Gothamista.

"Ectoin acts like an antioxidant in that it forms this protective shield or barrier around the skin, protecting it from outside stressors. It's even called the stress protection molecule. But it also reduces moisture loss, keeps hydration in, and this is formulated with seven different forms of hyaluronic acid. This is definitely one of those serums that just make an immediate difference. From the moment I apply it, I can feel the way the skin is just so much smoother, soothed, and just really, really deeply hydrated. But also, it's got a nice kind of dewiness to it as well. That being said, this isn't one of those heavy, greasy formulas that just kind of sit heavily on your skin surface. [...] It plumps everything out. This has been particularly good at dealing with any skin peeling and slight flakiness that I've been getting from using a higher concentration of tretinoin."

"As far as copper tripeptides go, there hasn't been a single formula that can beat this for me. This is all about skin optimization, just helping your skin function more effectively and efficiently, but also this promotes good collagen for firmness and elasticity. It's always been hard for me to describe, but it's an overall noticeable improvement, not just in the texture or the way my skin feels, but also just in the way it looks. I feel like my dedication to this and peptides has really kept through the years everything bouncy, firm, and lifted. I'm over 50. This is the skincare that is heavily supporting this over 50 skin."

"I use this as a daytime moisturizer. [...] The texture is light, but it actually gives the skin such a beautiful finish. Hydrated, healthy, and a little radiant. It's a beautiful gel-like creamy texture. This has seven firming peptides, nine protective antioxidants, and 13 different brighteners for the skin. [...] This is on the lightweight side. So, during winter, I use this with more layering as a nighttime moisturizer."

"This was one of my favorites. It still is from Haruharu Wonder. Their Centella Phyto and five peptide concentrate cream. When it comes to well-aging moisturizers, this formula has everything I want. This is rich but does not leave any greasy residue because it absorbs fast and it just leaves a really pleasant velvet finish on the skin. It's not at all scary for anyone who just doesn't like shininess or oiliness or anything like that. I particularly love peptide moisturizers. I especially like using this under an overnight mask, whether it's a hydrogel one or a wrapping mask. I feel like there's just a little bit of extra benefit and my skin comes out even more ironed out. This formula has their five peptide complex, which is five really well chosen peptides, ones that are really effective at tackling the different visible signs of aging as well as slowing down the whole aging process."

"I've been loving Medicube's new PDRN Booster Gel. I actually got this just to go with their new HR high focus shot, which I'm still in the process of trying out, I'm not ready to review it yet. All this to say, I really love this new booster gel. This is so elegant, it's so refreshing, it's not sticky at all, has a beautiful glide, and it does absorb and dry down. And look how much you get, I mean it is so reasonably priced, it's the same as the collagen booster gel. I mean you can apply this so liberally."

"When you apply it, it feels so hydrating and plumping on the skin. It's almost like a very light refreshing gel but it does absorb, it sinks in, it's slightly moisturizing. This also gives my skin really beautiful glow. I mean, this is kind of great for this time of year because it is slightly moisturizing but it's really not heavy. I love that it clearly brings my skin back to life. It kind of revives my complexion. This is just a well-aging powerhouse. For those with very sensitive skin, this has also gone through skin sensitivity testing as well."

"I love this formula, it's one of my favorites from the ordinary. This gives the same beautiful complexion refining and brightening results as a first treatment essence. This also contains niacinamide which further helps with the texture refinement, just smoothing out and lightly slowly exfoliating the skin so gentle that you can use it twice a day. A microfluidizer technology was used to create microscopic droplets to ensure the most weightless formula. In my opinion this is almost too weightless, it is so watery that the application can be a little messy, it will seep in between your fingers. [...] Though it does absorb quickly, you do feel that it leaves the surface very moisturized and smooth. [...] Clinical studies were conducted and shown that after 2 weeks of regular use the appearance of pores were smaller and after 6 weeks of use a visible evening of skin tone and fading of hyperpigmentation."

"This is the first time I've taken a break from using Neat's copper peptides to use another copper peptide serum from Allies of Skin, their Copper Tripeptide + Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum. I don't think it's a replacement, I do think it's different though. I also like the texture, it is bouncy, it's pretty substantial, which makes it really nice, especially in the drier months because you really feel like it's got some skin plumping hydration. There's also just a really nice bouncy slip to it during application which I enjoy. It's quite lipid, feels quite moisturizing, and it does sit on the skin, it's kind of somewhere in between."

"They have a really new advanced ingredient, it's one of the few formulas that do, from PCA Skin their ExLinea Pro Peptide Serum. The focus of this is simply expression lines, how to treat existing ones and to prevent them from getting deeper. This uses a combination of the most advanced peptides at targeting facial muscle contractions. I have a personal aversion to injectables, so the best option for me is this. It really does work. I mean it's not immediately effective but nothing that I do for anti-aging really is. It's a marathon. It is the fastest absorbing weightless formula. It leaves nothing on the skin. I love that the texture really allows you to effectively spot treat, so I do it on my forehead for forehead lines, the 11s around the sides of my eyes, just anywhere I feel my expression lines are. I also love that peptide formulas don't really clash. In fact they complement one another so well. I use this with my other serums and it just works so well together. This is my favorite formula. It is customized to everything I want."

"The Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% is one of my favorite formulas that contain matrixyl in them. [...] I even prefer this to their formula with matrixyl in the name. Desium just does peptides exceptionally well and especially if you're looking for an option where you don't want to spend that much money, peptide serums tend to be really expensive. This is an allrounder, it does it all. Copper peptides are carrier peptides, it's been around since the '80s, probably the first peptide to ever be incorporated into skincare, and it is definitely one of the most well-examined peptides around and my favorite. They help stabilize and deliver copper which is crucial for the growth of elastin, collagen, and also for wound healing. There's no mystery here. [...] Nothing I have tried has had the same impact on my skin, which is just better everything. [...] This is definitely a winter formula. This has just been more effective at really keeping my skin voluminous, like keeping that volume, keeping me filler-free."

"Goodal is a K Beauty brand at 40% off. They're Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum. This is Korea's number one selling vitamin C serum. Apparently one is sold globally every 30 seconds. This isn't vitamin C as an ascorbic acid, which is my gold standard. This vitamin C refers to the extract of the vitamin C rich fruit. The base of this serum is Tangerine extract, but it also contains 4% niacinamide and 2% arbutin. It's great for immediately brightening dull skin, which is what I use this for. It's a nice satisfyingly thick gel, feels comforting on the skin, and also gives so much hydration and glow."

"When brands say that they have a vitamin C serum they don't always distinguish exactly what vitamin C they're using. For me I always look for the gold standard which is ascorbic acid. The reason why vitamin C is even a thing in skin care today is because of SkinCeuticals. They made the original formula which is their C E Ferulic with 15% ascorbic acid and all the studies to show what this can do for your skin and how it benefits your skin. Ascorbic acid is the most powerful antioxidant and it's in a form that your skin recognizes and can use. It will protect your skin from the environmental aggressors that tend to cause aging. This has also been shown to really help with collagen synthesis. We want to keep that collagen good and keep it synthesizing. For me personally though I just really love the skin brightening and the glow that is something that I noticed almost immediately when I started using this. I was hooked from that point on. It definitely has had some impact also with just evening and correcting some of the pigmentation and sun damage I have. While this is the OG formula it is pricey."

"I noticed almost immediately when I first started using this like yonks ago I was hooked from that point on. It definitely has had some impact with just evening and correcting some of the pigmentation and sun damage I have, although that really requires a more collective effort but it does help with that. I just love the serum so much from Geek and Gorgeous. Their C-Glow derivatives mainly exist as an alternative for people whose skin can't tolerate the gold standard ingredients and formulas, so these work better for those with sensitive skin."

"The Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum is exactly what I want, a formula that gives my skin instant radiance but it's skin care not makeup. It's hydrating with four different weights of hyaluronic acid, and it also has Copus root, which is one of my favorite TCM ingredients. It has a lightweight texture but it really feels moisturizing. Two pumps is what I use and it's perfect, and it leaves my skin feeling really moisturized and glowing."

"I really enjoy a good oil serum. My skin has changed quite a bit though; it is a lot less dry and less dehydrated than it used to be, so I'm tending towards fewer layers. But recently my skin has been feeling quite lackluster, so I do appreciate that additional boost without the extra heaviness from Allies of Skin's C.E. 15 Bacchochial Firming Oil. This is such a fast-absorbing and lightweight oil serum that it disappears. It really doesn't feel like an added layer. It's one of the lightest oil serums I've ever tried. This sits in a base of rosehip oil, which is a dry oil but it's also full of vitamin A. There's a beautiful blend of nine cold-pressed oils as well as a vitamin C derivative that's great for brightening the skin and evening out the skin tone, vitamin E, as well as one percent Bacchochiol and CoQ10. So clearly this is really an antioxidant-rich, well-aging oil serum."

"Paula's Choice Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum is a really good and effective serum if you want to even out your skin tone. I would say this is probably the best more affordable option compared to products that are pricier. Like a lot of the Paula's Choice serums, the texture itself just feels fabulous on the skin—it gives you pretty much a baseline of everything you need. It's hydrating, plumping, comforting and comfortable, and it's soothing. Beyond that, it's got three percent tranexamic acid as well as five percent niacinamide, and it's also got vacuum kyle in it. Another ingredient I'm loving is silimarin, which we all know from Skinceuticals' new Silimarin antioxidant serum. So if Skinceuticals is putting their faith in it, then I think we're good. Silimarin isn't just a powerful antioxidant, but it's also been shown to have an effect on brightening skin tone and fading hyperpigmentation. This serum in my experience is really effective on more of the red marks that you get on your face, any kind of unevenness, and any redness. I have a lot of redness around the center of my face, but also if you have post-inflammatory acne marks that are left over, this has the ability to just move it along faster and help it fade faster than it usually would take. If you use this in combination with something like vitamin C, then it all helps."

"This is the SkinCeuticals P-TIOX Wrinkle Modulating Peptide Cream. Since using this, I feel like it does more than just your moisturizer. The texture is just lovely, especially for summer, it's got that lightweight creamy gel, really hydrating texture with a refreshing and comforting application. A little bit goes a long way, [...] it covers your entire face and neck. It's very hydrating but not sticky at all, if anything it has a balancing effect on my skin. In the areas of my face that get oily and porous, especially in the center of my face, this cream balances that out while still being moisturizing. I love how it makes the skin look, it gives that beautiful glassy, hydrated sheen. Most noticeably, I feel like it actually does make my pores appear smaller, and my pores have been gaping as of late so I've been quite self-conscious about them. It's [...] a concentrated treatment with 10% of their exclusive Myrixin complex, a group of six plant extracts high in antioxidants that also help improve the appearance of lines and pores. It also has 5% niacinamide and LHA which help with pores and decongesting, and zinc PCA which helps with sebum control. It has 2% of the same neurotransmitter inhibiting peptide as the serum, and a crystallide micropeptide that helps enhance the translucency of the skin to create a luminous glossy finish. Using this twice a day, I was able to see and feel the difference in a short amount of time, my skin quickly developed, especially in the center of my face and around my forehead, that tight smooth glassiness."

"I'm going to start with this one from Anua. Their PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream. Honestly, I like this mostly because of just how good it makes my skin look. [...] It is so so lightweight. Actually, it's weightless. It's a light creamy gel that absorbs so fast, but at the same time, it feels hydrating on the skin. It leaves a greaseless glow and you can't really even feel anything other than your skin just feels really soft and hydrated. It's like it just sinks in there and does its work. This is almost your perfect daytime moisturizer. [...] Anua uses this salmon DNA PDRN. They've also formulated a 10 type hyaluronic acid complex which is supposed to have the ability to trap moisture within the deeper layers of the epidermis all the way up to the top."

"I've been using this for years now and I can't overstate how important it is, especially in very dry conditions, to constantly be humidifying your face. But especially with a formula that has some lipids in it, it's got some fat, and when you have fats in it, it just holds everything in. This has just the right combination that you get the glow without the greasiness, and it just makes everything sit and look really nice. Instant glow. I've noticed it's also actually really good on the hair as well. But also this has been my go-to for long haul flights."

"This has been my go-to for long haul flights. I try to not touch my face when I'm on the plane so these have been just a perfect combination. They're Double Serum All-in-One Multi Balm, this is all of these but in a balm stick format. It just really helps to prevent these areas from just getting dry and crinkly. So I love putting it around my crow's feet area, around the eye and the forehead, my nasolabial folds. This is not heavy and greasy by the way, and also gives that sort of natural healthy sheen and highlight."

"The texture is viscous and bouncy, very jellylike. This contains 60% propolis extract and I think pairing it with niacinamide is just perfect. When I use this it's that immediate skin plumping, that dew that comes from really well hydrated skin, and the complexion just overall looks better. There have been times when my skin feels really dull and depleted, and I've actually paired this with the glow serum with rice and arbutin for a little brightening boost. I always layer it by using the glow deep serum first and then the glow serum afterwards because I love that proper glow. For a lot of people it might be too sticky, I don't mind that at all. It just lifts the complexion. Pairing this with the dynasty cream, I mean forget about it, you're talking about the dynamic duo of glow. You can have skin dull and arid as a desert, this combination will plump everything out and make everything juicy. A formula that I've been consistently using has just been the best treatment."

"The first thing I apply on my skin right after cleansing is [...] my vitamin C serum. I have a new favorite ascorbic acid serum. [...] This is a 15% water-based ascorbic acid treatment that is also supported by ferulic acid, glutathione, amino acids. [...] The texture overall is just very lightweight, it simply disappears in your skin after you apply it. Yes, this does have that hot dog smell because it's ascorbic acid, but what I appreciate the most about this and what makes it stand out above the others is just the airtight packaging. [...] This will dispense droplet by droplet and nothing can go back inside the tube, so you can literally put this under running water to clean it and nothing will go back inside. I've never seen any one of these turn color or even slightly oxidized. It's simple but just adds so much longevity to a formula that is notoriously unstable. [...] Ascorbic acid serums do have a reservoir effect, so it's okay if you don't use it every single day. Sometimes I just use it every other day or sometimes even three times, four times a week."

"This antioxidant serum, I didn't expect to love as much as I do. It's got idebenone and blackberry complex with anthocyanin rich fruit extracts such as blackberry which makes up 20% of this as well as blueberry. It contains a good amount of idebenone, which is an ingredient that's actually really popular in Korean beauty and I just feel is quite underrated. It's a very powerful antioxidant that's related to CoQ10, but is believed to actually be even more powerful, so even better at protecting your skin against environmental stressors including the sun and UVB rays, but also even better at reducing the damage that has already been done. If you're someone who can't tolerate ascorbic acid, this would be a great antioxidant serum alternative. If you look at the color of this, that yellow is the natural color of idebenone, so this is a concentrated amount. It's a very simple, well-aging supplemental serum and texture-wise almost non-existent. This is not a bouncy serum, this is about as lightweight as it gets. It does lightly hydrate your skin."

"Their Stress Less Serum with 0.5% beta glucan and metacast-aide, it's just one of those calming serums that you use when you want your skin to just feel good and be comfortable. I've always loved good beta glucan serum, I mean it's just so great for calming down stressed skin, but I also know from my product development experience that beta glucan is a very expensive ingredient. What I love about this brand is it just does not skimp on quality of ingredients. If you're someone who has skin that just does not like niacinamide, then I think this is a perfect alternative, especially with the calming effect it has and the way that it would just smooth redness. This would be a great alternative pairing when you are using retinoids, especially if you're a beginner when your skin is retinized, or after any kind of treatment, after exfoliating. This is that ultimate feel-good serum when your skin is stressed. It's also very hydrating."

"I've been really appreciating their calming relief line. In particular, their redness relieving facial cream. This one is suited for rosacea prone skin, which I happen to have. I'm particularly prone during the winter time when it's cold and dry. My cheeks get really red and that's exactly what this is for. Treating that redness that comes from dry, tight skin, whether it's from the environment or whether it's from treatments. This really has been the best in my experience at quickly reducing that redness. This has their biomimic technology which uses a lipid complex that imitates what we have in our own skin to really strengthen the barrier and prevent transepidermal water loss. I love this as a winter overnight treatment. In the morning, everything just feels so calm. [...] The finish on this is so beautifully glowy. It's skin flattering and the texture of this, in my opinion, it's not heavy at all. It is moisturizing. There's no scent suitable for all skin types, including very sensitive skin."

"It's great under makeup, which makes it a great daytime moisturizer during the fall and winter. I often use it around my eye area as well, so it's just kind of that one-stop lazy girl moisturizer. During the spring and summer even, I loved using this as an evening moisturizer because there was something about it that was so replenishing and soothing after a day in the sun. By now, you've heard me talk a lot about the Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream. This was also in my 2024 year-end favorites. It's just become that all-occasion moisturizer for me. Apparently, one is sold every 7 seconds. [...] It's a very comforting creaminess, which to me doesn't feel too rich or too heavy. It uses their patented capsule technology to deliver high-density ceramides to the skin, and in combination with the fatty acids and cholesterol that forms the holy trifecta of preventing transepidermal water loss, so this really helps your skin hold on to hydration and moisture even more effectively."

"I really love just even scooping it out. Beautifully hydrating, feels so soothing when you apply it. The creaminess is substantial, and your skin looks so glowy. I would say this one is a little heavier. These blue suspended dollops of cream are actually a concentrated phyto PDRN formula. PDRN is just one of the latest buzzwords in cosmetics, very much in the same vein as vitamin C and retinoids, meaning that the specific buzzword ingredient isn't necessarily the gold standard. I would not associate this PDRN formula with the actual PDRN used in Rejuvenex, which is the famous clinical application using salmon sperm DNA. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that what they use has no benefit to the skin. A lot of times there is. The fact is, I would have gotten this and loved this with or without the PDRN on it."

"Since maybe right before spring, I've been plowing through Purito's Dermide Relief Barrier Moisturizer with ceramides. This is just that kind of moisturizer you fall in love with the minute it touches your face. The application really is that elegant. It's got that beautiful light creaminess, but it feels very, very hydrating as well. [...] I called it deceptively moisturizing because it feels so hydrating when you're applying it. And it does actually feel lightish, but it's got some magic to it. And it leaves the skin with this beautiful healthy natural finish. This has everything your skin needs for a really healthy skin barrier. It's got that holy trifecta of five different types of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids to just really prevent any kind of transepidermal water loss. This is also great under makeup, which makes this a great daytime moisturizer during the fall and winter. In fact, I often use it around my eye area as well, so it's just kind of that one-stop lazy girl moisturizer. During the spring and summer even, I loved using this as an evening moisturizer because there was something about it that was so replenishing and soothing after a day in the sun. [...] This has just become that all occasion moisturizer for me."

"If you're looking for an intense moisturizer or your skin just really needs that extra nourishment, barrier repair, TLC, Dr. Althea's 147 Barrier Cream is no joke. It is dense. It is creamy. It is a stunning formula and it is great for sensitive and sensitized skin as well. But even though it has that heaviness, there is zero greasiness, at least in my experience, which makes me feel that this is really great and comforting for compromised skin. Even if it's oily, this can be used by quite a wide broad range of skin conditions. It's creamy, rich, but fast absorbing with a soft, natural skin finish. I love using it for nighttime repair, and especially because it feels so non-invasive. It's not greasy or oily. It's just got this kind of matte finish that sticks to your skin. The light blue color is beautiful. In this formula, it has guazelene, one of my favorite ingredients [...] for soothing and calming the skin. This also has avocado extract, four different types of ceramides, seven different forms of hyaluronic acid, and their special patented plant ingredient. It's got chameleia seed oil and argan oil. It's rich again without leaving any greasy residue."

"This is intensely hydrating and moisturizing. This brand kind of takes me back to the earlier years of my channel and I love it. It's gentle and therapeutic enough to use on really sensitive skin, so I'm talking postprocedure, atopic dermatitis, eczema, and even babies can use this. But the texture and application is what I really love. It is so hydrating but it's also moisturizing as well. It just feels great on the skin, instantly calming and soothing."

"I've been loving from Paula's Choice their Pro Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer. This has three peptides that really help our skin attract and hold on to hydration and moisture. It's all about the skin plumping, and I have to say this is really, really effective at that. I love a Paula's Choice moisturizer, but I feel like they're always surprising me in the best possible way with the different textures. This is like a beautiful gel balm that is so intensely hydrating. You almost feel your skin immediately plump out when you apply it. This also leaves a really, really healthy glow and it looks great under makeup as well."

"This is kind of an exception from Rhode, their Barrier Butter. I would categorize this as a hybrid cream and balm, it's way more intense than your average moisturizer to just be classified as such. From first use, actually, I kind of fell in love with this because I've always longed for a formula that dares to be this intense. It kind of saved my skin during the period when I was really ill. There were moments where almost everything was cracking. I would just grab this, sloppily apply, and I kid you not, my skin was embalmed for a few days. This is not something that disappeared when I woke up the next day. Protected is probably the best word I can use. I also want to mention this will give you the most intense glow on the surface of your skin, no matter what is happening underneath, no matter how dull, dry, cracked, dehydrated. This is meant to be used during your evening skincare routine, although if you are going to be out in extreme weather conditions, then you could use this during the day as well. This will protect. I use this as a moisturizer. It's kind of the two-in-one moisturizer and slugging effect. I mean, if your skin is really dry, then you could even use this over your moisturizer."

"For days when my skin just feels really irritated, there's a lot of redness and rawness, and I just want pure comfort, then I really love Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream. I don't find this to be very rich, [...] but there's something so comforting about it. It's very moisturizing, which is exactly what my skin needs when it's feeling irritated and raw. This is one of my favorite drugstore moisturizers. It reminds me a lot of the Physio Gel moisturizer that I love so much, but yeah, this is just so comforting and I also think it makes my skin look really good."

"Very few moisturizers out there that dare to be this rich. From The Ordinary The Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides, I mean I've tried texturally dense moisturizers before but it's almost as though they're so scared of being greasy you sort of have this really velvet grippy matte experience that doesn't really feel very moisturizing. Even though it is a dense cream, this is so moisturizing and so protective that I could be sleeping in front of an industrial heating unit and I will wake up the next morning with glowy skin. So I love the richness of this. I also really love the way it makes my skin look as well. When I do use this during the day it's on days where I just don't wear any makeup because makeup does not sit well over this."

"This is their lightest moisturizer, this is a pure clear beautiful lush gel. My skin has always been a big fan of beta glucan because it just achieves so many things I need. It's calming, it's soothing, it's hydrating. This is for anyone who wants a light refreshing moisturizer without emollient creaminess or oils. I love the texture of this, it is so lush and it feels great to apply. The nature of beta glucan is that it can be quite a sticky humectant, that's kind of like honey, but you don't feel that at all. It just forms this really weightless flexible film on your skin leaving the texture very very smooth. The way in which I really love using this a lot is as a sleeping mask, just a thin layer over all my other skincare. It shouldn't work but it just does."

"A moisturizer I love to use for tretinoin nights is this one from Allies of Skin, their Molecular Barrier Recovery Cream Balm. This works like a skin repair balm without having the consistency of one. This has a creamy texture yet it's still very silky when you apply it. It's not greasy or oily but it is very moisturizing. It's just comforting on the skin, especially when your skin needs recovery."

"I generally love Paula's Choice eye creams. I've seen me use them throughout the years in my routines. I also do love the C15, C25 boosters as well. So I was pretty excited for this, especially to use during the daytime because I love an antioxidant during the daytime. The texture for right now is absolutely perfect. It's creamy enough, holds really well under makeup, but it's substantial enough that it does keep this area just well lubricated. This contains 5% of three vitamin C derivatives. These derivatives are good at brightening the skin, but also it has the peptides, the hydrators, and all of that as well."

"After cleansing, this has to be like my all-time new favorite hair treatment serum. This is a barrier-fortifying serum for the scalp that's so good I want to use this on my face, and the only reason why I don't is because my face already gets so much. The texture is super lightweight, very milky but lightweight, very hydrating without the use of alcohols, which actually is in the majority of hair serums that I've tried. It just sinks into your scalp but at the same time you really feel the hydration happening. It's like I can almost feel my scalp sort of bouncing out, just plumping out, and it does not weigh the hair down at all. I do not feel any heaviness around the roots even when I use this multiple days without a hair wash in between. This has the natural moisturizing factors and of course the hyaluronic acid, which seems to be a theme throughout my scalp care routine. The texture of this really is kind of superior to anything I've tried."

"I've been reaching for the most recently and I've been rediscovering my appreciation for it, and that is from Klairs, their Rich Moist Soothing Cream. This was recently repackaged and it got to remind me how much I loved this. This has been the perfect moisturizer for me for right now and also through a very mild winter that I experienced, because even though it says it's rich, I don't find it to be heavy. This really has such a comforting, silky emollient texture. It's particularly good if your skin is just stressed. Klairs does moisturizers really really well, they just get the texture down."

"If you're looking for something even stronger that deals particularly with rough texture and bumpy skin and your skin is sensitive, then I would recommend this again from CeraVe, the rough and bumpy daily smoothing moisturizer. This contains 20 percent urea, so it has even more of a smoothing and exfoliating effect without being very irritating, although I would caution anyone to patch test first because you just never know with anything that can be very concentrated. This is an intense humectant, it's hydrating but particularly good for you if you're dealing with very dry cracked skin. This is great for your feet, for cracked heels, but anywhere on your body where you just feel the texture is very thick, very rough or bumpy, fabulous for KP during the winter time, especially when you don't want to use any harsh acidic scrubs or treatments. The texture of this is relatively light though, still moisturizing, but I do love the soothing gel-ness of it when you first apply it, feels really nice. It does dry down quickly which is great as well."

"I love using the Hada Labo Gokujun lotion on my skin. I use this all over, I even use it on my hair. This is so all-purpose, it's amazing for the face but really amazing for everywhere, even down to my feet. For times like now, the premium formula which is the gold bottle is what I tend to go for because it's really really intense. This just works so well, especially if you've got the scalies or the flaky skin. If you have this underneath a moisturizer, it just kind of holds everything, sticks everything down."

"There's a neck cream that I like using from Strivectin, their TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus. I'm pretty picky about this area because it can get really uncomfortable, but this one really works for me. This is already an upgraded version of another really popular neck cream they had, which I hadn't tried, but this has a more advanced technology called the NIA 144 technology which works to further strengthen the skin here but also firm and effectively the contours around the neck and firm the skin. But if you're someone who can see creases appear when you're turning your neck and they all kind of form, this is actually substantially moisturizing enough. It works to improve the elasticity of the skin around here but also just to smooth out the appearance and make it more moisturized so it doesn't have that sort of dry effect that a neck cream can honestly have. All the technology doesn't matter if the texture isn't right, because this area is prone to milia. I also don't like it when it's overly moisturizing where I can really feel something sitting on top of my skin, because it becomes very sensitive and sometimes itchy. I feel like they nailed the texture—this is substantially moisturizing, which is something we need particularly during the colder drier months. It gets in there so your skin doesn't have all those visible crepiness and lines, but at the same time it is not clammy. You don't feel it sitting on top of your skin—it sinks in. I apply it from the bottom all the way to the end of my chin and around my jawline as well because you want to firm this whole area up."

"It is my personal favorite Shiseido moisturizer, their most popular formula. It is so elegant, it feels so good on the skin, it makes the skin look so good. Again, it appears richer than it feels, super silky. It also has a nice glidy slip, which makes it really good for just a little bit of facial massage when you're applying it. To me, this acts like a rich cream, but it doesn't feel like one. I can easily use this cream in the summer as well. There's a lightness about it, a lightness that kind of makes my skin feel just a little tighter. I can't overstate how beautifully this applies. This truly has such a refined and luxurious texture. Usually after a Shiseido routine, I don't even need makeup. I can just walk out like this, and I feel like my skin looks great."

"This was one of my first loves when I started this channel eight years ago and it was my introduction to Beauty of Joseon. The texture is a comforting creamy gel but also it's got that makeup gripping effect as well. It quite aggressively just locks in hydration for the long term so you're pretty much glowing all day. The Korean moisturizers are my favorite because they're the ones that give me that beautiful glowy hydrated healthy skin finish. This is a very hydrating beautiful glowy moisturizer, but also this is really great to use for massage because it has a long lasting slip to it, so I find this to be a great cream to use with devices whether it's laser, gua sha, vibration or EMS. Another really effective way I've used this, especially as we're going into the drier months, is as a sleeping mask. Before I go to bed I apply a thin layer over my moisturizer and it's just that moisture holding grippiness. You wake up in the morning with super plumped out skin."

"This is intense without that heavy or even a greasy finish, so even using it during the daytime wearing makeup underneath, it's all good. I would say the finish is like velvet dewy. It's got that yellow color that comes from the idebenone. This has a patented independently developed Skin Barrier complex that not only protects the Skin Barrier but also strengthens its own natural moisturizing ability. This has gone through clinical trials where after the first use and after 48 hours the skin still remains moisturized. I kind of felt that from when I started using this, I just felt that it was long-lasting moisture. After five uses the skin moisture was affected at even a deeper level, 10 layers, and after two weeks the results were a stronger Skin Barrier. This has no scent to it. Of course it contains the blackberry extract, the idebenone, but also five different types of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol, you know, the good stuff."

"Happy Barrier is really silky, dreamy, moisturizing but light. It contains 10% squalane but also a lipid mixture with ceramides and the lipids used are ones that mimic the natural lipids that already exist in our skin. The color of this moisturizer comes from the green tea extract, which just shows that there is a high amount of polyphenols in here. The [...] texture is just that perfect lightweight, silky smooth, very hydrating, great for normal to oily skin or really hot humid weather."

"I'm kind of surprised by how much I actually love the Shiseido Sun Protector Lotion Mineral Sunscreen with an SPF of 60 plus. I love the way it feels and it applies, it actually makes my skin look good, it's flattering, but also I like that it's sort of moisturizing. I like that it's one and done, face and body. This is fragrance-free and it's about 85% skin care ingredients to benefit the skin, to soften fine lines and even the skin tone. It maintains 8 hours of hydration, which I can actually feel because I've been in really hot and super dry desert-like conditions and despite that I can really feel my skin maintaining that hydration. It's got their signature WetForce technology and other technologies that actually get activated when you're sweating or when there's water. This has also been ophthalmologist tested to be safe around the eye area, and I personally have never felt discomfort with this around my eye area."

"One of my favorite new finds this year is this sunstick from AHC, their Master's Icy Jelly Sunstick with an SPF of 44 and a PA of +++. The texture is something I haven't yet experienced in a sunstick, it goes on cold and feels like gliding cold water on your skin. It's thin and weightless, which makes it perfect for reapplication because it's light as a feather. The stick itself has a bouncy texture and goes on completely invisible. Even when I apply a lot, there's no feeling of heaviness, it's really weightless."

"This one from Haruharu Wonder their black bamboo daily soothing sunshield I absolutely love it. It is so effortlessly glidy when I use this there is no tugging. A lot of times with these more waxy looking sticks you know it takes a few tugs to kind of get it going and even then it just feels like dry and this feels almost as I'm gliding it almost moist. It's also cooling as you apply it and I love that cooling sensation especially for spring and summer the hotter warmer months. The other thing is it is legitimately weightless. I mean I can go over the same spot over and over again and it just kind of it's just not there. It also seems to have a really really nice blurring effect everything kind of just gets smoothed out. So this I've been using constantly for reapplication and it's been perfect."

"The Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen with Broadspectrum SPF 40 is definitely geared towards the US market. Zinc oxide is listed as an active ingredient but there's also butyloctyl salicylate which is a sneaky chemical sunscreen filter. It's so lightweight it's practically water and it's so thin it's really quite beautiful. You can apply a lot and just not really notice it. This works beautifully under makeup or just on its own which is what I tend to do. I find there to be barely any coverage, just enough of a tint to mask a white cast. There are 12 shades of this which is really nice, and because of the blendability of it I can use like three of these shades and it would match me well."

"This one from Supergoop is their Protect Tint with an SPF of 50 and a PA of four pluses. It uses a mixture of mineral and chemical filters which I tend to love. The application is so easy, it's so light I can apply multiple layers. The tint really is quite subtle, so even after applying two layers, which is what I do with my sunscreens, it's not like you have a lot of coverage. It still looks like your skin, everything is just slightly more evened out. And it dries down giving a kind of skin perfecting and blurring look as well. I do wish these were larger bottles though. This is practically travel size, and it's been great for travel."

"I love using this. In fact, it feels similar to Supergoop skin tints, a similar experience, same kind of finish. It's really sheer, it applies beautifully, but also has a bit of a skin-perfecting effect. I feel like it just smooths everything out as well. I find this very flattering, especially in the summer. This is the Neutrogena Pure Screen Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid. I would recommend this for anyone with normal to dry skin. This has four shades, but they all blend out so beautifully that I think each shade covers quite a wide range of different skin tones. This is quite sheer, but during the summer I don't really wear makeup, and I love a good skin tint that's quite flattering, and this is it. This is also a glowy formula, it's quite moisturizing as well, it gives you that really healthy, hydrated skin. For some reason I actually have a really hard time finding this in drugstores."

"I've been using the most recent upgraded reformulation of my all-time favorite Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk. This is probably the best upgrade yet. This now has better protection, is even more resistant to elements, sand, water, everything. The texture is even lighter, it's smoother, it's actually just plain old silky and weightless and it is great under makeup. For those with darker skin tones who may have experienced a cast using the previous versions of this, this has also become more blendable. This dries down very naturally, has a bit of that blurring effect, leaves the skin feeling super smooth, wears beautifully under makeup. The packaging now is more environmentally friendly, the bottles and caps are made of plant-based bioplastics."

"The Superstar which is my personal favorite and to date the most flattering sunscreen I have ever used is their latte beige. This does something that really levels up the appearance of my skin and again it's subtle but noticeable. This has a latte beige tint which is a very accurate description of it but it's very sheer so there is no coverage to this, completely shears out, but what's great is this is a sunscreen that could be used on even darker skin tones. I've purchased this so many times. There's something about this formula, just the way it spreads, applies, how hydrating it feels and how it makes my skin look, it's just different from anything else I've tried. This one doesn't have those extreme water resistant, friction resistant, or sweat resistant claims which may attribute to why it feels a little different. If you're familiar with any Skin Aqua formulas like their super popular UV Moisture Gel, then you'll know exactly how elegant the texture is. This is the 2023 reformulated version. If you love the previous versions you're still going to absolutely love this. The user experience has not changed."

"I can't not mention this sunscreen from Round Lab. Their Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen. SPF of 50, PA of four pluses. Time and again, this is always just a bestseller. And there is a good reason why. I feel like it maintains all the properties of the Korean sunscreens that we just love so much, except it's even lighter. It's elegant. It's so easy to wear. It feels really nice even on top of your skincare. It's great under makeup. It feels hydrating. It's non-greasy. You don't really feel it sitting on your skin. So, it's like very natural finish."

"One I really did love and this is a more moisturizing sunscreen. I think it's great for this time of year is from Anua their Zero Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen. This has US chemical filters. I do love the application. I love that this gives a healthy moisturized glowy finish, which is so hard to achieve right now when it's so dry. And I love that they have a built-in kind of measuring cup in their cap, which helps us use the right amount."

"This one from Purito, their Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen, is a reformulation and distinctive upgrade from their previous version. What stood out to me is I rarely come across a Korean sunscreen that is specifically for long-term outdoor exposure. Usually that kind of technology is with the Japanese and European sunscreens, specifically made to be resistant in every single way you need. So this is one of the first Korean sunscreens that has that water resistance, sweat resistance, friction resistance, seawater, sand, but also this supposedly has like a 10-hour wear. I've been in many situations where I've had to spend long hours outdoors with a lot of sun exposure and this is what I've been using. This has all that resistance without compromising on that beautiful Korean sunscreen elegance that I love so much. You know, beautiful silky texture, really hydrating and moisturizing as well. It was actually great because I was in a dry sunny climate, so this actually made my skin look really good despite that. In a hot humid climate as we move towards summer, this makes for a perfect light moisturizer. This has five different ceramides in it, it's got vitamin B5, it's got centella asiatica."

"Versed just came out with their Total Package Replenishing Body Lotion. It's a mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 30. I've been using this on days where I'm just getting incidental sun exposure and it's been really perfect for that. What I like about this is the texture during application is really light but then it's actually quite an intensely moisturizing sunscreen. But what prevents it from feeling really heavy on the skin is it's got a dry touch finish, so it definitely mattifies down and it's not invasive. It doesn't feel sticky or gooey. A very significant detail about this, and one that I believe is what drives me to use this over other alternatives, is that there is no scent to this whatsoever, not even of sunscreen. So it's just not obvious as it usually is to all those around you that you are wearing sunscreen. The zero scent part is a big deal for me."

"If I was really really pushed to choose a favorite out of all the ones that are quite similar, then for me would probably be the Isentry. It's just one of those golden locks but with sunscreens kind of situations. I think that the texture it gets it just right for what I want. There's no scent. The finish, it's not too velvet, it's not too radiant, it's got that perfect texture between gel and cream where it's a little more gelish but it isn't so lightweight that it's nothingness. It's also quite hydrating as well, it's very very refreshing on the skin. My skin feels plump after using it, sits well under makeup, it's great during the summer time but also good during colder drier weather months as well."

"The texture is like a hydrating creamy gel, it is actually very gel like. This isn't moisturizing, this is a nice light layer to apply over your moisturizer. It feels hydrating at first because of its refreshing gel texture but it dries down really quickly into almost weightless velvet finish on your skin and makeup applies really lovely over this. It has that kind of jasmine tea scent or like white florals from bellflower."

"This has a slightly more hydrating texture to me but also it's cooling when you apply it. It's quite refreshing. It has an almost medicinal scent to it, it's actually Rosemary in this, it just smells slightly medicinal and I think it's coupled with the cooling effect and how it's just a bit hydrating when you first apply it. This dries down really quickly again and does feel very primary as well, sits very nicely under makeup."

"This is my new favorite. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil goes without saying this meets all my basic requirements for an oil cleanser: has to effortlessly remove all my stubborn eye makeup, also emulsify and rinse off completely clean. I absolutely love the texture of this, which is bouncy and it's not oily or greasy, which I think is characteristic of rice brand oil. It's rather light. This has to be the most comforting oil cleansing experience I've had in a long time. It really feels luxurious to apply. It's that bouncy texture which makes the whole massaging process and cleansing process feel really nice and comforting. This formula is only nine ingredients and is 95% natural plant oils. This also cleanses really deeply, has an impact on removing blackheads as well. It's strong enough as a first cleanser to keep my skin decongested through the warmer months but without stripping it at all."

"These rice mochi cleansers are really irresistible eye candy, but they also really appeal to my whole love for rice based cleansers. I have the fresh rose hip and the royal blue, and I've thoroughly enjoyed using them as a second cleanser. The rose hip formula is for sensitive skin and it's got some gentle exfoliation, great for summer congestion and buildup. I just love rose hip, I think it's got great anti-aging properties. These cleansers are meant to be first and second cleansers in one, but that doesn't work as well for me. They're not really able to replace my oil-based cleanser, especially where removing stubborn makeup is concerned. It doesn't do the best job of removing makeup around my eyes. But this is a great second cleanser, and it can be used as a mask. I really feel like it does something to brighten the complexion and deeply cleanse without stripping the skin. They've been clinically proven to be effective with blackheads as well and removing fine dust and powder from the pores. What I would do sometimes is spot treat, put the cleanser on certain areas where I have more pores, and then after a few minutes add some water and just use it as a cleanser. It's kind of cool how you can use it as a cleanser and a clay mask."

"The one that I've almost been exclusively using this year is From Sachi Skin their Saponins Cream Cleanser. [...] This just feels so decadent and I do love the color. [...] This uses saponins which is a plant surfactant but it's so gentle. This just gives my skin that calming soothing comfort when I use it. [...] This is great for those days when your skin just needs a more intense cleanse like if you've been sweating all day you have tons of layers, but of course this is still a very gentle cleanser. [...] The texture is beautiful, it's kind of bouncy in a way that I like, and it gives a very subtle gentle lather."

"This really has the effectiveness of a much stronger cleanser except without any of the stripped dry tight after effects. In fact, this was tested on babies from 3 to 18 months, no tears, no redness. This was also tested against some other very well-known formulas for children and it came out as just being more gentle on the skin. I just naturally reach for it when my skin feels like it's got a lot of heaviness just sitting on top. I find this to be a great second cleanser after an oil-based cleanser. This would especially make normal to oily skin happy."

"It uses glycolipids so this is applied on your dry skin just like an oil or balm cleanser. The [...] texture is not a cream texture, it's an emulsion that's sort of gelish, but it has a really nice slip to it while you're applying it on your skin. It doesn't really emulsify in the way that I'm used to, I don't see it turning milky, but it still rinses off clean. For this reason I prefer this to the squalane cleanser, which does not quite rinse off clean and leaves a residue on the skin. This removes all my sunscreen and makeup. It's a great first cleanser if you have normal to oily skin or if you just don't prefer or enjoy an oil-based first cleanser."

"A drugstore cleanser that I love so much is this one from Cetaphil their Gentle Skin Cleanser. I've been loving and using this ever since they upgraded like two years ago their most favored beloved dependable formula and just made it better. This is exactly the kind of second cleanser that I love which is super gentle, calming, soothing, hydrating. The difference between this and the old formula is that they removed the fragrance but they also added niacinamide, glycerin, vitamin B5, so it's very hydrating as well. But this retained the Mell cleansing technology as well as the texture that so many have grown so fond of and attached to. It's got that comfort and creamy gel texture that feels super hydrating and it doesn't strip and also rinses off without residue. This is also oil free, so really this is great for all skin types, especially if your skin is very sensitive. This won't sting the eyes."

"The ginseng cleanser has a base of soybean oil which is a lot lighter but also a stellar cleansing oil. This still has a very lush and comforting texture as you're applying it as opposed to a very thin one. What draws me to this formula is really the medicinal scent. I just love that first whiff as I'm applying it. It's very herbal and refreshing in that it wakes everything up. It's a very sagacious and very grounding scent. I definitely detect the nigella and svia as well and those are stimulating the senses but relaxing at the same time. This all comes naturally from the ingredients. The brand doesn't add additional fragrances or essential oils for the sake of scent."

"It's gentle on the skin. This contains 10 different weights of hyaluronic acid as well as ceramides and it just has that really lush soothing gel texture that I love. It slightly foams, I like to call it a milky lather because it really is quite gentle, so it's non-stripping, but it's one of those cleansers that just soothes and hydrates as you cleanse. So after cleansing your skin just does not feel dry or tight."

"I consider myself a bit of a cleansing balm aficionado at this point, it's hard to be wowed, I haven't been wowed in a long time, and you know this did it. It's pretty much the texture that does it for me and of course the overall user experience. This has that textural refinement that in my experience is usually reserved for the very high-end Japanese cleansing balms, and of course this does have Japanese technology in it. It does not sting the eyes and rinses off completely without residue. This will remove it all, from the very resistant sunscreens to waterresistant, stubborn eye makeup. It's one and done."

"The Jelly Joker is quite remarkable. The texture alone is just so next level and gives you that heightened cleansing experience, but this is also about as gentle as a water-based second step cleanser can be. It uses micellar water cleansing technology which really does blend gentleness and effectiveness at cleansing the skin. It's pretty much a micellar water cleanser but in the form of a luscious, thick gel. There's so much comfort in the thickness and how well this spreads on the skin. It makes you want to just stay and massage and keep cleansing. This does not foam, but when it rinses off it just leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and clean. It's surprisingly adept at removing long-wearing base makeup like a Stila Double Wear Foundation, although with water-resistant eye makeup not so much."

"This one has become one of my favorite skincare things since last year. It dethroned my previous favorite, which is the Medicube overnight wrapping mask. The texture of this one is kind of what makes all the difference, it's a thick creamy mochi paste, and the texture makes the application process a little better. I feel like you end up using less because you apply it much like you're applying a moisturizer. I love how it transforms from that creamy mochi into just a transparent like glass film. It makes my skin feel so cool and calm, which is also great for the hotter months coming up. As it's drying you can definitely feel everything tightening and firming, which is not a bad feeling. I also always marvel at how well this adheres to the skin. I sleep on my face and the film is not disrupted, everything stays intact. When I remove this, my skin is glowing and the moisturizer underneath still feels fresh, and usually by the next morning I can't feel the moisturizer on my skin anymore, but with this it's like I just freshly applied it and my skin is so glowy."

"It's been a long time since I've been excited about a new clay or pore mask. I was immediately attracted to this from Skin1004, their Madagascar Centella Pore Minimizing Quick Clay Stick Mask, because of the user experience, which I find to be quite exceptional. This applies so beautifully, so elegantly. I just don't see the point of ever using my fingers to spread a clay mask ever again. It's got the smoothest, silkiest glide on the skin, but also it's creamy enough to just be a completely effortless application. There's no pulling or dragging on your skin as you use this, and it dispenses just the right amount, a nice thin layer that covers everything, gets in the pores, everything. It's gentle enough where if you do tend to have oilier and more congested skin, you could use this all over. It dries down fast and beautifully, and this washes off so easily. Usually with clay masks I always have to use a facial sponge just to get rid of those super sticky clumps that won't come off, but this rinses off effortlessly with water. And then also you can already feel how smooth your skin feels. This decongests in really such a gentle way."

"This mask has one of my favorite fits it stays well clear of the hairline and even the jaw leaves a little bit of a perimeter around my face which to me is just perfect. This starts off as quite a dense hydrogel sheet but after about 20, 30 minutes you really feel the whole thing has thinned out and the serum has just transferred and you can feel that this is ready to come off. When you peel it off your skin is so smooth it looks poreless and everything actually feels tighter and firmer. The key ingredient here is their own trademark complex which amongst other things combines camellia which is super antioxidant rich and great for well-aging and of course their low molecular weight collagen. The pink color comes from the vitamin B12 which really calms the skin. This is good for sensitive skin. I also love the fact that this contains granactive retinoids as well. All the ingredients in here are just really geared towards well-aging."

"Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask is pretty much the one I consistently use the most. This has multi-low molecular collagen, which is quite fundamental in all of these sheet masks, but what makes this one stand out a little extra for me is that this contains also galactomyces ferment filtrate, which is just an ingredient I love, my skin loves it. It just gives my skin that extra complexion enhancing kick. It's full of fabulous ingredients, many of which are predictable such as different weights of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and so on. Each one of these masks contains 1.19 ounces of concentrated serum in it, it's basically more than your regular 1-ounce bottle of serum solidified into mask form. You apply this as an opaque mask as the last step of your skincare routine after you have applied everything else including your moisturizer, [...] and by the morning time this will have completely turned transparent. The morning peel off is so intensely satisfying. It feels as though your skin has sucked the life out of these masks, like everything it had to give it's given, but it's like revealing newborn juicy fresh baby skin. This has been a must for me while I'm dealing with my drier skin but also it's very protective against any strong heating units just sapping my skin."

"I always really appreciated that there's something very special and intense about Innisfree's Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. It's just clearly better at taking out any kind of blackheads or anything stuck in the pores, especially around my nasal area where it's very obvious. It's better at doing that than almost anything else I've tried. I did an experiment once with a couple of my friends where we put the volcanic clay on one side and another clay mask on the other side. Afterwards, the other side was just kind of a typical result where you'd still see some blackheads, whereas this side with the volcanic clay was completely clear. This formula is kind of iconic to me."

"Sulwhasoo is the first time I ever came across hanbang in skincare and promptly just fell in love with it. This has their red complex of antioxidant rich red fruit. The texture is elegant, it's creamy but it's really silky and it has that film-forming aspect to it which I love. The next morning my skin just looks brighter and everything looks healthier and better. Scent-wise, [...] this is the only overnight formula that I use that has a scent to it because I just really like it. I find it very pleasant and it really kind of helps me drift off."

"Of course my Lindsay Modeling Mask, this is something that really throws me back to when I started this channel. I haven't used rubber masks for a really, really long time, it kind of died out for me, and then I went to Seoul in the beginning of the year, I had a treatment, and it ended, of course, as always, with the rubber mask, and my feelings just got completely reignited. I've been using them since. There are very few things that can make my skin look as good and feel as good in as short a time, it really is kind of that instant fix. Everything is brighter, smoother, softer, more revitalized."

"Relatively new although I have been using this for a bit from Paula's Choice, the Skin Perfecting 6% Mandelic Acid plus 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant. This is clearly the AHA sibling to their unicorn tear BHA liquid exfoliant so this has a lot to live up to but it really really does it for me. I personally love that this is a combination of mandelic acid and time release lactic acid. As many of you know I have been a fan of mandelic acid since the beginning. My sensitive reactive skin, especially back in the day, was just not comfortable with a lot of the glycolic acid formulas out there that were just so harsh. Mandelic was so much easier to tolerate for my skin. I think for winter too this is such a great exfoliant. It's kind of counterintuitively when we really need to exfoliate because our skin is just so dull, dry, flaky and parched. This is great because it is super hydrating but also it does not irritate my skin at all. The mandelic acid molecules are of a larger size but also there's that time release element to it as well. So I use this in the evening and by morning my skin just feels so juicy and smooth. As per usual exfoliation for me is always done as needed so on a weekly rather than daily basis."

"Smooth Out with 12% AHA and Cactus liquid is specifically targeted for well-aging concerns and is the strongest of the three. This has a very effective combination of acids and it just works like a dream. But I really don't get the same kind of irritation or tingling that I usually do. I think that has a lot to do with the cactus ferment which helps mitigate neurosensory irritation. This ingredient is also used in some luxury high-end brands' exfoliating formulas. This is a very lightweight watery formula. I never apply acids with my hands; a cotton pad will ensure even application. This kind of AHA formula I prefer to use at night time, and you do wake up with really soft skin."

"I'm kind of locked in with OneSkin's OS-01 Eye Topical Supplement. I started using this last year and I've been loving it and I am sticking to it. The OS-01 is one of the latest and most advanced peptides that really help your skin become more resilient to the aging process. It's creamy, which I really like because it's very moisturizing without being heavy. It does absorb beautifully, but at the same time it does plump out the fine lines. It just feels good. It's powerful, love it."

"If you want a retinal strength to something just a bit more powerful but still gentle around this area, then this would be a great option. The textures are really silky, sort of like a creamish gel. There's the telltale yellow retinal color but in my experience the color doesn't stay visible. It's got this hydrating gel-like consistency and it absorbs really fast, leaving the skin around the eye area actually quite plump and hydrated. This is great year round, but if the skin around your eyes gets really dry and crinkly in the winter time then you may need something over it. I've been using this around my eyes and so far it's been great. This formula is kind of a well-aging powerhouse. I mean it's got all the heroes: it's got the vitamin A, it's got vitamin C, vitamin E, bakuchiol, three different peptides, there's also a complex of five roots as well as a complex of ferments. Because this is 0.04%, I would recommend a phasing period or you can start off by just applying it over your regular eye cream."

"I think if your concerns are more preventive and you are seeing more or less the first signs of aging around the eyes then I think this is an absolutely fabulous option when it comes to treatments that are just fabulous at brightening this area. When everything feels and looks dull and fatigued or even anemic it's all about the brightening. It contains three derivatives of vitamin C, the three that are the most powerful at visibly brightening the skin. This also contains 3% tranexamic acid as well as licorice root which are both well known for helping brighten the skin and even out pigmentation. For aging concerns there's also bakuchiol and peptides, and for the deep puffing there's caffeine in this. But my favorite part of this eye cream is just that golden hue it has."

"I really love their new Multi-Peptide Eye Serum. [...] I think it's such an effective formula, it's got everything I need for this eye area. The Ordinary just really knows how to do peptides well. [...] This contains eight actives which make up 35% of the entire formula, which is concentrated love. This treats the eyes on so many levels. I love the fact that I can use this on my upper mobile lids as well as the under eyes. [...] This has niacinamide for the brightening, and a bunch of signal peptides like Matrixyl for really helping with the appearance of lines and crows feet. There's also Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 which is really effective at dealing with undereye puffiness, but there's also caffeine in this as well to help with that too. I'm not just talking about eye bags, I'm talking about upper lid puffiness as well. I feel like this has been effective at reducing that. This is lightweight in texture but it's just robust enough that you feel it hydrating the skin around here and plumping the skin where the fine lines are. [...] This is a great affordable alternative that is similarly effective."

"The Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream, this has been a long-time favorite, and that's kind of an understatement. It was one of the first serious eye creams I ever got, and I've come full circle decades later to really appreciating and needing this again, because it's intense enough to really handle what is happening in this area right now. I don't do injectables or anything, I need a very good eye cream. This is rich and it keeps this area moisturized, plumped out all day. It works well under makeup, keeps everything from drying out and looking cracked. This targets all the five different types of wrinkles you can have around your eyes, from the inner corner going down the nose to the under eye area, any crepiness, any crow's feet, frown lines, all of it. It brings back kind of a more youthful quality to my eyes. Last year I started using the Vital Perfection eye cream, and this is not an easy decision to make, but this one feels like it's more intense, and also maybe I'm just very loyal."

"This is their newest eye cream and I feel like with Shiseido they really haven't been focusing on eye cream since their iconic benefit eye cream because it's a lot to live up to. This is also very much [...] focused on just the firming and lifting of this area. I feel like it does have an impact especially for me on my upper eyelid area. It doesn't seem as droopy. I feel like I can see more of my lid. When you get used to the texture and how silky and beautiful it is, it's hard not to always want to reach for this. It seems dense, but once you apply it, it's that really thin, silky smoothness. A little bit goes a long way. It's definitely moisturizing, especially around the sides of my eyes. My skin just feels more plump."

"This has 0.02% retinal, which makes it a very gentle formula and great for those with hypersensitive skin or even beginners. This also has ginseng extract in it, which is known for its restorative abilities, and you don't get really more concentrated antioxidants than you get in ginseng root. It's been a fantastic well-aging treatment for my extremely sensitive neck area. The texture is light and silky, it absorbs fast so you don't feel like it leaves anything on the skin. A little bit goes a long way, it spreads like silk, this fully absorbs, it dries down, and it's just really been working well. There's definitely a lot less guilt at such a great price."

"One of my favorite eye creams from last year is the Mary and May Tranexamic Acid and Glutathione Eye Cream. This is all about the brightening and the antioxidant protection. It has tranexamic acid but also contains glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant. What I like about this is that it's actually quite intensely moisturizing as well without feeling that way. This is a richer eye cream, but when you apply it, it is so silky and smooth and it dries down really fast, but you feel like it is very much moisturizing the skin around here. I even put it on my upper eyelids and there's no heaviness, but you get the intense moisture."

"This has become one of my favorite eye treatments. I credit Medik8 for being such a big part of my retinoid journey. I was really excited when these came out because this area around my eyes can benefit from something more, a lot lot more potent, and these are the first clinical strength retinal formulas for the eyes. The texture for me is about as good as it gets. It's moisturizing enough, it's hydrating enough, it's silky enough. I use this on my brow bone as well. This doesn't sit heavily on the skin at all but I just love how moisturizing it is. It just plumps out the fine lines, gets rid of any kind of crinkles. I find that the yellow color from the retinal really seems to work to neutralize the darkness under my eyes because my darkness is more of the purpley bruisy kind of anemic kind. I've not experienced sensitivity since I started using this, but I was definitely careful with phasing this in."

"There's definitely an upgrade in the formula. This has the new ingredient superoxide dismutase 3 which is an even more powerful antioxidant, but the formula itself and its entire antioxidant profile just really protects the skin for better and improved long-term results. My one complaint, which I feel is a significant oversight, is the misting function of this is abysmal. I mean, this is beyond tolerably bad. It's like I can't use it by misting it on my face because it comes out in one incredibly strong and focused stream. So, the way I apply this, and this is the best way to do it, I apply on my hands first and just use it like I would a regular hydrating toner or essence. This has a real fast impact I find on redness, especially the winter cold redness. It's just so calming."

"This has a bouncy texture with a lot of body, so it's not like just spilling through your fingers. It makes application really easy. When you apply it, it's so glidy and slippy. You really feel like you are coating your skin. It actually absorbs really fast and it's noninvasive. It's not greasy, but your skin feels plump and moisturized and all the moisture is getting locked in. I don't need anything else afterwards. [...] It's got the ceramides, hydroxythyl urea, poly glutamic acid, which is like a heavily hydrating amino acids, squalane. It's just beautiful. This has no scent to it whatsoever."

"The COSRX iconic snail mucin power essence is the first time I believe an essence had ever dared to be that intensely slimy, but this is just something I never really got into. I feel like it wasn't necessarily right for my skin type. I feel like snail mucin was better for skin that was maybe more acne prone. I was never really wowed by any of these formulas. I was more consumed by those formulas with honey and fermented ingredients because I could really see how much more it was doing for my skin."

"I've already gushed about my new favorite rice toner from Haru Haru Wonder, their Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence. From the minute you apply it you already feel the difference it makes. This doesn't just absorb and disappear, it makes everything better. This is not just hydrating, it keeps everything as well, and it's got probiotics. I mean I love this, I can keep gushing."

"I've mentioned this one before, Dr. Althea's Aquamarine Jelly Mist. The whole jelly mist thing is popular, there are so many of them, but this is one of my favorites. It's really refreshing and great for overheated skin, when you apply it, it can bring your skin temperature down by 5 degrees C. It's also super hydrating, full of antioxidants, with a blend from malachite. What gives it that cooling effect is xylitol, and since it's a mist, you may want to be careful using it around your dogs."

"Essence is, as you know, probably my favorite skin care category. They do one of the most important things for well-aging, which is hydrate your skin. But it's hydration plus, at least the essences I love tend to be super concentrated. So, of course, my beloved Gothamista Masterpiece Essence is really all about the well-aging and just protecting barrier health. It's a 62% concentrated black ginseng. It's always been one of my favorite well-aging ingredients in skincare. Ginseng is just so potent when it comes to antioxidants, nutrients, minerals, which is why it's so widely used in medicinal treatments. In my essence, I chose to use black ginseng because it is the most premium."

"I love this because it gives the skin a water glow effect. So it leaves a finish that is so glossy and reflective. This has 10% of the sodium DNA alongside their vegan PDRN which is of course ginseng root. There's also five different types of ceramides as well as vitamin B5. The texture is milky and it's not your typical texture. In fact, it's a little hard to describe, but while you're applying it on your skin, there's a little bit of a grippy, skin gripping effect. I mean, it smooths out, but it's almost as though you're putting a light top coat. And this kind of shellacs all the flaky skin down."

"The third formula in this kit, which is my favorite step in the routine, is the hydrating essence, their Vegan Blackberry Complex Cream Essence. It's that unique combination of mixing essence and moisturizer, and I get an unreasonable amount of joy just watching this mix, it's almost meditative, I'm mesmerized. [...] This is what I mean by light, buildable lipid layers: the moisturizer uses mainly jojoba seed oil, which is not a heavy, greasy oil at all, it's rather lightweight and really mimics the constitution of our own sebum. The essence part, no big surprise, is Blackberry extract, but also Blue Lotus water, which is used a lot for aging skin to hydrate and plump it, also centella asiatica and ceramide NP. This is a lightweight moisturizer that feels hydrating and refreshing but is not heavy, it will not leave any greasiness on your skin. In fact, I love that you can layer more of this, so you can build up to what you really need."

"I've recommended the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence before during VIB sales in the past, but I want to bring this up again particularly for the size. This is the 75 milliliter bottle, which is empty because I just finished the entire thing in about two months. The reason why I want to recommend it is this is actually the perfect size for someone who's just wanting to use it enough where you can see a change and where this will make a difference to your skin. If you're someone who just wants to use it for a short amount of time and then maybe rotate back eventually or later, which is something I always do, I mean it's always going to be there and always going to be on rotation for me. So instead of committing to a really big bottle, I would say this is enough for a couple of months where you can really get the most benefit out of it and then move on. I personally am going to stick with it now, and I'm already restocked."

"This is actually a mist. It's such a lightweight and milky formula. And the mister itself, the application [...] is so fine that you can't even feel it land on your skin. So when I use this the most is right after a shower when my skin is hot from the steam and I'm walking into a very dry environment. This is perfect for that. This is great for keeping by the bedside. When you wake up in the morning, if your skin feels tight and dry, mist. But also whenever at any point when my skin just feels dry during the day, I mist. You won't have droplets on your skin. You'll just have really a beautiful glow. [...] The formula is very consistent to the others in the line. This has the vegan derived PDRN which is from Jins Sang. It's got five different types of ceramides. Squalane. It's just really beautiful and you really get the sense that it keeps your skin hydrated."

"This is a great skin treatment for pre or post acne skin, but I particularly appreciate how this addresses so many post acne visible appearance concerns. [...] This reduces the appearance of post-inflammatory erythema, all those bright red marks that take forever usually to fade and are impossible to conceal in any natural looking way. But this also helps with post acne skin texture as well. While the NAG reduces the pigmentation post acne, they have also included a very special peptide which is non-irritating, it's gentle, it's non acid to resurface the appearance of the dents and pits that are usually left after acne. This also just generally helps strengthen the skin barrier for prevention. The texture of this is really light but it has that really nice aloe slipping to it so it applies fabulously. Also it sinks in and absorbs fast. This is very layerable, it just kind of disappears into your skin. This serum is actually perfect to pair with other acne treatments just to really boost results and because it is non-irritating but effective, it won't clash with other acne treatments that might be harsher."

"I love a milky toner, a milky formula, a bi-face formula, an emulsion. This to me sits between Paula's Choice comp collection milky toner, which is very thin and absorbs fully, and the Laneige cream skin or the original formula that was quite heavy and always left this greasiness on the skin. It's what Goldilocks would have picked. This comes out quite densely milky and it feels hydrating and moisturizing when you apply it on the skin as well as very comforting, but then it kind of absorbs and dries down to a finish that does not leave any oiliness, but your skin feels moisturized and it does leave a nice radiance without the oiliness or greasiness. This is very versatile, but the way I use it and I feel this works best is as a liquid moisturizer. This has all the moisturizing ingredients but it's also hydrating as well."

"One of my favorite bombs ever and I've been using this for decades is Egyptian Magic. This is five ingredients and all about the honey, the propolis, the royal jelly, the beeswax and olive oil. It's a bomb that transforms to an oil as soon as you apply it. It has real staying power, it's nourishing, it's also antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial. I use this as a healing ointment whenever I have irritation on my skin but I find it also really stands up to harsher elements like really strong wind, bitter coldness, but also with strong heating units as well. One of my secret weapons during long-haul flights."

"Then I started using Aklief. This intrigued me so much because this uses trifarotene, which is the latest in retinoid technology that we've had in the last 20, 30 years, with a really hydrating texture that I enjoy and prefer, but it's a lot gentler on my skin. This also really noticeably affected surface appearance, especially where pores are concerned, and that's been a pleasant surprise."

"CAIL is a bit more of an acquired taste in my opinion, I personally love it though. This formula is all about volume and keeping that youthful, plump volume. It's mainly the texture that I believe is not for everyone. It might put some people off, but I think you have to play around with this first when you first try it. It's gonna seem like it can't really spread, it's gonna seem too thick, almost Vaseline-like, but it goes through a texture change while you're applying. Suddenly something happens and it just becomes the most spreadable. So you don't actually need a lot in the beginning. When you're first applying, it's going to seem like you do, but you really don't. So I use a very, very little bit. In fact, I use a lot less of this than I do the CAIS, which is about as watery as it gets. This is absolutely what I switch to during the winter time because it has more of that lipid texture. I think if you're someone who has a lot of dehydration, this is really good at just kind of keeping that in. I use this formula exactly in the same way as CAIS, but particularly because of the texture of it, it's something that I will only use at nighttime."

"Sanskrit Saponins during the summer or for really congested skin can be a real skin saver. It is one of the more effective cleansers, but it really, really decongests as well, all without being too stripping in my experience. Like it actually feels like a gentle cleanser. I approached this cleanser the same way I would approach an intense treatment, so like a clay mask or something. So if I were to use this every single day, it would definitely dry out my skin or be just too strong for my skin. But also I'm not naturally oily or at least not acne prone right now, so it's not necessary. In fact, even Deciem, I believe, recommends to use it every other day at most. I'll take it out whenever I feel I just really need some decongesting. I use it as a second cleanser. So I use an oil-based cleanser to remove all the makeup, all the surface level impurities, and then I use this as a second cleanser to truly deep, deep clean the skin."

"Recently I've mentioned quite often that I really enjoy using the Dermaflash. This is the cute little travel size, and it's actually more gentle than chemical exfoliants. For me, chemical exfoliants can tend to cause inflammation and irritation, that redness which makes using it and combining it with other actives very very tricky sometimes, especially when you have sensitive skin."

"This has been doing it from Klairs, their Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter. Again, this is a well-aging eye cream. It's got its peptide complex. I reviewed it a couple of times, but I do just appreciate how moisturizing it is. And it doesn't migrate. I like those textures that immediately sink into the skin, kind of dries down, absorbs really quickly, but leaves this area just really well protected. Even overnight with the heating units, this keeps this area well moisturized. I can also use it on my upper eyelids. I apply by dabbing because it feels like it absorbs almost immediately. It's not the kind of eye cream that you can drag and just massage or anything like that."

"The Ultimune line is all about slowing down the aging process and just boosting skin immunity, making your skin barrier strong and healthy to resist any of the environmental forces that are trying to age your skin. The key ingredient here is their fermented chameleia plant. Chameleia is one of the foremost plant ingredients very widely used in Japanese beauty for anti-aging and not just in skincare. It's widely used in hair care as well. It's a luxury ingredient and in Ultimune the entire plant is utilized from the seeds to the flowers to the leaves and fermented to make everything even more potent. I find this to be quite a hard worker. If you're using this consistently every single day for a few weeks, you will already begin to see the difference in the texture of your skin and how refined it looks. Smoother, more even toned and brighter. This definitely brings out an inner skin glow. It's different from very hydrated skin glow. This is not dewiness. This is like radiance from within coming out."

"You've got niacinamide and you also have one of the most powerful antioxidants which is great for well-aging. [...] This has been really treating my skin in such a noninvasive and comfortable way. This formula actually has some special absorption technology in it which allows for a creamy and moisturizing formula to distribute on the skin evenly and allow for the most effective absorption of ingredients without any stickiness at all. It's creamy but it absorbs and dries down so fast, so it really is minimal effort to apply. It is moisturizing enough for me. My skin feels like it can breathe and this feels like it just does not congest at all. This is the kind of body moisturizer that would work year round. It even gives my skin a really nice glow, which during this time of year is usually inconceivable. This contains 12% of their own trademark complex, the Lipo Gluta Niacin, it's a concentrated combination of glutathione, niacinamide, as well as centella asiatica and all its derivatives and alongside beta glucan. This is so super calming. Microfluidizer technology was used specifically on the glutathione so that the particles could more easily absorb into the skin, which is all good, that is very well-aging. There's also lipophilic technology in the niacinamide to help it absorb better and work better."

"The Salt & Stone Body Wash is practically face-worthy. It is gentle, it nourishes and hydrates your skin as it cleanses. The cleansing formula is antioxidant-rich with vitamin C, but also ocean botanicals like seaweed and spirulina. There's also niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. This line was designed to comfort and soothe your skin if you have a really active lifestyle, specifically skin that is exposed to the drying elements such as wind, sun, and seawater. They also use really grounding scents, which is the kind that I love. My favorite is the Bergamot and Hinoki. Hinoki is Japanese cypress and it just has that beautiful smell of forest. There are also those really lively citrus notes that I love in a shower, like grapefruit and of course bergamot. At 30% off, I want the whole collection of scents at this point. This is a line of body washes that I cannot get enough of."

"Just another thing I cannot live without in the summer is from Westmore Beauty their Body Coverage Perfector. To me this is a very very elevated version of Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs. My legs are disproportionately paler than the rest of me but I'm also a very clumsy person I bruise very easily. This basically gives me flawless skin on my legs. It is flawless skin in a tube but also it is so natural looking, it's so lightweight, it's so silky and elegant. I get a perfect application using my hands every single time. I don't need a mat, I don't need a brush or anything like that, it's just so easy. I use Natural Radiance but on me it gives me some really healthy color. I mean pores, texture, everything is completely smoothed out and it makes the skin look really healthy as well. There's like a slight radiant finish to it. This applies beautifully but then when it dries down it is completely budge proof for 24 hours. This won't transfer, this is sweat proof, this is waterproof, it's resistant to all things. I mean I could be walking in the rain and it won't drip or transfer. This has 11 shades. This is great all over body makeup. You can cover tattoos with this and you won't even be able to tell. It looks so natural, it looks like skin. The Westmore family has a legacy in the film industry for their makeup artistry. They've won awards and everything."

"This is the one I use the most; I will not be without it. I don't even like to put this in the budget category because everything about the Native Body Wash experience is quite luxurious to me. I buy two of these at a time and you get all this for under $10. The texture of this feels really lush because it's a substantial gel so it feels really comforting. This has a mild but still satisfying lather. This does not dry out the skin; in fact it does leave the skin still feeling kind of plump and hydrated. This is sulfate free using naturally coconut derived cleansing agents so no harsh detergents. But for me the experience really is heightened just by the way it smells. I need an aromatic experience when I'm taking a shower because either it really calms me down, soothes me, relaxes me or it can really give me energy. These have an elegance scent. The latest one that I've been trying and I'm just strangely really into is different from the others, it's their powder and cotton. This is different in that it's not a natural herbal or woodsy elements type of scent; it has that nostalgic kind of laundry clean sheets scent to it. None of these are overwhelming or strong."

"What I've been using most recently is Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum. It's no secret I'm a big fan of Paula's Choice niacinamide formulas, they're amongst my all-time favorites. It's just such a great formula for your skin and great to pair with retinol or any other actives you use. Ideally this is what I use every day together with the retinol, it's a great pairing and it's been quite transformative."

"Recently I've been loving this one from Peach & Lily, their KP Bump Boss Microderm Body Scrub so much. This has the double approach of manual and chemical exfoliation and what I love about this is that it actually wants to mimic the Korean spa experience where you really are being exfoliated within an inch of your life. This is really quite hardcore. It uses finely milled micro crystals, which is one of the more environmentally friendly form of physical particles, plus 10% AHA. It also contains PHAs and some fruit enzymes. I also love that it's got those soothing ingredients that are also inspired by Korean spas such as barley tea and zika. The texture of this is very dense and thick although it applies really effortlessly in a way that it's almost balm-like and quite soothing. It emulsifies into a milky texture immediately. What sets this apart for me is that it rinses off without leaving residue but at the same time, if I don't use moisturizer afterwards for a long time, my skin feels super moisturized."

"My favorite is the body wash from Necessary because it's a pH of 5.5, super gentle pH balance for everywhere on your body, and it's also satisfying as well. It gives you just enough of a lather that you feel like you're getting yourself clean. This is full of all the non-stripping barrier strengthening and calming soothing ingredients so that as you cleanse you're also treating your skin and you're not taking anything away."

"The other hydrating formula for the body that I just love is from Necessary, their Body Serum. The texture of this, it's a gel emulsion, so it's got a little more punch. It's also got some marula oil in it, it's got a little bit of fat but not so much where it actually feels greasy. This just feels like a quick absorbing and very very hydrating gel, but it also has all the nutrients in there, the vitamins, the minerals, the ceramides, the niacinamide, it's got all of that."

"This contains 0.1 percent encapsulated retinol which for me is just the perfect concentration because I can only tolerate retinoids if it's at a low concentration. I can use this every single day without any issues and I really feel like it is making just the consistency of it is making a big difference so I can really feel that my skin is being treated on a deeper level. It's lightweight and silky when you apply it, it also absorbs really quickly and leaves the skin with a nice smooth soft finish that's not sticky or invasive at all. This is moisturizing but still feels lightweight so it's quite universally pleasing. I personally use this all over including my hands my neck and my feet and ankles where I feel like it's made quite a transformation. My feet and ankles just look so much better than they did before, they look so much smoother. So I use this every day after shower."

"If you feel that you are tolerating the 0.1% very very well and you feel like you want more improvement on current signs of aging, your skin might be a little more mature, then I recommend The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion at this point. 0.2% is the strongest concentration out there that you can get without a prescription. This definitely makes a difference in reducing more visible signs of aging. So fine lines, uneven skin tone, dark spots, red spots, just smoothness of the skin texture. One thing I noticed when I was using this and just using retinaldehyde in general is that it gives my skin the same kind of luminosity that I get when I'm using tretinoin. It's that tretinoin glow. I get that with retinaldehyde formulas as well. More so the higher concentration ones like 0.06% upwards. This has a nice lightweight and kind of hydrating texture. It sinks in, it dries down very easily layerable."

"I love the texture and application of this. This is a bit more moisturizing than the daily treatment, but still it's lightweight, but it just again it's that glow and radiance. [...] This has 0.05% retinaldehyde. This has five peptides, but also a 7% ceramide and omega complex, so it's moisturizing, but also barrier strengthening. It's also got a 2% EGCG complex, so powerful antioxidant. So, this is a good place to start out and progressively move on to the 0.1%. For a really super simple evening routine with minimal steps, doesn't get better than this."

"My favorite eye formula has to be my Tretinoin Eye Formula from Agency. I'm definitely not someone who could use tretinoin for my face in the area around my eyes, I've tried many times and the side effects have always been too much to be worth it for me. So the fact that they have a separate super gentle tretinoin formula for the eyes just made me so happy. I love the texture of this as well. It is really substantial, like more of a balm consistency than a gel or cream. It really lubricates this entire area and it's intensely moisturizing. Even in the winter this is just great, especially for a nighttime eye cream. This does absorb and dry down as well, it's not like putting Vaseline around your eyes. I just love how easily it glides when I'm applying it. There is no tugging. This is almost a perfect formula for me as a daytime eye cream or any other time."

"What I'm really grateful for is it thickens the skin and has made mine so much more resilient. Even after an allergic reaction like I had, it was able to bounce back better. I have been using formulas from Agency for years now and prior to that from Curology. I like Agency because their formulas are more focused on age-related concerns as opposed to acne. You go through a skin quiz, submit photos, and then a dermatology provider will customize a formula that will target your main needs and concerns. For those who don't know, I only started using tretinoin properly in my 40s, so it's never too late. That's because my skin was so sensitive and the only prescription strengths available were 0.02, 0.025, and 0.05%, both of which were just way too strong. My dermatology provider would increase the strength when the time was right to a point where I got to 0.025%, but without any uncomfortable retinization along the way. I mean nothing beyond just slight peeling. Right after cleansing, I actually apply the eye balm first. I am using 0.004% tretinoin now. I started at 0.002%, but after I finish this I will be jumping to 0.01%. This has been really well tolerated. I can use it every single day."

"It just plumps out the fine lines, gets rid of any kind of crinkles, but also I find that that yellow color from the retinal really seems to work to neutralize the darkness under my eyes because my darkness is more of the purpley bruisy kind of anemic kind. I've not experienced the sensitivity since I started using this, but I was definitely careful with phasing this in when I first started using it so I would use it twice a week at first and I work my way up to using this every night. Because it is the eye area, it doesn't hurt to start out with the Crystal Retinal 3 that uses 0.03% retinaldehyde and it's really gentle. Over a 12-week period, tests have shown this to have quite a significant effect on reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, just overall youthfulness as well as dark circles. I also love that this has no scent to it."

"For signs of aging tretinoin is the gold standard it has completely transformed my skin it does all the things from softening the appearance of lines as well as pores it even helps toughen the skin so it is less prone to damage it evens the skin tone helps fade pigmentation it helped a lot with just refining my skin texture and ensuring that the cell turnover is happening I believe this is also really helping and just keeping things firm and from just falling and drooping. I just love the tread glow so you all know that my trap formula is from the agency. Agency was developed to focus solely on well aging needs and I can't use the traditionally prescribed tretinoin formulas out there because they come in two strengths both of which are just way too high for me so it's a 0.025 or a 0.05 percent and that's just way too strong for my skin."

"I upgraded. I'm really, really glad I did. I mean, I feel like it is worth the price difference. The Elite is significantly more powerful than the Pro. The helmet has LEDs and laser diodes. LEDs to cover a larger surface area. The laser diodes, on the other hand, go deeper and they target the follicles and really stimulate them. I think it's important to make the distinction between the many LED hair devices around and the ones that also have laser diodes, which in my experience is even more effective than when it's just LED alone. The Pro has 282 laser diodes and LEDs, whereas the Elite has 500 of them. So, 300 laser diodes and 200 LEDs. There's also three different laser wavelengths to get deeper and stimulate the follicles, but also there is more energy output, 2500 megawatts versus 1400. So, it really is getting in there and just stimulating. You want those dormant follicles reactivated. This also works to extend the growth phase of the hair cycle. This is the easiest daily 12 minutes. I have the hands-free option, so I just go about doing whatever I need to. It's also breathable, really comfortable the way it's shaped. It doesn't mess up my hairline. And most of all, I feel like this has worked really fast."

"Enter my favorite mask from Joves, their 4D Laser Light Therapy Mask. And this just happens to be the most comfortable mask. It's made of medical grade silicone, but it is an ergonomic wonder. It's cold laser, but it has some of the most impressive specs. [...] Laser light is more powerful, goes deeper, and is more targeted than LED. So, it's more effective at tackling deeper issues like wrinkles. This has a fabulous face mapping element. So, it targets each zone of your face and the different concerns and what they precisely need. There are four different wavelengths, including one that is the most powerful on the market, which is the 1064 nanometers. [...] The near infrared 1064 nanometer is amongst the most proven and trusted wavelength. It's powerful, but also versatile enough to target multiple different skin concerns. This mask is just one of the best for overall skin rejuvenation. And I personally feel like the results come quite quickly. [...] I feel an improvement just after using it every day for a week."

"It dispenses so it's a light layer that coats your scalp. It doesn't drench your roots, it avoids all the hair and just goes right to the scalp, and it is fast absorbing. This has three different strengths and I can't even explain to you how good it feels. The five-minute cycle is usually just too short, and you can use it without the serum too when you really want to go for a long time. This has been the most effective way for me to really increase the circulation, and that is so important not just for my scalp health but also for my follicles because the increased blood flow really just floods my follicles with all the nutrients it needs to grow really strong and healthy hair. I've definitely noticed a decrease in shedding when I am using this more regularly."

"The iRestore helmet has 30 LED bulbs at 660 nanometers. [...] I do feel that's been effective. [...] You can choose between three different levels of vibration which is paired with the microcurrent as well as the therapeutic warmth, and you can almost feel it instantly just bring blood to the scalp. There's circulation, there's movement. You can't underestimate the importance of massage, it will boost blood flow to the follicles and deliver all the nutrients it needs in order to grow really healthy hair."

"I upgraded to this one from Cure, their Q Rejuvalite Pro Face Wear. There's a lot that makes this more effective and convenient than all the competitors I've tried. First of all, this is an actual comfortable mask. Like really comfortable. I usually don't love the hard masks, but this one on the inside is lined with this really cushiony gel. It's also just so well ergonomically designed to fit faces. I usually have to finick around with other masks just to get the fit, but with this, there's no finicking. I just slide this on and it just sits there. The other really big deal is it's completely wireless. So you charge it and then you don't need to have anything dangling or holding or you don't have to be plugged into anything. What makes it even more convenient is that it is designed to only require 3 minutes of use a day. It's been clinically tested to show that 3 minutes is sufficient to get what you need to achieve the results you want. There are two modes. One is an anti-aging one and the other is an anti-blemish one. But if you use it with the app, there's a really cool face mapping aspect. You can choose which parts of the face you want anti-aging and which parts you want blemish control."

"I used the 5% Rogaine Minoxidil. This has a roller ball applicator, which works better than I expected. I just directly get it on my scalp where I want it to go. I also love that the consistency of this formula is also really bouncy, like a good serum or essence. So you can have a very precise application and it will not drip down your face. The minute you touch it to rub it in, it's just so light. It becomes so watery, just sinks in. So I apply it down the parting and towards the front of my hairline, especially on the sides, which is where I tend to lose it. You can see how much that area is filled out. My only issue with this is if you apply too much and it gets on your hair, then the next day it kind of hardens and looks like you have dandruff."

"I'm recommending this over The Ordinary Hair Density Serum, which I loved and was using before I started using minoxidil. It pretty much uses the same grouping of ingredients, but I like that this formula states the exact concentration of the different ingredients in the formula because they all comply with what the successful testing was based on. It's also notable that this is the most watery, light formula. This will not weigh down the roots of your hair at all. You won't even notice. Just like with minoxidil and generally with anything hair related, you're not necessarily going to see results, visible results right away. Really depends on the whole hair life cycle. It could take up to 3 months."

"It conditions my hair so beautifully and at the same time leaves zero residue on the scalp. It's not heavy or leaves anything on the scalp at all. It won't clog any of your hair follicles. It's a little magical. This is the ultimate value for money hair formula, the most sophisticated formula at the most affordable price. This has Shiseido's luxury technology and even skincare ingredients in the mask. In my experience, Japanese hair masks are just next level performance-wise. The mask has a very unique texture, it's very balmy, so it kind of feels oily, greasy, heavy, but it really does something to the hair. All of that washes out but just leaves the hair looking so beautiful and soft. I use this once every few hair washes and I use it in lieu of conditioner. If your hair is very fine, that might be a little bit of a scary texture."

"I believe that for damaged hair, or hair like mine that's dry, brittle, and frizzy, leave-in treatments make a lot of difference, especially when you're using styling tools that apply a lot of heat. A very obvious favorite is K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask. Even though this is creamy, it has a really lightweight texture, at least for my hair. Right after washing my hair, I apply it to my wet strands, and my hair just dries a lot nicer, a lot less frizzy or frazzled. This is advanced hair repair technology that I think works really well in combination with bond technology; it also works from inside out but goes even deeper into the hair to help with repair. I even bought the mega-sized salon-only version from my hair salon. [...] It wasn't cheap, but worth it."

"A hydrating toner that I have loved this year because it's just so simple and super hydrating is from Stratia their Aquala Hydrating Toner. I just love a simple hydrating toner that just really hydrates. Stratia is just so solid. I've loved their Liquid Gold since that was the only SKU and to this day I still use it. This has a beautifully simple formula which contains natural moisturizing factors, 5% Urea, a 4% beta glucan complex as well as seven different humectants. I love the texture of this. It's got a little bit of that viscosity, that beautiful slip when you apply it but not too heavy, not sticky at all. Sometimes I use like two, three layers just to get that beautiful glow, hydrated healthy glow. But more importantly, my skin actually stays hydrated through the day or overnight even in these dry times."

"I kind of like Medik8 Press and Glow for this. With a Q-tip you want to make sure that you press away, just roll away any excess fluid. You don't want it to be drippy, you want as controlled an application as possible, especially when you're working around your eye area. I would just gently use it around the areas where I may have milia. Of course, if the milia is right on my eye bag or close to my waterline, I would not use this method. I would highly recommend just going with the eye cream instead. But especially if you have the clusters concentrated around ocular bone, then this may be a good method."

"Celamax is a great brand. Their entire focus is on barrier support for sensitive and complicated skin, so a lot of their formulas are very much geared towards helping problematic, acne-prone skin. The texture is beautifully milky and it has this bounciness to it that just makes my skin so happy. I find this has the lightness, but it's actually really quite moisturizing. It's more substantial than just your average hydrating toner; it does more. This has five different types of ceramides as well as phytoestazine and cholesterol, making that beautiful trifecta for barrier support and preventing transepidermal water loss. You really do feel like this holds everything in, but it's so soothing, so comforting, and it is intensely hydrating without being greasy. It's super gentle and there's no scent whatsoever."

"Their Liquid Hydration 5% Panthenol and Natural Moisturizing Factors Toner, this is no joke, let me tell you. I'm still kind of amazed at how intensely hydrating this is. I actually thought that this might be on the lighter side, like some of the serums, but I do love how substantial it is. It does contain 5% panthenol into this smooth soft texture. Certainly the natural moisturizing factors just add some robustness to it. I love a good NMF in a hydrating formula because it really helps keep the hydration locked into your skin and it's just great for the skin barrier. It's got sodium PCA as well as urea and allantoin, which is very soothing. The mist is also really really nice. Sometimes I even apply it on my hand first and then you have the two moisturizers."

"I'm loving this because it's the most similar I found so far to my favorite Lanz lip treatment. It's got that same honey texture that I love that just coats the lips in the most comforting, soothing way. And at the same time, the finish is just smooth. It isn't sticky at all. This is a more affordable version. These are unique in that they don't have a wax, butter, or petroleum base, yet they still work really well. This has been tested to keep the lips hydrated for up to 24 hours. It looks gluey and honey sticky. It's always a surprise to me that it's just not. This has a little bit of a sweet candy-like scent to it, but it's not too much."

"My go-to these days has been from Allies of Skin their Peptide and Ceramide Repair Lip Balm. I honestly prefer a stick format but I don't always love how waxy they are during colder weather, sometimes they're just solid. This melts like a butter when you apply it and just glides over your lips. It also leaves some glossiness as well, you're not going to have hair strands sticking to your lips. This has some beautiful plant ingredients that don't just nourish and moisturize your lips but also treat them with peptides. I like that there are ceramides in here. There's also occlusivity enough to just stay, it's long lasting. [...] It does absorb quite well. You can tell from the texture already it's a little thicker, more substantial. This is more like a heavy cream texture than a milky or watery one."

"The Lash and Brow Serum is really one of my favorites. It took longer to see results than with the usual prostag­ landin formulas, but I can't really use those formulas because they just cause too much irritation on my eyes. The Lash and Brow Serum however uses peptides that cause no irritation whatsoever, and in the time that I've been using it I've never known any other side effects on my skin around my eye area. My lashes and brows, which have been affected by hormones, tend to look really spindly and weak, but I've noticed them growing just thicker and stronger. I've really noticed that the growth cycle has extended, I would always have those few brow hairs that just keep on growing. [...] I noticed that with my lashes too; at some point they just started to curl. My natural hair grows on the wavy side so I feel like my lashes just need to achieve a little bit of length before it can actually curl."

"The Merit Beauty Clean Lash Mascara is a tubing mascara, and right now this is the only mascara I want to use. The reason why I like tubing mascaras above all others is because it is the only mascara that truly does not smudge. It's impervious to my oily eyelids, and that is my main problem. It's not so much waterproofness that I need, it's more like oil proofness. This coats and tubes the lashes so it thickens and lengthens, but more than anything I love that it is so easy to remove. You basically use water and it will just all slide off."

"I want to talk about mascara that I have been exclusively using since I've needed to wear mascara again in the beginning of the year, and it's this one from Ilia, their Limitless Lash Mascara. I need all the help I can get—I need volume, I need the length, and I also need it not to smudge because the way my eyelids are and the way my eyes are, everything smudges. So I'm very limited to what I can use. Even waterproof mascara smudges because they're waterproof not necessarily oil proof. This not only does it not smudge, not even in the summer heat, but also it adds length and it adds volume. It has one of the best applicators and wands I've experienced so that everything is separated and non-clumpy. The teeny tiny, really short lashes are taken care of as well as the longer ones. I'm not using anything else but this right now."

"I love the Beverly Hills cream blush because it's such a unique color that matches my skin so well because it's an earthy kind of peach tone. This is about as foolproof as a blush can possibly get. It blends out really effortlessly, you can just dab and it blends out into this natural looking flush. A lot of cream blushes have a powdery finish whereas this has a satin one, which I much prefer."

"The Super Tinted Hydrator is one of U Beauty's most popular formulas, it's a lightweight elegant moisturizer. It gives me exactly what I want in my makeup. First of all, it is good for my skin. It's a sheer coverage but enough to even out the discoloration or make any of the contrast less intense. The skin finish is a healthy hydrated one. I mean, it looks like my skin but a little better."

"This is physician formulated but also scientifically backed with clinicals showing its effects with improved hair growth. It takes at least 3 to 6 months for you to notice improvement, however there are a bunch of side benefits of this supplement that I believe have more immediate effects. [...] I find that I am less prone to getting stressed and anxious or at least less intensely so. This kind of takes the edge off, and when I take this with dinner it's easier for me to get relaxed enough in order to fall asleep. I feel like this is very well-rounded and it's really all about maintaining balance during this time of our lives so as to mitigate some of the symptoms we may be having. It also contains marine collagen peptides, which are the most bioavailable form of collagen."