The Guru IndexReviewersCassandra Bankson
Cassandra Bankson
Medical Esthetician

Cassandra Bankson.

Cassandra Bankson is a medical esthetician and 'acne big sister' who demystifies the science behind skincare, devices, and acne treatments. Her 2.4M followers love her myth-busting, deeply researched approach and her mission to cut through marketing hype.

Why Are They A Guru?
Licensed medical esthetician and acne educator who grounds every review in the underlying science, with a mission to cut through marketing hype.
161Products
116 approved87% approval rate
17 skippedDoesn't pull punches
14 hot takesWhere they break from the pack
The hall of fame

Cassandra Bankson's top picks.

The products Cassandra Bankson has crowned best in their category, and brings up again and again.

★ Best best sunscreen
Sunscreen SPF 30
Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
I'm also using Black Girl Sunscreen for my sunscreen today. I absolutely love this as the SPF 30 gives me a little bit of a glow.
★ Best holy grail products
Magic Cream
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
This is one of my holy grail products. My skin drinks this up. I was going to say I'm so glad that you've tried this because this is one of these products that I would like love to hate on but that works so well that I have to love it. It's $100, it's from Charlotte Tilbury. She's a makeup artist, but if you want something that is hydrating, beautiful like silk ribbons, but that works under makeup, this is it. This is the only cream-based moisturizer I would use before makeup because any other cream-based one will pill or act weird with primers and foundations, but this one is, I understand why they call it magic cream. It's one of those that I wish I would love to hate, but the magic cream is so fantastic.
★ Best led face mask
DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
It's FDA cleared to smooth lines and wrinkles and it helps improve circulation to enhance natural color and make visibly fuller lips. It has 56 infrared red LED lights. LED has been medically proven to stimulate collagen to help with fine lines and wrinkles, and depending on the wavelength, basically the color of the light, they can be helpful in treating acne. Dr. Dennis Gross has done their research on skincare and their LED face mask is one of the best that you can get on the market. It's expensive, but that is pretty much as close as you can get to professional that's available at Sephora.
★ Best simple effective affordable cleanser
Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
This is one of my favorites. If you are looking for a simple effective and affordable cleanser, this is one of the best. When I use this on myself it's nice, it's gentle, it's foaming, it's still hydrating but it breaks down dirt and gunk and sunscreen really well. The glucoside foam in here is also very very gentle and it's really only got like five ingredients and no fragrance. I can actually use this as a body cleanser as well. This has very quickly replaced many of my other cleansers as a favorite.
★ Best entry-level led wand
Solawave
LED Wand
Solawave LED Wand
It has 56 infrared red LED lights. LED has been medically proven to stimulate collagen to help with fine lines and wrinkles, and depending on the wavelength, the color of the light, they can be helpful in treating acne. I use a very fun LED wand, kind of overpriced but it's good for travel. The SolaWave, I used it on my burn and you can't even see my burn anymore. The mouthpiece is washable, which is good. I'm so happy that it's charged out of the box.
By the numbers

What they review most.

Against the grain

Cassandra Bankson's hot takes.

Products where their take diverges from the rest of the gurus.

Cassandra Bankson: Skip vs gurus 63% Approved
I also tried this from The Ordinary the multi-peptide serum for hair density I just didn't see big results with this. A lot of people have said this is amazing for them maybe I didn't use it for enough months I just didn't see the biggest results so I might retry outing this or I might just say screw it.
Cassandra Bankson: Skip vs gurus 65% Approved
Drunk Elephant still sells their $68 to $78 Marula Oil, but The Ordinary gets the exact same stuff from the exact same manufacturer and charges $11.40 for it. Is it any cheaper in quality? Is it worse? No, again it's the exact same stuff, it's just without the fancy packaging, without the fancy marketing.
Cassandra Bankson: Skip vs gurus 64% Approved
The Zip Beauty Silver Gel, I kind of lumped these in together with the gold gel because I think they're the same base. They're both goopy and kind of gross. The difference is that one is gold and one is silver, which sounds cute and fancy, but from a scientific perspective, some people say gold can be an antioxidant, but honestly it can cause contact dermatitis for some people, which is like an allergic reaction. It's just gross. As an aesthetician, I felt like I had to buy a different one for different people. The silver one was for young acne-prone skin, and it just made me feel like I had to buy extra stuff. There wasn't that versatility, and then it was just goopy and gross. Even though one has silver and one has gold, they say the ingredients are slightly different, but they have a very similar base, and they just aren't revolutionary. I was not a fan.
Cassandra Bankson: Skip vs gurus 60% Approved
Botox will not get rid of your wrinkles. People associate Botox with wrinkle reduction, and when they find out that Botox does not actually remove existing wrinkles, they feel jipped out of their money, $600 to $800 per injection every 3 to 6 months. But any good Botox injector should be telling you this. Botox will not get rid of your existing wrinkles.
Every take, in full

Every review.

All 161 products Cassandra Bankson has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.

All takes Approved only Skip only Against the gurus
Serums30 reviews
"It's a really good product. I've seen amazing before and afters, but I am cruelty free vegan so I don't use beauty products, and that's actually where it's really difficult for me because when I'm talking to patients or clients I want to give them informed consent. I'll tell them straight up it's a great product, it works well, people see good before and afters, but it's not something that I put my money towards."
~Mixed
81%of gurus approve
"It's in a gel texture, it's a gel refreshing formula like it makes your skin actually feel moist but then it absorbs so beautifully. It comes out like a translucent cream, almost a tinge of yellow because of those antioxidants, and then it just blends in with like barely a touch. If you are someone who hates blending in your sunscreen or hates the feel of sunscreen, this SPF50 is so good and it's PA+++ meaning it prevents from the UVA and the UVB rays. One of the best, so much better than the other ones that people are talking about. This absolutely gets an award for the best lightweight gel texture."
Approved
89%of gurus approve
"The SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Peptide Cream is so good. SkinFix is a Canadian brand, they're female founded. I love the pump tops because it gives you the perfect amount. It's literally like a butterball, so thick and dense, and it just hydrates and smooths onto the skin. It's fragrance-free and wonderful. It is a little bit more on the expensive side, but it's worth it."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
"They essentially have this Mela B3 serum and it's kind of like this light purple color and it's a vitamin B serum that is niacinamide and it's not very special it has fragrance it's gone viral on the internet but it's like 44 to 50 bucks. And they also test on animals which is why I don't use them. If you buy it here it's like 40, 50, 60 bucks like what the La Roche-Posay can be a no no."
Skip
59%of gurus approve
"The Ordinaries niacinamide and zinc, that is literally like one of the bestselling serums in the entirety of America and it's like $8, so that is another great option."
Approved
67%of gurus approve
All 6 takes on Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Drugstore Skincare Celebrities Secretly Use & Love
"Olivia Rodrigo uses The Ordinary and has sworn by the niacinamide serum and literally said multiple times how much it helps her skin, her face, her nose, etc. This is one of my favorite serums as well. The Ordinary has done it with this one. The regular sized one is literally under 10 bucks. It's so good, it's so effective, and then if you do want to spend more, they do have the large size which you can get for like 15 dollars."
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"The ordinary's niacinamide serum is like the number one selling serum in all of America. Whenever I go to Sephora or Ulta, they're always sold out. It's because it works, and then people like me recommend it to you, and then you try it and you're like oh my God this is so good, and you use it or you recommend it to someone else, and it just works. When people try it and use it correctly, they like it, and then it just continues to go."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"This niacinamide and zinc is an oily skin's best friend and it's always listed as a best seller at Sephora, Ulta, and any beauty retailer. I feel like this serum really put niacinamide on the map and it's one of the top serums that exists right now and for good reason. It's like $7 to $8 to help control oil and sebum in my nose area and to help give B vitamins to my skin. Niacinamide and zinc can help with oil production, and as an oily-skinned person I love this. If you have blackheads in the area, it's amazing. But even if you have dry skin, as long as you're using a moisturizer, this can still be used. If you have dry or combo skin, especially if you want to put it on areas where you have larger pores, niacinamide can help decrease the appearance of them and it can help with sebum regulation so those areas don't overproduce or underproduce. This doesn't get as gummy or as tacky as some other niacinamide products."
How To Get Rid Of Sebaceous Filaments
"The Ordinaries niacinamide and zinc, that is literally like one of the bestselling serums in the entirety of America and it's like $8, so that is another great option."
Drugstore Skincare Isn’t Drugstore Prices Anymore
"The Ordinary niacinamide serum for like $7, it's not at CVS but it is at Sephora. I feel like we need more brands like The Ordinary, like Bubble, like The Inky List that create effective high quality and inexpensive skin care."
Why JLo puts Nutella on her face and more Insane Celebrity Beauty “Secrets” You Should NEVER Do!
"I would highly recommend using a seven dollar niacinamide serum from The Ordinary instead of wasting an egg. Let's put niacinamide on our face to reduce the appearance of pores and actually have the benefits of skincare that we know can penetrate into the skin instead of just getting crusty on the top of it."
"The Ordinary has some of the best products for sensitive skin that I recommend all the time. Things like the marula oil are really basic, really gentle, and people can mix and match these into a routine really well."
Approved
79%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Marula Oil
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"The Ordinary has some of the best products for sensitive skin that I recommend all the time. Things like the marula oil are really basic, really gentle, and people can mix and match these into a routine really well."
Sephora Kids Are Taking Over - Drunk Elephant Dupes & Mental Health For Kids & Tweens
"The Ordinary literally packaged the exact same marula oil from the exact same manufacturer into the Ordinary bottle and sells it for $10 in a recyclable bottle. This is the exact same oil literally from the same manufacturer and it works extremely extremely well. If you wanted to get the marula oil for literally a seventh of the price, the Ordinary would be the way to go. It's a nice lightweight oil, but I really love it for the hair and for the nails or even for the bath and for the body."
"Drunk Elephant still sells their $68 to $78 Marula Oil, but The Ordinary gets the exact same stuff from the exact same manufacturer and charges $11.40 for it. Is it any cheaper in quality? Is it worse? No, again it's the exact same stuff, it's just without the fancy packaging, without the fancy marketing."
Skip
65%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Marula Oil
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"Drunk Elephant still sells their $68 to $78 Marula Oil, but The Ordinary gets the exact same stuff from the exact same manufacturer and charges $11.40 for it. Is it any cheaper in quality? Is it worse? No, again it's the exact same stuff, it's just without the fancy packaging, without the fancy marketing."
Sephora Kids Are Taking Over - Drunk Elephant Dupes & Mental Health For Kids & Tweens
"I have beef with Drunk Elephant. It's not personal beef, I just hate the way that they've attacked their customers online. I also hate the way they can't take criticism and they essentially tell people that you have to use their entire line all together, otherwise it's your fault that you have skin concerns and skin issues. The founder of the Ordinary, the late Brandon Truaxes, actually did as well. He looked at Drunk Elephant's Marula Oil and it's just pure marula oil, and Brandon said I know exactly where that comes from and I know how much it costs as a base price, why are they selling it for $68? Brandon went out and with his company the Ordinary literally packaged the exact same marula oil from the exact same manufacturer into the Ordinary bottle and sells it for $10 in a recyclable bottle. This is the exact same oil literally from the same manufacturer and it works extremely, extremely well. Brandon did this because he was sick of the beauty industry price gouging. I'm sorry, $68 for this marula oil is absolutely price gouging."
"Should kids even be using products like Drunk Elephant? They're retinoid creams, they're intense vitamin C's. I've got beef with that brand for many reasons. The problem is the types of skincare they're using and the manner in which it's being used. If we have people, specifically children, putting retinoids and vitamin C on their face, that can actually sting."
Skip
65%of gurus approve
"This azelaic acid suspension is so good for the price it's under $10 and for anyone who has rosacea that is diagnosed by a doctor or a Derm, anyone who has redness in the skin, anyone who wants a pregnancy safe acne option, this is so good. It kind of feels like a moisturizer on the skin, so this is one that's not a serum but you can layer this with other serums or you could put this on first as a serum step and then use a really thick moisturizer over the top. If you are someone who has dry skin or if you're working with someone who has dry skin, this is so good. It is a 10%, so it's a decent amount, and the best part is that you can use this little skin hero morning or evening, very versatile, absolutely phenomenal. This is definitely very close to the top of the list. I would say that this is in the top five."
Approved
73%of gurus approve
"This is the Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum and this blue comes naturally from the copper. This is so good if you have fine lines or wrinkles, if you need wrinkle support, if you need hydration, this is amazing for the skin. Copper peptides can be really hard to come by, but they're phenomenal at plumping up the skin. If you want plumped up skin but you're not going in for fillers, or even if you are going in for fillers and you just want more, this can really plump and rehydrate the surface layers of the skin and actually support layers deep down. I love that it's blue, it's like fun to use. Even though it's the most expensive product that The Ordinary has, it is honestly one of the best for the price. This is one of those that is best tolerated when used regularly, like morning and evening. You do have to be a little bit careful about what you layer it with, just because copper peptides are very wonderful but can be a little bit finicky. But copper peptides have some amazing research behind them."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"This is a beautiful blue serum, this is a copper peptide serum and it is good. Copper peptides are fantastic and there's a lot of studies showing promising efficacy. The thing is it's very expensive, but it works very well."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"This is the Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum and this blue comes naturally from the copper. This is so good if you have fine lines or wrinkles, if you need wrinkle support, if you need hydration, this is amazing for the skin. Copper peptides can be really hard to come by, but they're phenomenal at plumping up the skin. If you want plumped up skin but you're not going in for fillers, or even if you are going in for fillers and you just want more, this can really plump and rehydrate the surface layers of the skin and actually support layers deep down. I love that it's blue, it's like fun to use. Even though it's the most expensive product that The Ordinary has, it is honestly one of the best for the price. This is one of those that is best tolerated when used regularly, like morning and evening. You do have to be a little bit careful about what you layer it with, just because copper peptides are very wonderful but can be a little bit finicky. But copper peptides have some amazing research behind them."
"This is fantastic. It's a super potent antioxidant serum that I feel really rivals vitamin C and can often be better than vitamin C because some people have issues with the stinging and burning of the l-ascorbic acid which is what's in a lot of vitamin C serums. This pycnogenol is super tiny but super mighty. I love this especially for morning time. It has this dark amber color because it's literally made from pine trees. You can take one or two dots and apply it to the skin right as you start your day. This can help slightly boost up sunscreen and protect you from free radical damage, so if you live in a polluted city or if you're someone who's out and about all day this is so nice to have on skin. It's inexpensive but effective. It also has kind of an earthy smell, so if you're super sensitive to smells be careful. It is fragrance-free so it smells like the actual formula, but I absolutely love this especially under sunscreen. You can use this day or night. I recommend it in the morning because it kind of gives a boost to sunscreen. For anyone who just can't use vitamin C either because certain formulas burn their skin or the ones that don't burn their skin are too oily on the skin, this is an antioxidant powerhouse."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
All 4 takes on Pycnogenol 5%
The Ordinary Pycnogenol — 3 Ways To Use It & What Is Pycnogenol Good For?
"This is The Ordinary's Pycnogenol 5% and this is one of my absolute favorite products. The reason I love it is that this little antioxidant serum is amazing both because of how it works and also because of how inexpensive it is. It comes from pine trees, though it can also be derived from grapes and a few other places as well, but this little serum is only ten dollars and eleven cents from The Ordinary. It's a water-free formula. If you're looking for an antioxidant boost, there are some studies that show that pycnogenol is actually more potent, it's a better antioxidant than vitamin C. Some medical studies have also looked at pycnogenol for things like pigmentation. Pycnogenol should be used in the morning because it is an antioxidant serum, but it could be used at night as well. It really doesn't matter. And because it's such a great antioxidant, it's pretty good at keeping itself stable."
The Ordinary Pycnogenol — 3 Ways To Use It & What Is Pycnogenol Good For?
"Pycnogenol is an amazing skincare ingredient, and this is one of my absolute favorite products. I call it a Camping Buddy because it literally smells like my childhood camping out of the back of my parents SUV on the California coastline. This little antioxidant serum is amazing both because of how it works and also because of how inexpensive it is. It comes from pine trees, though it can also be derived from grapes. This serum is only ten dollars and eleven cents from The Ordinary. It's a water-free formula, and if you're looking for an antioxidant boost, there are some studies that show that pycnogenol is actually more potent, it's a better antioxidant than vitamin C. Pycnogenol should be used in the morning because it is an antioxidant serum, but it could be used at night as well. Because it's such a great antioxidant, it's pretty good at keeping itself stable. The formula is anhydrous, meaning it has no water. It's a little bit of an oily texture, but it does soak into the skin quite nicely."
The Ordinary Pycnogenol — 3 Ways To Use It & What Is Pycnogenol Good For?
"This is The Ordinary's Pycnogenol 5%, and this is one of my absolute favorite products. This little antioxidant serum is amazing both because of how it works and also because of how inexpensive it is. It comes from pine trees, though it can also be derived from grapes and there are a few other places as well. This little serum is only ten dollars and eleven cents from The Ordinary. It's a water-free formula, and if you're looking for an antioxidant boost, there are some studies that show that pycnogenol is actually more potent, it's a better antioxidant than vitamin C. Some medical studies have also looked at pycnogenol for things like pigmentation. Pycnogenol should be used in the morning because it is an antioxidant serum, but it could be used at night as well. It really doesn't matter. And because it's such a great antioxidant, it's pretty good at keeping itself stable."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"This is fantastic. It's a super potent antioxidant serum that I feel really rivals vitamin C and can often be better than vitamin C because some people have issues with the stinging and burning of the l-ascorbic acid which is what's in a lot of vitamin C serums. This pycnogenol is super tiny but super mighty. I love this especially for morning time. It has this dark amber color because it's literally made from pine trees. You can take one or two dots and apply it to the skin right as you start your day. This can help slightly boost up sunscreen and protect you from free radical damage, so if you live in a polluted city or if you're someone who's out and about all day this is so nice to have on skin. It's inexpensive but effective. It also has kind of an earthy smell, so if you're super sensitive to smells be careful. It is fragrance-free so it smells like the actual formula, but I absolutely love this especially under sunscreen. You can use this day or night. I recommend it in the morning because it kind of gives a boost to sunscreen. For anyone who just can't use vitamin C either because certain formulas burn their skin or the ones that don't burn their skin are too oily on the skin, this is an antioxidant powerhouse."
"This is the alpha arbutin 2% plus hyaluronic acid from the ordinary. This is a really good one, it's inexpensive and effective. It's a really nice one. It's fantastic for pigmentation and acne scars, and you can use this alongside other products to layer well and get such good benefits out of this for the hyperpigmentation, that acne scar response, and that inflammation while also supporting the skin."
Approved
76%of gurus approve
"The Inky List has an alpha arbutin serum if you want other options."
Approved
75%of gurus approve
"You absolutely want to avoid other acids. Something like glycolic acid or salicylic acid you absolutely want to avoid because even though this says AHA BHA, AHAs are things like glycolic acid and BHA is salicylic acid, so you don't want to be using this and then use a salicylic acid cream or use a salicylic acid moisturizer and totally double up. This is potent and unless you've tested it, unless your skin is really resilient, or unless a professional has recommended it directly to you, you don't want to do more than you have to. If you don't know that BHA is the same as salicylic acid or that tartaric acid or mandelic acid is an AHA, you might use this and think oh I'm going to use a salicylic acid moisturizer, I'm going to use a glycolic acid toner, no no no, we don't want to double up on acids. This is a lot and we don't want to burn our skin off more than intended."
Skip
62%of gurus approve
"The Squalane + Omega Repair Cream is phenomenal. I have been going through this and I barely have any left because it is just that good. I have had to rely on this when my skin is dry, dehydrated, and hurting. This has both squalane as well as Omega fatty acids which really help to nourish and protect the skin. These oils help to lock in moisture deep in the skin, but they also help to fend off dryness from the outside. When you apply them to the skin, they soak in and coat the skin, but then they protect you from losing water from the inside of the skin out, which is called transepidermal water loss. It also prevents the dry, blistery crack from the outside world from being able to touch your skin because it coats the skin so well. This is phenomenal, and it's also a really good eco-friendly option because of the glass package."
Approved
89%of gurus approve
"I love the jojoba and the squalane, but you know what, if you want to be bougie, Biossance has it in a way that doesn't destroy the planet for literally $65."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"Isentry had the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel which was one of my absolute favorite sunscreens, but it wasn't just perfect for my oily and acne prone skin. I was constantly thinking like, how can I get a sunscreen that works for my oily and acne prone skin but gives me a K Beauty dewy glow? There don't seem to be a lot of products that give you that glow for people who are more oily prone and acne prone, glowy not greasy."
Approved
83%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
15 Years Of Acne: How I Got My Dream Skin After Having Acne For 15 Years!
"One of my personal favorite sunscreens for my acne prone skin was from Isentry, it's the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel. It's in a serum dropper so it's much more lightweight than a lot of greasy formulas."
Addressing The Controversy: My Purple Onion Sunscreen...
"Isentry had the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel which was one of my absolute favorite sunscreens, but it wasn't just perfect for my oily and acne prone skin. I was constantly thinking like, how can I get a sunscreen that works for my oily and acne prone skin but gives me a K Beauty dewy glow? There don't seem to be a lot of products that give you that glow for people who are more oily prone and acne prone, glowy not greasy."
"It protects the DNA and the mitochondria in your skin cells from damage from the sun. While this is not a sunscreen, you can use this underneath a sunscreen to support the sunscreen's effects and also to help against environmental damage. If you're going on a hike, if you're going to the beach, if you live in a polluted city, this is an amazing antioxidant that's really easy to use. Do you see how lightweight and beautiful that is on my skin? It soaks in so wonderfully. Coenzyme Q10 is something that almost everyone's skin can benefit from, especially since we naturally lose it as we get older and we can use a little bit of replenishing."
Approved
82%of gurus approve
"The multi-peptide ha serum is really good for skin hydration for fine lines for wrinkles. It's the exact same thing as the buffet, just rebranded. It works just as well because I had to test it for quality, and it's the same thing so if you're confused no more being confused. It's not better, it's not worse, it's just the same with a new name."
Approved
72%of gurus approve
"The Ordinary does have a Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid. If you like skin care with Ferulic Acid and Vitamin C but you don't want to spend the money, this is your new best friend. It's the Ferulic Acid but with the Resveratrol from red wine grapes, basically so good. Not as fun to apply as some other options, but inexpensive and this is still a hit."
Approved
86%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"The Ordinary does have a Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid. If you like skin care with Ferulic Acid and Vitamin C but you don't want to spend the money, this is your new best friend. It's the Ferulic Acid but with the Resveratrol from red wine grapes, basically so good. Not as fun to apply as some other options, but inexpensive and this is still a hit."
The Only 3 Ingredients That Stop Acne Redness In 60 Days!
"The Ordinary's Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid, this little serum is about ten dollars, it might have gone up to like twelve, and this is a wonderful antioxidant serum for people who want to add it in for dark spot care, for redness, for wrinkle care, or just an antioxidant boost over sunscreen."
"I would bring my Ordinary Soothing and Barrier Support Serum to LA, but the problem is that it's so difficult to travel with this that I haven't been able to be as consistent as I wanted to."
~Mixed
82%of gurus approve
All 4 takes on Soothing and Barrier Support Serum
Finally Addressing Why My Hair Fell Out While Doing My Skincare Routine For The First Time In Months
"I would bring my Ordinary Soothing and Barrier Support Serum to LA, but the problem is that it's so difficult to travel with this that I haven't been able to be as consistent as I wanted to."
The Ordinary Just Launched A Barrier Repair Serum For 🤯 STRESS 🧨 And I Have To Try It
"I really like it once the phenoxyethanol burns off and I find that for an oily skin person it is great as like a serum, like you can even use it as like a lightweight moisturizer throughout the day if you're super oily. However if your skin is screwed up like me, then if you have like dry patches and then like irritation patches like all happening at the same time, you might need something a little bit different. I also use tret so I want to make sure that I'm buffering it appropriately instead of just applying this all over and then having like gorgeous skin in one area and then like irritation in the other."
The Ordinary Just Launched A Barrier Repair Serum For 🤯 STRESS 🧨 And I Have To Try It
"I love that it's fragrance free and I actually love the blend of actives. The Ordinary has done this many times before they usually have that like single ingredient focus but this really was just a blend of everything that I was not expecting and I do love what it did for my skin. The phenoxyethanol burn is the only thing I didn't like but for me with my oily acne proneness I just love it. I love what this does to my skin, no irritation, phenomenal, really impressed for my oily prone skin. I feel like this is a serum that I can use as a moisturizer. But all of that being said this is not for everybody. This is for somebody who wants to repair their skin barrier but doesn't have overly sensitive skin. If you have overly sensitive skin I am worried that the phenoxyethanol or the blend of so many different ingredients might not work well for everybody. If you have oily skin you can use this serum instead of a moisturizer. If you have dry skin you're probably going to want to use this and then moisturize over the top. If you do have acne it did kind of sting my open blemishes when I first apply it and then it kind of goes down."
The Ordinary Just Launched A Barrier Repair Serum For 🤯 STRESS 🧨 And I Have To Try It
"If you apply way too much in layers then you can get it to ball up, but you don't need that much, you need like one dropper. Phenoxyethanol would be the only thing in here that's kind of thrown me for a loop. It's not bad, it's great that this product is preserved, but for those who are super sensitive you may want to be a little bit more cautious with it. I think it's great for barrier repair, but I would say if you're sensitive be a little more cautious, which is kind of funny because barrier repair is usually made for sensitive skin types, just because that phenoxyethanol can irritate people. I would say this is a unique product, I like it, but it's almost like barrier repair for the not super sensitive. Or just put it in your hand first, let the phenoxyethanol aerate out because that way it evaporates and it's no longer there, and then put it on the skin. I feel like the irritation patch on my eye has almost completely gone away, it's not dry and flaky anymore. That's impressive."
"If you love this keep using it, but this is $160. This one actually has fragrance and I don't recommend this for a lot of people because their skin can't handle fragrance, but you mentioned that you love it. It does have other fragrances and it's just a different formula."
~Mixed
78%of gurus approve
"The True Skin Vitamin C Serum has to have the most reviews I think I've ever seen on an Amazon product, 108,000 reviews. This is so good for acne prone skin. I have used this for years. This has a specific form of vitamin C that is amazing for acne prone and oily skin. It has jojoba oil, it has hyaluronic acid, it has vitamin E. Amazing if you are oily and acne prone, one of the best and least expensive hyaluronic acid products. I spend like $30 at Target but it is $19.99 here. I'm restocking. I already know I love this one."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"Even though I don't like Johnson's Baby Oil because it's not cruelty-free, that's what she uses and it's cheap, drugstore cheap, inexpensive, cheap, even quality cheap. That's how she actually gets her real gorgeous body glow."
Approved
79%of gurus approve
"The medical data shows that rosemary oil at two percent when used on humans regularly seems to work. There's some promising signs behind the three ways that rosemary can benefit the scalp from circulation and nerve tissue and blocking those sex hormones. For a lot of people this may be a great budget option or a great cruelty free option to things like Rogaine or minoxidil that you might not want to use."
Approved
55%of gurus approve
"The Inkey List formulates this in a way that doesn't cause drying the way a lot of other inexpensive hyaluronic acids do. For the price, this is a good one, and because I can mix it into so many things, it's so versatile. It does work. For my oily-prone skin, it is a hit. If you are looking for something to add to your routine to hydrate, especially if you use this mixed in with a moisturizer or under a moisturizer, this is it. It's already like seven dollars, so I think it's worth it. I don't think you should be spending tons of money on hyaluronic acid."
Approved
85%of gurus approve
"If you don't want or don't have that kind of money to spend, especially on a vitamin C serum that you don't know if you're gonna like, try this one. This is an oil soluble version from The Ordinary, and as you can see it leaves my skin a little bit greasy, but this is an anhydrous solution, meaning not or without water. It's fragrance free, really simple ingredients, and it has this active but stable form of vitamin C. Yes, this can help with brightening, it can help with pigmentation, it works really great under the eyes if you tend to have pigmentary issues, but this can also help with fine lines and wrinkles if it can get into the skin and help you stimulate that collagen over time. This vitamin C being oil soluble is a great way to do so. This is the isolated ascorbic acid at 15, so 15 is pretty potent, but this soaks in so well and this is a great choice for anybody who wants to build collagen topically, especially with something they can use during the day."
Approved
74%of gurus approve
"I have used things like this from Topicals. This is great because it has niacinamide and zinc PCA to actually help with oil control and with brightness. However, this does have glycolic and lactic acids, so while this is great for ingrown hairs and I do use it on my legs and I have put it in my armpits, this isn't something that I would recommend if you have pigmentation in the underarm area."
~Mixed
86%of gurus approve
"Paula's Choice 10% azelaic acid booster with salicylic acid would not be recommended if you're pregnant or breastfeeding just because it does have that salicylic acid which might not be good for baby, but for just about anyone else including people who have active breakouts and acne this is a great one. Azelaic acid is a pretty friendly ingredient if you wanted to layer it with other things or mix it with other things. It really plays well with other things and there aren't any major concerns when it comes to putting it into your routine. I would recommend it in leave-on products and not in rinse-off products. You could use it morning or evening, but night is probably better because you'll have it on your face and you can lock it in with a moisturizer."
Approved
73%of gurus approve
"Finacea Gel is literally prescription azelaic acid it usually comes at higher percents. Azelaic acid is a pretty friendly ingredient if you wanted to layer it with other things or mix it with other things. It really plays well with other things and there aren't any major concerns when it comes to putting it into your routine. I would recommend it in leave-on products and not in rinse-off products, for example an azelaic acid cleanser might be okay but might not be the best use of your money. I would get it in a serum or a moisturizer type of formula that you could leave on the skin and that gives it the chance to penetrate and work. Yes, it can work in as little as 60 days."
Approved
73%of gurus approve
Other28 reviews
"It's in a dart without the actual metal so there's no needle even though it is a micro dart. The biggest thing for me is just seeing when I take them off my eyes are literally brighter and I absolutely love that about these. They specifically have caffeine and copper tripeptide 1 as well as niacinamide which are all ingredients that are fantastic for the skin. Those copper peptides, there's actually a lot of research that's coming out about peptides for skin stimulation and can help to depuff in the right circumstances. The niacinamide is really good if you do have darkness or a little bit of uneven pigment in the under eye area. Because of the ingredients and the mechanical pressure this can help with both. We've also got retinol in here which is really unique for an under eye patch. I normally don't find a lot of under eye patches with retinol in them in a micro infusion dart. And then it has antioxidants like macide and centella which can also be really hydrating to the under eye area. We've also got some licorice in there which is fantastic for again any of that darkness and pigmentation. So if you're someone who struggles with under eye puffiness, like targeted under eye puffiness as well as pigmentation, this is a must. And this is probably the least expensive item that you can get to depuff the under eyes but also other areas of the face."
Approved
83%of gurus approve
"For $25, and then it goes on sale for Prime for $20, if you want to tape your face at night you might as well. It's not the best thing in the world but it works. They're kind of weird, they're kind of funky, they're kind of fun too, and especially if you work from home. Frownies get the cast pass."
Approved
72%of gurus approve
"The Ninja is a good brand. My sister has the exact same one. I've used it before and I love it. It's so good. It's $230, it's on sale for $197 or $189. As a nutritionist, I'm a huge advocate of making your own ice creams and putting fresh fruit, antioxidants, bananas, tasty things in. This gets the cast pass, and it is related to health and beauty because it's what you put into your body. Everything we put into our bodies is what our body uses to create new proteins, gluconeogenesis, literally rebuilding our bodies, our cells, our skin as we turn it over. So making sure that we put in antioxidants, hydration, protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, it's so important."
Approved
72%of gurus approve
"Doctors and derms that I've worked with literally say do not use Neosporin on open wounds. There are other antibacterial cleansers that are way better and wound dressings or even just plain Vaseline or a silicone based gel and a patch that are much better for scar revision and scar healing for wounds."
Approved
74%of gurus approve
All 4 takes on Original Healing Jelly
5 Things an Esthetician Would IMMEDIATELY Throw Out of Your Bathroom...
"Doctors and derms that I've worked with literally say do not use Neosporin on open wounds. There are other antibacterial cleansers that are way better and wound dressings or even just plain Vaseline or a silicone based gel and a patch that are much better for scar revision and scar healing for wounds."
You're Not Crazy If You Think Your Lips Are Addicted to Lip Balm
"Petroleum jelly is basic, it's Vaseline, it's inexpensive, but it is so good for the lips, especially if you deal with things like lip eczema."
🐌 STOP Slugging 🛑 (Alternatives to Slugging — Especially If you have acne)
"Petrolatum jelly otherwise known as Vaseline has been used for ages by the African-American Community as well as by people who struggle with eczema or psoriasis. It's basically this occlusive petroleum-based product that gets put on the skin and protects it from the outside world. It's used in wound healing and it really is wonderful. It's not dangerous or toxic or anything like that, but it's fragrance free, really inexpensive, and it works very well for a sealant on skin. Some people also use this along with their retinoids if you put this on first and then put a retinoid on it's a way to buffer a retinoid if you are prone to the itching, the peeling and the redness of retinization. But you could also put your retinoid on first and use this to seal things in, especially if you use hyaluronic acid or hydrators. A lot of people use petrolatum jelly which is the refined version of petroleum jelly to seal that in."
The Messy Truth About PetrOLEum Jelly VS PetroLATum: The History Of This Skincare Ingredient
"Vaseline today is not cruelty-free which is why I don't use it."
"Something that a brand called SkinFix does which I love, they said tested by nonbiased derms. I like that because they're actually saying that they're not paying off these derms or not biasing them to sway a certain way or the other. They're actually saying like, what do you use, what do you like."
Approved
81%of gurus approve
"Hero Cosmetics is very very close to being one of the best pimple patches I've ever used. Hero Cosmetics is made for sensitive skin, they are efficacious, they are good at what they do. You can get them at Target, they're inexpensive, and I really love them. If you have a variety of pimples, this is the variety pack for you. All of these are really good, they're efficacious, and some of these do have active ingredients that actually help with the acne. I do find that they are probably the most efficacious for the price. They're relatively inexpensive."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"This is the Solo Wave which I have used and I do love for spot treating or for travel."
~Mixed
63%of gurus approve
"Over the past 2 years I do believe that this helped with my hair specifically keeping it and helping regrow it."
Approved
76%of gurus approve
"I do truly wonder if there are going to be more brands like The Ordinary, like Bubble, like The Inky List that create effective high quality and inexpensive skin care because I feel like we need that."
Approved
63%of gurus approve
"Versed is still inexpensive. That's the thing, like Versed is still inexpensive."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"I think there's Rogaine Minoxidil 5% Foam, it's readily available, it's cheap, it's very effective. I love it. I love it for everyone, males and females. They should all use 5%. And there's this misunderstanding that if you use Minoxidil then when you stop your hair kind of drops. That's not the case. Think of it like fertilizer for your hair. So it keeps your hair strong and thick, and once you stop you'll go back to where you were supposed to be without the fertilizer."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Minoxidil 5% Foam
Does Rosemary Oil Actually Fix Baldness?! Is This TikTok Trend the Secret to Healthy Hair?
"Products like Rogaine AKA minoxidil well I am your resident a medical esthetician your acne big sister who has been struggling with my own hair loss"
“I had a baby, now my hair is falling out!” Postpartum Hair Loss with Dermatologist Heidi Goodarzi
"I think there's Rogaine Minoxidil 5% Foam, it's readily available, it's cheap, it's very effective. I love it. I love it for everyone, males and females. They should all use 5%. And there's this misunderstanding that if you use Minoxidil then when you stop your hair kind of drops. That's not the case. Think of it like fertilizer for your hair. So it keeps your hair strong and thick, and once you stop you'll go back to where you were supposed to be without the fertilizer."
This Guy MICRONEEDLED His Scalp To Grow Back His Hair... but does it work?
"Minoxidil, which is known as Rogaine, is that hair growth solution that you see over the counter or you can get as a prescription from your doctor."
"The curcumin in Neutral does that, there's actually a lot of other ingredients in here like B12, zinc, and lutein. The curcumin helps lower cytokine levels from being overly inflammatory and too high, so we have a better chance at basically nourishing and allowing the hair to grow as it should or optimally instead of kind of stunting their growth."
Approved
79%of gurus approve
"The Fenty Skin Fat Water has a unique texture that is a gel but also a liquid. It's not a toner but it's not a serum, it's kind of an essence but it's a little bit more gelatinous and it does a bit more. Don't sleep on fat waters if you have dull looking skin."
~Mixed
67%of gurus approve
"This little ring is one of the best things I've ever gotten for myself. I got the cheap one and it is worth every penny, but it is expensive. It monitors my heart rate, my menstrual cycle, my stress levels, and it also monitors my sleep which is amazing."
Approved
88%of gurus approve
"Latisse is the brand name and Allergan is the parent company. This happens to be bimatoprost, which is the active ingredient inside of this, and this is actually the prostaglandin analog that is doing the work. Even though when they were using these eye drops and testing them and finally got them for over-the-counter use, people also started noticing other side effects, and that's why you always hear Latisse being advertised like on TV and it's like might cause darkening of the eye. That's actually true. When they were studying Latisse, they found that it caused a little bit more pigmentation, not just in the iris, that donut-shaped colored ring in your eye, but also around the eye. When you apply this Latisse, it comes with these little spoolie brushes and you're meant to paint these onto the eye area, but some people saw that the areas that they painted it on had a little bit of darkening and pigmentation. The pigmentation of the iris, the donut-shaped color ring, those didn't reverse when they stopped using it, but for some people, they did see a reversal of the pigmentation that was actually on the eyelash lid. When you actually use Latisse, it says specifically do not apply to the under lash area or the under eye area, only apply to the top."
~Mixed
64%of gurus approve
"I've always shared that I don't love the NuFace big one. I like the mini because it's more lightweight and I feel like it works just as well."
Approved
64%of gurus approve
"When you get Botox or any other neuromodulator such as Xeomin or Dysport, they don't work immediately, they take like a week or more to actually start showing results into your skin. When a professional injects one of these neuromodulators into your face, they're injecting it into the muscle and it temporarily paralyzes the muscle. It doesn't allow the muscle to send that signal and connect. If those signals can't be sent through the muscle, the muscle can't flex, and if we can't flex that muscle, then our eyebrows can't move. And what happens if our eyebrows can't move or if we can't smile or clench down on our jaw for a long period of time, that muscle starts to atrophy, it basically degrades, and the skin on top of the muscle can't wrinkle. So that's why Xeomin works: if the muscles can't move, then the skin on top can't wrinkle, and then those wrinkles can't set in."
Approved
70%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Xeomin
They lied. Botox Does NOT Get Rid Of Wrinkles…
"Botox is a brand name but there are others out there that exist like Xeomin or Disport. They're still neurotoxins, they still work in the same way preventing your skin from being able to wrinkle."
Is tape a replacement for Botox? TikTok trend has people erasing wrinkles in 2 weeks - is it a lie?
"When you get Botox or any other neuromodulator such as Xeomin or Dysport, they don't work immediately, they take like a week or more to actually start showing results into your skin. When a professional injects one of these neuromodulators into your face, they're injecting it into the muscle and it temporarily paralyzes the muscle. It doesn't allow the muscle to send that signal and connect. If those signals can't be sent through the muscle, the muscle can't flex, and if we can't flex that muscle, then our eyebrows can't move. And what happens if our eyebrows can't move or if we can't smile or clench down on our jaw for a long period of time, that muscle starts to atrophy, it basically degrades, and the skin on top of the muscle can't wrinkle. So that's why Xeomin works: if the muscles can't move, then the skin on top can't wrinkle, and then those wrinkles can't set in."
"Frownies are basically these silicone patches that sit on top of the skin while you sleep and they have under eye ones, they have little smile line ones, and they even have a chest one and they prevent you from wrinkling. You have to be consistent with them if you stop using them they stop working unlike Botox or a neuromodulator you don't have to think about it but yeah they actually work really well especially if you press your skin into your pillow while you sleep at night and you wake up with creases the Frownies patches actually prevent those and you can use them like 30, 40 times they work really really well. Are they the same as Botox no but do they prevent me from like wrinkling and scrunching my sleep yes."
Approved
65%of gurus approve
"This is something that I'm not going to be finishing, and it's something that I won't be purchasing again. A lot of people gave it five star reviews, I don't know if that's because the product actually worked for them or because it was such an experience. For the experience, 10 out of 10, like 9 out of 10, but for the actual ingredients and the results, they were temporary, like 6 out of 10. Maybe if I used it more regularly and used all of the packs, I would see something different."
Skip
62%of gurus approve
"This is the Weleda Skin Food and Weleda is a UK-based brand that's literally drugstore both in the UK and here. The Skin Food has some really great ingredients. This is the $15 moisturizer from the drugstore that Gwyneth Paltrow has openly stated that she uses multiple times. It's got things like sunflower seed oil. This is a thicker formula so this is better for dry skin. I personally won't be buying it because it does have both fragrance and Beeswax, but this is honestly quite comparable and quite good."
Approved
76%of gurus approve
"The minoxidil slash Rogaine group actually had more scalp itching and redness whereas the rosemary oil group didn't have that same irritation"
~Mixed
84%of gurus approve
"Argireline is said to work in a similar way to Botox. Obviously something that you put on your skin that is absorbed, even if it does get into that neuromuscular junction, probably won't work as well as Botox, and if you don't use it regularly it's not going to work. But if this is 10 or 15 dollars versus Botox at a couple of hundred, and if you're scared of needles and you don't want to do Botox, this is an option that doesn't make you do that. If it doesn't work, push comes to shove, you hydrated your face for 10 or 15 bucks, and if it does work, maybe you have a serum that's going to be a staple in your routine and helps you prevent wrinkles and fine lines in the long run. It's not Botox in a bottle, even though people claim it is. It's not the same as getting injections, but it is a really good option, especially if you're on a budget, and it's one of my top picks for fine lines and wrinkles specifically prevention."
Approved
71%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Argireline Solution 10%
What Are 11 Lines and Can You Reverse Them At Home?!
"The Ordinary has one of my favorite argireline solutions. This actually works relatively well, a lot of people have had good results with it online, and even I've noticed that it hydrates my skin at the very least and maybe it is helping to temporarily slightly paralyze my glabellar complex muscles if I use it routinely. The results are going to vary for everyone, and although argireline is loved by many, some people say it doesn't work for them. If it's something that looks promising and has science behind it but isn't medically proven with double blind placebo-controlled peer-reviewed studies, I'm not going to spend more than like 20 bucks on it, and that's why I love the Ordinary because this is inexpensive. This goes on the skin and it is hypothesized to work similarly to a neuromodulator, essentially going on the skin and helping to temporarily paralyze the muscles. There's also hydrators in this formula that can help plump up the skin if you do have fine lines and wrinkles. Even putting on something like hyaluronic acid and ceramides or peptides can actually help to plump those outer layers of the skin so that maybe how this is working too. But at the end of the day, if you don't want to go for Botox, I think this is a decent option for the price."
3 Best The Ordinary Serums for Wrinkles (New and Existing!)
"Argireline is said to work in a similar way to Botox. Obviously something that you put on your skin that is absorbed, even if it does get into that neuromuscular junction, probably won't work as well as Botox, and if you don't use it regularly it's not going to work. But if this is 10 or 15 dollars versus Botox at a couple of hundred, and if you're scared of needles and you don't want to do Botox, this is an option that doesn't make you do that. If it doesn't work, push comes to shove, you hydrated your face for 10 or 15 bucks, and if it does work, maybe you have a serum that's going to be a staple in your routine and helps you prevent wrinkles and fine lines in the long run. It's not Botox in a bottle, even though people claim it is. It's not the same as getting injections, but it is a really good option, especially if you're on a budget, and it's one of my top picks for fine lines and wrinkles specifically prevention."
"There is a medication called Epiduo. Epiduo is literally adapalene, which is a form of retinoid, plus benzoyl peroxide, and it works really great for acne. It's a prescription. A doctor or provider might say, hey, we're going to custom blend a retinoid in with benzoyl peroxide to help you get the most out of your skin care. If prescribed by a doctor, go for it."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
"I remember using the benzoyl peroxide from Proactiv shoving it on my face leaving it on until it burned and having my face literally swell up and just being like the pain means it's working right and I would literally stain my favorite pajamas my favorite purple towels and the things that I loved to wear and to use and it was so devastating because I never made the connection that benzoyl peroxide is what was doing it. Benzoyl peroxide is fantastic for acne but it can be a little bit tricky to work with if you don't know how."
Skip
46%of gurus approve
"One of the best things that I've ever used for pigmentation is a blended serum that has basically all of the actives that help with hyperpigmentation in one, and this one specifically doesn't have a lot of major exfoliants and this is perfect for any hormonal pigmentation that my skin personally has. This is the Agency Dark Spot Formula and this is custom blended to my skin so what's in mine might not be the same as someone else's but I love this. This specifically has hydroquinone at four percent which is prescription only, it has kojic acid, azelic acid which can help with pigmentation but it's not an exfoliating acid the way that most people think of them, and this also has Resveratrol which is an antioxidant that is fantastic for your skin. This is a nice fluffy little moisturizer. I find that if I put this under my armpits it does kind of feel a little bit moist, a little bit sticky, so I don't do this during the day but I'm happy to do this at night. This is also fantastic for acne marks. You can of course use this on the face that's what it's meant for but if you do have pigmentation in this area this blend for me is perfect."
Approved
88%of gurus approve
"This is an Aura Ring and this is very expensive and I wouldn't recommend this to everyone but I use this as a fitness tracker as a sleep tracker and as a period tracker and this has helped me so much with my menstruation but also with my sleep. I have had a past history of seizures and atypical epilepsy and it's been really difficult to deal with and some of that correlates with how well I'm able to sleep and so having better sleep hygiene has been essential for me. I used to use the little Amazon watch wrist bracelet but I kept on breaking them and then it didn't look good like I had to take it off if I was going somewhere fancy. I love this because it's so easy to use and I can wear it casually or if I'm going somewhere fancy. It's a cute little ring. It also takes my respiratory rate my heart rate it also tracks my temperature so I can see when my temperature changes it's like right before my period. If I actually pull up my little Aura Ring chart I can see my past little history showing when my periods were expected versus when they actually came and I can add notes such as if I was extra hungry or if I wasn't hungry the week before or if I had no energy or tons of energy or whether or not I was breaking out and my skin was super oily. This has been phenomenal for me. I love this."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"I decided to use it since and I'm so excited because they're working with us on a portion of this video to explain why does it take so long to grow hair not just long strong and healthy but also out of my scalp. I'm about 45 days in like I haven't done a full round I have gone through an entire bottle and I'm like at the end of my second one. For the past couple years I have not been using a nutriful vegan supplement to stimulate hair growth."
Approved
79%of gurus approve
"I am obsessed with liquid IV and it is the only reason that I stay hydrated."
Approved
89%of gurus approve
Moisturizers20 reviews
"Neosporin is actually not great for wounds. Number one, it slows down wound healing, and number two, it can actually cause bacterial resistance, which makes treating wounds harder overall. Doctors and derms that I've worked with literally say do not use Neosporin on open wounds. There are other antibacterial cleansers that are way better, and wound dressings or even just plain Vaseline or a silicone-based gel and a patch that are much better for scar revision and scar healing for wounds. It can be absorbed into the bloodstream."
Skip
37%of gurus approve
"Bubble is really affordable and fun and donates to Teen Mental Health. I love the application of the Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturizer because it gives you the perfect amount every time. The gel is almost more clear, it's very stringy and it has high water content."
Approved
81%of gurus approve
"This iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream, I love love love this as well, and if you have oily skin that is prone to more redness, this really helps to bring that redness down."
Approved
85%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Centella Calming Gel Cream
How to find the Best Moisturizer for YOUR Skin Type
"This iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream, I love love love this as well, and if you have oily skin that is prone to more redness, this really helps to bring that redness down."
Top 10 Moisturizers For Acne Prone Skin That Won't Clog Pores
"This is the iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream and the thing about this is that it's got that centella. This Centella Calming Gel Cream is fantastic especially if you have redness in the skin. You see how this one is like a complete gel, it's completely clear when you dispense it and it's probably one of the most lightweight options. It's great for acne prone skin but it is still hydrating and again because it has the centella, which is also known as Gotu Kola, that actually helps with a little bit of redness and hydration."
"This right here is the Onion Newpair Gel Cream from Isntree. This is fantastic especially if you have oily prone and acne prone skin."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"Moisturizers like the Natural Moisturizing Factors, the original, if you're a little bit more oily to dry, or if you're super dry, the Firce Ceramides, so gentle, so calming, it's like a ceramide sheet for your face."
Approved
68%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"Moisturizers like the Natural Moisturizing Factors, the original, if you're a little bit more oily to dry, or if you're super dry, the Firce Ceramides, so gentle, so calming, it's like a ceramide sheet for your face."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors was a moisturizer that I liked but it wasn't my favorite. They finally have a fantastic moisturizer. It's so good, and I'm an oily print person, so this really impresses me. It has like five ingredients and it is literally a gentle foaming facial cleanser. It's meant to not strip your skin's barrier, which it holds up to you very well. It has maybe three cleansing ingredients that don't strip and then vitamin E, so it's like a very very mild antioxidant cleanser. This works so well, and for my oily skin it gets rid of the oil, it gets rid of the gunk."
Top 10 Moisturizers For Acne Prone Skin That Won't Clog Pores
"This is the Natural Moisturizing Factors plus HA and this is a great moisturizer. It has ingredients that your skin naturally uses and produces like hyaluronic acid and it's inexpensive and lightweight. It has a nice fluffy texture but it's not the most moisturizing, so if you have combo skin you can use this, which also means if you're oily or if you're dry this is a great choice. It won't treat acne but it supports a healthy skin barrier."
"It's made with organic ingredients, but what's exciting about this is it has both glutathione and copper, and the copper is actually lifting and plumping. This has a different texture than the other two, it's not as gooey or stringy, but it actually stays on the face. This is probably the most lightweight one. It doesn't feel as jelly, but it doesn't make you feel like a grease ball like the other two do. They have magnesium and zinc ingredients in here, which are really good for the skin. Magnesium is fantastic, and I'm so happy that they don't just chalk it full of gold and silver because you can really avoid irritation. This works on multiple skin types. I like this better on dry skin types, but you can use this, leave it on and have it soak in, or wipe it off when you're done."
Approved
81%of gurus approve
"The Zip Beauty Silver Gel, I kind of lumped these in together with the gold gel because I think they're the same base. They're both goopy and kind of gross. The difference is that one is gold and one is silver, which sounds cute and fancy, but from a scientific perspective, some people say gold can be an antioxidant, but honestly it can cause contact dermatitis for some people, which is like an allergic reaction. It's just gross. As an aesthetician, I felt like I had to buy a different one for different people. The silver one was for young acne-prone skin, and it just made me feel like I had to buy extra stuff. There wasn't that versatility, and then it was just goopy and gross. Even though one has silver and one has gold, they say the ingredients are slightly different, but they have a very similar base, and they just aren't revolutionary. I was not a fan."
Skip
64%of gurus approve
"This is a moisturizing gel cream with a tri-ceramide complex with niacinamide, that B vitamin our body naturally makes, as well as that green tea antioxidant. This is just a nice fluffy lightweight moisturizer. With one pump you're getting the perfect amount. It's a great choice you get a lot for your money. It's very similar to drunk elephant at a fraction of the price."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
"This is one of the best and it's inexpensive. This is the natural moisturizing factors plus phytoceramides and if you are looking for one of the richest most hydrating but inexpensive creams that The Ordinary has to offer this is going to be it. This is kind of the updated version of their NMF moisturizer which I personally love but this is the phytoceramides, phyto coming from plants and ceramides relating to those fatty acids that are so amazing in our skin and they actually make up half of the very outside layer of our skin. The problem is as we get older as weather changes as temperature changes and as our stress levels change our skin can kind of start breaking those ceramides down or not building them back and replenishing them as needed and that's why a great moisturizer is essential. This is so good but it is so hydrating. For me acne and oily prone, not my top one, not my favorite, but this one is amazing for dry skin. It's like butter, it's like vegan ceramide butter. It is so nice and I have used this as like a night mask but for dry skin this is perfect for everyday. What's great about this formula is that it's also got glycerin, remember that's that humectant that we also found in the cleanser, so this is giving you a leave on form of the same ingredient that was in here that's so good for the skin."
Approved
74%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides
3 Best Ordinary Products (Under $15) For Dry Skin
"This is one of the best and it's inexpensive. This is the natural moisturizing factors plus phytoceramides and if you are looking for one of the richest most hydrating but inexpensive creams that The Ordinary has to offer this is going to be it. This is kind of the updated version of their NMF moisturizer which I personally love but this is the phytoceramides, phyto coming from plants and ceramides relating to those fatty acids that are so amazing in our skin and they actually make up half of the very outside layer of our skin. The problem is as we get older as weather changes as temperature changes and as our stress levels change our skin can kind of start breaking those ceramides down or not building them back and replenishing them as needed and that's why a great moisturizer is essential. This is so good but it is so hydrating. For me acne and oily prone, not my top one, not my favorite, but this one is amazing for dry skin. It's like butter, it's like vegan ceramide butter. It is so nice and I have used this as like a night mask but for dry skin this is perfect for everyday. What's great about this formula is that it's also got glycerin, remember that's that humectant that we also found in the cleanser, so this is giving you a leave on form of the same ingredient that was in here that's so good for the skin."
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"The Natural Moisturizing Factors Plus Phytoceramides is fantastic but it is super thick if you are an oily prone person and you're not struggling with dryness this might not be for you but for the price this is one of the most luxurious moisturizers that you can get. It does feel like melted butter on the skin and it really locks in that moisture. The phytoceramides in this product come from plants that's why they're called phytoceramides and the natural moisturizing factors help to actually draw water into the skin as well as having ingredients that seal it in and kind of sit on top of it. Once you rub it in it's not overly tacky but it does take a second to dry down and for the price if you are budget sensitive this is one of the best ones."
"Look at how thick this is, this is phenomenal. I like this on my face, you know, I can pat it on, it's fine, but this is amazing after my everything showers. When I get done with my everything shower my skin is already a little bit hydrated, a little bit moisturized. This is one of the most amazing body moisturizers I've ever used. Because it has this texture and because it's so inexpensive I can actually afford to put this all over my body. If you need a lightweight body moisturizer and you love K Beauty, this is one of the best priced and the most fun to use right after the shower. It makes my skin look and feel amazing. It actually absorbs but it keeps my skin soft and it doesn't leave me feeling sticky. This has revolutionized my everything shower."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"La Mer literally has petrolatum as one of their ingredients in their amazing moisturizer. $400 for this little tiny tube of seaweed and it has petrolatum in it."
~Mixed
48%of gurus approve
"I understand a lot of people are interested in snail mucin right now but some people have been having like legit reactions. If you are allergic to dust mites or crustaceans, don't put snails on your face. And a lot of people are putting this on hoping it'll clear blemishes, but there are no medical studies showing that snail mucin is good for eczema, blemishes, redness, dryness, all of the things that people mention."
Skip
85%of gurus approve
"This is the Aestura A-Cica 365 Cream, this is less expensive and I have heard amazing things about this. This one has over 5,200 items sold and we're actually getting 80 milliliters. I really like how hydrating that looks on this person's hand and the texture looks nice. Dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic tested, and sensitive panel tested."
Approved
87%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on A-Cica 365 Cream
What does $250 Of K Beauty Get You? (Testing New Korean Skincare Bestsellers of 2023)
"This is the Aestura A-Cica 365 Cream, this is less expensive and I have heard amazing things about this. This one has over 5,200 items sold and we're actually getting 80 milliliters. I really like how hydrating that looks on this person's hand and the texture looks nice. Dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic tested, and sensitive panel tested."
What does $250 Of K Beauty Get You? (Testing New Korean Skincare Bestsellers of 2023)
"This is really nice and gentle. I've been loving this so much. I've been putting a little bit of this on after a shower and I just love this so much. It has little white specks in it for strengthening the skin barrier and moisturizing, and the moisturizing ingredients in here are insane. It feels like I'm putting Saran wrap on my face. The ingredients in here are super hydrating."
"Sol de Janeiro has a bum bum set and they're not full size but like this is decent. This is $32 for 1.7 fluid ounces of the bum bum cream and some extras. This is good if you're not allergic. Fun fact, I tried their pink spray and I broke out in a rash, and I looked at Amazon reviews and I'm not the only one. So again, this is kind of like me, don't love it. But if you know someone who loves their butt, loves a good bum bum cream, or loves the smell of this, $30, it's a pretty good deal."
~Mixed
72%of gurus approve
"This is one of my holy grail products. My skin drinks this up. I was going to say I'm so glad that you've tried this because this is one of these products that I would like love to hate on but that works so well that I have to love it. It's $100, it's from Charlotte Tilbury. She's a makeup artist, but if you want something that is hydrating, beautiful like silk ribbons, but that works under makeup, this is it. This is the only cream-based moisturizer I would use before makeup because any other cream-based one will pill or act weird with primers and foundations, but this one is, I understand why they call it magic cream. It's one of those that I wish I would love to hate, but the magic cream is so fantastic."
Approved
62%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Magic Cream
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"This is one of my holy grail products. My skin drinks this up. I was going to say I'm so glad that you've tried this because this is one of these products that I would like love to hate on but that works so well that I have to love it. It's $100, it's from Charlotte Tilbury. She's a makeup artist, but if you want something that is hydrating, beautiful like silk ribbons, but that works under makeup, this is it. This is the only cream-based moisturizer I would use before makeup because any other cream-based one will pill or act weird with primers and foundations, but this one is, I understand why they call it magic cream. It's one of those that I wish I would love to hate, but the magic cream is so fantastic."
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"I don't love all of her products but this is one that I do. It is one of the best hydrating moisturizers for under makeup that's luxury and doesn't pill. It's expensive though, it's not magic, it's freaking science, but it doesn't pill under foundation."
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"The Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream is really good specifically for people who wear makeup. The history behind it is pretty interesting, Charlotte Tilbury was a makeup artist who found that when she was doing runway models or celebrities, their moisturizers or their sunscreens would peel up under the makeup and just not work. So she started custom blending this magic cream literally on set, wiping it on people's faces and using this as a base almost like a primer."
"Caudalie is known for their use of grapes and things. I would say this is good but I don't know if it's hardworking enough for you. I could see something maybe a little bit more hydrating. Resveratrol is fantastic, it's what's found in red wine, it's found in grapes, and it's a good antioxidant, but this is also an antioxidant so we're kind of doubling up. It can be a little bit pricey, so if you love it and if it's working for you, continue using it. It's a great choice."
~Mixed
73%of gurus approve
"If you're itchy you want to do something to stop the itch. There are tons of different creams specifically hydrocortisone creams that can help to stop the itch."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"The Omega Water Cream is an excellent moisturizer. I don't think it's one of the best moisturizers in the entire world, for example, there are some other moisturizers that I do like better, but for the price it is a good one."
~Mixed
73%of gurus approve
"Retinoids are light sensitive so you shouldn't necessarily use them during the day, but there are some forms of retinoids that are photo stable like Adapalene gel that you can use during the day. With retinoids you may go through a period called retinization, which is basically when your skin cells are turning over and that time period is going from 45 or 35 days down to 28 or 25. You can bet that your skin is going to be a little bit red and irritated. In order to avoid that you want to titrate, so literally ask your prescribing physician how many times you should apply this per week. You start low, you go slow, you use just a little bit, and instead of putting it directly on the skin you can actually put a moisturizer on first and then put your prescription strength retinoid on top of that, and that kind of slows down its absorption into the skin and prevents it from being as irritating. Retinoids love water so if you apply it to damp skin it's going to penetrate but that also means it can burn. For most people you're not going to want to do that, so make sure that you're applying to dry skin or put a moisturizer on first."
Approved
91%of gurus approve
"This is fantastic if you're super dry. I would say that this probably isn't going to stay in my routine because while it's really good, it's just too hydrating for me. It is like a thick basically like a ceramide bean cream with minimal ingredients built on K Beauty staples. It has capric triglyceride, metofoam, turmeric for brightening and the main ingredients do make this like a very hydrating moisturizer. I did like this and I would say this is fantastic for me as a night mask but if you're dry this is going to be your new like everyday hydrating cream. You could also layer it under the sunscreen because the centella sunscreen doesn't peel up and you could literally push hydration deep into your skin while also protecting yourself from the sun with the anti-redness of the centella. For my oily skin I don't know if this is going to stay in there forever but I am going to hold on to this especially for wind and winter because it doesn't expire for 12 months. I'm going to give this a go in like really dry climates and dry weather. If you're dry I think you're gonna love this but if you're oily like me this probably isn't the best fit."
~Mixed
66%of gurus approve
Sunscreen19 reviews
"The original is good the original is actually on sale for Prime day which we love"
Approved
71%of gurus approve
All 4 takes on Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
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"The original is good the original is actually on sale for Prime day which we love"
3 Supergoop Sunscreen Dupes - Dupe Sunscreen Picks from a Medical Esthetician
"It is a clear Vaseline texture fluid that just soaks into skin it feels like a makeup primer and it is totally invisible on literally every single skin tone"
3 Supergoop Sunscreen Dupes - Dupe Sunscreen Picks from a Medical Esthetician
"It's an amazing formula and yes it's worth the money but it's expensive"
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"using sunscreen and thinking okay I'm going to use my sunscreen my Super Goop or my e.l. as a primer for a little bit of concealer"
"This feels like that moment where you're starting to whip the cream and it's starting to tent up and become actual whipped cream. I love this so much and you definitely feel it a little bit more on the skin but if you're someone who's looking for something that works under makeup it blends in seamlessly and it works throughout different climates this is going to be your best friend because it works in so many different versatile ways. It even says on the front non-greasy velvet finish it is so good. This one's way better and if you are in your wonder last world explorer miss nomad adventurer era this is like the one thing that you're going to pack along with your laptop on your trip. This is so good."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
"This right here is titled the Matte Sun Stick with mugwort and chamelia and let me say this is the most mattifying sunstick I've literally ever used. I am an oily babe, look at how this cuts down the grease on my cheeks, look at how this literally cuts down the grease on my nose. If you're dry you're going to hate this, but if you loved the Purple Protector you are going to love this. If you're oily this is like a dream come true, forget blotting sheets, you don't need blotting sheets anymore, you just swipe this on. It has mugwort and chamelia, both of those are great antioxidants. Mugwort is actually used in Korea for blemish-prone skin, and at the very best it's wonderful for blemishes and hormone balance."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"This right here is the Airy Sunstick Soothing Bar SPF50+ PA+++, and it's water resistant for 80 minutes. It might look like a deodorant for your face, but it is literally one of the most beautiful sun sticks in the entire world. You can use it on your face, you can use it on your chest, you can use it on your neck. It goes on like a dream. It's kind of like this half moon shape, so it's really easy to apply, especially to the contours of your face. It feels like mango butter on the skin. This is one of probably the best sunsticks I've ever used. It's great for combo skin, it's great for all skin types. If you want something right in the middle, this one layers well over and under makeup, over and under other sunscreen. It's water resistant. This is absolutely one of the best Korean beauty sunscreens I have ever used. The sun filters it uses are both Korean and American, so you're getting the best of both worlds because you're not getting the greasy nastiness and the white casty that comes from America."
Approved
89%of gurus approve
"The hyaluronic acid watery sun gel is one of my favorite sunscreens of all time. It even works on my oily prone skin because it's actually hydrating. Oily skin can be dehydrated and I feel like this hydrates deep down. This does have hyaluronic acid but it goes on so beautifully and it actually keeps the skin moist. It doesn't have a tint, but if you're looking for intense hydration, this is it. And for 18 to 25 bucks, K Beauty has done it again. I've purchased so many of these that I am out now."
Approved
88%of gurus approve
"Chemical sunscreens aren't irritating to everyone, but some people, especially those who have sensitive skin, can be super sensitive to things like avobenzone or oxybenzone. You don't want to use those directly after a chemical peel. If you're thinking that you're going to use this and then put on a chemical sunscreen 30 minutes later and walk outside, I would say skip that idea completely and just use this at night."
Skip
65%of gurus approve
"It has aloe vera and these are basically really hydrating ingredients that you don't see in a lot of American sunscreens and this has cumes in it as well. The price is right so I'm going to be adding this to my cart."
Approved
74%of gurus approve
"I'm also kind of looking for a sunstick. This is the Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF 50 PA+++, and I am super excited about this. When we look at the ingredients, I love that this has green tea, Cica, and aloe vera, these are basically really hydrating ingredients that you don't see in a lot of American sunscreens, and this has niacinamide in it as well. The price is right, so I'm going to be adding this to my cart."
Approved
81%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF 50+ PA++++
What does $250 Of K Beauty Get You? (Testing New Korean Skincare Bestsellers of 2023)
"I'm also kind of looking for a sunstick. This is the Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF 50 PA+++, and I am super excited about this. When we look at the ingredients, I love that this has green tea, Cica, and aloe vera, these are basically really hydrating ingredients that you don't see in a lot of American sunscreens, and this has niacinamide in it as well. The price is right, so I'm going to be adding this to my cart."
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"This feels so good. It's not even irritating around the nose whereas the other sunscreen did. This is amazing. It's like a glue stick but like a non-sticky Vaseline. For someone who hates sunscreen, they might love this. Look at how good this would be for on the go. I wasn't expecting to like this better, but I think this might be my favorite."
"This one leaves a little bit of a cast, but for darker skin tones it's so difficult. It turns purple. Even though it feels like you're putting on lotion, doesn't feel greasy, blends in seconds, and is super moisturizing, this is not brown girl approved."
Skip
68%of gurus approve
"I use the Sunbum one. My issue is I have sensitive skin, and I prefer looking for reapplication mists that don't have alcohol in it, but it's really difficult to find one without alcohol that's also not greasy and has a high SPF. Unfortunately this does have alcohol in it, so it's slightly annoying. But like, it is SPF 45, so this one's a high SPF."
~Mixed
62%of gurus approve
"There are also some sunscreens that are made by some amazing people. The Inky List is made by Mark and Colette. They actually used to be co-workers and they fell in love and they created The Inky List to literally help people with their skin to be affordable and effective."
Approved
63%of gurus approve
"This is a moisturizing sunscreen from a brand that's also in Korea called Round Lab. I think you might like this best, especially because you do have a little bit more tendency to dryness. Feel how this is almost like a moisturizer, it doesn't even feel like a sunscreen. This should help protect you every single day from the sun while also giving you that moisture. I love the packaging."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
"I haven't started using it yet, it just got one wood."
~Mixed
74%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Sunscreen
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"I haven't started using it yet, it just got one wood."
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"So many people love the EltaMD sunscreen, like Haley Bieber and all of these celebrities on Harper's Bazaar, they're using sunscreens in their routine. Sunscreen is phenomenal for your skin and it is one of the best ways to prevent wrinkles, to prevent fine lines, to prevent dark spots and melasma and more."
"I'm also using Black Girl Sunscreen for my sunscreen today. I absolutely love this as the SPF 30 gives me a little bit of a glow."
Approved
88%of gurus approve
All 5 takes on Sunscreen SPF 30
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"Kelly Roland has said so many times that this Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 is incredible and yes it's $15 to $17 you can get this at Target you can get this at Walmart love the brand love Kelly and love this drugstore sunscreen option that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars."
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"I'm also using Black Girl Sunscreen for my sunscreen today. I absolutely love this as the SPF 30 gives me a little bit of a glow."
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"I just think there's so many sunscreens out there that I probably would not use this one on my face because the overall sensory experience is not that great. It feels like I'm putting glue on. I don't love the texture and it smells gross. I like that it's affordable, but it is slightly stinging my skin. I do think the texture feels like glue. Just because it works for one person or doesn't sting their skin doesn't mean it won't sting yours. It feels sticky. I feel like there's other brands out there that do it better. That said, it is waterproof which I like, and I would use this one on my body."
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"This 15.99 bottle of gooey goodness is fragrance free, ultra sheer with no white cast, but it has these fantastic infusions of jojoba and avocado oil. It's water resistant for 80 minutes. This is a fantastic formula that I as well have loved for years now. However, it's not necessarily perfect for oily skin. The avocado and jojoba oil on here, while they are very nourishing for skin, they can break out some oily prone people and they can leave you with a dewy glow that looks greasy for the wrong skin type."
Putting Black Girl Sunscreen to the Test!
"I was very skeptical but this is probably the most sheer best for oily skin. I will say this is probably the best sunscreen I've ever used. If you want to be mattified, for the price for the amount that you get, this is the best mattifying sunscreen that I know of."
"EltaMD has the UV Clear, it's like $50 with niacinamide. It's expensive, but it's really really good."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"This right here is the Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin, but it's not just an SPF 50. It's also a vitamin C and it's also basically a dewy glowy foundation. I've used this in San Francisco, I've used this in the hot hot heat of Arizona, I've used this in the pool, I've used this in a river. This is so good. She wanted to create a sunscreen that made her look fantastic and could replace her foundation but also protected her and literally had vitamin C and skin care benefits. Vitamin C is amazing to use."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
"When you rub it in there's so much air in there I don't actually know if I'm covering my body enough and I think that did lead to me getting a little bit pinker than I wanted. I didn't feel like this protected me as well and I don't know if it's the formula, if it's an SPF 30 or if it's the fact that it's aerated so I couldn't figure out how much to apply to my skin. This would be one of my absolute favorite sunscreens if it didn't break anything out, but if you're sensitive to coconut this has coconut in it and if you're acne prone, fragrance sensitive, stay away. If you want to have fun with your sunscreen, if you're going to a bachelorette party or beach vacation or if you're trying to have fun with your routine, you're sick and tired of the same old grubby lotions, you have kids you want to get them excited about using sunscreen, this is so fun as a use case. It does kind of make me a little bit sticky. I think it's the coconut oil in here. I wanted to love it and I do love certain aspects, but I don't think it was perfect for my body."
~Mixed
74%of gurus approve
"I tried this on my skin literally back to back with a Super Goop, trying to see how it worked. This is an absolute dupe almost down to every last detail except for the fact that the Trader Joe's one broke me out and the Super Goop one did not. The Trader Joe's in-store is eight dollars if you can find it where it's not sold out. This is an absolute dupe from texture to the way it wears to the way it feels. Problem is this one broke me out and it's always sold out. Both of them are waterproof, both SPF 40, vegan and cruelty free, oil free. If you are trying to save money on the Unseen sunscreen, this is a super dupe for it."
~Mixed
70%of gurus approve
"It is gorgeous it is glowy but it is also a little expensive"
Approved
69%of gurus approve
Acne9 reviews
"I've used these for more than five years now and my love for them has not changed. These are fantastic and they really do set themselves apart from everyone else. They have hydrocolloid polymer technology with salicylic acid, and this also has a retinoid in it. The retinal acetate is a great addition to have in a pimple patch that actually works. I love these for adult acne if you get whiteheads, blackheads that turn into whiteheads, or breakouts. The aloe vera in here is also hydrating so these don't dry out the skin. They are a little bit more expensive, but if you're looking for a flat invisible pimple patch that actually works and you've got the money for them, I would say that these are the best ones."
Approved
88%of gurus approve
"Salicylic acid, remember that's a BHA, that's oil soluble. The Ordinary has some fantastic ones that are really good."
Approved
75%of gurus approve
"Inky List has some fantastic ones that are under $10. As long as it says BHA or salicylic acid it's probably a really good one."
Approved
80%of gurus approve
"Panoxyl was still inexpensive, that was like $10."
Approved
76%of gurus approve
"The BHA peeling solution is fantastic because it has that salicylic acid, but sometimes there are people who have dry skin and acne and that's really rough to treat because a lot of acne treatments including BHA can be a little bit more drying. Well, The Ordinary has an anhydrous salicylic acid, this is basically BHA in oil, and I'm so happy they launched this because this is so good. It has no water in it, so it's anhydrous. If you're someone who loves a good oil serum but you have acne and you're like 'I'm so dry, I love an oil and it breaks me out every time,' this is going to be a best friend. There is not a lot for dry skin and acne out there the way there is for oily skin and acne, so the fact that The Ordinary has this and at such a great price is amazing. This is a fan favorite, and as an aesthetician, it's something I always want to have so that I can adapt to those cases for people who do have some slightly unusual or different needs."
Approved
88%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution
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"The Ordinary has a really good salicylic acid and hydration solution. If you have acne you'll love that, however if you have sensitive skin and acne, the aloe and nag solution is so good."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"The BHA peeling solution is fantastic because it has that salicylic acid, but sometimes there are people who have dry skin and acne and that's really rough to treat because a lot of acne treatments including BHA can be a little bit more drying. Well, The Ordinary has an anhydrous salicylic acid, this is basically BHA in oil, and I'm so happy they launched this because this is so good. It has no water in it, so it's anhydrous. If you're someone who loves a good oil serum but you have acne and you're like 'I'm so dry, I love an oil and it breaks me out every time,' this is going to be a best friend. There is not a lot for dry skin and acne out there the way there is for oily skin and acne, so the fact that The Ordinary has this and at such a great price is amazing. This is a fan favorite, and as an aesthetician, it's something I always want to have so that I can adapt to those cases for people who do have some slightly unusual or different needs."
"A lot of people use this because they have acne whether that's blackheads or whiteheads and this can be fantastic for acne over the counter but a lot of people try to mix this with Benzoyl Peroxide or you're supposed to apply this to clean skin right so some people will wash their face with a Benzoyl Peroxide wash and then put this on while that's not a cardinal sin it's probably not a good idea if your skin isn't used to it. It's not a big no no it's not a red light it's kind of that yellow light it's like hey let's slow down if your skin is sensitive and if it's prone to dryness don't use Benzoyl Peroxide wash before washing this but if your doctor or derm recommends it or if you know that Benzoyl Peroxide and acids like salicylic acid work for your skin then proceed with caution."
~Mixed
77%of gurus approve
"You do want to avoid other acids and you want to know which ones. Something like glycolic acid or more salicylic acid you absolutely want to avoid because even though this says AHA BHA, AHAs are things like glycolic acid and BHA is salicylic acid so you don't want to be using this and then use a salicylic acid cream or use a salicylic acid moisturizer and totally double up. This is potent and unless you've tested it, unless your skin is really resilient, or unless a professional has recommended it directly to you, you don't want to do more than you have to. This is a lot and we don't want to burn our skin off more than intended. Always proceed with caution, always patch test because everyone's skin is different, and always put this on dry skin. Always wash this off after 10 minutes. I've left it on for longer and I've regretted it."
Skip
76%of gurus approve
"If you are a picker, don't pick it, patch it. The COSRX ones are good. Korea doesn't actually make my favorite pimple patches, I have other pimple patches from American brands like Zit Stika that I like a lot better, but if you wanted to keep at K Beauty, I would say COSRX has some of the better ones, even though they're not my favorite."
~Mixed
72%of gurus approve
"Justin Bieber uses Starface Pimple Patches. I love a real and honest celebrity who's okay to talk about their pimples and then being okay covering them up with a sticker that kind of draws attention to them. Starface Pimple Patches, affordable, find them at Target. I love this."
Approved
62%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Pimple Patches
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"Justin Bieber uses Starface Pimple Patches. I love a real and honest celebrity who's okay to talk about their pimples and then being okay covering them up with a sticker that kind of draws attention to them. Starface Pimple Patches, affordable, find them at Target. I love this."
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"Starface is an amazing brand with some amazing products. They have pimple patches in the shapes of stars that not only help to cover your pimples but make you feel good about having acne as you get rid of it. It's okay to love ourselves and love the process even if we are a work in progress."
Cleansers9 reviews
"It has 2% salicylic acid and fragrance but it's honestly super basic so I still don't know why they raised the price. I do think it kind of worked, it was salicylic acid it was fine, but when my acne was at its worst it was severe it was chronic it was cystic and it took over my face chest and back and the Neutrogena cleanser just didn't cut it. I remember it being like $5... it's no longer $5."
~Mixed
62%of gurus approve
"The Squalane Cleanser is especially good for dry skin and it's super super gentle."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Squalane Cleanser
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"The Squalane Cleanser is especially good for dry skin and it's super super gentle."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"I hate The Ordinary's cleanser and we've spoken about that. This squalane cleanser is just not for me. If you're going to get started with The Ordinary I wouldn't recommend that you use this product. You're going to need an entire tube of this and it is not worth it. I do not like this stuff."
3 Best Ordinary Products (Under $15) For Dry Skin
"If you have dry skin, this cleanser is phenomenal. Many cleansers feel like they strip the skin or make dryness worse, especially in creases like the marionette lines, but this cleanser doesn't do that. For dry skin, combo skin, or dry-combo-oily skin, people go head over heels for this. You can use it as a double cleanse to remove makeup. The squalane is similar to squalene, which is an oil our skin produces naturally and has antioxidant benefits. But a lot of people don't realize this cleanser also has glycerin in it. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it holds on to moisture. This has glycerin which you'll find in good moisturizers, but it's in this formula to really enhance the moisturizing properties of this cleanser so it literally moisturizes and coats and supports the skin even once you wash the cleanser off. This cleanser also has sucrose stearate and sucrose laurate, both fantastic emollients that act as surfactants, which means they help the water and oil molecules get along together."
"The creamy jelly cleanser has a trice ceramide complex so it doesn't strip the skin. It also has licorice root extract that can brighten the skin and have a similar benefit to vitamin C but without the stinging and the irritation. There's also green tea which really helps to nourish the skin barrier and has antioxidant support. It's a really fun texture to use. You get a lot for your money."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"This is one of my favorites. If you are looking for a simple effective and affordable cleanser, this is one of the best. When I use this on myself it's nice, it's gentle, it's foaming, it's still hydrating but it breaks down dirt and gunk and sunscreen really well. The glucoside foam in here is also very very gentle and it's really only got like five ingredients and no fragrance. I can actually use this as a body cleanser as well. This has very quickly replaced many of my other cleansers as a favorite."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"It's two maybe three cleansing ingredients that don't strip and then vitamin E, so it's like a very very mild antioxidant cleanser. This works so well and for my oily skin it gets rid of the oil, it gets rid of the gunk. You should use it with a makeup remover if you have like heavy makeup. This is so good and it's so cheap. I wish they had launched this sooner because it's so simple but so effective. This is probably my favorite favorite cleanser from The Ordinary right now. Get your hands on the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser if you have oily or combination skin or if you just hate the squealing cleanser like me. I love this."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"This is one of my favorites. If you are looking for a simple effective and affordable cleanser, this is one of the best. When I use this on myself it's nice, it's gentle, it's foaming, it's still hydrating but it breaks down dirt and gunk and sunscreen really well. The glucoside foam in here is also very very gentle and it's really only got like five ingredients and no fragrance. I can actually use this as a body cleanser as well. This has very quickly replaced many of my other cleansers as a favorite."
"I never thought I would love micellar water from Garnier but I actually fell in love with this. You can find some really inexpensive but effective skincare."
Approved
64%of gurus approve
"They have blueberry, raspberry, cucumber, and apple fruit extracts, and what I liked about this is that they didn't have any orange, bergamot, or citrus. My skin is a little bit more sensitive to that. I can usually get away with it in a cleanser, but I liked that this was a superfruit antioxidant booster that didn't have that citrus in it. It's more of the blues and the berries. So I'm actually really excited to try this and rub it on my skin."
Approved
79%of gurus approve
"If you want this active ingredient to penetrate onto the skin, use this like a mask. Literally wash your face but leave it on for 60 seconds, leave it on for 2 or 3 minutes, or if you're getting in the shower, put this on your face before you get in the shower, leave it on, and then wash it off in the shower. As a bonus in the shower you can literally use this on your chest and your back. Benzoyl peroxide does stain if you don't know what this is, but that's why I love benzoyl peroxide in a shower because I can rinse it off before it has a chance to stain my clothes or towels."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Benzoyl Peroxide Wash
15 Years Of Acne: How I Got My Dream Skin After Having Acne For 15 Years!
"Panoxyl Benzoyl Peroxide Wash is a little bit more hydrating."
3 Acne Destroying Skincare Tips I Wish I knew When I was 16
"If you want this active ingredient to penetrate onto the skin, use this like a mask. Literally wash your face but leave it on for 60 seconds, leave it on for 2 or 3 minutes, or if you're getting in the shower, put this on your face before you get in the shower, leave it on, and then wash it off in the shower. As a bonus in the shower you can literally use this on your chest and your back. Benzoyl peroxide does stain if you don't know what this is, but that's why I love benzoyl peroxide in a shower because I can rinse it off before it has a chance to stain my clothes or towels."
"This is the Oat Cleansing Balm from The Inkey List and I have to say I love this. It's one of their best sellers but some people hate this. For me it is an absolute favorite. I love this as a first cleanse because it breaks down makeup and sunscreen so well and you get so much and it's so inexpensive. Yes, it's a little gloopy on the tube and it can be a little bit separating, but for the price I just mix it back up. This is a miss for many people but this is absolutely a hit for me. This is amazing if you have oily, combo, or acne prone skin if you're looking for an excellent inexpensive cleanser that gets the job done."
~Mixed
62%of gurus approve
"One of the products that I constantly lean on from The Inkey List is the Salicylic Acid Cleanser. This is one of the absolute best and it's at an affordable price. Salicylic acid is an ingredient that has been medically proven to help with skin inflammation, to help with acne, to help with blackheads and bacteria, and this works so well, especially if you have oily acne prone skin. For anyone who deals with acne, whether it's whiteheads, blackheads, or even sebaceous filaments, which aren't exactly acne but they can look a lot like acne, this is an absolute must. This works so well and you get a lot of it for the price."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
Toners9 reviews
"Layers so well with acne treatment products that are really drying if you're using like a retinoid gel or a benzoyl peroxide wash this is so good"
Approved
77%of gurus approve
"This is the glycolic acid 7% toning solution, a toner that you can use on the face or even on the scalp. This is amazing and it is 7% so it is intense; you shouldn't necessarily use this every day, but from the application to the formula to the price this is just great. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and it's one of the smallest ones so it can actually penetrate pretty deep, helps to exfoliate but doesn't dehydrate the skin the way that something like a BHA might. This is especially great for people with dry skin who want to exfoliate. With any acid you need to use a sunscreen during the day and you need to use a moisturizer after or a good one at night. This can really help to brighten the skin, it can help to remove dead skin cells and buildup, and it works great for dry skin but also for oily skin. I have an oily scalp and I love using this on my scalp. This is a phenomenal choice from The Ordinary, but you should use it at night, not during the day because it is an acid, so always use it in the evening and then sunscreen responsibly the next day."
Approved
65%of gurus approve
All 5 takes on Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"The Ordinary has actives, don't get me wrong they've got the AHA, BHA peeling solution, they've got these other acids like glycolic acid, they've got retinoids. Yes, The Ordinary can be very potent and yes it has unfortunately caused irritation and burned holes in people's skin barriers literally with the acids, but if you do have sensitive skin you're not banned from using The Ordinary."
I Put The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution In My Armpits - 3 Ways to Use To Glycolic 7% Toner
"This is made of glycolic acid, glycolic acid is an AHA so it's a water-soluble exfoliating acid and it's actually really really small, comes from sugarcane and it can penetrate deep into the skin. If you're really prone to irritation or pigmentation you want a patch test because this might not be right for you, but if you start low and go, glycolic acid can be fantastic. For the price and for what it is, it's such a great product."
I Put The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution In My Armpits - 3 Ways to Use To Glycolic 7% Toner
"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution is like a powerful puppy, it's excellent, it's affordable, and it's really easily accessible, which is why it's one of my favorites and I do recommend it to others all the time. With great power comes great responsibility, which is why you need to make sure that you're using this and patch testing it appropriately. For a lot of people's skin, this is a savior."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"If you're looking to exfoliate, glycolic acid can do it and it does it good. This is potent, so don't use it every day unless you have really resilient skin. If you do have skin that's prone to hyperpigmentation, a little bit of this very strategically placed can help."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"This is the glycolic acid 7% toning solution, a toner that you can use on the face or even on the scalp. This is amazing and it is 7% so it is intense; you shouldn't necessarily use this every day, but from the application to the formula to the price this is just great. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and it's one of the smallest ones so it can actually penetrate pretty deep, helps to exfoliate but doesn't dehydrate the skin the way that something like a BHA might. This is especially great for people with dry skin who want to exfoliate. With any acid you need to use a sunscreen during the day and you need to use a moisturizer after or a good one at night. This can really help to brighten the skin, it can help to remove dead skin cells and buildup, and it works great for dry skin but also for oily skin. I have an oily scalp and I love using this on my scalp. This is a phenomenal choice from The Ordinary, but you should use it at night, not during the day because it is an acid, so always use it in the evening and then sunscreen responsibly the next day."
"This is an essence toner that I cannot believe I forgot about because this is actually what started it all. This is liquid grape jelly. A dermatologist recommended this and I have purchased probably 10 plus bottles at this point. If you want the OG, if you want the good stuff, if you just want the basic most calming for sensitive skin, this is your answer."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
"When I first tried this I was enamored at how it hydrated my skin. The black rice antioxidants in here were so good for me, and especially when used under sunscreen, not only did it feel amazing but my skin would look better by the end of the day when normally I was used to my large pores and areas of patchiness kind of showing up. This is made in Korea with some of the most hydrating hyaluronic acid and black rice for antioxidants. I would say it's fantastic for combo skin and you can use it if you're dry with a moisturizer or if you're oily on its own. The best part is that they now have a sensitive skin option. In the past they only had the fragranced one with lavender, but now they have a fragrance-free sensitive skin safe one that is the best."
Approved
84%of gurus approve
"Here's the thing about this heartleaf toner is there are other brands that have heartleaf specifically, Mixon is a really good one, but I have heard that this heartleaf toner continues to sell out. I've heard that it's great, there are over 5,300 sold, the price on this is really good. I am very interested in trying this especially because it has sugarcane and grape, both of those can actually hold on to moisture and pull that moisture deeper into the skin, and as we approach winter, that's what I'm looking for."
Approved
83%of gurus approve
"The I'm From Rice Toner is a bestseller that I've never tried. There are a lot of people right now that are using rice water on both their skin and their hair, they're using it as makeup prep or as a hair growth solution, and this is packaged up in a way that doesn't expire for like a year so that sounds pretty good."
Approved
87%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Rice Toner
What does $250 Of K Beauty Get You? (Testing New Korean Skincare Bestsellers of 2023)
"The I'm From Rice Toner is a bestseller that I've never tried. There are a lot of people right now that are using rice water on both their skin and their hair, they're using it as makeup prep or as a hair growth solution, and this is packaged up in a way that doesn't expire for like a year so that sounds pretty good."
What does $250 Of K Beauty Get You? (Testing New Korean Skincare Bestsellers of 2023)
"I love this, I love this. This is the rice toner from I'm From. This is so soothing, this is so gentle, and a little bit goes a long way. With a lot of toners I find myself having to load up pads and spread them all over, but literally just a drop or two can spread so easily and hydrate so well. It soaks in so beautifully. It's gentle, it's lightweight, it's hydrating so like you know it's there and it's working but it's not overbearing. It's so nice and lightweight. It's like that barely there feeling that actually does the work. I'm obsessed with this. I love that it's vegan."
"The Inkey List doesn't get a lot of attention for their toners, but I don't know why because they literally create two of my favorite ones. This is the PHA or polyhydroxy acid toner, and if The Ordinary's toning solution is too much for you, this is a godsend. It is non-irritating as compared to The Ordinary's, and yet it's a little bit hydrating and nourishing to the skin. This has a really low molecular weight so it's very, very tiny. If your skin is struggling and you need a little bit of a glow, maybe you have a little bit of acne or post-acne marks, this stuff is so good. Polyhydroxy acids are really good at holding onto water, and they hang out on top of the skin because of how big and chunky they are. They don't penetrate but they exfoliate gently on the top. They're really good at holding moisture into the skin, and it's like a leveled up version and an even more sensitive version of the glycolic."
Approved
87%of gurus approve
"I have absolutely fallen in love with this. This right here is the Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner, and they call it this because it's like an essence toner formula. I fell in love with this, it's one of my favorite face waters. There's a huge amount of CoQ10 in here, but there's also rice water and cloudberry. This cloudberry is fantastic, it's from Scandinavia, and the way they harvest it is insane. It's flash frozen and then it is fermented to basically ferment or break up all of the particles to make them smaller and easier to absorb into the skin and then they can have additional benefits. These cloudberries are resilient plants that grow in harsh conditions, and when scientists and researchers started looking at them they said cloudberries are amazing for skin. There's things like vitamin E, there's beta carotene which is vitamin A, and yes there's forms of vitamin C naturally found in the cloudberries that are different from what we use in skincare with ascorbic acid that can burn the skin, but as the cloudberry extract there's this entire bundle of benefits."
Approved
89%of gurus approve
"The toner was good but I felt like it just kind of evaporated off my face really quickly. The main difference between the essence and the toner is that the essence is 100 bifida whereas this one actually has glycerin in it and water so it kind of holds it to your skin better. I decided to put this on my leg after I gave it razor burn because it has like three ingredients and it's meant to rebuild your skin barrier. This works so well. If I had literally shaved the top layer of my skin off it burned a little bit, but this actually soothed my leg overall and I was able to go back to epilating and wearing pajamas the same night whereas normally my leg would be hurting and keeping me up all night. I might actually try putting this on a little spray bottle and misting it on my face or my chest when it does get really hot this summer."
~Mixed
77%of gurus approve
Retinoids8 reviews
"For $15 this is unreal, it's fantastic for sensitive skin. I think it's fantastic for beginners who kind of want to go advanced or for people who have a retinoid in their routine and they want to go next level but don't want prescription. It can make you a little bit yellow, a little bit goes a long way, just use a little bit. You can use this morning or night, night is better because it won't break down in the sun. I like the pump applicator. I do think I prefer the dropper just because I was expecting this to be cleaner, it kind of gets a little bit gummy on the inside of the cap, not a big deal. I like that it's new from The Ordinary. For $15 this is amazing, one of the best things you can get for under $15. I'm loving it."
Approved
87%of gurus approve
"This is the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion and with retinoids you can usually find them in creams or as these yellow formulas or in oil but it's hard to find a retinoid that really works for oily skin that absorbs well but is still creamy. This Is The Answer especially for the price. The Ordinary does retinoids really really well and they also give you options on the percentages. This has Granactive Retinoid as well as retinol and look at this creamy texture. It works on dry skin, it works on oily skin, it works on combo skin. I love this especially if someone has fine lines and wrinkles or if someone has acne prone skin and blackheads, this works really well for both. You can use this morning or evening but sun does break down retinoid so evening is probably going to be your best bet. This formula is tried and true and if you haven't gotten your hands on this, probably one of the best bang for your buck options just because retinoids have been proven time and time again in medicine and medical studies to be so effective for skin for skin cell renewal."
Approved
81%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
3 Best The Ordinary Serums for Wrinkles (New and Existing!)
"The Granactive Retinoid is one of them and this one is fantastic for fine lines and wrinkles in skin. Retinoids work deep down in the skin to literally plump up those beautiful juicy skin cells stimulating those fibroblasts getting them to produce more collagen and elastin to literally help plump up your skin and actually help with those fine lines and wrinkles. If you're looking for fine line and wrinkle care retinoids are your best bet. I'm using it on my own skin and I recommend it to others all the time."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"One of my favorite retinoids if you want a gentle but effective creamy retinoid serum, this is it. It works so well and if it's in stock, get it because it goes out of stock so soon."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"This is the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion and with retinoids you can usually find them in creams or as these yellow formulas or in oil but it's hard to find a retinoid that really works for oily skin that absorbs well but is still creamy. This Is The Answer especially for the price. The Ordinary does retinoids really really well and they also give you options on the percentages. This has Granactive Retinoid as well as retinol and look at this creamy texture. It works on dry skin, it works on oily skin, it works on combo skin. I love this especially if someone has fine lines and wrinkles or if someone has acne prone skin and blackheads, this works really well for both. You can use this morning or evening but sun does break down retinoid so evening is probably going to be your best bet. This formula is tried and true and if you haven't gotten your hands on this, probably one of the best bang for your buck options just because retinoids have been proven time and time again in medicine and medical studies to be so effective for skin for skin cell renewal."
"This is the retinol reform, it's soothing for fine lines and wrinkles. It's made by Shaie Darden, she's an esthetician, a woman of color, and she literally has pioneered the skincare industry to make this brand happen. Her products are just as good as the fancy ones out there. Retinol basically gives your skin the ability to create more collagen, the strong stuff that degrades as we age and that the sun destroys. This helps rebuild it by triggering your body to do it itself."
Approved
82%of gurus approve
"This one from the Ordinary is under 10 bucks, this is great, and this one's actually an oily solution so if you feel like you have dry skin and acne this can help lock in moisture from like your other products and it can help prevent your skin from drying out while still treating the acne so this is fantastic."
Approved
67%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Retinol
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"This is potent. If you've got the money and want something fancy, fantastic, but you use it sparingly and patch test first. It's a 3.5 retinoid complex with squalene, so the oil in here will actually help lock it into the skin."
3 Acne Destroying Skincare Tips I Wish I knew When I was 16
"This one from the Ordinary is under 10 bucks, this is great, and this one's actually an oily solution so if you feel like you have dry skin and acne this can help lock in moisture from like your other products and it can help prevent your skin from drying out while still treating the acne so this is fantastic."
"Dermatica is great especially if you're in the UK. Both of these are customized to me, but if you have acne they're probably going to put things in like tretinoin, which is this retinoid. They're probably going to put in niacinamide, they're probably going to put in some of these ingredients or even azelaic acid that can help with acne and redness."
Approved
81%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Retinoid
15 Years Of Acne: How I Got My Dream Skin After Having Acne For 15 Years!
"If you don't have a doctor or a dermatologist you can't get a prescription, literally do not forget that there are online pharmacies that will pair you with experts. Two of my absolute favorites are from Dermatica and from Agency. If you're International, Dermatica is great, it's also under 30 bucks. Both of these are absolutely phenomenal, and if you want prescription stuff but you don't have medical insurance or time to go to a doctor, this is where you start. You can see an expert in two to three days."
Finally Addressing Why My Hair Fell Out While Doing My Skincare Routine For The First Time In Months
"I use it every other day basically but it takes time to see results. You're not going to see results overnight. This is something it takes 3 to 6 months. I've been using it for years, but except for the past couple months I'm just trying my hardest to get back into it. I hadn't used a retinoid in so long and then my face is starting to peel again because I'm going through retinization. Retinization is something that I'm going through with the dry patches, and it's like I know how to properly start a retinoid in my routine and yet this is still happening."
3 Acne Destroying Skincare Tips I Wish I knew When I was 16
"Dermatica is great especially if you're in the UK. Both of these are customized to me, but if you have acne they're probably going to put things in like tretinoin, which is this retinoid. They're probably going to put in niacinamide, they're probably going to put in some of these ingredients or even azelaic acid that can help with acne and redness."
"This is another great one, the 1% Retinol Serum from The Inky List. I love The Inky List and The Ordinary because these are both like under 10, 15 bucks, so they're affordable. If you're going to spend your money on something, spend your money on a potent active ingredient and get it at an inexpensive price and try it long enough, like a month or two, to see if it works for you."
Approved
68%of gurus approve
"The retinol one from The Inkey List is really good, it's a great beginner retinol, but I don't know if I would call it a hit, especially since I have been liking another retinoid a little bit better."
~Mixed
63%of gurus approve
"Agency the future formula is fantastic. If you have acne they're probably going to put things in like tretinoin which is this retinoid, they're probably going to put in niacinamide, they're probably going to put in some of these ingredients or even azelaic acid that can help with acne and redness. Agency gives you a bigger bottle and they also have dark spot formulas so if you have like dark spots and scars they're fantastic."
Approved
85%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Future Formula with Tretinoin
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"Agency is phenomenal, especially if you are someone who has pigmentation in your skin. If your skin has these red or brown marks that are left over, agencies products are so good. Their Future Formula is amazing. It is so absorbent and it is one of the most potent."
3 Acne Destroying Skincare Tips I Wish I knew When I was 16
"Agency the future formula is fantastic. If you have acne they're probably going to put things in like tretinoin which is this retinoid, they're probably going to put in niacinamide, they're probably going to put in some of these ingredients or even azelaic acid that can help with acne and redness. Agency gives you a bigger bottle and they also have dark spot formulas so if you have like dark spots and scars they're fantastic."
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"This is one of my favorites, this is the Future Formula from Agency. You need a prescription strength retinoid if you want the strong stuff. If you want to treat active acne, scars, wrinkles, and pigmentation, you're going to use retinoids and things like that to treat those."
Eye Care5 reviews
"Eye patches are different than eye creams right, eye patches actually have ingredients that can infuse into the skin, but you're literally using mechanical or physical pressure to push the eye bag away, which is great. I love eye patches. I really hate most eye creams. The Patchology Eye Patches, I actually got 10 hours of sleep and I looked like I had gotten one hour of sleep, yeah I don't know how that happened, they're actually really good. The 24 karat gold is something that I like and don't like. Some people say that gold is an antioxidant. If anything, it can cause irritation in people who are allergic to heavy metals, so be aware of that. The other ingredients in here, they're vegan and cruelty-free, they're actually sustainable for the price. For 24 pairs they're $21, but for six pairs they're $12. They're actually really good."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"This was their Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, not bad for the price, but I just didn't see results. I posted a YouTube video where I tested and tried this on one eye and when I looked at myself in the mirror I didn't see a difference, but by the end of the video everyone was like, oh my gosh, no that one eye that you put it on is brighter and it looks better. For me I didn't see it, and I'm wondering if I should give it another shot, but I don't want to give it another shot at full price. I like peptides all over my face, so I'll put it on my smile lines, but with this eye serum I was just not super impressed with it. If you're someone who likes an eye serum and you think that you saw a difference, then go for it and get it on sale, otherwise this was a new launch that I just wasn't super sold on."
~Mixed
72%of gurus approve
"This is their Revive Eye Serum, it's a ginseng and retinal, again not a retinol with an O, retinal with an A. This is one of the most potent K beauty products that I've ever used, but the good news is that it goes on sale and it works. The color of this is super bright, that's the vitamin A, aka the retinoid in here, it's really doing the work. Now this is intense and they call it an eye cream, yes it'll be great for fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, but put it on your smile lines, put it on your blemish prone areas, put it on your nose if you literally want to help get rid of the oil production and even tighten up the skin to help reduce the appearance of pores. This is intense but this is going to do it."
Approved
90%of gurus approve
"I tried some of their eye creams such as the caffeine eye cream and the retinol eye cream. While I can say that about the caffeine and the retinoid one, yes, they work. I like that they're inexpensive, but I wouldn't say that any of them are hits for me."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
"These are my bougie favorites. These patches have water, glycerin, dipropylene glycol, and basically a lot of hydrating ingredients. We have some caffeine, some centella. Acetyl hexapeptide 8 is hydrating, and the centella in here could be soothing. I don't think these are going to be fantastic, but they're being sold as eight for 25, which is really not bad from a price point perspective."
~Mixed
74%of gurus approve
Tools5 reviews
"It's FDA cleared to smooth lines and wrinkles and it helps improve circulation to enhance natural color and make visibly fuller lips. It has 56 infrared red LED lights. LED has been medically proven to stimulate collagen to help with fine lines and wrinkles, and depending on the wavelength, basically the color of the light, they can be helpful in treating acne. Dr. Dennis Gross has done their research on skincare and their LED face mask is one of the best that you can get on the market. It's expensive, but that is pretty much as close as you can get to professional that's available at Sephora."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
LED Plump Lips without Filler? Testing Dr. Dennis Gross LED Lip Spectralite Lipware PRO
"It's FDA cleared to smooth lines and wrinkles and it helps improve circulation to enhance natural color and make visibly fuller lips. It has 56 infrared red LED lights. LED has been medically proven to stimulate collagen to help with fine lines and wrinkles, and depending on the wavelength, basically the color of the light, they can be helpful in treating acne. Dr. Dennis Gross has done their research on skincare and their LED face mask is one of the best that you can get on the market. It's expensive, but that is pretty much as close as you can get to professional that's available at Sephora."
The 10 BEST And WORST Red LED Skincare Devices
"Dr. Dennis Gross has done studies on it with really good before and afters and they did a good job with this. The contours fit the face even with the strap on it, it doesn't hurt your face, it doesn't dig into your skin. It's rechargeable so you can wear it around the house and you actually have quite a few diodes on it, which is nice, and they have the diodes in the nose as well which I really, really, really like. This is a luxury option because it fits to the contours of your face, and for at-home use this is one of my absolute favorites. I use this in clinic because of how it fits to the face and how well it works."
Stop Wasting Your Money On Red LED Light Therapy...
"This is one of my favorites from Dr. Dennis Gross. When you look at their packaging, they've actually done studies on how their LED penetrates and the results that it has. Red LED can decrease inflammation, boost collagen production, and the Dr. Dennis Gross device is strong enough to stimulate collagen production. If you have concerns with collagen production, with fine lines and wrinkles and skin health and elasticity, you definitely want to go for red LED light."
"It has 56 infrared red LED lights. LED has been medically proven to stimulate collagen to help with fine lines and wrinkles, and depending on the wavelength, the color of the light, they can be helpful in treating acne. I use a very fun LED wand, kind of overpriced but it's good for travel. The SolaWave, I used it on my burn and you can't even see my burn anymore. The mouthpiece is washable, which is good. I'm so happy that it's charged out of the box."
Approved
69%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on LED Wand
LED Plump Lips without Filler? Testing Dr. Dennis Gross LED Lip Spectralite Lipware PRO
"It has 56 infrared red LED lights. LED has been medically proven to stimulate collagen to help with fine lines and wrinkles, and depending on the wavelength, the color of the light, they can be helpful in treating acne. I use a very fun LED wand, kind of overpriced but it's good for travel. The SolaWave, I used it on my burn and you can't even see my burn anymore. The mouthpiece is washable, which is good. I'm so happy that it's charged out of the box."
The 10 BEST And WORST Red LED Skincare Devices
"You can hold this on that area and it can be quite helpful. I love this for travel because it's very compact. You can really target this area. It's less expensive than a lot of the other LED devices on the market, these can be $300 to $500, this one you can get on sale for like a hundred bucks and it's very portable. It actually helped me heal up a huge burn that I had on my chest. This plus a cream was magical. The problem is if you're looking for all over benefits this probably isn't going to be your best bet. They started to say that it has microcurrent, I've never felt a microcurrent benefit from this. You would need to have a circuit of electricity that connects at two different probes. I don't see two different probes on here to actually create an electrical circuit. And then they were saying it has vibrating technology, you did good with the LED, don't try to tell me these other claims that I don't think are substantiated. I really like it for little blemishes, for specific wrinkles or fine lines, if you really want to target a specific area or if you're traveling or on the go. This is probably the least expensive option, the best entry option. But sometimes it stops working randomly. It's only supposed to work when it's pressed to the face, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Mine started doing that after I took it on a plane."
"The Clean Skin Club biodegradable makeup wipes are extra large and they're really good. I feel like they actually get the makeup off my face and don't leave a film, whereas other wipes like Neutrogena would rub stuff around my face and leave a film on it. As with any makeup wipe they're always going to leave some gunk behind, it's not the same as cleansing your face, but I haven't been able to find a makeup wipe that works as well as these."
Approved
76%of gurus approve
"I've used the NuFace, I've used the Myo Lift, the Myo Lift is one of my favorites and that's something that I can use professionally but it's available for purchase at home and it's not majorly dangerous the way something like at home PRP and microneedling is. It's not a laser, it's not dangerous but you can do it at home. I've literally told clients, hey what I'm using on you right now is the NuFace, you can literally get this at Sephora or Ulta and you can use it at home and if you use it every day you'll see better results than coming to pay me 150 bucks to just do it once or twice a month. If I'm using the NuFace on someone in clinic, why can't they go home and use it?"
Approved
62%of gurus approve
"For hair regrowth it's been studied time and time again and used medically in clinic. This little device is my saving grace. I used to use the white one three years ago and it was great, but I had to use it like three times a week for almost 30 minutes. This one I do for 12 minutes every day or when I'm filming a YouTube video sometimes I do it twice in a row. For me it's easier to stick to something if I make it a habit every day like this 12 minutes a day rather than doing the white one three times a week. The main difference is that this has 500 diodes and it has different wavelengths. This has made monumental difference in my hair and I actually am so glad that I've spoken about this online for so long because I have before and after photos where you can actually track the progress of my hair."
Approved
85%of gurus approve
All 3 takes on Elite
Reacting To Celebrities Who Lost Their Hair — Alopecia & How I'm Treating My Hair Loss At Home
"For hair regrowth it's been studied time and time again and used medically in clinic. This little device is my saving grace. I used to use the white one three years ago and it was great, but I had to use it like three times a week for almost 30 minutes. This one I do for 12 minutes every day or when I'm filming a YouTube video sometimes I do it twice in a row. For me it's easier to stick to something if I make it a habit every day like this 12 minutes a day rather than doing the white one three times a week. The main difference is that this has 500 diodes and it has different wavelengths. This has made monumental difference in my hair and I actually am so glad that I've spoken about this online for so long because I have before and after photos where you can actually track the progress of my hair."
3 Years Of Hair Loss: Comparing the IRestore Pro vs Elite for Hairloss *non sponsored*
"I need to use this as a part of my morning routine, and that for me is a big determining factor because if you don't use these they won't work. When I stopped using my iRestore and then restarted, I saw much much much faster results with this than I did with the original one. The reason for that is probably because of how many little lasers and LEDs are in here. There's also a single wavelength versus a triple wavelength, and all of that factors into the price, which is probably why this is twice as expensive. When I first started using the original one, it took a couple months before I realized if I am consistent with this it does work. I felt like it took about 6 months and then it was November of that year that I started talking about how much I love it."
3 Years Of Hair Loss: Comparing the IRestore Pro vs Elite for Hairloss *non sponsored*
"The elite one has three different wavelengths whereas this one only had one wavelength. I can feel the power with this one. When I first started using the elite one it came out in October of 2023, I was actually surprised. My scalp is getting warm, why is it warm? It doesn't hurt, but I've used this for years and it doesn't get warm. This I can actually feel. I can feel it right now. It's like a light warming sensation and it's not tingling, it's not bad, but I can feel the power like this is some powerful stuff. This one has three different wavelengths: it has 620, 655, and 680. It's more of a spectrum, so it penetrates deep into the skin, helps with collagen stimulation, helps with anti-inflammatory benefits, basically taking down inflammation, and helps stimulate blood flow and circulation."
Masks & Peels4 reviews
"This is a fragrance-free option that I rely on and share with clients. You can start off with 1 minute before you do all 10. This actually gives you results, skin looks clearer, more fresh, glowy, hydrated. It helps with blackheads and acne because of that BHA, and especially if you do this regularly over time it can really help with skin resurfacing. I struggled with bad acne for so many years, and I do think it's because of treatments I've done including chemical peels including this one for the past 3 years almost non-stop that my acne scars do not look as indented or as obvious as they could be. After I use this peel my skin, my pores, they just all look better and other people have noticed that too. Of course don't use this and go in the sun, use this at night and then sunscreen responsibly the next day. The AHA BHA peeling solution is fantastic because it has that salicylic acid, but sometimes there are people who have dry skin and acne and that's really rough to treat because a lot of acne treatments including BHA can be a little bit more drying. Well, The Ordinary has an anhydrous salicylic acid, this is basically BHA in oil, and I'm so happy they launched this because this is so good. It has no water in it so it's anhydrous."
Approved
61%of gurus approve
All 6 takes on AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
15 Years Of Acne: How I Got My Dream Skin After Having Acne For 15 Years!
"One of my favorites is The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. This was one of my favorite peels and still is, and it's literally under 10 bucks in this little bottle."
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Ordinary
"The Ordinary has actives, don't get me wrong. They've got the AHA BHA peeling solution, they've got these other acids like glycolic acid, they've got retinoids. Yes, The Ordinary can be very potent and yes it has unfortunately caused irritation and burned holes in people's skin barriers literally with the acids. But if you do have sensitive skin, you're not banned from using The Ordinary."
5 Skincare Things I Won't Buy Or Try As An Esthetician!
"I'm hoping this is The Ordinary's AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and they're just pretending it's period blood, but you know, with the internet today."
Don’t Mix SPF - 3 Things You Should NEVER Mix With The Ordinary's AHA BHA Peeling Solution Peel
"This is one of the best things that I found over the counter because it is the most potent chemical peel that you can get without a professional license. This is so good it is one of my favorites and I use it on the RS. The acids in this product work by breaking down the bonds between our skin cells as well as help exfoliating off some of those dead skin cells. You can do this maybe once a month maybe once a week if you're super super attuned to it more than that can be a lot."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"The Ordinary's AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is one of my favorite products and it's basically the highest potency of a chemical peel that you can get over the counter without being a licensed professional, a licensed aesthetician, or working in the field. I use this on my chest, I use this on my back, I use this on my body, on my face."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"This is a fragrance-free option that I rely on and share with clients. You can start off with 1 minute before you do all 10. This actually gives you results, skin looks clearer, more fresh, glowy, hydrated. It helps with blackheads and acne because of that BHA, and especially if you do this regularly over time it can really help with skin resurfacing. I struggled with bad acne for so many years, and I do think it's because of treatments I've done including chemical peels including this one for the past 3 years almost non-stop that my acne scars do not look as indented or as obvious as they could be. After I use this peel my skin, my pores, they just all look better and other people have noticed that too. Of course don't use this and go in the sun, use this at night and then sunscreen responsibly the next day. The AHA BHA peeling solution is fantastic because it has that salicylic acid, but sometimes there are people who have dry skin and acne and that's really rough to treat because a lot of acne treatments including BHA can be a little bit more drying. Well, The Ordinary has an anhydrous salicylic acid, this is basically BHA in oil, and I'm so happy they launched this because this is so good. It has no water in it so it's anhydrous."
"This one from Bubble, the overnight hydrating sleep mask, I absolutely love because of the applicator you can twist it on or off so it's really easy to carry with you on the go, but it's also something that I can keep by my bedside. One pump and it's so gooby and hydrating. It doesn't tent up the same way that other ones do, but this one is so good and so luxurious on the skin. I would say that this is the best luxury option that doesn't cost a luxury price. They also recommend that you use this over damp skin, so if you do have a toner in your routine or a serum or some other form of moisturizer, this is fantastic to layer with. This is an absolute slam dunk."
Approved
63%of gurus approve
"I've used the AHA BHA Miracle cream before and I love it but I have never used the toner. This has papaya fruit extract which we know papaya enzymes can help to basically exfoliate the skin and remove gunk and buildup which can be beneficial for breakouts. This has witch hazel extract which can be kind of an astringent to the skin. This has lentil seed extract that's fantastic, lactobionic acid, peppermint and tea tree. Those could be irritating for some but peppermint is actually an analgesic in medicine meaning it helps to kill pain since sometimes when I be picking it be painful. This does have salicylic acid so this does appear to be a good acne toner."
Approved
82%of gurus approve
"We have some Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. This actually has 6,000 reviews. I already know that this is good. This is fantastic. I've used it before. Enzyme salicylic acid, amazing. It's a little expensive. I already have it. I would rather get it when it's on sale."
Approved
78%of gurus approve
Haircare3 reviews
"I went back to my Living Proof dry shampoo."
Approved
70%of gurus approve
"I also tried this from The Ordinary the multi-peptide serum for hair density I just didn't see big results with this. A lot of people have said this is amazing for them maybe I didn't use it for enough months I just didn't see the biggest results so I might retry outing this or I might just say screw it."
Skip
63%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
f it... i'm microneedling my scalp? (everything i'm doing for my hair loss) [Dec 2023]
"I also tried this from The Ordinary the multi-peptide serum for hair density I just didn't see big results with this. A lot of people have said this is amazing for them maybe I didn't use it for enough months I just didn't see the biggest results so I might retry outing this or I might just say screw it."
My Hair Growth Update…
"The Ordinary is one that I tried, I think this was 2022 that I tried this. I was just not impressed by this. This was one of the Ordinary products I didn't love. This is the Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density, but I'm wondering if I didn't use it right."
"I was using the professional which I love but this is what I'm using now and there are some major differences. Low-level laser that is FDA cleared like this one is essential. Don't get something if it's not FDA cleared otherwise you're just wasting your money. The laser here is much more gentle but it literally stimulates circulation, helps follicles grow faster, gives them nutrients that they need because of that blood flow, as well as helping keep the hairs on the head, which for me has personally been fantastic. Red LED is a very specific wavelength but you need to make sure that you're getting something within that wavelength and that's powerful enough to actually work. I do notice a difference between the professional and the elite. This is 12 minutes a day every day versus 25 minutes every couple of days or three times a week. I did love the professional and I saw results but I am seeing much faster results with this."
Approved
76%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Laser Hair Growth Helmet
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting iRestore Hair Growth Helmet
"I was using the professional which I love but this is what I'm using now and there are some major differences. Low-level laser that is FDA cleared like this one is essential. Don't get something if it's not FDA cleared otherwise you're just wasting your money. The laser here is much more gentle but it literally stimulates circulation, helps follicles grow faster, gives them nutrients that they need because of that blood flow, as well as helping keep the hairs on the head, which for me has personally been fantastic. Red LED is a very specific wavelength but you need to make sure that you're getting something within that wavelength and that's powerful enough to actually work. I do notice a difference between the professional and the elite. This is 12 minutes a day every day versus 25 minutes every couple of days or three times a week. I did love the professional and I saw results but I am seeing much faster results with this."
3 Hair loss Mistakes You're Making Right Now
"The iRestore helmet is something that Dr. Dre got me, used this is LED lights and then low-level laser. She recommended this like a year and a half to actually 3 years ago now back in 2020, that's when I got it and I've been using it since."
Lip3 reviews
"I tried this one from The Inky List and when I first put this on I didn't see any lip plumping. I used this for about a month non-stop and I don't really know if it plumped my lips. It has the weirdest taste, like an oily Vaseline and it kind of leaves a taste in the back of my throat. It definitely makes my lips look good, it is non-irritating, it's really easy to use, easy to carry and travel with, and easy to buy and find at Sephora and Ulta. But I can't really say it plumped my lips, definitely not immediately. Even after a month they were a little more hydrated I guess, but I don't know if they plumped a ton. For the money it's a decent lip product, but I don't think it's revolutionary and I would say that this is the least plumping out of all of them."
~Mixed
64%of gurus approve
"People are saying that it breaks them out and it doesn't even hydrate their lips. There's some things that are actually less expensive that work better that are cruelty-free and still have the vitamin C or the shea butter that Laneige is charging people $24 for."
Skip
61%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Lip Sleeping Mask
Is Laneige Lip Mask Worth The Hype? 5 Cruelty Free Alternatives
"People are saying that it breaks them out and it doesn't even hydrate their lips. There's some things that are actually less expensive that work better that are cruelty-free and still have the vitamin C or the shea butter that Laneige is charging people $24 for."
Is Laneige Lip Mask Worth The Hype? 5 Cruelty Free Alternatives
"Coconut oil can cause breakouts, which might explain some reviews where people are saying they got pimples around their lips. The ingredients aren't revolutionary, and the whole thing is that they're saying it's a sleeping mask that hydrates and has vitamin C. I don't know if I want to pay $24 for that, and I'm also not going to because it's not cruelty-free. If you're someone who puts this on and you're getting breakouts around your lips, or if you wake up with drier lips than when you started, that's something to consider. There's nothing toxic or dangerous in here, but there's nothing revolutionary either, and with the coconut oil I could see that causing breakouts for some people. The hydrators and protectants don't seem that revolutionary, especially when we compare it to some other things on the market."
"This formula has shea butter, it has sunflowers, it has a bunch of plant-based waxes, it has no fragrance or colors. I absolutely use this on other areas of my skin now. They do have a tinted version as well if you want a little tint. If you're looking for a vegan melting K Beauty lip balm, look at this, it gives my lips the K Beauty glass skin glow, this is fantastic, and it doesn't taste funky. But I wouldn't say it's in like my top five based on my experience."
~Mixed
78%of gurus approve
Procedures3 reviews
"Botox will not get rid of your wrinkles. People associate Botox with wrinkle reduction, and when they find out that Botox does not actually remove existing wrinkles, they feel jipped out of their money, $600 to $800 per injection every 3 to 6 months. But any good Botox injector should be telling you this. Botox will not get rid of your existing wrinkles."
Skip
60%of gurus approve
All 4 takes on Botox
They lied. Botox Does NOT Get Rid Of Wrinkles…
"Botox will not get rid of your wrinkles. People associate Botox with wrinkle reduction, and when they find out that Botox does not actually remove existing wrinkles, they feel jipped out of their money, $600 to $800 per injection every 3 to 6 months. But any good Botox injector should be telling you this. Botox will not get rid of your existing wrinkles."
They lied. Botox Does NOT Get Rid Of Wrinkles…
"Botox will not get rid of your wrinkles. People associate Botox with wrinkle reduction, and when they find out that Botox does not actually remove existing wrinkles, they feel jipped out of their money. $600 to $800 per injection every 3 to 6 months. Any good Botox injector should be telling you this. Botox will not get rid of your existing wrinkles. There are two main types of wrinkles: static wrinkles and dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are the ones that happen when we smile or we emote. Those dynamic wrinkles are always going to be there, but for some people they end up getting static wrinkles."
They lied. Botox Does NOT Get Rid Of Wrinkles…
"Botox does not actually remove existing wrinkles. People associate Botox with wrinkle reduction and when they find out that Botox does not actually remove existing wrinkles they feel jipped out of their money, 600 to 800 dollars per injection every 3 to 6 months. No Botox will not get rid of your existing wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are the ones that happen when we smile or we emote. These dynamic wrinkles are always going to be there, but for some people they end up getting static wrinkles. Static wrinkles are the fine lines, the wrinkles that have set in. It's dynamic wrinkles that over time keep on folding into the skin that cause those static wrinkles that always stay."
They lied. Botox Does NOT Get Rid Of Wrinkles…
"Injecting Botox into the skin is not going to reverse existing wrinkles. It might make them appear less severe because we're no longer folding the skin, but if you already have static wrinkles in the skin it's not going to get rid of the ones that already exist. It might stop you from being able to form dynamic wrinkles and it's going to prevent new wrinkles from forming so that you don't get more, but if you already have existing wrinkles you need to work with ingredients that are going to stimulate the collagen and elastin in your skin. Botox prevents a wrinkle from setting in or prevents you from making a smile or making a face that causes a wrinkle down the line to happen."
"Botox and other neuromodulators are a really great preventative step because if the muscles can't move then the skin on top can't wrinkle and then those wrinkles can't set in. If you got Botox you can still emote a little bit but you can't do certain facial movements depending on where the injector placed the neuromodulator."
Approved
67%of gurus approve
"When you get Botox or any other neuromodulator such as Xeomin or Dysport, they don't work immediately, they take like a week or more to actually start showing results into your skin. When a professional injects one of these neuromodulators into your face, they're injecting it into the muscle and it temporarily paralyzes the muscle. It doesn't allow the muscle to send that signal and connect. If those signals can't be sent through the muscle, the muscle can't flex, and if we can't flex that muscle then our eyebrows can't move. What happens if our eyebrows can't move or if we can't smile or clench down on our jaw for a long period of time is that muscle starts to atrophy, it basically degrades, and the skin on top of the muscle can't wrinkle. That's why Botox works and so do these other neuromodulators: because if the muscles can't move, then the skin on top can't wrinkle and those wrinkles can't set in."
Approved
75%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Dysport
They lied. Botox Does NOT Get Rid Of Wrinkles…
"they're still neurotoxins they still work in the same way preventing your skin from being able to wrinkle but they could be things like Dysport or Xeomin those are other brand names"
Is tape a replacement for Botox? TikTok trend has people erasing wrinkles in 2 weeks - is it a lie?
"When you get Botox or any other neuromodulator such as Xeomin or Dysport, they don't work immediately, they take like a week or more to actually start showing results into your skin. When a professional injects one of these neuromodulators into your face, they're injecting it into the muscle and it temporarily paralyzes the muscle. It doesn't allow the muscle to send that signal and connect. If those signals can't be sent through the muscle, the muscle can't flex, and if we can't flex that muscle then our eyebrows can't move. What happens if our eyebrows can't move or if we can't smile or clench down on our jaw for a long period of time is that muscle starts to atrophy, it basically degrades, and the skin on top of the muscle can't wrinkle. That's why Botox works and so do these other neuromodulators: because if the muscles can't move, then the skin on top can't wrinkle and those wrinkles can't set in."
Eye Makeup2 reviews
"A lot of people who have been using things like Grande Lash have not only gotten thicker, fuller lashes, but they've said, 'Why do my under eyes look so hollow?' There was specifically one girl on a podcast who was talking about how all of these people are going for under eye fillers because they feel like their under eyes are sunken in after using these lash serums for a long time. Well, there's actually some truth to this and it's in science."
~Mixed
49%of gurus approve
"The Lash and Brow Serum is constantly selling out and I've heard amazing things about it. The thing is, the Lash and Brow Serum is not a prostaglandin the way that Latisse is, so for some people who have been having concerns about their eye serums, if you don't know the concerns about lash growth serums and how it's like making people's faces have under eye bags, the Ordinary's doesn't do that because it's not a prostaglandin science. But if the Lash and Brow Serum is in stock, it's already inexpensive, it's affordable, and I've heard that it works really well."
Approved
70%of gurus approve
All 2 takes on Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum
Do Lash Serums Cause Undereye Bags?! The science behind this disturbing trend...
"I've heard The Ordinary's Lash and Brow Serum has great reviews. I don't actually know if that's a prostaglandin analog or not, so I'm going to check that out for you. But based on research, there have been some medical studies that looked at people who were using lash serums and looked at the before and afters not just of the lashes but also of how hollow the under eye area is, and they found that those who are using a topical prostaglandin analog saw a little bit more of the hollowing in that area, which for some of those people was not desired."
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"The Lash and Brow Serum is constantly selling out and I've heard amazing things about it. The thing is, the Lash and Brow Serum is not a prostaglandin the way that Latisse is, so for some people who have been having concerns about their eye serums, if you don't know the concerns about lash growth serums and how it's like making people's faces have under eye bags, the Ordinary's doesn't do that because it's not a prostaglandin science. But if the Lash and Brow Serum is in stock, it's already inexpensive, it's affordable, and I've heard that it works really well."
Body & Tan1 review
"This Dove one is the Vitare and this actually has vitamin B3 otherwise known as niacinamide and what's great about that is that niacinamide can balance out our oil production which yes can also help in the armpits and anywhere else that you apply this. This also has hydrators like glycerin which are pretty nice. I do like that this is baking soda free because I've actually found that my skin can be a little bit irritated by baking soda."
Approved
77%of gurus approve
Foundation1 review
"I used to buy Chanel Foundation and I would spend so much money on powders because you have to reapply your powder throughout the day because you get those little lines and marks."
Skip
68%of gurus approve
Mists & Essences1 review
"While this wasn't great for me for exfoliation, this was one of the best serums that is basically a vegan snail mucin. It's literally made out of these Korean fermented soybeans and beans are huge in Korean food and then lots of Asian food in general, but for the skin they can be fantastic. They can hold on to moisture, they can be anti-inflammatory, they can be hydrating. This Bean Essence is literally a skin reparative barrier supporting vegan version of snail mucin that doesn't harm the snails. This was probably one of the fastest things that helped to clear up and soothe my skin. I do have oily skin and this was one of my favorites. Now this leaves you with that K Beauty glow."
Approved
74%of gurus approve
Powder & Setting1 review
"A lot of people use a setting spray like the Mac Fix Plus which is what I used to use and I spent way too much money on it."
Skip
68%of gurus approve

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