control how much you apply, and some people call it a bit greasy or oily, so it might not suit oily skin. In my five foundation test it stayed out of the fine lines the most after five hours."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

BK Beauty 109 Foundation Brush

"The BK Beauty 109 is super similar to the Ulta 102, my partner even felt they were nearly identical with her eyes closed. I guess the BK Beauty is a hair softer, but I don't think softer is everything, sometimes you actually want a bit more stiffness in a brush. As long as you're doing simpler makeup looks, I don't think you need to spend more on brushes when the Ulta one feels this similar."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint

"This is my top pick for a skin tint in this sale. It's a bit glowy but not over the top, wears beautifully, and has no added fragrance. Really great formula. The only thing is if you're looking for more coverage or a matte finish, I'd recommend you avoid it, but it's very flexible from super light to light coverage."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

e.l.f. Halo Glow Skin Tint

"I included the ELF Skin Tint SPF fifty as my worst skin tint and my worst sunscreen of the year, it is not a sunscreen. Some people said that even if a pea sized amount doesn't get you a real SPF of fifty, it's still better than nothing, but I disagree, I do not think that it is better than nothing. I think it's creating a false sense of security in people, and that's a big problem."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Makeup by Mario Surreal Skin Natural Finish Foundation

"Another huge hit for me has been the Makeup by Mario Surreal Skin Natural Finish Foundation. This is such a gorgeous foundation, and I can't believe I'm sitting here telling you this as a person with dry skin, because they didn't say it's for my skin type, but it's so natural looking that it really flatters mature skin. It has almost a blurring effect, it's simply stunning."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Sephora Collection Reveal the Real Skin Tint

"The Reveal the Real Skin Tint is also absolutely incredible if you are into very light coverage. My shade is 130 in fair, and I absolutely think it compares with some of the more expensive tints."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation

"The original Face Bond Foundation is waterproof and you don't need to set it. The first time I tried it, it did not go well for me, but I came to respect it, there's nothing else on the market like it. As someone with dry skin I have to be extremely careful with my application, it has to be the thinnest layer, but once I figured that out, it is actually a great product."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Parnell Cicamanu Serum Cushion Foundation

"I think I absolutely love this Parnell brand. This cushion makes similar claims to their serum and toner, it's got seaweed extract and manuka honey in it, soothing and hydrating the skin while offering a buildable radiant finish. I absolutely love the texture of this, it's that higher coverage but thin formula that I feel like K beauty cushions do so well, not super high coverage, good coverage, kind of more medium buildable. I'm so excited to find this cushion because this brand has a big shade range, which is so important to me. This one feels like it's more for dry skin types, more for sensitive skin types, you might not like this finish if you have oily skin. I wore it a full day already and it wore so well, it didn't sink into lines and it didn't start to look cakey or drying."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation

"I'm wearing the Haus Labs foundation in shade 030 Fair Cool, which I picked out in the dead of winter, and it's a little too light for me now. But every time I wear it with contour products it has such a nice finish, it really bends and flexes with your skin, which matters a lot if you have dry or mature skin, though even younger skin can appreciate how skin-like it looks. It's just such a pretty foundation on the skin and they have an incredible shade range."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation

"I loved the Hourglass skin tint. I wore it for days and days and nobody could tell I was wearing it on half my face with the Sephora skin tint on the other half."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

About Face Performer Skin Focused Foundation

"My absolute favorite foundation, unfortunately it's not at Sephora, is the About-Face foundation, specifically in shade F2."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base Mineral Foundation

"I'm a big fan of Jane Iredale's powder foundation."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer

"The Smashbox Halo Tinted Moisturizer, I like this one as well. This is more of a true tinted moisturizer in contrast to the About-Face Foundation, it's thicker and lower coverage, which I think makes it more friendly to dry skin types, maybe mature skin too. I do like this product, I do wish I had a better shade match though, mine is fair light and it's just a little bit peachy for me, but I can pull it off if I wear it light."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation

"This is the cushion that's gone viral, and I'm so happy to see it finally has a full shade range, not just a couple more shades, which matters a lot since this one is a true foundation. It's very similar to the other cushion, just a little less coverage and a little less drying, sitting in a thin layer on the skin. You may have heard that this one oxidizes, and for most of the month I didn't notice it on me at all, but in my last clip it turned into a mustardy color really fast, though I don't actually think that was oxidation, I think it was a reaction to an oil balm I'd applied underneath. Frankly, the red cushion ended up not being my absolute favorite, I liked the division of the other two cushions more. If you've never tried it, get the one dollar sampler first to find your shade rather than the full size, since this is a foundation and not as flexible on shade as the others."

~Mixed

55%Guru Score

Tirtir Mask Fit All Cover Cushion Foundation

"This cushion is SPF 50 plus and they claim seventy two hours of coverage, their highest coverage cushion, claiming to last the longest. And you know what, I really like this one. It's more of a foundation product, a big contrast to most Korean cushions, but it doesn't feel like a foundation, it feels much thinner in the way it sits on your skin. Even with my very dry skin, products can usually break up around my face, but this one doesn't because it's such a thin layer, and yet it wears extremely well, impressively well, through a twelve hour day including a trip to the gym."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Erborian CC Red Correct

"A lot of you recommended the Erborian CC Red Correct to me for ages and I don't know why I didn't try it sooner. Wow, is this effective, if you have any redness in your skin, oh my goodness, this works so well. It's an SPF 25 product, but I wouldn't recommend using it as your sunscreen because it's still pretty green, if you use a lot of it you might end up looking too green, so what I do is use my regular sunscreen and then just a little bit of this, about two squeezes for my full face, and that's all it takes to fully color correct any redness in your skin. This is an incredible product. It can be a little drying because there's some zinc oxide in it, not too much though, I think it can work for all skin types, I don't think you'll hate it if you have oily skin and I don't think you'll find it too drying if you have dry skin."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Covergirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfecting Essence Foundation

"I do have a fail, the CoverGirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence, I wanted this so badly because I fell in love with a similar product, this is supposedly a dupe for the Chanel Le Teint foundation skin tint and it's the same price. The idea is there, the beads are there, but it's just not breaking up properly, my struggle was getting this to apply evenly because the beads don't break up properly and you end up with a patchy application. Also be careful with this if you have dehydrated skin, my skin was a little dehydrated the other day and the essence part of this immediately soaked into my skin, which made it even worse, so that left the beads on the surface of my skin. What an absolute mess, I washed it right off."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Tarte Shape Tape Foundation

"I always feel weird about Tarte because there's been so many controversies with them. It is true though that I used to really like the way their complexion products sit on my skin. That said, they have competition now."

~Mixed

55%Guru Score

Bare Minerals Original Loose Powder Foundation

"The Bare Minerals powder foundation is a product I don't necessarily love, but it's a product where I understand why some people do. Powder foundation, even in a loose form, can be easier than a liquid foundation, and it may be a perfect choice for people with a normal to oily skin type."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Smashbox Always On Skin Balancing Foundation

"I bought this in an olive shade, which is a good selling point for me since I have a difficult skin tone to match with some green and gray undertones. But comparing it side by side with another fair olive foundation, it's shocking how different they look, and I am absolutely confident the other one is a way better match for me. I'm still glad I bought the Smashbox to realize this doesn't work for me."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

Rose Inc Soft Light Skin Smoothing Liquid Foundation

"I got this in a shade described as having olive undertones, and comparing it to the Smashbox, I am absolutely confident this is a way better match for me. I've found this to be true with Rose Inc as a whole, their tones work for me. It really is a great match for me, but it's still a little bit too drying for me in the winter months."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Serum Skin Tint

"This is the biggest people pleaser, I think the largest number of people will be happy with this. It's a beautiful formula that reads much more like a skincare product, we have squalane, a vegan collagen alternative, a ceramide ingredient, phytosterols, and cactus extract for extra hydration. It has a phenomenal shade range, both very light and very deep, and it's the best value in the whole video, thirty six dollars for 1.58 fluid ounces. There's no SPF in this, which is fine, just wear it over your sunscreen, there's no scent, and it wears beautifully. I prefer to apply this with my fingers. Yes, this is my top pick from this video, there may be certain characteristics you like a little more in some of the other products, but as a whole this one knocked it out of the park, it's a really, really good skin tint."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Estée Lauder Futurist Skin Tint Serum

"I was talked into buying this one by the ingredients list. It has meadowfoam oil and rose hip oil, which is hard to formulate into a foundation without it changing color through the day, but they also put a bentonite clay in there, so you have both oils and a clay ingredient in the same formula, and it really does come together to be gorgeous on dry skin. It looked better the longer I wore it. It's a buildable coverage foundation, I like to apply it lightly with a sponge, and it looks so pretty, it really does look flattering, especially on fine lines. It has a big shade range, I went with one that's a little warm and leans a bit more orange than the neutral shade I'd usually wear, but because I'm applying it lightly I think I'm still pulling it off. I am thoroughly blown away with this one, I am really impressed with it, I think it's one of the most interesting formulations I've seen since the Shiseido Synchro Skin."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Powder & Setting15 reviews

Iconic London Underglow Blurring Primer

"The Iconic London Underglow Blurring Primer is my top primer recommendation. On a good skin day it's a gorgeous product alone, giving a pretty subtle glow with a slight blurring effect, though you have to let it sink in to see the blurring. It really is my skin but better. The only thing is I wish it wasn't in glass packaging, since that means I don't travel with it even though it would be a great foundation alternative for travel."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Fenty Beauty You Mist Makeup Extending Setting Spray

"I bought the Fenty Beauty You Missed Makeup Extending Setting Spray and I will say I like it. I'm surprised it's not more popular, but I think it's the smell, it's unscented in a way where you actually smell the polymers, and they kind of smell like saliva, not super appealing. But that makes it almost a hidden gem for sensitive skin types, as long as you can look past the naturally occurring smell."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

"The Laura Mercier green powder, they say that this cancels out redness, and I feel like it does in such a soft, subtle way."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur

"Thanks to the Amazon Prime kerfuffle I finally got to try out the Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra Blur from Laura Mercier, and I've got to admit, I see the blurring effect even as somebody who uses a very light dusting of powder."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Sephora Collection Blur It Loose Setting Powder

"The Sephora Blur It powder, they have an incredible pink powder that's been really trendy, and it's thirty percent off in the sale."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

"It's so funny that I like the Hydrogrip Gel Tint so much, because I really did not like their primer."

✕Nay

73%Guru Score

Iconic London Velvet Smooth Pore Refining Primer

"This is a really nice primer, a little more elevated than the Benefit Porefessional, which is what I used to use. You have to press it into your pores exactly like you do with Benefit's, but this has even more of a velvet texture. It looks more like a moisturizer, and you push it into your pores to get a smooth canvas to apply foundation on top."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The Ordinary Sulfur 10% Powder to Cream Concentrate

"This is The Ordinary Sulfur 10% Powder to Cream Concentrate. I'm a big fan of sulfur, but I have to be honest, initially I didn't like this. Sulfur is a gentler approach for acne, but it's smelly, and I felt like a hydrocolloid patch or the Kate Somerville Eradicate was more effective for pimples than this at night, so I set it aside. But revisiting it, I realized this is actually amazing to use during the day as an alternative to hydrocolloid patches, since none of those are perfectly invisible. It does work under sunscreen too. That's 100% where this fits in for me."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

One-Size Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray

"My favorite to this day is still the one-size setting spray. It's just so effective."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

"They sent me the vitamin C cactus flower option not too long ago and I have to admit I have been enjoying this. They say this is the one for dry skin types, I have it on now. I admittedly like Urban Decay All Nighter and this is a very clear variant on that, so I do like it. This one has a better smell to it, it does have some essential oil ingredients but I feel like I use so little that it doesn't bother me."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Tula Filter Blurring Primer

"This is all I'm wearing today, it's such an interesting product. It's one of those where you can pair this with makeup products, foundation, skin tint, but you can also wear it on its own, and it really does just kind of make your skin look a little bit better. It does not conceal pimples, it just kind of gives your skin a nice filter effect and it's very interesting."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Benefit POREfessional Primer

"The four Benefit POREfessional Primer options are good for temporarily making your pores look less prominent. It is important to remember you must apply these by tapping just gently into your pores. I've seen a lot of people say these cause pilling, and yes, they do if you spread them instead of tapping."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX No Filter Primer

"I hate the Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX No Filter Primer so much. This currently has a 2.5 rating on the Ulta website. The first time I used it on top of my sunscreen it was a disaster, it mixed with my sunscreen and created this awful film that started flaking off. I tried it again using only serum and moisturizer, and once I applied sunscreen on top it happened again, little white specks flying everywhere. I tried it a third time skipping sunscreen entirely and using it as a base for foundation, and it still ended up flaking everywhere, an absolute mess. I cannot sit here and tell you to skip sunscreen, I think that's a terrible idea, so I don't really know who this is for, it's certainly not for me."

✕Nay

68%Guru Score

Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer

"I do really like this and it'll probably be half off at Sephora as well. It has a slight amount of that grippy sensation and yet it doesn't feel uncomfortable on my dry skin, so I actually really love to use this on my nose area in particular, where a lot of foundations fail me."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

"I actually have to say I prefer the original Photo Finish from Smashbox. It's your standard silicone primer, but that's why I like it. I can press that into my pores, minimize the look of pores, and smooth my skin."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Acne13 reviews

Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots

"I would say the best of the best for hydrocolloids is Peace Out."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Peace Out Acne Serum

"The Peace Out Acne Serum, I can't use it on my face because it contains my allergen, but it turns out it's wonderful used elsewhere, and it's practically free with the discount on the box set."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Day Dots

"Peace Out is the best, and I bought four of these micro dart patches. I love them, they're so expensive, twenty eight dollars for six patches, but if you have a line and want to watch the absurd effects of micro dart patches, you'll barely see it the next day. It's a temporary effect, but it's amazing. I just ended up discovering Peace Out does patches better than anyone else."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Differin Acne Patch with Salicylic Acid

"This month's trial was acne patches, trying to find the best ones for day, the best ones for night, the best stars. The Differin patches turned out to be the most invisible patches I've come across."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Starface Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches

"These clear patches from Starface were okay. I feel like at that point you might as well make them colorful, since these weren't very recognizable and people kept stopping me thinking I had something on my face rather than a patch. I got these for fifty percent off, and they were on sale for a reason."

✕Nay

58%Guru Score

Lion Pair Acne Cream

"Lion Pair is such an incredible anti-inflammatory product. If you deal with acne that is of the inflammatory nature, I think you too will absolutely love this Japanese skincare product."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots Hydrocolloid Patches

"Peach Slices makes their acne spot dots, and they're some of the most affordable hydrocolloid patches out there. You can save even more if you're willing to import from Korea, but sometimes in a pinch you just need to run to CVS or Ulta, and both stores carry these."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Micropoint for Blemishes (Microdart)

"The Micropoint for blemishes, these are good."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream

"This has an absolutely gorgeous ingredients list, no added fragrance, low in irritants, with niacinamide, antioxidants, and soothing centella extracts. It has a lightweight almost gel like feel but it stays on the skin and feels more hydrating even on my dry skin. However it is ultimately just a little bit too light for me, it sits between acting as a serum and acting as a cream. If you have normal to combination or oily skin I think this could be a cream for you, but for me it's just not quite enough. It's also a little expensive, I've seen it for around 25 to 30 dollars, not terrible but more than I think you might need to pay for that kind of an ingredients blend."

~Mixed

74%Guru Score

PanOxyl PM Blemish Aftercare Brightening Patches

"I really did like these PM Blemish Aftercare Brightening Patches, they have vitamin C, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide in them. It's expensive, but I do feel like I managed to knock out the spot I was dealing with. I haven't repurchased these just yet because I've been trying the Haruharu Wonder tranexamic acid serum instead."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

"The Master Patch set from COSRX comes with 90 patches, and this is a great price in the sale, 90 patches for under $10 with the 50% off. That's a good sale."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Zitsticka Killa Micro-Dart Pimple Patches

"I actually know quite a few people who like all of these, the microneedling patches, the hydrocolloids, and the sunscreen. I personally am a little too cheap to buy ZitSticka knowing there are good hydrocolloid patches on the market for a couple dollars for thirty six of them, but I do get it. I actually bought the ZitSticka's in the 21 days of beauty, and yeah, they're good. I think they might have more needles in them compared to some of the other more affordable dissolvable needle patches, but for me a good skincare routine with the much more affordable patches works fine."

~Mixed

81%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Acne Serum

"I like this overall. It has 1.5% salicylic acid, which is a good effective level for acne, along with 3% niacinamide and 2% tranexamic acid, plus some calming ingredients like panthenol and ceramide. I think they got a lot right in this product. I just don't want to overpromise, because in all truth it does not replace my retinoid or my benzoyl peroxide wash."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Retinoids13 reviews

Prequel Retinal Renew Retinaldehyde Gel 0.1%

"I don't personally use this because I already use adapalene, but my partner started using the 0.2% and it's been absolutely amazing to watch her skin transform. She's tested other retinoid products since and isn't liking them as much as this, this one was the best she has tried. 0.2% is a strong level, so if you're new to the ingredient you might want to start with the 0.1% instead."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Murad Retinol Resculpt Eye Treatment

"This is the Murad Retinol Resculpt Eye Treatment, which was sent to me by the brand. I use a strong retinoid and I firmly believe in migration in the skin, which is why I don't really use retinoid eye creams around my eye area anymore, so I simply haven't used a lot of it. What I do like about it is that retinal only needs one conversion into the active form of retinoic acid, while retinol with an O has to go through two conversions. It's an eye cream that feels like it's made for dry skin, a very thick cream."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Walgreens Adapalene Gel 0.1%

"My personal retinoid is adapalene, and this is the Walgreens brand adapalene gel. I saw it sitting next to Differin at Walgreens and the box compared itself to Differin, so I compared the two and it held up just as well, so I saved myself some money and went with the Walgreens brand instead. Nothing has ever changed my skin as much as adapalene products, regardless of who makes them, I find them all to be quite similar. It's the retinoid recommended for acne prone skin, and I think it's one of the best things you could add to your routine."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game Retinol 10

"If you told me you want the best over-the-counter affordable retinoid for anti-aging, hands down it is the Geek and Gorgeous retinaldehyde options, they have it in different levels, brilliant. The reason I do not use that myself is because I have acne and there is a specific retinoid for acne, so that is what I use instead."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Kinship Dreamwave 2% Bio-Retinoid Complex Renewal Serum

"This is a product using retinal, which converts into retinoic acid, along with tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and other antioxidants. It does have essential oils, but I appreciate that they disclosed that, since brands don't actually have to disclose essential oils the way they have to disclose allergens, and I have specific allergies to essential oils, so I know I can use this. I haven't used retinal on my face in a long time, I use adapalene and now point one percent retinal, so I'm going to try this out on my neck first since I've never been comfortable using adapalene there, my neck is too sensitive. This could be a good solution for me, and I really appreciate that this is a twist open and close system, that would prevent so many problems if more products had this."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Anua Nano Retinol 3% Renewing Serum

"What I like so much about this is that they are disclosing everything, and that is so important to me in choosing a retinoid product. They're telling you the niacinamide percentage, 5%, a great well studied level for evening out skin tone, and the retinol complex is 11% retinol, which is a fantastic beginner level. I'm shocked how well this went for me, I do actually feel my skin did great with this, and I love the disclosure. Because it has a lot of plant extracts you might want to proceed with caution if you have a more reactive skin type."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil

"This is their brand new Sensitive Retinol Oil, using hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which they say is a retinol great for beginners. Overall I would say I do like it, it's a good formula, it's got some squalane, it's got some bakuchiol, it did not irritate my skin, it was definitely gentle enough that I could use this even though I am also using adapalene. I still wish we had more research on this ingredient, and if you want the benefits of retinoids that have been studied for decades I feel it's a better idea to go with either retinol or retinal. So not bad, but still not going to be my absolute top pick for a retinoid product."

~Mixed

66%Guru Score

StriVectin Super C Retinol

"The StriVectin Super C Retinol, I loved when this product came out because it came out at the height of people saying you cannot combine retinol with vitamin C, meanwhile StriVectin released this product which has both vitamin C and retinol because you can combine those, but going with a vitamin C derivative instead of L-ascorbic acid is a smart approach, and that's what StriVectin did, they used sodium ascorbyl phosphate which is my personal favorite vitamin C derivative that has research supporting its use for fighting acne. You could buy this product if you want to simplify your routine, it does have some fragrance but it's probably a nice option."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick

"I didn't personally love the Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick. It tugged just a little bit too much for me. That said, I know some people do enjoy stick products for convenience, so to each their own."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%

"I love this so much, it is truly phenomenal to think that this adapalene ingredient at 0.1% has been the best thing I've ever done for my skin. It flies in the face of the mentality that more is more, it all comes down to every ingredient individually, and adapalene at 0.1% is a fantastic level. I still to this day only use it every other day, so it took me a long time to finish it, this lasts for so long and it is not expensive. I switched to the Walgreens store brand version and I'm saving even more money. Best thing I ever did for my skin, a strong retinoid."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

"You have two options for a retinoid here, retinol or retinal, your choice between these two Medik8 serums. That said, it's expensive because it's Medik8. Personally I would go for the retinal, retinol requires two conversions to be in the active form your skin can use, whereas retinal only requires one. They actually sent me this not too long ago and I turned it down just because I don't feel like I can review retinol or retinal products when I use adapalene, but I still think it looks nice."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum

"I don't feel like I can fully review this one because I use a much stronger retinoid, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to say what results I saw from a 0.1% retinol product. That said, I do intend to keep using it because the peptide and ceramide ingredients alone are amazing, I think that's a non-irritating level, and I like bakuchiol with a retinoid. I love that they disclose exactly how much retinol is in this product."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

SkinFix Acne+ Adapalene Gel with Niacinamide + Squalane

"I am baffled by the SkinFix Adapoid product. What they're saying is it's a precursor to adapalene, and I don't understand why this is a big deal, at least for those of us in the US, since we have adapalene over the counter, I buy it all the time. I still remain perplexed, but that's just me, I haven't tried it, I don't think I will."

✕Nay

68%Guru Score

Tech13 reviews

NuFACE Trinity Facial Toning Device

"I like my NuFace, but I'm tempted to put it in the just okay category. I have started slacking on it, and I have not touched it in a while. If you don't use these devices, you're not going to see results from them, and that applies to me too."

~Mixed

60%Guru Score

Foreo UFO LED Mask

"I did a top five and a bottom five, and I included the UFO as one of my bottom five, so personally I would not recommend it. I think it's more of a fancy pamper tool in my personal opinion, versus something that's really scientifically backed. You can like it, it's fine to enjoy the pamper aspect of it, but for me I have several devices where there's both a pamper session and clinical data supporting the device, and that's the main reason I'm not a big fan of the UFO."

✕Nay

54%Guru Score

NuFACE Mini Microcurrent Device

"I bought this exact device with my points and spent $0 and got the NuFace Mini. I do absolutely love it, I think it's a fantastic microcurrent device."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

NuFACE Mini Plus

"In terms of microcurrent devices, the NuFace Mini Plus is second on my list. I purchased mine with points, and if you are on the fence and comfortable doing a points haul, this is a great product to pick up because it is 2,000 points for a $250 item on sale for $125, so you will owe nothing. It has an app, but you are not reliant on it, you can just set it to one of three modes and leave it. I do think NuFace did a fantastic job on the Mini Plus. The only thing I have to say is I don't like their gel, you have to constantly be reapplying it, though other gels out there also work with this if you want other options. As a microcurrent device this is a great option, especially when you think about how you can swap in your points and pay nothing for it."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

"I bought this device for a pretty penny to treat my neck and decolletage, and I've never really been able to recommend it. It broke on me, and it was never quite a perfect match for what I wanted it to do in terms of treating my neck. It tries too hard to multitask as a body treatment, so the lights are just kind of placed everywhere instead of specifically targeting where you'd want for anti aging purposes, and I always had to prop it awkwardly as I lay back, you can't walk around with it. It retails for four hundred fifty five dollars. After a year and a half with it, I'm done with this mask forever."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

CurrentBody RF Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Device

"I'm doing my radio frequency treatment with CurrentBody. I believe in these devices, let's give them a chance to work. What I like about CurrentBody is theirs is a once weekly treatment, there are some other devices that are more frequent than that, but that's the right frequency for me."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask Series 2

"They kindly sent me the CurrentBody series 2 LED mask years ago and it's been by far my favorite LED mask I've ever owned. I get a lot of offers from other red light companies but I decline them because I don't think they're better than CurrentBody. I think CurrentBody has the best red light therapy treatment on the market, theirs is the one that matches the scientific literature and actually provides the specs so you know what you're using. I see clearer skin, more radiant skin, and better wound healing from using it."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Mask Series 1

"I do love red light therapy, and I love my CurrentBody mask. There's a surprising body of literature supporting red light therapy, but you have to actually be consistent and use it regularly to see results."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Qure Micro Infusion System

"My number two most used device is the Cure Micro Infusion, which is not electronic, so technically it's more of a skincare tool than a device, but it has to be rated this high for me. The entire idea of microneedling is brilliant because it invokes your skin's own repair mechanism without leaving behind a scar, so you get collagen remodeling and anti-aging benefits. This is not a zero risk system, there is real risk involved with real needles, but I do think Cure has figured out how to minimize that risk as much as possible with the disposable heads. I feel this is the best treatment for hyperpigmentation."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

CurrentBody LED Neck and Décolletage Perfector

"Thank you so much CurrentBody for sending over the series two of their LED neck and decollete mask. The CurrentBody series two is hands down my favorite face mask, and I'm so excited they came out with a new and improved neck and decollete mask. What's different in the series two is that just like the series two for your face, it has that deeper wavelength, and in addition it's bigger, it fills a larger area of your decollete, and it has so many more lights, about 179 more LEDs."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Qure Neck & Décolletage LED Mask

"I still like Cure's mask, and I've been using my CurrentBody mask together with my Cure neck mask. Both companies are great, and for 2025 it could be Cure that comes through with the next development."

✓Yay

Notverified

Qure Micro Infusion Targeted Patches

"I also finished these Cure microinfusion targeted patches, I worked with them on a sponsorship not too long ago. I really like these, they're micro dart patches that deliver caffeine, copper tripeptide, niacinamide, and a synthetic hexapeptide. Wonderful products, just expensive."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

ZIIP Gold Gel

"I also absolutely love ZIIP's conductive gel, it's the best on the market. It's not sticky at all, if anything it feels more like a serum, so it's very comfortable to have on your skin during the treatments."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Haircare11 reviews

Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner

"I love the Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner so much that even though I try to rotate products so I don't get stuck reviewing the same thing, I'm stuck on this one, and I've paid as little as seven ninety nine for it."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

K18 Airwash Dry Shampoo

"This Airwash Dry Shampoo is a liquid dry shampoo and I doubted this so intensely. I don't know how they made a liquid dry shampoo that works as well as something like Living Proof without the white cast. I'll have to update on how long it lasts, since that's my biggest concern and why I tend to buy the powder dry shampoos, but I am wowed."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Briogeo Dry Shampoo

"I actually got the Dry Shampoo in PR, but I'm going to tell you honestly, I'm not going to repurchase this."

✕Nay

69%Guru Score

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

"If you have blonde hair and you know it can get a bit brassy, nothing will take the brassiness out as well as Olaplex's purple products. These are products I've had to defend over the years because yes, they will absolutely dye your hands, I use gloves to apply them, and I let it sit on my hair for just 5 minutes or so, but don't leave it on too long or your hair will turn purple. It takes out all trace of brassiness."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector

"Olaplex No. 3 is a very reliable product."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray

"The Color Wow Dream Coat Spray works, you just have to actually really coat every strand of hair. Keep in mind that's only the travel size in this, you'll go through it pretty quickly, but yes, it does actually work."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Verb Ghost Shampoo and Conditioner

"Verb is a more affordable but good shampoo and conditioner brand."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

"Living Proof and IGK are my favorite dry shampoos, but I'm on a tight budget right now so I'm trying to be more flexible about what I buy."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray

"I've used the Living Proof Flex hairspray in the past, it's a nice, not too crunchy hairspray. It's expensive though, one of those to get at 50% off."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Hair Serum

"We have the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum, I have tried this, it is a basic smoothing serum, silicone based, it's fine."

~Mixed

76%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

"The multipeptide serum is the one I have repurchased a number of times. When I finished the copper peptide version of it, I didn't feel it did anything for me in addition to this regular multipeptide serum, which is why this is the one I keep going back to."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Blush & Bronzer10 reviews

Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten

"My top blush recommendation is Laura Geller's Baked Blush-n-Brighten. These are such beautiful blushes, I'm wearing Pink Grapefruit today, and the multicolor effect makes for a bizarrely natural finish. These also last forever because they're powder."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Bare Minerals Gen Nude Powder Blush - You Had Me At Merlot

"The Bare Minerals Gen Nude Blush is my favorite blush. I judged the pun at first, but here I am with it being my absolute favorite, specifically in the shade Call My Blush, which is what I'm wearing now."

✓Yay

93%Guru Score

Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Barely Blushing

"I used the Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Barely Blushing. This is so soft for a blush."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Benefit Benetint Liquid Lip & Cheek Stain

"Whatever this lip tint from Benefit was didn't make sense, it's a lip tint that doesn't tint. Can we please make sure that words have meaning?"

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

Flower Knows Midsummer Fairy Tales Blush Brush

"The blush brushes are surprisingly nice. You don't necessarily need to add one to your order, but they're nicer than I thought they would be. You know how a lot of brands have brushes and it feels like they're an afterthought, you don't get that feeling with these brushes, they're nice."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush

"I was so confused by the blush I had from Dior because I saw people using it and getting a ton of pigment, and I wasn't getting that. I finally found out it was reformulated so it's no longer as good. I'm using the new version and it's less good, they've dialed down the pigment, and I don't understand why they would do that when it was such a hit and such a viral product."

✕Nay

65%Guru Score

BK Beauty N14 Highlighting Brush

"I'm so happy with the brushes I bought, they're perfect. This one in particular, the Nikki Lose in 14, I feel like this might be my favorite. It's such a tiny little brush but it's absolutely perfect for under-eye powder application and highlighter application, I've never had a brush that is this small and yet does this much."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Fenty Beauty Amber Suede Bronzer Contour Stick

"I do like these, I actually really liked the shade Amber, it's actually quite a nice cooler tone. The reason I never finished mine is that using contour and highlighter is something you probably really need to do if you're wearing a high coverage foundation. If you instead use something like a skin tint, you probably don't need contour, so that's why I stopped using these. I did like them though, Fenty is a great brand."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

MAC Glow Play Blush in Blush Please

"I am so excited that the Glow Play Blushes are included, that's a wonderful formula, it's almost kind of slightly creamy to powder, it is a gorgeous finish. Really good for those of you like me who are a bit iffy on commitment to cream blushes."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

MAC Blushes

"The regular blushes are amazing. Mac blushes are amazing, high pigment and yet easy to work with."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Concealer9 reviews

Live Tinted Concealer

"I think the Live Tinted Concealer is the best concealer carried at Ulta. Once you figure out how to apply a really thin layer, it sits beautifully on the skin and doesn't crease. My absolute favorite concealer of all time is a different one carried at Sephora, but Live Tinted is just behind it. The only thing I wish is that they had a few more lighter shade options, since I don't have a good match for the winter months, but in summer I wear shade 20."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

BK Beauty Angie Hot and Flashy A506 Concealer Brush

"It really is nice, it really does help you with diffusing concealer so it doesn't settle into fine lines, and it makes for a perfect even, very smooth base. That said, I do feel like this could be duped, but for twelve dollars that's fine."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Kosas Revealer Concealer

"I still prefer my holy grail Kosas concealer for under my eyes, though with that one I have to carefully apply and make sure I powder it."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

IT Cosmetics Do It All Radiant Concealer

"I hate this packaging, why would you torture me with a clicky pin. But it really is a beautiful concealer, especially on fine lines, and I use a dab of it on my under eye."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Too Faced Born This Way Concealer

"One thing that is really nice about that concealer is that not only is it higher coverage, but you also get a lot of product in that container, so that's another one of those possibly more budget friendly options."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Concealer

"The Best Skin Ever Concealer is a little higher coverage than my favorite, but some people prefer higher coverage, and it's still a nice one."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Bobbi Brown Skin Full Cover Concealer

"I do like the wand on the Bobbi Brown Skin Full Cover Concealer, it holds a lot of product so you can apply a good amount of concealer. However, they sent me warm ivory, and it made me remember why I don't really buy that much from Bobbi Brown anymore, their formulas lean a bit orange for me. All that said, if you love Bobbi Brown complexion products, it is a nice concealer."

~Mixed

75%Guru Score

Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Concealer

"The Haus Labs concealer is surprisingly high coverage, and even though I don't usually like high coverage under my eyes, that's what I'm looking for to spot conceal. What they got right is not only do they have an amazing shade range, but this is also very flexible on your skin, and since I have hormonal acne I break out in an area of my face with a lot of motion, so I want a concealer that really bends with my face, and that's what this does. This officially replaces my long lost Smashbox."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Tower 28 Swipe Allover Hydrating Serum Concealer

"I really like Tower 28 and I had a lot of faith in this one, I do like it, but I still felt like it was creasing just a little more than I would prefer. Compared side by side with Kosas, after a few hours the swatch on my hand actually looked more creased than the other one."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Fragrance9 reviews

Sniff Creme Couture

"Crumb Couture is my partner's favorite, although we absolutely agree that we wish the longevity was better."

~Mixed

80%Guru Score

Sniff Hot Cakes

"Take Hot Cakes, it smells exactly like pancakes. It's not necessarily the most complicated fragrance, in fact it's pretty simple overall, but that one actually does last a while."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Flur Vanilla Skin Body and Hair Fragrance Mist

"Flur's vanilla skin actually wears a little more like a standard perfume, unlike most of the expensive body mists at Sephora that don't have good longevity."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Nemat Vanilla Musk

"The Nemat Vanilla Musk is so good, I actually already bought a full size of it and was in need of a mini, so this was perfect timing."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum

"When Ariana Grande first released Cloud I was first in line for it, but I got it in and to me it just smelled like a hospital waiting room, I still hate it. The wild thing is other people told me how bad I smelled when I wore it and it wore all day. It's not just my nose either because other people said I smelled bad with my body chemistry, but Cloud smells terrible on me."

✕Nay

68%Guru Score

Clinique Happy

"Clinique Happy will always smell like the 90s and early 2000s to me, in a very good way. It brings back a lot of good memories."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum

"I always get compliments when I wear Lancome fragrances, and Idole has gotten me some compliments too. I feel like Lancome is incredibly good at people pleasing scents, and yet they aren't my personal favorites. This one has some jasmine which I really like, and some rose in it which I don't really like, and I can definitely smell the rose even in the aura version, so I'm going to skip it in this sale. But it's one where I see why people buy it, it's a people pleaser."

~Mixed

61%Guru Score

Flur Tangerine Boy

"Tangerine Boy was very popular so I got this one. It smells like oranges, but as somebody who likes citrus fragrances I feel like I always regret when I choose to wear one because they just don't stay with me the way gourmands do, which are really having a moment right now and tend to stay with me all day."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

Billie Eilish Eilish Eau de Parfum

"I've talked a lot about how I don't like buying full sizes of fragrance because I like to smell the way I feel, which changes from day to day, but this is the only time I can think of where I've actually regretted buying a small size. I bought the smaller size but I love this so much. Fragrance isn't my strongest category and I tend to reduce fragrances down to one word, but this smells like dessert."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Tools9 reviews

Beautyblender Original

"The Beautyblender, in my opinion, is absolutely worth it at $10. I used to recommend the dupes, but they've gotten so much worse over the years, they fall apart and rip so easily. I promise you the Beautyblender is worth it, it's the only one that doesn't rip and fall apart, and I'm bummed the dupes used to be great but aren't anymore."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

BK Beauty Essential Collection Face Brush Set

"They sent me the BK Beauty Essential Collection Face Brush Set, but I don't really use these because they're too big. Four big brushes, and I hardly ever use them."

✕Nay

74%Guru Score

BK Beauty Brush Set for Hooded and Smaller Eyes

"Small eye brushes are incredible, and the BK Beauty Brush Set for Hooded and Smaller Eyes is tempting to me. Do you necessarily need to spend this much? No, but it's hard to find small brushes, and Real Techniques, for example, doesn't make them at all. I already have some of BK Beauty's eye brushes and they're nice. These aren't just for hooded or smaller eyes either, they're great for detail work if you like playing with eyeshadow palettes."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Tangle Teezer Complete Care Brush Collection

"I love my Tangle Teezer, so I'm going to recommend the Complete Care Brush Collection again and hope it's similar to the one I already have."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Slip Silk Pillowcase

"Satin pillowcases are nice, but once you go with silk it's pretty hard to back down to satin. Silk is just so naturally cooling, it feels so lovely to sleep on, and fifty percent off is nice to see."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Live Tinted Hue Stick Click CC Brightening Wand

"During the winter months I turned to the Live Tinted Complexion Stick, which is a medium coverage foundation stick they call a complexion stick, a five in one, instead of a foundation stick. I've overall liked it, though there are some critiques. It cracks in the packaging for some reason, so I always have to push it back in and try to piece it back together. Plus on my dry skin, if I go overboard with it, it looks a little cakey."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Kitsch Satin Pillowcase

"I got a Kitsch Satin Pillowcase for 75% off and it's really good. I didn't know what to expect for more affordable satin, but this Kitsch brand did a very good job on those."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Cinema Secrets Brush Bath

"Brush Bath is nice for really quickly cleaning your brushes, my personal favorite is Cinema Secrets."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

"My honest opinion is that I would not buy this device. I just think it's trying to do a little too much in one device. It's got LED therapy, which I do believe in, but I believe in using a full mask on your face with the right output and the right programming delivering the correct wavelengths. This just seems like moving LED lights across your face, which feels a little too unpredictable to me. It also has galvanic current in it, I'm not sure why. They say it has therapeutic warmth and facial massage, but I feel like it's trying to do a little too much, and it's still pretty expensive. This retails for a hundred and sixty nine dollars, so even at fifty percent off, I think personally your money will go farther just holding onto it and waiting for a good deal on either an LED or a microcurrent device dedicated to that."

✕Nay

52%Guru Score

Body & Tan6 reviews

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter

"My body cream pick is the OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter. I did OSEA as a brand review a few years ago and it was a disaster for my face, but I ended up finding some fantastic body care from that brand. Body skin isn't as delicate as facial skin for the vast majority of people, so it's got essential oils in it, but that's not going to bother most people."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA

"First Aid Beauty sent me their KP body eraser bump scrub. It's not that bad. Compared to my favorite from Kopari, this feels slightly under that in terms of physical exfoliation, but it's still really good. It has ten percent AHA, which I use on my body exclusively since AHA is too much for my face."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

Remedy For Body Bumps

"The four body bump super stacked KP and textured skin treatment from Remedy has lactic acid, retinol, and urea. It's a super, super nice body lotion. This is Dr. Shaw's brand and I really appreciate that he's kept things more affordable."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Lotion

"I bought the Creme de Corps Body Lotion in the past, that is a very nice lotion. I've never tried the body butter, but I would assume that it would also be nice."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Body Lotion

"The Rare Beauty lotion has the same issue, I can't get the product out of the packaging. Rare Beauty still has that lotion on the market, and now when you buy it from Sephora you get a free pump with your purchase to try to correct that."

✕Nay

57%Guru Score

Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil

"I know some of you are going to restock that Osea oil, it's a nice oil."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Balms & Ointments5 reviews

Prequel Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream

"These are some of the best products I've tried, and I love and respect that they're fragrance free, for the face and the body, 18 and 20 dollars for 10 fluid ounces, with 1% colloidal oatmeal. When I try to use these during the day under makeup it's not the most cosmetically elegant moisturizer I've ever tried, but I'm not going to expect the same things from this as I would from a $60 priming moisturizer at this price point."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Prequel 1% Colloidal Oatmeal and Alanine Multi-Ceramides Adenosine Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream

"Because I have a dry skin type, I personally do like the rich cream a bit more, and I've really enjoyed using this as a night cream. It's one of the best products I've tried, fragrance free, for the face and the body, 18 and 20 dollars for 10 fluid ounces, with 1% colloidal oatmeal. When I try to use it during the day under makeup it's not the most cosmetically elegant moisturizer I've ever tried, but I'm not expecting that at this price point."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Prequel Skin Utility Balm Multi-Purpose Skin Protectant

"This is a slugging ointment similar to Aquaphor, though it does have a better ingredients list overall, she added some ceramide ingredients and some babassu, though I do believe Aquaphor has babassu as well. I love that a dermatologist reinforced how great this type of slugging product can be in a routine, but I already use a lot of ceramide and skin boosting ingredients in my moisturizers and serums, so having those extra ingredients in the slugging product too didn't give me any additional benefits, I still saw the benefits of slugging but I don't think I need to spend extra money on this particular product. This could really be beneficial for some people if you don't already have ceramides in your routine, but for me, with where my routine already is, I don't think I'm going to buy this one again."

✕Nay

71%Guru Score

CeraVe Healing Ointment

"There's nothing quite like slugging for treating my barrier issues. The holy grail here, it is Aquaphor or CeraVe's Healing Ointment. There's a lot of petrolatum based options out there, but I always end up with those as my holy grails because frankly I think that ingredient, petrolatum, is the winning ingredient."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy

"I use Aquaphor a lot. There's nothing quite like slugging for treating my barrier issues. The holy grail here, it is Aquaphor. There's a lot of petrolatum based options out there, but I always end up with this as my holy grail because frankly I think that ingredient, petrolatum, is the winning ingredient."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Nails1 review

Kiss Press-On Nails

"My nail beds turned out to be pretty flat, so I actually do best with Kiss, they have the flattest nails."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

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