The Budget Dermatologist, dermatologist: 360 products reviewed

Every review.

All 360 products The Budget Dermatologist has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Against the gurus

Type

Serums63 reviews

Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum

"You can get a mandelic one from Good Molecules. Again, they have such great key active products at really affordable prices."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

L'Oreal Glycolic Acid Serum

"A good drugstore Glycolic Acid Serum by L'Oreal, at 10% glycolic acid. I like that one more specifically for acne-prone skin."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum

"Anua's Azelaic Acid serum is a super viral product I've been using for a long time and love. It has the maximum 10% azelaic acid [...] you can get over the counter, which is great if you have sensitive, redness prone skin, even acne or post acne dark marks, it brightens the skin, can improve acne, and cuts down redness while staying gentle. [...] It also has niacinamide, panthenol and ceramides in it, an overall multitasking, really gentle, great formulation. It's right around $15 for Prime Day."

✓Yay

65%Guru Score

Prequel Redness Reform Soothing Serum

"For redness prone skin, [...] the Redness Reform Soothing Serum by Prequel is amazing, and I love pairing it with their sulfur based cleanser, which I rub on and leave for a few minutes like a mask with no irritation as it cuts the redness away, then I follow up with the soothing serum. [...] If you have red, irritated, damaged skin barrier, this duo is absolutely incredible. It's 20% off and it's an actual discount, not a trick."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum

"Timeless makes a very viral product, two actually: a 10% version and a 20% version. It's one of my favorite budget vitamin C serums and a great swap for the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow 15% Vitamin C Serum

"Recommended as a budget alternative to SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic for those without access to Trader Joe's. It carries the full antioxidant trifecta: 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum

"It's just a very simple, straightforward, yet effective Vitamin C Serum for under $10. I want to note about this is that this has a hefty dose of vitamin C in it, which means it's going to work very well and very fast if you can tolerate it. 15% L-ascorbic acid can be a little irritating and stinging on the skin because it's a low pH, so that can irritate some skin types. So, if you have sensitive skin, you might want to not use L-ascorbic acid and maybe use a derivative of vitamin C that will still give you results, but less likely to irritate."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Pro-C Vitamin C Serum Brightening Solution

"One of the reasons I have been trying it and loving it is because the blend of vitamin C in this is better geared for sensitive skin, rosacea prone skin, redness skin. Since I have been trying this product out, I have not gotten any irritation on my skin. No increased redness, no burning or stinging throughout the day or with other skincare products, which can be so common when you're using pure [L-ascorbic] acid active vitamin C serums. The three types of vitamin C in this 15% complex are [L-ascorbic] acid, 30 ethylcorbate, and THD ascorbate. I like that this is an airless pump, so no dropper bottle format. There's a refill you can buy that's less that will save you some money. It's not the cheapest vitamin C out there. You can certainly get great vitamin C serums for $30 or under. If you have really sensitive skin and you're looking for a different type of formulation or different additives, something like this might be worth the extra money for you to try."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Timeless 10% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum

"This is a 10% L-ascorbic acid plus vitamin E and ferulic acid serum, which are the same three trifecta ingredients that you will find in Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, but this one is way, way more affordable and in my opinion, in my experience, it is every bit as good as that one and you save over $100 on this one. Vitamin C serum [...] is an absolutely crucial ingredient in a very well-rounded anti-aging routine. [...] Putting a vitamin C under your sunscreen in the morning is going to supercharge your SPF results because vitamin C is an antioxidant. That means it will scavenge those free radicals that the sun creates on our skin, and those free radicals are what attack our collagen and break our collagen apart. So if you put a vitamin C serum under your sunscreen in the morning, you're going to supercharge your results and you're going to keep the collagen in your skin for longer. You are going to prevent it from breaking down from UV damage. It's going to scavenge those free radicals away. [...] This one you can often find for 40, even 50% off, so that makes this around $13."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Remedy Daily Defense Vitamin C Serum

"I really find this one exceptionally moisturizing actually as well has hyaluronic acid in it. Ectoin actually I love ectoin and skin care products that help support the skin barrier and I find it nourishing and hydrating on the skin. So I just love that texture so much. It's $28. That's an incredible price for a vitamin C serum that is more in line with the price that you will find on L-ascorbic acid types of vitamin C serums. I love that this is equally competitively priced with those for $28. Both of these vitamin C serums get a thumbs up from me in terms of formulation and feel on the skin such that they are not irritating and they don't sting. That is one of my biggest complaints with L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serums is I get that stinging sensation on my skin very frequently with that type of product. Both of these very nice on the skin on sensitive skin. No stinging."

✓Yay

93%Guru Score

SkinFix 15% Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid Serum

"Another thumbs up for the formulation in terms of that and also this contains peptides which gives a nice little extra boost to our results here because I love peptides in skincare. I don't like layering. So sometimes when I see added peptides into products it's very nice. So overall, I give the formulation of this product thumbs up. It is very thoughtfully formulated and hits a lot of the targets and the key points that I look for when I'm reviewing vitamin C serums, which actually is hard to find. So I am very impressed by that. The texture is very nice, just a lightweight milky serum that does not feel stinging or irritating when I put it on my skin. And I am a sensitive skin person. So this definitely passes the test there. The price point here is $69, which to me is in that range where you really have to be worth it for me to be like, 'Oh, yeah. I'm going to spend $69 on one single serum.' And my thoughts on that are kind of twofold. One is to find a THD specific type of vitamin C serum with the correct antioxidants and with the correct feel on the skin and that it's not irritating to the skin. It's extremely hard to find. There are not ones similar to this that exist at $20, $30."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Medik8 C-Tetra Lux Vitamin C Serum

"The biggest selling point in this is the vitamin C component. Now I will say the other main difference between these two, the 14% this is an oil-based serum. So if you are not used to or not looking for an oil-based type of serum this might not be for you. I actually like it. I like to use this at night, which vitamin C works at night. But the serum is so hydrating and just restores my skin and prevents dryness so well. So I like to use this one at night actually."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

RoC Derm Correction Firming Serum Stick

"This is one I have been using in the past that I really like. It's by Rock. It's the firming serum stick that has retinol in it. The thing I love about this is it also contains another ingredient. Starts with a T. I don't remember exactly what it's called. TPE or something like that that gives almost an instant tightening effect. So you could use this in the morning, this at night, but this in and of itself is a super super well-rounded product for your neck. With initial use, you're going to notice instant hydration. That crepey texture can lessen very quickly. And then with time, four to six weeks, you're going to start to notice a softening of the lines on your neck. Price-wise, I would consider this a mid-tier priced product. It is a little above drugstore product range, but it is far more affordable and budget friendly compared to those luxe skin care viral neck products."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum

"Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum, their vitamin C serum is a really, really good, even suitable level good swap for skin suiticles. It's expensive. It's $80, but that's going to still save you over $100 if you were thinking about getting skin suiticles. You can get this one instead. Very similar: vitamin E, ferulic acid, low pH, 15% L-ascorbic acid. [...] I use all of them, but I would say currently I've been doubling down on this option, and also with very sensitive skin, I find this just is soothing to my skin and does not overdo it and still gives me the results I'm looking for."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

The INKEY List Exosome Hydroglow Complex Serum

"I've noticed from using the Inky List Exo product this year so far that I honestly do feel like my skin barrier has improved because of this product. When I use my retinoids, I am getting less peeling and less discomfort or burning of my skin. Overall, I kind of want to attribute it to this product here. It is really good. It feels nice on the skin. It also can make your skin just look a lot more glowy and hydrated and dewy. So far, I have not used a ton of Exoome products, but this one is really affordable. If you want to dip your toe into the world of exoomes because you cannot stop hearing about it everywhere, I think this is a very, very reasonable product to start with from the Inky List."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

"Another option you can get over the counter that I really like is by The Ordinary. It's their 10% azelaic acid suspension. It's under $30. [...] This is another crowd favorite from you guys and me as well."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

The INKEY List Redness Relief Super Solutions 10% Azelaic Acid

"I love to start with an over-the-counter 10% azelaic acid and see how much improvement we can get there. See if our skin agrees with it, which it probably will. And you may be surprised to learn that that's all you need. You might not even need to bump up to the prescription strength at all. The INKEY List is right around $20. It is 10% azelaic acid, right around the strongest you can get over the counter. It also has allantoin in this which is very soothing."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10%

"This is another crowd favorite from you guys and me as well by Naturium. They make one right around 20 to $22. It's an azelaic acid again with 10% concentration in it. This one also has niacinamide in it which is another good ingredient to help reduce the redness on the skin."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro Barrier Serum

"It's the Ectoin Hydro Barrier Serum. It's about $15 and when I use it, I feel super super hydrated. It makes my skin look more bouncy. It feels really nice. It can be a key product in your glass skincare routine, and it's from the Inkey List, so it does not break the bank."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum

"Clinique is really having a comeback in the makeup space and really making a name for themselves in the skincare space as well. Their products can be a little more pricey, but this new glow serum they came out with is so nice on the skin. I've loved using it. I've been using it almost every day lately. Has vitamin C in it, has hyaluronic acid in it, and it also has that ingredient I mentioned earlier called ma. So you put this on your skin and you are glowing and shimmering and you feel so youthful and it feels really great on the skin. It's very gentle. It's fragrance-free. Clinique is leveling up."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Timeless Matrixyl 3000 Serum

"This is one I would highly recommend, peptide serum. It's a Timeless Matrixyl 3000 Serum, extremely affordable, well formulated serum. Peptides are generally not irritating, they are tolerated by all skin types, so I love a peptide serum for the face and we're just going to bring it right down the neck. This is a top, top, top budget pick that is way less than $100 that I think is going to give you better results."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum

"This has 10% pure vitamin C serum. I really like this product. I'm loving this package because it is opaque so it will protect it against the light breakdown of it. It's an airtight container that also can protect it from air getting to it to break it down. The vitamin C ingredient is really obviously the hero ingredient here. The other supporting characters in this product would be ceramides, which is very classic of the CeraVe brand and I love especially for the under eye area because ceramides can really reinforce your skin barrier and help it stand up to these stronger actives like vitamin C or retinoids. This also has hyaluronic acid in it."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skin Injection Amplified Wrinkle Fix Refillable Serum

"Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skin Injection is a little more pricey but this has that argireline in it and it has some other great ingredients in it as well."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Vanicream Vitamin C Serum

"5% Vanicream, 10% CeraVe, 15% Bishi or even 20% from Neutrogena or RoC that are packaged in individual doses, these are some of my favorite budget vitamin C serums that really work from the drugstore."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Neutrogena Collagen Bank 15% Vitamin C Serum

"Even 20% from Neutrogena or rock that are packaged in individual doses"

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

RoC Multi Correxion Vitamin C Serum

"RoC Multi Correxion Vitamin C Serum is one of my favorite budget vitamin C serums that really works from the drugstore. It comes in individual doses and contains 20% vitamin C."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Vanicream Vitamin C Facial Serum

"This has 5% THD ascorbate in it and ceramides, fragrance-free. Overall a very simple formulation that is topnotch for sensitive skin users, first-time vitamin C users. This is a great place to start and you truly can use this every day. Get your foot in the door and then from here if you still want more benefits then you can go up to use some of these."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid

"Neutrogena Hydro Boost is a great replacement for Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench, which is much more expensive. These are going to hydrate your skin for 24 to 48 hours."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum

"For double the price of the Timeless product, you can get this one by The Ordinary, the Multi-Peptide + Copper Serum. It has Matrix C 3000 copper and one of those neurotransmitter blocking peptides that I mentioned, acetyl hexapeptide 8. This is definitely a popular and very reasonable choice."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum

"This feels on the skin, it is so lightweight and so hydrating and it is so easy to wear under other skin care products in your routine or even makeup without peeling, and the amount of hydration that this product has brought back to my skin has been incredible. I used to use Vichy Mineral 89 very often in my routine, which I still love, but this one to me personally for my skin is even more hydrating than that one, and it has the 6% niacinamide in it, so I consider this a combination serum, hyaluronic acid based serum and a niacinamide based serum. It's honestly a very affordable price overall."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Brightening Treatment Serum

"Glow Recipe is such a fun little brand, and this also has several types of vitamin C in it. The most concentrated one is the THD ascorbate, so it's an option if you're looking for a vitamin C serum that's not quite as expensive as the Peter Thomas Roth but with that form of vitamin C in it, which is actually hard to find."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum

"The soothing and barrier support serum contains lipids, ceramides, and other epidermal barrier repair ingredients. This is going to go on your skin after you cleanse, put a little bit on, and you can put a moisturizer over it and repair your skin day and night. You can use this up to twice a day. It's a very great price point and you can use this to reset your skin barrier without breaking the bank."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Hyaluronic Acid Serum

"I found at Sephora a peptide skincare set with three Ordinary products in it. It contains the peptide for your lashes and brows that is safe to use. I actually started using that just recently and it contains two peptide products: a Multi-Peptide serum for your face and a Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, all bundled in this cute little gift."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum

"The vitamin C in the morning is a great one, it actually has 15% L-ascorbic acid in it."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

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

"Yet another one that I've tried is the Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster. Listen, anytime Paula's Choice has a product in the category that you're looking for or has a new product launch, whatever it is, you have to check it out. This brand is one of my favorite skincare brands because their products are just formulated so well. The Paula's Choice product has just a little bit of a thicker texture or consistency, but again it absorbs in really nicely and quickly and finishes very smooth on the skin."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

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

"If you are a vitamin C fan, this is a vitamin C product. This one is really good, but the sale on this is amazing because this is usually very expensive. It is usually $80. The reason I like this product is because it's not just any vitamin C. It has one of my favorite types of vitamin C in it. The active form is L ascorbic acid, which is kind of our traditional vitamin C product that we think of. The inactive form, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, is more stable than L-ascorbic acid and it's oil soluble, so it gets better penetration in the skin. The products will last longer and it does a really good job at all of the benefits of vitamin C. That's what this one has in it. I love this product and it's really expensive, but in the sale 30% off."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

PCA Skin ExLinea Pro Peptide Serum

"This is by PCA Skin, it's the ExLinea Pro Peptide Serum. It's a peptide that is supposed to target the muscle that causes these dynamic wrinkles. They call this Botox in a bottle in the skincare world. I got this on Amazon Prime Day so I got it on a big discount because it's actually really expensive, but not expensive compared to Botox."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

"This one is 33.99 so it's kind of pricey for a vitamin C derivative that isn't my top pick."

✕Nay

68%Guru Score

The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum

"I also love the one by the inky list as a Niacinamide Serum option at various price points that is great for acne prone skin or to decrease the look and size of your pores."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum

"I like to pair that one with a moisturizer. This will give you a little extra hydration and soothing of the skin. I do not think this one is as effective as the Avène anti-redness product but it does feel really nice and soothing on the skin, not quite as drastic of a difference in terms of redness here though in my opinion. It does have ambophenol which is a natural extract and it has neurosensing which can soothe the skin and create a great hydration barrier. This formulation here overall is just a little bit lacking compared to the Avène but it is a little bit more affordable for you to check out and compare."

~Mixed

71%Guru Score

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

"Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewdrops is not something I would usually go for, but I love it. It smells really good and is so nice, dewy, and hydrating on the skin. I actually ended up using this a lot when I traveled because I don't like to do a heavy skincare routine when I travel. It has a dewy finish, rubs in nicely, and smells so good."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

"This is my personal second favorite product because azelaic acid is a great ingredient for my personal skin concerns. This product is great for people with rosacea prone skin, if you have dark spots or want to just brighten the skin. The 10 percent is a great concentration of azelaic acid. This also contains salicylic acid and licorice root which are going to help fade those dark spots and smooth the texture of the skin and unclog the pores. It's a medium weight cream texture and it's something that I think is an absolute standout product by Paula's Choice. It's hard to find comparable ten percent azelaic acid products like this one, so this is a must."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

"I'm of the camp of believers that you don't need to get just the strongest percentage available to get benefit, and you can actually get great benefit from your skincare actives at lower percentages if you can use them more consistently. But this one is still really nice. The twenty percent niacinamide is going to be great at minimizing the look of pores, unclogging the pores, brightening the skin, helping repair skin barrier. It's a pretty traditional serum and smells really good. I would compare this to The Ordinary one and I like the Paula's Choice way better than The Ordinary one even though that one is more affordable because this one absorbs into the skin much more better. The Ordinary one finishes like a little bit sticky or tacky feeling on my skin, but this one is much more luxurious."

✓Yay

67%Guru Score

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

"The C15 Super Booster is a holy grail from Paula's Choice because it is a stable form of vitamin C, L ascorbic acid, and it has vitamin E and ferulic acid in it as well. It's a great product at a fraction of the price of the SkinCeuticals one. I like to use vitamin C in the morning skincare routine to help build new collagen, to help lighten dark spots and fade hyperpigmentation, and just brighten and tone the skin. It's an antioxidant so you are fighting free radical damage on the face from UV light."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is an affordable niacinamide option at $6.50 for 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc. You use one dropper full and apply it to the face and neck and let it dry. The main complaint I have about this one is that it can feel a little bit tacky on the skin, which isn't my favorite thing if I'm going to be applying a full face of makeup over it. But if you are looking for something that works and that's affordable, you cannot go wrong with this. I really love this product."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

"For a vitamin C product, choose a product with the L ascorbic acid form and make sure it has a concentration of at least 10 percent and contains the antioxidants vitamin E and ferulic acid. You can try the gold standard Skinceuticals C E Ferulic."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Bio-Oil Bio-Oil

"There has been some anecdotal evidence that Bio-Oil can help improve and prevent stretch marks, but I hypothesize that it may be the massaging effects more than the product itself that are most beneficial. Regardless, this is an enjoyable product to use and it is unlikely to cause side effects."

~Mixed

45%Guru Score

Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream with Polyhydroxy Acid

"Eucerin is extremely affordable and they have really effective products. There's a ton of research and development that goes into their products, so I highly recommend you check those out. The Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream comes in a jar and is just a really thick consistency, so it's really going to give you a lot of hydration back and help create that barrier on top of the skin to decrease how much water your skin is losing. It goes on the skin really nicely. It's nothing fancy but it really gets the job done. For conditions like eczema, you don't want fancy, you want simple products that don't have a lot of ingredients in them, and you want things that are proven by science to help repair your skin."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Maelove Night Renewer Glycolic Acid Cream

"One of my favorite examples of a leave-on moisturizer with glycolic acid in it is the Maelove Night Renewer. It's a glycolic acid cream. You can think of this like basically an overnight facial: do your skin care routine, put a thin layer of this on, go to bed, and when you wake up in the morning and rinse, your skin is going to feel brighter and more smooth."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Maelove Glow Maker Vitamin C Serum

"Maelove, the Glow Maker, it is a holy grail of mine. It has the trifecta antioxidants in it: the vitamin C, 15% L-ascorbic acid, the vitamin E, and the ferulic acid."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Maelove Peptide Squad Collagen Renewal Serum

"The Peptide Squad Serum is a favorite of mine. [...] This is one of the best peptide serums on the market because it is very well-rounded. It has all of the key types of peptides that you want in a peptide serum if you're really after those anti-aging benefits. [...] The reason this is such an incredible peptide serum is that it has my favorite type of anti-aging peptide in it, called Matrixyl 3000."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Maelove Fade Away Dark Spot Correcting Serum

"If you have dark spots or hyperpigmentation that you want to address, this is going to be for you. This has kic acid, alpha arbutin in it, licorice root extract. All things that can help lighten dark spots on the skin. You can use this morning and or night in your routine. All of these are tested together, made to layer together. So, say you want this in your routine and you still want to use a vitamin C serum, technically you can layer these. That is Maelove's whole point is to make easy products to layer. So it's just quick, easy, seamless in your routine."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Maelove Super Smooth Resurfacing Serum

"This has AHAs and BHAs -- alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic acid and BHA like salicylic acid. So this is going to help exfoliate your pores from the BHA and the more superficial texture of your skin from the AHA. [...] What I love about this particular exfoliation product is it doesn't sting, tingle, or burn the skin like so many glycolic acid and exfoliants can. This is actually very comforting to use, which is so rare. I'll just do a dropper full of this, dab it into the face, little bit on the neck, and that's it -- moisturizer on top and we're done. [...] I would do this about once a week depending on how your skin feels and your skin texture is."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Maelove Forever Firm Peptide Neck Treatment

"This is probably my personal single most favorite product from the entire Maelove spectrum, and that really says a lot because some of these products are just all amazing. It's their anti-aging neck cream, the Maelove Forever Firm Peptide Neck Treatment. [...] You can put this on morning and night and it absorbs really nicely; if you have your hair down, it doesn't stick to it or anything. It has giralene in it, the peptide that targets those muscles of contraction, so this is really great for those vertical bands that you get down the neck. It also has Matrix Cell 3000 peptides to build collagen and help fight those crepey neck signs of aging. It has spylanthanol, which is a plant-based ingredient, again to target the vertical banding and muscle contractions. It really hydrates the skin, so if you have dry skin or crepey neck texture, the ceramides in it are really going to help with that. And if you have any hyperpigmentation or discoloration of the neck, it has niacinamide and licorice root extract to target that. It's really just such a good all-in-one neck treatment that has much better quality peptides in it than most of these peptide neck treatments out there that are just junk and will sell for over $100. So this is actually a great, great, great price considering how well-rounded it is."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP+ Serum

"This is the one that I think is absolutely superior to peptide serums out there. It's the Medik8 Liquid Peptides because this has a whopping dose of peptides in it. This has a 30% peptide complex. [...] This peptide serum has signal peptides in it, which are the peptides I look for. It's called Matrixyl 3000, it's actually a blend of two peptides. Signal peptides are the ones that are so well studied and have lots of evidence for building collagen in your skin. And the serum is so lightweight and nice on the skin, you can wear it in the morning under makeup with your other skincare products, no issues there. Then it also has copper peptides in it, which are really great for skin renewal, repairing your skin barrier, wound healing, skin elasticity. That's amazing, it's in this one as well. And then neuropeptides."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous Power Peptides Pro Collagen Multi Peptide Serum

"If you want to pair a peptide serum in your routine, I think a peptide serum layers well with other skincare products better than most other treatments. Like I wouldn't pair a topical acid with a retinoid. I wouldn't pair a vitamin C with a retinoid. Too much risk of irritation. But peptides, this is an example of a great budget friendly peptide that has the key player peptides in it as well. Power Peptides by Geek and Gorgeous. It's under $19. This is good for all skin types. Peptides are generally very well tolerated. So I would put a layer of this on my skin first. Let it fully dry and absorb in. Then you can put on your retinoid."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum

"From Peter Thomas Roth, which has a whole line of very splurgeworthy products, this vitamin C serum was my product of the year from 2023, the product that I splurged on most and got the best feedback from my followers. It's a little pricey but you can get it for 15% off with my code. It's better tolerated by a wider range of people and skin types than traditional L-ascorbic acid types of vitamin C serums. Typically, better tolerated may mean weaker or less results, but with this formulation here, you might actually get even better results. It's really a splurge-worthy product to save your skin from irritation but still max out on your skincare goals. This one has THD ascorbate in it, which is the inactive form of vitamin C that gets converted to L-ascorbic acid on your skin, very similar to the concept of retinaldehyde, which gets converted to retinoic acid on your skin. It has a dose of vitamin C THD ascorbate at 20%, which is a lot, but because it's more gentle, you can actually tolerate a higher dose. If we're talking 20% L-ascorbic acid, which is pure vitamin C, that would be a very high risk of irritation, but not with this. You cannot compare those apples to apples."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C™ Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment

"This is a niacinamide discoloration treatment that has 15% vitamin C in the THD ascorbate form, and this is aimed more towards dark spots to really kind of supercharge that. So if you deal with uneven skin complexion, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, maybe you want to try this."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

"This is their Hyaluronic Acid Serum, this is $10 but it's not just hyaluronic acid. This also has in it Matrixyl 3000, which is my favorite peptide for anti-aging. It's one of the peptides that has the most research behind it that shows that it can rebuild collagen in the skin. So for $10 you get hyaluronic acid and peptides that's going to simplify your routine and not overdo it for your skin barrier."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector Serum

"You can get a 15% L-ascorbic acid from Vichy. I consider this just a best all-around product. It is a very good formulation. I love Vichy, it's a French skincare brand because so many of their products they have such simple straightforward formulations with just the quality ingredients, not a lot of fluff, and that is how I feel about this product. My favorite thing is this new and improved bottling packaging of it. It is a dropper bottle formula so the top just turn it over, a couple drops, and you put it on. It's very important to have high quality packaging of your vitamin C serums because it's not very stable, so you want opaque, airtight. I love this packaging. Vichy, another top pick from the drugstore."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

"I love this option if you've already tried the lower percentage and you're ready for something more. No irritation, you're going to go up to this one. Or if you have redness prone skin because this has some added ingredients into it to reduce redness of the skin, which is such a problem for me, it's such something I struggle with. So this is a really good option for wanting vitamin C benefits, sensitive skin, rosacea prone, redness skin. I love this option for that group of people."

✓Yay

64%Guru Score

The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum

"If you should want an even lower cost option for a peptide, my top pick on a budget is the Collagen Peptide Serum by The INKEY List."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Spot Care Serum

"I recommend this for people who want to brighten the skin, get a nice little glow, and fade dark spots or hyperpigmentation. This is not just a vitamin C serum, it is also a skin brightening product because it has four percent niacinamide and two percent arbutin, which are both very powerful ingredients to fade dark spots. This is exceptionally well formulated for sensitive skin people because the vitamin C content in this is very unique. It is derived from real fruit extract, specifically the green tangerine, which has ten times more vitamin C than other fruit, and it has centella asiatica in it to soothe the skin. This one has a jelly-like texture to it, so it is very smooth on the skin. You can layer this with other skin care products or makeup. So you want to use this one if you want vitamin C benefit but maybe you can't tolerate a traditional l-ascorbic acid type of vitamin C serum, or if you suffer from dark spots and you want to improve those on the skin."

✓Yay

63%Guru Score

Sunscreen51 reviews

EltaMD UV Skin Recovery SPF 50

"This is my actual most favorite luxury sunscreen splurge of all time, [...] maybe my number one favorite sunscreen ever. It's EltaMD UV Skin Recovery, [...] the green tinted version, because I have rosacea prone, redness prone skin and green cuts red. [...] This leaves my skin better than before after I use it because [...] the UV Skin Recovery formulation can repair your skin barrier while it's protecting your skin from the sun. No white cast, [...] this is all mineral. [...] I can wear this working out in the Florida sun, sweat on my face, and it does not burn my eyes, which is almost impossible because I have such sensitive eyes. To me this is worth the splurge. For Prime Day it's 20% off, which is a very good deal since I personally have not seen this for more than 20% off."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

BYOMA Ultra Light Face Fluid SPF 50

"This is one of the products I picked up called BYOMA Ultra Light Face Fluid SPF 50. I think it comes in an SPF 32 too, but get the SPF 50, more is better. The reason I like this so much is because it is extremely lightweight. It [...] just absorbs almost immediately, no white cast, and it feels like you are wearing nothing on the skin. [...] It also has some ceramides in it, [...] antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and it's so super affordable. This [...] has been every morning for me and I absolutely love it."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Clear Blemish Prone and Oil Balancing SPF 50

"This is really great for people who have oily, acne prone skin because this also contains 5% niacinamide. Niacinamide can help smooth and refine the pores. It can help acne. Can help prevent excess oiliness on the skin. It has zinc, like I mentioned, antioxidants. It's just a great great sunscreen."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

CeraVe Invisible Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

"This mineral sunscreen is probably one of the most invisible mineral sunscreens I've ever tried. I'm talking minimal to no white cast. When I started using it, it really reminded me of a certain bougie sunscreen that we all love. It is really giving that a run for its money. And this one is under $16. That's an incredible price. So, a very budget friendly, invisible mineral sunscreen."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen SPF 40

"This sunscreen is so nice and glowy on the skin. It is only $10. That is such a good price."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Luminous Eye Corrector SPF 41

"I hack that to get sunscreen there by using a concealer or corrector that has SPF in it. Another one of my holy grails that I used religiously last year is by dermatology. Same concept. This has SPF 41."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Merit The Uniform Tinted Moisturizer SPF 50

"I am using a Merit SPF tint. It's called the Uniform. It comes in a ton of colors. It's all mineral SPF 50. It is all I wear on makeup free days because it's just enough tint to cover my redness and then give me a good amount of sunscreen."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Bliss Blockstar Tinted Daily Mineral Sunscreen

"This Bliss Blockstar Tinted Daily Mineral Sunscreen, you guys, you have to try this. It's under $20. Usually, you can get it on sale under $20. It's such a good deal. When I put this on my face for the first time, I immediately was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is exactly like another sunscreen that is a longtime favorite of mine, but it's kind of more of a bougie sunscreen.' I'm a skincare nerd and I am obsessed with this. It's easily my favorite budget sunscreen I found in like the last 5 years at least."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Cream SPF 30

"This one by MD Solar Sciences, which is an amazing sunscreen, the mineral tinted cream, SPF 30. This one is a longtime favorite of mine, but it's kind of pricey. It's $35, which is a lot for a sunscreen, so I don't use it that much. I don't buy it that much."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Neutrogena Collagen Bank Non-SPF Peptide Moisturizer

"If you want a good, very good moisturizing night cream that also has some very gentle anti-aging benefits, check out Collagen Bank by Neutrogena. It really leaves such a hydrating feel on the skin. Quite luxurious. You are getting a really luxurious moisturizing finish and [bakuchiol] in it. So, it's a unique product. I love it."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Versed Multi-Serum Skin Tint Foundation SPF 40

"This is the multi-serum skin tint SPF 40. This is all mineral and it comes in so many shades. This is going to give light to medium almost probably more like medium coverage over the skin to cover redness and some dark spots. This has 13% zinc oxide in it, but obviously you will not be getting a white cast because you are getting a tinted product and you can get it to match your skin tone because it comes in many options. I prefer to put this on with the beauty blender. I usually even put a layer of sunscreen under this. And I really want to make sure I get a lot of SPF coverage from this because this has SPF 40 if you put enough on it. And I want to make sure I get good coverage on my skin to cover redness and dark spots and just to give me an even complexion. One of the reasons I feel comfortable doing that and know that I really get the most out of this product is because it's affordable. This is $19.99. So it's under $20 and I feel like I can really use it without feeling like, oh my gosh, this is such an expensive product. I have to use it sparingly. No, we are using this to its full potential. You can see this is all I have on my face and it has the best natural, dewy, hydrated, just normal skin look. It's not doing too much. It's not doing too little. I am so obsessed with this product. I am loving this so much. This is very similar, but better than other skin tints that are almost $50 that I've been using. The Ilia one. This honestly, it's half the price and it's so good."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Eucerin Advanced Hydration Plus Hyaluronic Acid Sunscreen SPF 50

"This is the Eucerin SPF 50 advanced hydration for your face. This is so good. This is great in my opinion because not only is it super lightweight, it doesn't feel like you have a heavy sunscreen on your face, but this has an antioxidant profile in the formulation. Antioxidants are super super important for your skin because the SPF is great to protect against UV damage, but antioxidants as well as your UV filters, it's very important to prevent additional free radical damage, which damages your collagen in your skin. So this one is really all about the antioxidants, and you don't find that in all sunscreens. I love this. A workhorse. When we have affordable sunscreens in our stockpile, we do not skimp out on using enough of them. This one's great. It does not burn my eyes. It does not have a white cast. It's just good all around and it's affordable."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70

"This sunscreen, an amazing price, super high SPF, all mineral. It's not going to irritate and sting the skin, and antioxidants with vitamin E. This is a no-brainer for your summer sunscreen collection. Great to use everyday if you want to use your more bougie sunscreen less often. Definitely fill your stockpile with something that you are not afraid to slather on your skin so you are getting enough SPF."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Vacation Crystal SPF 50 Invisible Face Gel

"What I love about this is it's literally invisible, 100% invisible when you put it on your skin. I really like it because it has a nice soft focus finish, kind of velvety on the skin. It doesn't leave your skin looking too dewy, so it's really not going to mess up your makeup. It's going to just absorb nicely into the skin and have this really soft focus finish. This is invisible and goes really nicely right over makeup on the skin. It actually works well for a primer too. If you want to put this on first before makeup, it's not going to alter your skin tone or pigment at all. Pairs very nicely with makeup right over it. So primer or reapplication, this is your girl."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Naked Sundays Glow Balm Mineral Peptide Stick SPF 50

"I find one easy way to do this actually is with a sunscreen stick this is by Naked Sundays it goes on completely clear i love to bring this with me on the go and reapply throughout the day because the sunscreen you put on in the morning really has about a life span of about two hours so you need to be reapplying during the day however that makes sense for you however it's easy for you figure it out because you've got to be protecting this area from excessive UV exposure and damage that's going to make your aging accelerate so much more quickly so slow that down by using your SPF"

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

"I follow that up with a moisturizer and an SPF. Remember, even if you have oily skin, you still should use a moisturizer to help balance your skin, especially because some of these acne ingredients can be drying and irritating to the skin, and a moisturizer will help keep your skin barrier strong and help you avoid these side effects. One of my favorite products for this step is the CeraVe ultra light moisturizing lotion that also has SPF 30 in it. I love this one because it is so lightweight on the skin. People with oily skin types actually really love this, and also it has a matte finish so that helps reduce some of the shine on the skin as well."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Matte Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46

"Day six, this could have been my favorite product of the year, I've used it so much and just loved every time I've used it. My favorite tinted SPF this year is by DRMTLGY, it's the matte version of their Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46. Before this was just the Universal, and this year they launched a matte version, which I love. What's amazing about this matte sunscreen is that it gives you a matte look without drying your skin out, which can really happen with some matte products. If you prefer a little more of a dewy hydrated look you want the Universal, if you want a more soft velvety focus finish you're going to use the matte one, and this is what I've been using the most this year. It does not dry your skin out. I tend to have a normal to dry skin type and this is so amazing for my skin, a soft velvety finish. This is a very sheer tint, so it's not going to give you much coverage of dark spots, but it's plenty if you want a really light makeup look, you don't have to put makeup over this, it's very sheerly tinted. This is the one I've been using a lot since launch, I think summer is one at launch."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Tula Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Skin Tint SPF 30

"The other favorite from Tula that I always keep on hand is the Radiant Skin Tint. This comes in so many different shades you can find your perfect match, but this is going to give a much more medium to full coverage on the skin so it'll take the place of your foundation and it has SPF 30. This is going to give a nice shimmery radiant finish on the skin. It's so good, I love this. It's one of my Tula must-haves. I always get these when they're on sale."

✓Yay

63%Guru Score

Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 30

"Vanicream for example is a really great simple SPF product."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Naked Sundays Cabana Clear Water Gel Serum SPF 50

"This is one I have been using, it's almost gone. It's by Naked Sundays, it's called the Cabana Clear Water Gel Serum, it's SPF 50 and it's completely clear. It blends right over the makeup, you can still see all of your makeup under it, and it dries with a powdery nice finish. That is how I would recommend reapplying sunscreen."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

"For this routine my personal pick is the CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 in the tinted version, though this also comes in a non-tinted version. [...] I really love this sunscreen option for this routine because it has ceramides in it, it has niacinamide in it, and the SPF in this one is zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so a very good, well balanced, well formulated sunscreen that is going to complement a Skin Barrier reset routine just beautifully. One of my key reminders is to make sure you use enough sunscreen to get the SPF on the label, so either put a couple layers on or put a lot on to begin with."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

"You can get this by Australian Gold All mineral Botanical tinted, this one is amazing and it also comes in a couple different shades which is an added benefit, and it finishes really similarly to the EltaMD, less than half the price."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Physical Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

"This is EltaMD for $44. It's tinted mineral. It's a really really nice sunscreen option that is one of their best sellers. It is nice all mineral tinted."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Versed Total Package Replenishing Body Lotion SPF 30

"The Total Package Mineral SPF Body Lotion is amazing to use on your arms and legs. There's the most subtle little white cast to it, not enough to really notice it or worry about using it on a daily basis. I love this because it really feels more like a lotion, less like a sunscreen, so this is going to be what you should be putting on your skin every day if you're going to be wearing short sleeves and shorts, going to be outside, even just running errands, doing stuff like that. This is your go-to, super affordable."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Banana Boat Protection Plus Vitamins Sunscreen SPF 50

"Banana Boat Protection Plus Vitamins SPF 50 is a very simple basic sunscreen, white chemical based sunscreen, but the vitamin C is what makes this different and it's so affordable. I love the price point. Vitamin C gives you extra antioxidant protection on the skin, so if you want a really good workhorse sunscreen with antioxidants in it for all of your outdoor adventures, get this one."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

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

"This is tinted mineral with 22.75% zinc oxide. It starts to look white just like the Paula's Choice one, but then you blend it in completely and it is going to be a sheer coverage over your skin with no white cast. It matches your skin tone really well. It is a little more radiant than the other one and it has a little bit higher zinc concentration than the Paula's Choice one, but I would consider these really similar. I actually love and use both. Naked Sundays is just an awesome sunscreen brand with a lot of different SPF interesting products on their website."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

"The Super Serum Skin Tint is amazing for makeup plus SPF coverage. It's SPF 40, all mineral, and it also has niacinamide in it. Such great coverage and it comes in 30 shades so most everybody can find a good shade match."

✓Yay

67%Guru Score

Neutrogena Pure Screen Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid

"This comes in four shades and I have been using shade medium. This is all mineral with zinc dioxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in it. The medium actually matches my skin tone quite nicely. I really like this one because the finish ends up being really dewy and kind of just luminous and hydrating looking. This is a really great option for your kind of like no makeup makeup days where you want just a little subtle coverage over the skin but you don't want to really put on a bunch of makeup. This does a good job covering some subtle redness on the face which I definitely have. I get lots of compliments on my skin when I have this on."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 30

"Vanicream even makes a facial sunscreen which is one of their newer products. This is lightweight. It's not greasy. It is not going to clog your pores. It is 100 mineral, it's SPF 30. It has non-nano zinc oxide in it and it has ceramides for skin barrier strengthening. It's just a super simple formulation. It's effective and it is not irritating to your skin. So if you have really sensitive skin and you want something affordable that works, this sunscreen is for you."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30

"My top choice for a sunscreen in this gentle skincare routine is La Roche-Posay Double Repair Moisturizer with SPF 30. This has niacinamide, ceramides, and prebiotic thermal water. It is really formulated to be supportive of your skin barrier and to be gentle on the skin. It doesn't contain fragrance or any other commonly irritating ingredients, and it will give you SPF protection with chemical filters. This is under $20."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Australian Gold Botanical Tinted SPF 50

"My favorite drugstore sunscreen is this Australian Gold Botanical, the tinted SPF 50. I love the sunscreen. I have a whole video on this. I have this recommended in a lot of my other videos in my routines. I show it and talk about it all the time. This is the light to medium. It comes in several different shades. It's all mineral and has zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in it and it has iron oxides obviously because it's tinted. So this is going to give you really complete protection against visible light as well. So this is great for melasma prone skin or if you have dark spots."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Avène Sunscreen Tinted Lotion SPF 50

"All three sunscreen options are 100 percent mineral and SPF 50. The thing that is so unique about these particular tinted sunscreens is the concentration of iron oxides. Iron oxides are what protects our skin from visible light and you need to have a high enough percentage of iron oxides to get the best protection. These sunscreen options seem to me to have some of the highest iron oxide concentration that I have tried. This is the most important for people with melasma, hyperpigmentation, and those with darker skin tones. The tinted versions also have niacinamide and skin soothing bisabolol and allantoin. So if you have any of these conditions I mentioned like hyperpigmentation or melasma this is definitely worth the spend in my opinion. So yes for the tinted cream."

✓Yay

67%Guru Score

Colorescience Unforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50

"My number one recommendation for a sunscreen is Color Science Unforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50. The unique thing about this sunscreen is it's claimed to go beyond just UVA and UVB protection and additionally protect against blue light, but also it gives environmental protection from pollution and infrared radiation due to their patented EnviroScreen technology. This sunscreen has niacinamide in it, which is one of my favorite skincare ingredients. Other important points about this sunscreen are that it is water resistant, oil-free, cruelty-free, and there are no chemical sunscreen filters. It is also reef safe, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and it's free from gluten, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, talc, dyes, mineral oils, and drying alcohols. There are several options to choose from with different amounts of tinting so you can more closely match your unique skin tone."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30

"This is my top favorite tinted mineral sunscreen, the Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense. It's all mineral and tinted so it doesn't give a white cast. I love it because it's weightless on the skin, it absorbs right in instead of sitting like a thick layer like a lot of mineral sunscreens do. It also has vitamin C in it for an extra antioxidant boost. For Prime Day it's 30% off, as big a discount as Paula's Choice ever offers."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30

"You can follow it up with their polyglutamic acid dewy SPF 30 sunscreen. It's very lightweight and sheer on the skin. And at the end of your routine after those three products, you will have a very glass glowy skin look."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Tula Protect + Glow Daily Facial Sunscreen Gel SPF 30

"This is something that when I first ever discovered this long time ago and I put it on my hand I was like what is that. It is such a weird consistency because it is almost like chunky, but it is amazing because it melts into the skin like totally melts into the skin and actually feels really nice on the skin. It is so luminous and so radiant and glowy. I love to wear this alone. It is non-tinted so anybody can wear this. Once this is on the skin it is so amazing. I always go back to this multiple times a year. I restock this. It is not cheap but you can usually get it on sale if you time it right. It is so nice on the skin. I get a ton of comments from people loving this one too. It comes in a jumbo size now which was on like 57% off for the holidays."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Glow Screen SPF 50

"This finishes with a lot more of a shimmery glow. These are both all mineral. I have loved these for years. Good iron oxide coverage in these Colorescience ones. I love it."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Restore Broad-Spectrum SPF 40

"EltaMD UV Restore is you can't beat this. This is a really amazing sunscreen. I use that one a lot too, but it is more pricey."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Luminous

"EltaMD UV Luminous is on sale. I love Elta MD."

✓Yay

64%Guru Score

Avène Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ Tinted Compact

"The Avène Mineral Sunscreen Compact is perfect for travel, perfect for on the go, and for reapplying sunscreen. It comes in several shades. It's a compact with a sponge and a mirror, and it's a cream sunscreen with SPF 50."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Naked Sundays SPF 50

"This is all mineral with iron oxides so it is tinted but it is actually barely tinted, just enough to take that white cast away but not actually add color to your skin, which means this will blend for a very wide variety of skin tones. It's a collagen glow sunscreen so it really finishes with a nice glow. This is 22 percent zinc oxide with no other chemical filters in it, a very clean formulation and vegan. I love this and I'm going to be using these like the rest of spring and summer."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50

"This is actually one of the really most awesome sunscreens from Colorescience. It's the flex and it's tone adjusting. It comes out this color, kind of white, and you can see tiny little specks in there, and then it tone adjusts and blends into your skin tone. If you get just one sunscreen from the sale 20 percent off, check this one out."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

EltaMD UV AOX Elements SPF 50

"The UV Elements is my top pick, the tinted one for sensitive skin."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Glow Broad-Spectrum SPF 36

"The EltaMD UV glow is really hydrating and gives you a nice glow finish."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

"The UV Clear has niacinamide and is really going to be geared towards or marketed more towards acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. It blends in nicely with a pretty normal soft finish, not overly matte and definitely not like a hydrating dewy luminous look at all. If you have acne prone skin, this is one that I recommend."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Daily

"The UV Daily does not have niacinamide and is going to be more universal so all skin types can use it. It does contain hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Between UV Clear and UV Daily, the UV Daily is just more of a universal option for all skin types."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41

"UV Physical is lighter in tint compared to the UV Restore and UV Glow. This one feels really soft on the skin, kind of closer to a matte finish than all of the others. It comes in a bigger three-ounce tube. I would go for this one if you are somebody who wants just kind of a subtle tint finish, you're going to be outdoors, you need something water-resistant. This one's going to be awesome."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

"This is invisible because it's more clear than anything. The feel of this is actually more close to a primer than a sunscreen and that's why this one wears tremendously well under makeup. It feels very velvety on the skin once you rub it in, it is weightless and it is absolutely invisible since it's colorless so it's going to work for all skin tones. This one is actually not a mineral sunscreen, this has chemical filters in it but it does not have any oxybenzone in it at all. This also has other skin care packed ingredients in it to improve the texture of the skin like frankincense and metal foam seed. This is extremely invisible but it's not a zinc or titanium dioxide based product but it is very unique."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Supergoop Zinc Screen 100% Mineral SPF 40

"This is 100 mineral and has 13 zinc oxide in it and this one has a pink hue to it. It is not tinted to match a certain skin tone but it just has this translucent hue to be invisible while also masking that white cast from mineral sunscreens, so this one will work for almost all skin tones and be invisible when you put it on your skin. This also has iron oxides again to protect against blue light and this has a few other unique ingredients like winter cherry, coconut fruit extract and blueberry extract to just give this extra bit of nourishment and protection to the skin barrier. Compared to the other two I showed you, this one will actually finish on the skin a little bit more dewy or have a little bit more of that shiny hydrated look. You can check this one out for 42, and make sure you check out the Zinc Screen for being the most translucent and invisible look on the skin."

✓Yay

Notverified

Supergoop Glow Screen Sunscreen SPF 40

"This is slightly tinted and has a very different finish on the skin than all the other Supergoop sunscreens. It's really more than just dewy—it's definitely pearlescent and almost shimmery on the skin. It even has this little bit of golden hue in some lighting, but I love that the formulation contains some great skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and niacinamide so this will soothe and nourish your skin. I would not use this as my sole sunscreen all over the face because the finish is too shimmery for my taste. If you were to try this, I recommend putting Unseen sunscreen on the face then adding just a small amount of this in the hands and use that sparingly to the skin if you want a nice but subtle glow."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

Supergoop Mineral Sheer Screen SPF 30

"This is the only non-tinted one and it has 17.5% zinc oxide. This is an amazing sunscreen in my opinion because it leaves an extremely minimal white cast on the skin even though it has no tinting in it, and that is a very hard thing to accomplish with a mineral sunscreen. Supergoop is able to achieve this with their sheer matrix technology and it finishes lightweight on the skin. Get this if you want to wear makeup over it or if you want to tint your own sunscreen. It is not my first choice as a sunscreen to wear totally alone."

~Mixed

67%Guru Score

Moisturizers44 reviews

Seen Blowout Cream

"I also use the Blowout Cream by SEEN, also on Amazon Prime Day, [...] good for detangling and protecting your hair as a heat protectant before you put heat on it. SEEN is dermatologist developed, so it's safe and not going to contribute to scalp problems or hair fall."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

BYOMA Moisturizing Gel Cream

"This newer one that I recently started using from BYOMA, their gel cream moisturizer. It's also $15. It's so nice on the skin. BYOMA has so many great products at such affordable prices."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream

"My holy grail moisturizer for dry body skin is La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M. The emollients in this cream, like shea butter and plant oils, soften the skin and fill in the gaps between dry skin cells, which is why the skin feels almost instantly smoother. This cream also contains ceramides, which are lipids naturally found in your skin that help repair and restore your skin barrier over time."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

"Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is a very great option. It's under $15. It has hyaluronic acid in it. It has ceramides in it. And it is very lightweight. So we don't have a heavy or greasiness if you want to put makeup over it. It's such a versatile [...] moisturizer. [...] Very budget friendly and it gets the job done. It is simple. It is a workhorse. Good for all skin types. It has the seal of approval from the eczema association."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream

"The tolerance control cream is a 10 out of 10. Not going to irritate your skin. [...] A little thicker, a little heavier, and a little more hydrating in and of itself. If you're super super sensitive and the budget ones just still are not quite doing it for you, this is going to be where you would go to next in my opinion."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream

"It's a Korean skincare one. It's so good. It has these little ceramide capsules in it that just melt into your skin when you rub it in. I love this one, especially paired with retinoids because it's a really good thick luxurious texture. This is one of my current new obsessions."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Mederma Advanced Scar Gel with Allantoin

"The fourth product I do not want you to buy is a fancy scar cream, Mederma or vitamin E or anything super fancy because again I think we have a theme here: allergic contact dermatitis. You are more likely to get an allergic reaction to this cream than any benefit you hope to be getting to fade your scar."

✕Nay

51%Guru Score

Benadryl Topical Cream

"It's very common that people will grab this at the drugstore if they have poison ivy rash or some type of itchy, inflamed, bothersome rash on their skin. People think, 'Ooh, Benadryl is going to calm that down. Let's slather that on the rash.' Topical Benadryl is diphenhydramine. It's an antihistamine. So you would think that if you put it on your skin, it's going to decrease that sensation for itch and irritation. But the problem with diphenhydramine or topical Benadryl cream is it is a common, common offender for an allergic contact dermatitis on the skin. It's going to potentially create a new problem on top of the problem you are already treating."

✕Nay

51%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

"La Roche-Posay has a Cicaplast that's very similar to this. It does the most incredible job of locking hydration into your skin and helping your skin barrier reset and repair while you sleep."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Strivectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus

"The patented peptide in this neck cream has much smaller studies that were done by the brand rather than independent studies, so those to me do not hold equal weights. I would rather go with a peptide cream for my neck that has Matrixyl 3000 or the Syn-Ake form or copper in it rather than swapping those very well-known peptides out for an unknown peptide with less evidence behind it and that is costing me way more. So I am not willing to take that risk. Possibly this will give you results that you were happy with, but so will other creams that cost less money. In my opinion, I recommend starting there instead."

✕Nay

63%Guru Score

The INKEY List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing & Plumping Moisturizer + Barrier Strengthening

"This is my favorite moisturizer of the year and this is a new product launch from this year so I've been using this for almost all year. It's incredible, full price this is $20 but right now it's on sale for $15, so a moisturizer for your face that lasts this long is a great price. It's by The INKEY List, it's a bioactive ceramide repairing and plumping moisturizer. The reason this is topnotch is because it has ceramides in it in a really nice and nourishing base. Please only use a little bit of this, a little bit goes a very, very long way. This will really last you. The other thing that's really cool about this is it has this ingredient in it called Gro Blur, so it blurs, kind of fills and blurs those fine lines on your skin, so you instantly get kind of this rejuvenated look. I love this moisturizer. I use this almost every night in my routine right now. You can use this morning or night, it's a little bit on the heavier side, like I said don't overdo it, so I use it just at night."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm+ Red Correct

"This formulation is really hydrating and nice and it's a very simple formulation. It has methanol in it to soothe the skin and it has some peptides in it to help your skin barrier. Since I have found this product and seen how good it works on my skin, it is what I'm exclusively wearing instead of makeup on work days because it does just enough to correct all my redness and give me an even skin tone. I don't have to put on anything else after this. I get a ton of compliments about this product, and I've had messages from people who have also used it and really loved it. I usually just blend it out with my fingers, but sometimes you can grab a beauty blender if you want to really make sure it's even everywhere."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm

"It's by Hero, it's the Rescue Balm. It is a color correcting green cream that visibly evens the skin tone with the pigments in this product. I am very redness prone, that is part of what I deal with as my aging skin, so green corrects red. This is what I've been using so much during the day instead of makeup. It's a very subtle green, and then when you rub it in, it covers the redness. It is a very new to me product, it's actually a viral product, and for a good reason it works so well."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

"The CeraVe night cream is in this nice balm-like texture and it has added skin barrier boosting ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramide."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream

"I love that this is very thick texture and it has ceramides and peptides in it so it's going to be very hydrating and repairing of the skin barrier."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer

"I have been using this one since last year. This is another great option. It has a different type of vitamin C in it compared to the eye patches, and this one has more of my favorite type of vitamin C."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Vanicream Moisturizing Cream

"Vanicream makes a cream which is heavier than a lotion that is wonderful on the skin. I actually buy the cream in the tub not the tube because we love it so much and we use it so much. It's great for the whole family from babies to adults. This is okay for the face and for the body and we use this in my house for body skin care. This is another super affordable option and this is what I would recommend that you use on babies."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Vanicream 1% Hydrocortisone Itch Relief Cream

"Vanicream actually makes an over-the-counter topical skin medication called Vanicream HC. It has one percent hydrocortisone in it to treat minor skin flares of eczema, skin inflammation, itching, and psoriasis. Hydrocortisone is a very gentle topical steroid that you can get without a prescription that helps calm inflamed skin. It can even help bug bites stop itching. So this is another thing to keep in mind if you need something a little stronger than just a moisturizer to treat problem skin."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer

"For the summertime, I'm using the La Roche Posay Double Repair Matte Moisturizer because it's a little bit lighter. It's a gel formulation compared to cream-based forms. This is going to be a little bit of a thicker finish on the skin and this is more matte, so if you're oily skin, definitely this is my top pick."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

SkinFix Barrier+ Restoring Gel Cream

"This is another new product and it has a heavier cream-based option that now comes in a lighter weight form, and I'm really loving this gel option. The cream version I've tried to use on and off, and it's definitely heavy on the skin and very occlusive, so I wouldn't choose it if you have very oily skin. But this new gel form is much lighter on the skin while still being formulated to really accomplish that barrier repair. It absorbs in so much more quickly than the cream version and you still get that same hydrating feel. This product claims to repair your barrier after just one hour and give you hydration up to 72 hours. It has saccharide isomerate which supports the skin barrier, niacinamide which helps visibly even the skin tone and absorb excess oil, a heptapeptide blend which helps nourish the skin microbiome, and zinc PCA which is great for oily skin because it helps control excess sebum production and can calm redness and irritation. I really love this product specifically for acne-prone skin, if you have fungal acne or malassezia folliculitis, if you have a damaged skin barrier. I really love this for nighttime use on nights that you take off from using a retinoid to really help reset the skin barrier or strengthen it. If you struggle with maintaining a healthy skin barrier while dealing with skin issues like acne or textured skin, or if you have a routine with a lot of skincare actives in it, this can definitely be worth the money for its unique ingredients and repairing properties."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid & Peptide Cream

"This is a really similar formulation to the Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Repair and a very close dupe in my opinion. It has a patented three percent triple lipid complex to replenish your skin barrier with ceramides and fatty acids, peptides to help your skin barrier function more optimally, a hyaluronic blend to pull moisture into your skin, and lily root extract to tighten the skin. This is fragrance free unlike the essential oil blends in the Skinceuticals product, making it a better option for sensitive skin. It's also clean, cruelty free, and made without parabens. It has clinical studies showing improvement in the quantity of lipids and is clinically shown to improve the softness, smoothness, and radiance of the skin. The texture is thick and creates a barrier on top of the skin, and it takes a little bit of time to absorb, but once you get it applied evenly it does feel nice and soothing. For 50 dollars for 1.7 ounces, this is a huge savings from the 136 dollar option."

✓Yay

95%Guru Score

Avène Tolerance Extreme Cream

"The Tolerance Extreme Cream only has seven ingredients in it, which is incredible. This is partly possible because of the unique sterile packaging so they don't need a bunch of fluff preservatives for this product. These ingredients are all about maintaining the skin microbiome, which is very important in hypersensitive skin. So if the simple cheaper options like CeraVe and Vanicream are not working for your sensitive skin, definitely give these a try. I do not think that you will be disappointed here at all."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Cetaphil Healthy Renew Purified Peptides Night Cream

"The Cetaphil Skin Renewing Night Cream is one of my all-time favorite night creams. I love this one because it is the most effective at really repairing dry skin, flaky skin, or eczema prone skin. It is more of a balm like texture, so it's kind of even thicker than a cream but it's not an ointment. It's very occlusive on the skin but not greasy or anything like that compared to Vaseline or something. This is an incredible product."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

CeraVe SA Cream for Rough and Bumpy Skin

"These also have ceramides in them and other skin nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. So this is a great all-in-one product to hydrate, nourish, and exfoliate."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Eucerin Roughness Relief Lotion

"Eucerin has a roughness relief line that consists of a lighter weight lotion, a thicker cream, and a spot treatment product. These products aim to do three things all in one: they smooth the skin, exfoliate the dead skin cells away, and hydrate the skin barrier. These contain urea, which is moisturizing and serves as an exfoliant, lactic acid, and ceramides. I like that these contain urea in addition to the lactic acid, which is unlike the AmLactin products, but my suspicion is that the AmLactin products are probably a little bit stronger than these. But still, these are both likely to be effective for you, and these are also very affordable, under ten dollars."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough and Bumpy Skin

"For the rough and bumpy line, CeraVe has the SA lotion, SA cream, and SA body wash. The SA stands for salicylic acid. These are different than the previous brands I mentioned because these contain salicylic acid as well as lactic acid. For these, we do not know the percentage of these acids, so we cannot really easily compare the brands. I like salicylic acid as an ingredient to treat KP because we know that it collects preferentially in the hair follicles and the oil glands, so it does a really good job smoothing out the bumps of KP. Research studies in our dermatology literature show that both salicylic acid and lactic acid are effective at treating KP, but lactic acid seems to be even more effective than salicylic acid. So I still give the nod to AmLactin products, but regardless, I think these definitely can help as well, especially if you are a really big fan of salicylic acid. This is a really reasonable option."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Eucerin Roughness Relief Moisturizing Cream

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Vichy Mineral 89 72-Hour Moisture Boosting Cream

"Everyone needs this product. It's for all skin types from dry to oily, sensitive or rosacea prone skin, and you can use it all year round. This is a hybrid serum moisturizer product with a super simple ingredients list of only 11 ingredients. Hyaluronic acid is the hero ingredient here as well as French volcanic water with essential minerals. The best thing about this product is the way it feels on the skin. It has a little bit of a slip to it when you rub it in so it absorbs very quickly. It has a very cooling and soothing sensation to the skin. For oily skin types or in the summertime, I recommend using this alone as your moisturizer. It is very lightweight, it is refreshing and breathable. Or if you have dry skin or it's wintertime, use this first under your moisturizer to really supercharge your hydration."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Avène RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Cream

"My longtime favorite wrinkle treatment is the retinaldehyde by Avène, the strongest form of retinoid you can get over the counter without a prescription. It's 30% off, the biggest discount this brand offers all year, basically Black Friday level pricing. It was reformulated last year so it's even better for sensitive skin, and it has niacinamide in it to help restore the skin barrier. It's very gentle if you have sensitive, rosacea prone skin, preservative free, sterile packaging. This is a top recommendation, though it's still a little pricey."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion

"The Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion [...] keeps the skin hydrated for 72 hours. I was able to put my lotion on at night before bed and then get up and go and not have to worry about it in the morning, and just know that my skin's hydration would hold up throughout the day. [...] The key ingredient system here is something called the triple oat complex. Oat is one of those ingredients that's been used in dermatology for decades. [...] Colloidal oatmeal is FDA recognized as a skin protectant, and it's been studied extensively for things like eczema, irritation, itching, and barrier dysfunction. What's unique here about these Aveeno products is that it's not just one form of oat, it's three: oat extract, oat flour, and oat oil, hence the name triple oat."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

"Another good option would be the La Roche-Posay Double Repair. That's a longtime favorite of mine, but I've been leaning a little more towards this one lately."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

"On nights that you are taking a break from your retinoid, I really love to recommend this skin barrier repair product. This one is by Avène. It's their Cicalfate+."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

The INKEY List Omega Water Cream

"I would personally pair that with their Omega Water Cream. It's a very lightweight and hydrating moisturizer."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer

"This comes in a vitamin C moisturizer which I also love. If you really want to simplify your routine and use kind of a combined hybrid vitamin C serum/moisturizer, this is an amazing product. This one is 10% THD ascorbate, so a little bit less. If you are super super sensitive skin you could maybe start here, level up to this if your skin tolerates."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

CetaPhil Moisturizing Cream

"Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream has niacinamide and panthenol and glycerin to restore your skin barrier and provide 48 hours of lasting hydration. For dry skin, I am recommending the Moisturizing Cream over a lotion because creams are more hydrating and tend to be more lightweight lotions."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Moisturizer

"Step two of my custom glow on a budget routine is the Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Moisturizer. I like to say this is a tingle free skincare acid solution that gives you the benefits of an acid without that stinging misery, if you know you know. This is really the first thing that you should grab if you ever feel like your complexion is just lackluster or dull, it's because you have an accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin that is trapping light. This is going to break up that layer and allow light to bounce off the skin so you have that glowy look. You just need a little bit of this, you can do it two ways. This is a nice pump top container so just one pump and you can actually just pat it into your skin very gently, or if you have a little bit of extra roughness to your skin and you need a little bit more, I take a cotton round and one or two pumps here and then just gently swipe along the skin. Do not overdo it, you do not have to be rough here. This is also a great addition to hyperpigmentation skincare routines or post acne marks because this has a very nice blend of four acids in it."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

The INKEY List Bakuchiol Moisturizer

"The Inky List one is comparatively more lightweight. You will use that up much more quickly. It does not have the niacinamide and ceramides in it. This is a better product, but if you want to just dip your toe in and not spend a ton of money, start with the Inky List product. I think that is a very solid choice as well."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Tula Bright Start Vitamin C Antioxidant Brightening Moisturizer

"Tula actually also has an amazing option for a vitamin C moisturizer, smells a little bit like oranges so that may be a pro or con to you depending on your preference, but that one does have THD in it as well as 30l ascorbic acid but it also has ferulic acid and tranexamic acid to help your skin tone and fade dark spots so it is a really amazing product."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Rich Barrier Moisturizer

"This has the silkiest feel on the skin ever. It contains a 30 hyaluronic acid complex. It has a thicker texture so it's a little more hydrating and a little more occlusive on the skin."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Tula 24/7 Moisture Cream

"This 24/7 is going to give you a good 24 hours worth of hydration, it is very luxurious feeling on the skin. I love Tula products. It's a cream-based moisturizer, so it is a lot thicker. It has antioxidants in it, it has the pre and probiotic extracts in it, it has squalane and peptides, so it's a very good well-rounded moisturizer."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

SkinFix Barrier Repair Cream

"Skin Fix also has a great Barrier Repair Cream. I actually prefer the gel version, though it is a bit more pricey."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

"This one by CeraVe is my top favorite budget pick. It has peptides, ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid in it. You cannot beat this for the price."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream

"e.l.f. has the Holy Hydration Face Cream in the fragrance-free version and that's amazing and very affordable."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

e.l.f. Pure Skin Moisturizer

"The ELF Pure Skin Moisturizer is very, very hydrating without feeling too heavy on the skin. I think it's actually very similar in feel to the Cetaphil Skin Renewing Night Cream, which I told you is a holy grail of mine. This is super affordable at just twelve dollars. It comes in a pump bottle, which I love because these are so much easier and nicer to use. It rubs in super quickly and really feels very similar to the Cetaphil one again just at a lower price point. I love this entire Pure Skin line by ELF. It's an easy three step, super affordable."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Cleansers40 reviews

Prequel Pre-Cleanse Cleansing Oil

"Another option for a cleanser is by Prequel, it's their Glanser. This has 5% glycolic acid in it. Another great entry point to trying this ingredient in your routine."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

"I cannot stand it when people spend crazy money on cleansers like the Elemis Cleansing Balm, it's $72, $50 right now on Prime Day. I do like that they now made a fragrance-free option, but $50 for a cleanser is out of control."

~Mixed

68%Guru Score

CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

"One of my all-time favorite cleansers is the Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser from CeraVe. If I'm not using a cleansing balm for heavy makeup or waterproof sunscreen, I'll just use this, it gently removes makeup in one step, basically turning a double cleanse into a single cleanse, without leaving the oily residue behind that [...] cleansing balms can leave, while still getting all the makeup off. It's the quickest, easiest, and very affordable way to get all your makeup off."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Remedy Derm Dissolve Cleansing Balm

"The other cleansing balm I love so much I'm out of it is by Remedy, around $13 on Prime Day. It's good for eczema skin, works every bit as well as the Elemis Cleansing Balm, which I've used a lot in the past, and it's better than that, for $13 versus $72 on sale for $50."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm

"Instead of an overpriced cleansing balm, I'd use the Grinding Cleansing Balm by Dr. Althea, around $16 on Prime Day. They also make a version in light blue that I love."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Burt's Bees Dissolve Cleansing Balm

"Another option for a cleansing balm is one that I have used for many years from Burt's Bees. It's also $18. It will work just as well as the Reale Actives one."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Prequel Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser

"If you have redness-prone skin, rosacea-prone or an actual rosacea diagnosis, you have to check out the Prequel Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser. [...] Since I started using these, my skin has been so much less red than is average for me. [...] The reason it works so well for rosacea-type skin is that it has sulfur, which is kind of one of those catch-all ingredients that can help a wide variety of skin conditions: acne, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis. It also has azelaic acid. Do not sleep on azelaic acid. It's such a good ingredient for the skin, especially for redness-prone skin, and that's why it's in here. There's also a soothing ingredient in there that's great for the skin. This is technically a cleanser, but I like to use it as a mask. [...] I take a good amount, apply it all over my face in a thick layer, [...] and let it sit for two to five minutes if I have enough patience, letting it work as a mask before I wash it off."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Prequel Non-Drying Glycolic Acid Cleanser

"The one I'm using today is by Prequel. This has 5% glycolic acid in it."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser

"This truly is residue free. It does a good job being an oil-based cleanser, lifting the makeup off the skin, even waterproof mascara, and then foams to really take all of that and rinse it away with no residue. It has flax seed oil, which doesn't bother me. The ingredients formulation of this is very simple, which I like. It has cocamopropylene, which is an ingredient that can for some people be an irritant. It's not very common and it's fine for me, but something to note. And it has panthenol, which is soothing, and niacinamide in it. Flax seed oil is one of the ingredients that helps give it that oil texture. Overall, a very simple product. They recommend it for normal to dry skin, but I don't see why oily skin couldn't use this. I do not feel like it leaves anything heavy behind at all. I would kind of recommend this for all skin types, sensitive skin especially."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The INKEY List Hydrating Cream to Milk Cleanser

"Tonight's cleanser of choice for me, the Inkey List Hydrating Cream to Milk Cleanser."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Sunday Riley Aquamarine Melt Hydrating Gel Balm Cleanser

"Got all my makeup off. And you guys saw me rub that right over my eye. And two things I want to point out. No stinging of my eye. And I don't have that oil cleanser film that when you wash with some cleansing balms or cleansing oils, you feel like you get this film or coat over your eyeball and then like everything looks blurry until it kind of washes away. I have none of that with this. And I really went all over my lash line. It's runnier than I would expect it to be. It's really like you need to make sure that you get it from your hand right onto the face cuz it is drippy. That's one critique I would say about it. But honestly, if it works and it doesn't bother my eyes, I don't care. I think it's great."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

"The one I recommend is by Vanicream. It's the Gentle Facial Cleanser. This is perfect for retinoid skincare routines because it's a very simple formula. It's great for all skin types, especially sensitive skin, which your skin can be sensitive once you are starting a retinoid."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous 101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm

"If you are wearing makeup, I recommend a double cleanse where you are first starting with a cleansing balm like this one. This is by Geek and Gorgeous. This really helps loosen up makeup, even waterproof mascara, waterproof sunscreen. Remove it from your skin."

✓Yay

94%Guru Score

PanOxyl 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Wash

"A benzoyl peroxide wash that you can use in the shower, I like this by PanOxyl, it goes up to 10%. I will link that one as well. It's a great option to treat acne on the chest and the back as well."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

"You can use a salicylic acid cleanser in your morning routine. This one is a salicylic acid cleanser that actually is an acne cleanser, and acne cleansers tend to have a little bit higher concentration of salicylic acid which potentially means better faster results. It's so gentle you can actually use it every day or even just a few times a week will still give you great results."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

"Neutrogena makes a good example of this cleanser for your anti-aging routine acne wash. Check it out, 2% salicylic acid. You might recognize this from like many years ago if you are a millennial like me who probably used this in your teenage years, but this is not the same cleanser that you use when you are a teenager. This is actually now reformulated to be fragrance-free and dye-free, so it's not actually orange, it's just the label. When you dispense this, it's actually clear, so no dye, no fragrance. Another great acne cleanser that you can use for anti-aging because this one also has that maximum strength salicylic acid in it. I use and love a salicylic acid product in my routine in the morning time because this can help prep your skin for what is my next step in the morning that can easily be a vitamin C serum. By using a salicylic acid cleanser first, you're going to help prepare the skin to absorb the vitamin C a little bit better. Again, you're improving texture and helping your actives you use after that work better. So I love this cleanser in my morning routine."

✓Yay

61%Guru Score

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

"It doesn't need to stay on your skin, it doesn't need to do anything fancy, it doesn't need to cost a fortune, you just need it to do its job. $10 will get the job done. I'm going to show you one of my all-time favorites, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Versed Purest Antioxidant Cleanser

"Versed antioxidant cleanser, that's a great one, super affordable."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Dollar Tree Gentle Skin Cleanser

"It's hydrating it's creamy it's fragrance free it gives a really nice lather so far far it is soothing and it does not feel irritating on the skin"

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil

"Use a cleansing oil in the shower for optimal hydration. This one from La Roche-Posay, from the Lipikar line, [...] I use in the shower. It just gives another layer of hydration to the skin, and then when you get out within 30 seconds you are putting moisturizer on your skin and you are going to have optimal hydration even through the winter months."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm

"One of my all-time favorite cleansing balms for double cleansing and removing makeup from the face is the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm. This is a jumbo size of it, which I think is new, and the jumbo size makes this even more affordable."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Facetheory Vitamin C Cream Cleanser

"There is another option by Facetheory for $18. This one has sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which is a different type of stable vitamin C."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid

"The acne control cleanser is an over-the-counter medication that contains 2 percent salicylic acid, which is the highest strength you can get over the counter and it's listed in the active ingredients section. In contrast, the SA renewing cleanser is not regulated as a medication and it contains an undisclosed percentage of salicylic acid with no active ingredients specified on the label, which suggests that it is likely less potent than the dedicated acne cleanser. Look for an active ingredient with salicylic acid listed as 2 percent in your acne cleanser, and get a medicated cleanser which you can identify by the presence of an active ingredient section on the back of the label."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

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

"If you want to try a benzoyl peroxide cleanser, buy Panoxyl creamy acne wash. Benzoyl peroxide is incredibly affordable and you absolutely do not need an expensive cleanser with benzoyl peroxide in it. Panoxyl is so cheap and it is so effective. It has a very long standing track record of actually working and it is recommended by dermatologists across the board. Panoxyl in this example is exceptionally cost effective and proven to work incredibly well. It has a long standing reputation and is widely recommended by dermatologists."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Effaclar 2% Gel Cleanser

"Some of my favorite cleansers are by La Roche Posay the Effaclar medicated Gel Cleanser."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

"CeraVe makes a Cleanser with niacinamide and ceramides in it that is really great as a gentle cleanser."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

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

"If you don't want to spend much on a cleansing balm, you don't have to. There are budget-friendly ones that I actually love. This e.l.f. holy hydration makeup melting cleansing balm is one of my longtime favorites and I still go back to this all the time. I'll link this one below too if you want a great budget-friendly option."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

e.l.f. Holy Hydration Cleansing Balm

"You can add a cleansing balm to your routine like e.l.f Holy Hydration Cleansing Balm, which is a super affordable top pick of mine. You massage a little bit into the skin and this can even remove waterproof mascara, then you rinse it off."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water

"If you have on makeup like I do today, I usually have a second part of my routine where I use a micellar water to make sure everything is off, especially if I have on waterproof sunscreen. This by Bioderma is my favorite micellar water from the drugstore. But the drugstore has a lot of options. Just choose one that is fragrance free."

✓Yay

96%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

"This is the hydrating gentle cleanser in the creamy form. It also comes in a foaming form for more normal to oily skin, but this one is for more dry to normal skin. I kind of have more dry skin but I actually like the foaming one better. I like the foaming nature of it and it does not dry my skin out, but either one, this is a really great example of a gentle cleanser that you should use in your routine at night with the retinoid. This is fragrance free, you do not want anything with fragrance in it when you are using retinoids because retinoids are irritating so you don't need anything else to really trigger irritation. This does not have hyaluronic acid in it. Hyaluronic acid is so trendy and it's in almost every product so it's actually very difficult now to find a cleanser without hyaluronic acid in it but this one actually does not have it. I never use products with hyaluronic acid at night when I'm using my retinoids because hyaluronic acid can pull these deeper into the skin which just causes irritation. The other thing to look for in a cleanser with your retinoids is one that has niacinamide that can help repair and strengthen your skin barrier, which is always under attack by retinoids, and ceramides, ceramides can also help that skin barrier. So this product by La Roche-Posay the gentle cleanser is a perfect example of a cleanser that you should use at night with your retinoid product."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser

"The La Roche Posay Gentle Foaming Cleanser is one of my all-time favorites to use as a gentle cleanser in your skincare routine."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide

"In this routine I have chosen a benzoyl peroxide product that's in a cleanser form. This is the CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser. This has 4% benzoyl peroxide. You can get benzoyl peroxide over the counter in strengths up to 10%, and the higher the strength the more potential it has to irritate your skin. I like to start low. 4% can get the job done and balance the side effects of that irritation. I specifically chose this cleanser by CeraVe because not only does it have that benzoyl peroxide, but it's in a really great formulation to decrease that risk of irritation. It also contains ceramides and niacinamide, which is another great ingredient that can address a couple of the causes of acne. This is going to target that first cause of acne."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm

"The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm is one of my favorite cleansing balms. A cleansing balm is really your secret weapon to carefully remove makeup and waterproof sunscreen from your skin with a very gentle massage technique that helps it just lift right up off the skin without needing to use any harsh abrasive makeup wipes or eye makeup remover that can pull and tug the skin or irritate the eyes and the skin. This one is very gentle on the skin, really nourishing and hydrating to our skin barrier, all while doing the heaviest work of the entire cleansing method and getting this oil-based sticky makeup and skincare products out of the crevices of our skin and off our skin, especially waterproof makeup."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

"This is an acceptable cleanser to use for a water-free cleanse. This is going to very gently remove those impurities from your skin with their micellar technology. So basically, micelles attract, they capture and lift away dirt, oil, and makeup [...] without harsh rubbing or drying. And it's budget and derm approved. You can get this for less than $10."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

LMS Cleansing Balm

"This is one of the most popular cleansing balms of all time. I really describe this as like a spa-like experience because it just feels and smells so nice on the skin. It works very well to remove makeup and soften the skin."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser

"The salicylic acid cleanser has two percent salicylic acid in it, which is the highest strength you can get over the counter, so this is a strong acne cleanser. I recommend this one if you have mainly whiteheads and blackheads because salicylic acid is oil soluble and will really get down into the depth of your pores, break up the debris there, unclog the pore, and smooth away the dead skin cells."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

The INKEY List 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Cleanser

"The five percent benzoyl peroxide cleanser is a great starting point at a very high strength. Benzoyl peroxide is anti-inflammatory, it helps kill the acne causing bacteria on your skin without causing resistance like antibiotics can. I really love benzoyl peroxide for more inflamed pimples and those pus bumps of acne, and you can always save the 10 percent strength for chest and back acne."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Avène XeraCalm A.D. Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil

"The Avène Xeroplus Cleansing Oil is a lipid replenishing cleansing oil that you can use for the face and the body. Cleansing oils for the body are an absolute game changer if you use waterproof sunscreen or other skincare products on your body. This is the best thing to remove them, and even if not, this is just a really gentle cleanser if you have eczema, dry skin, or sensitive skin. It's great in the winter. It's lipid replenishing and hydrating, and it is not stripping like so many soaps and cleansers and body washes can be. This one is always on hand at our house. My kids use this. The whole family uses this. It's a super good product."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm

"I am using my water-based cleanser, which is my eight dollar Banila Co cleanser. I love the way that this one foams up but it does not strip the skin. Do not buy a luxury cleanser; save your money for a luxury peel instead."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

e.l.f. Pure Skin Cleanser

"My top affordable gentle cleanser pick is e.l.f Pure Skin Cleanser at $9, which is an amazing price for a really great product. It has niacinamide, which is a crucial ingredient in my gentle skincare routine to help strengthen and restore your skin barrier. This one also contains ceramides for skin barrier support, allantoin which helps soothe the skin especially if you have irritation or a damaged skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid for added hydration. The formula overall is so gentle with no fragrances or other known irritants. It's a cream, non-foaming cleanser."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Other27 reviews

Medik8 C-Tetra Advance

"Their newer version, the C-Tetra Advance, is very lightweight and absorbs much quicker and it's not oily. This would be for you if you really are not going to love an oil. This one is going to wear better under makeup in the morning."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F

"There's another option out there that is far less money that also has the Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate ingredient in it at an even higher percentage, 20%, from The Ordinary. It's also in an oil formulation. You can try that one out instead if that's better for your budget."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%

"The Ordinary Argireline Solution is a very affordable one. This specific type of peptide, Botox in a bottle, [...] will target muscle contraction and help prevent that from [...] firing quite so hard, and that is supposed to lessen the amount of wrinkles on your face. [...] Peptides can be really helpful if you are someone who does not use injectable Botox because this is another way, obviously not as effective, but you're not injecting something so you can still get some of those benefits without injection."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite LipWare Pro

"I started using this lip device this year by Dr. Dennis Gross, red light, three minutes a day. So you can use this to get red light benefit of your lips and around your mouth where you get those vertical wrinkles. Because this spares the lips right, so then this hits the lips. I am all about red light. These are two devices that I really love I think are worth it."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Latisse Latisse

"There are two main categories of eyelash serums: those that contain prostaglandins and those that do not contain prostaglandins, and all of the serious side effects, some of which are permanent and some of which are temporary, come from the lash serums that contain the prostaglandin ingredient. Latisse is prescription, and these work. I am not telling you not to use them; I am simply wanting you to know the risks here so you can weigh these pros and cons before you start using them. If you are considering an eyelash serum, you need to thoroughly evaluate the label to see if your product contains a prostaglandin. Often times, [...] probably all of the time, this is actually not even clearly listed on the box or the packaging and instead it's only mentioned or hidden in the ingredients label of the packaging."

~Mixed

61%Guru Score

The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA

"I really like this one, the Matrixyl 10% + HA. It's actually right around $10. If you're looking for a great dose of peptides that has that Matrixyl 3000 complex in it, this is what I recommend. The Ordinary, extremely affordable price. It's just a thin serum. There's really not a lot to say about it. It's supposed to be put on your fresh cleansed skin and then absorb in a lightweight manner, which is exactly what it does. It does not finish heavy on the skin, or sticky, or tacky, or anything like that. It is just a very lightweight, smooth absorption. Very simple."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Temporary Eye Tightener

"I got this a while ago not for me but I have a couple people that I wanted to try this on, couple friends and family. It's this instant eye tightener. I'm going to put up some before and after pictures on the screen. It is insane the results that this can get instantly. It's like almost face lift type of results in minutes. These before and after pictures are actually real. This stuff is really cool."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Lift Active C10

"This one by La Roche Posay has 10% L ascorbic acid in it, which is the active form, but the problem with that form for many people is it can be irritating and just be hard to tolerate, so if you have really sensitive skin or rosacea-prone skin or very dry skin, that's something to take into account. Other key ingredients in this include salicylic acid, so it's also going to help exfoliate the skin at the same time. The packaging is in that dropper bottle format, and for me personally I don't love dropper bottle formats for vitamin C because you are going to be exposing it to air every time you open and close it, and that means it's going to break down and go bad more quickly. So if you choose a vitamin C serum in a dropper bottle, you should be using this very often in your routine and using it up quickly, but if you are somebody who is only going to want to use your vitamin C a little bit more sparingly, you probably are going to want to find one that is packaged differently. This product costs $46.99."

~Mixed

58%Guru Score

PMD Clean

"It's waterproof, it does not contain any replaceable parts, it's super easy to clean, it's very gentle and soft on the skin. You can use this with cleansing balms or regular cleansers or just alone if you want. It also has this side you can use that as like a facial massage or to apply serums. I think this is kind of like a novelty, you don't have to have this but it's really nice on the skin, it's gentle. There are a lot of different speeds of vibration in there. It's normally 69 but it is on sale right now for 41.40."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Makeup Eraser Makeup Eraser

"This is a cloth that has millions of these tiny little fibers that work as a suction to lift all of the makeup dirt and oil off the skin and out of your pores. All you need is to apply a little warm water to this cloth to remove everything from your skin. You don't need eye makeup remover or cleansers or anything like that. It's actually very impressive and this should last three to five years. This will work for waterproof mascara and sunscreen and all that. So it's a really great product. I also get these little travel seven day makeup erasers I will pack these when I travel one for each night that I'm away and then I know I will be able to get all of my makeup off without having to bring extra cleansers and extra products. I love these particularly for sensitive skin people around the eyes because you don't have to use any products there. So if you're really irritated and have like easily irritated eye areas, try these makeup erasers. They might be perfect for you."

✓Yay

67%Guru Score

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD

"Grande Lash contains prostaglandin analogs which are not FDA regulated over-the-counter versions that are actually 10 times stronger than the prescription Latisse. These unregulated versions cause the same dangerous side effects as Latisse including dry eyes, redness, permanent eyelid discoloration, iris discoloration, eye color changes, fat atrophy causing sunken eyes, and deepening of the eyelid crease. The problem is that women don't realize what they're putting on their lashes and don't know to watch for these side effects, so they may not stop using it even when complications begin. These side effects start appearing as early as eight weeks of use and can be permanent."

✕Nay

47%Guru Score

Allergan Latisse

"Latisse is a prescription eyelash growth serum with the active ingredient bimatoprost, which is a prostaglandin analog. While it does grow eyelashes, it comes with serious side effects. Patients get red eyes from vasodilation of blood vessels, discoloration of the eyelid skin from increased melanin production in about 18 percent of patients, and about 10 to 15 percent will get red eyes. Other side effects include discoloration of the iris and permanent eye color change in 3 to 8 percent of patients. The most concerning side effect is prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy, which causes fat atrophy around the eyes. This happens in 100 percent of patients who use bimatoprost and causes sunken eyes, a deepened upper eyelid sulcus, and an aged appearance. These side effects can be permanent. While we use this for glaucoma because blindness is worth the risk, for beauty purposes these side effects are not worth it."

✕Nay

56%Guru Score

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection

"This is a top luxury sunscreen pick of mine, but they are expensive when it is full price. I know you've seen me mention this one in several of my videos over time on my channel. This one has a really good concentration of iron oxides in it, which is going to help give you full spectrum UV protection, and that's especially important for people with hyperpigmentation or melasma. So this is a really good option. They actually have several different types of their Unforgettable line. This is their Face Shield. It is tinted and comes in one shade. Then they have the Glow, which gives you a nice glowy finish. And then there is the Flex, which comes in four shades and really can blend into several different kind of shade ranges."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF

"My top recommendation for a silymarin product is the SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF. I am specifically recommending the SkinCeuticals product in this routine because it is an ideal combination of three main components. It has 15 percent pure L ascorbic acid vitamin C and ferulic acid just like what is found in the industry gold standard vitamin C serums. The C, E, and ferulic in this product is what is going to be your powerhouse anti-aging ingredient to rebuild the collagen in your skin, fade dark spots, and serve as an antioxidant. So that tackles the anti-aging component, and it has silymarin at 0.5 percent and a 0.5 percent concentration of salicylic acid which tackles the acne component of your skin. Salicylic acid is another powerhouse ingredient for preventing and treating acne and it is also one of the first line treatments that dermatologists think about using in our treatment algorithms for acne patients. So with just a few simple drops of this, you are really getting a ton of benefits all in one."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar

"I really recommend the Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar as one of my top choices for eczema prone people. You definitely want to choose the sensitive skin one because this is the fragrance free option, which is absolutely a must have criteria for cleansers for eczema."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Glytone KP Body Kit

"Glytone is actually a brand that I really love and think has many higher-priced products that are worth the splurge. They have a KP kit that contains two key products: a body wash and a body lotion, and it also contains a shower loofah, which does give you the flexibility to turn the gentle body wash into a physical exfoliant if you prefer. This is a rare example of a brand that has a stronger product but surprisingly without all the extra fluffy extracts and oils added in, so it remains strong and effective yet still minimalistic, which is optimal for sensitive skin."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

Shark Beauty FacialPro Glow

"I think it can be a great alternative to the more expensive spa hydrofacials. I love a good home device. I think they can be a good investment upfront that will save you time and money over the long run."

✓Yay

Notverified

Shark Beauty Depuffy

"I like to use the Shark Beauty Depuffy after the facial to soothe and calm redness. This is a contrast therapy tool. It uses both cool and heat to stimulate, rejuvenate, and calm the skin. I turn it on to cooling mode, and you can use it almost like a gua sha tool across the face. Add your favorite serum to help it glide more easily. When I tell you this is cold, it's cold. It gives that depuffing, massage action and soothes any redness on the skin. I do this for about four minutes; it feels so nice. I love to get under the eyes to depuff in the morning after waking up. You can do this every day, not just after your facial. A facial is good once a week, but this can be daily. It's great in the morning to get rid of under eye bags."

✓Yay

Notverified

Dove Beauty Bar

"Dove Beauty Bar uses Dey technology, which combines a gentle cleanser called sodium laurel isothionate, a mild synthetic surfactant compared to the harsher surfactants found in ordinary soaps. Because of this Dey technology, this Beauty Bar is able to create a creamy mild lather that doesn't strip your skin while it deposits skin natural moisturizers as you cleanse, so your skin is left feeling soft and hydrated. It uses skin identical fatty acids that restore moisture back to the skin so that your skin feels clean yet hydrated and supple. It's the perfect balance, and it's the number one derm recommended bar."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Frownies Forehead and Between the Eye Wrinkle Patches

"These are patches over the muscles on the forehead literally covering the entire forehead and even this central glabella complex portion of the forehead to prevent that muscle from moving and I do this overnight. They're extraordinarily affordable. They come in a box with a whole bunch of patches that are perforated, you tear them apart into triangle sizes and you use them across the forehead. I use just a little thermal water spray on the side that goes skin down, let it warm up for a second, rub it in and then I patch my forehead. You want to overlap these on the skin and these are going to lift your wrinkles off the skin and create almost harden into a little cast on the skin that is going to prevent those muscles from firing again, what caused your wrinkles in the first place, muscle contraction. So these little guys are blocking our muscular contraction."

✓Yay

62%Guru Score

Three Ships Dew Drops

"This is a serum kind of all-in-one called Dew Drops and what makes this natural is that the hyaluronic acid in this is derived from the tremella mushroom and then it has added plum that contains a powerful vitamin C that is 100 times richer than vitamin C in oranges so this is like your hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum all in one. The texture and the slip of this over the skin is so unique I always always look forward to using this product in my routine."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Vichy Mineral 89 Prebiotic Recovery and Defense Concentrate

"I like both of these products a lot this one I've been using for years"

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Avène Thermal Spring Water

"The Avène Thermal Spring Water is not just like every other water. It's Thermal Spring Water from France. The deal with this water is that it's really soft. It has a really low mineral content, so it's really good for people with sensitive skin because harsher, harder waters can really irritate the skin. This is awesome to just have to freshen up the face. One of the things I actually do is when I don't cleanse my skin fully with water but I want to do my skincare routine, I will spray this on my face just to dampen it, and then I will put on my moisturizers or serums or whatever because those absorb better on damp skin when I don't do a full cleanse. That's just one of the ways I use this product, but this one is awesome."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads

"These have two percent salicylic acid and ten percent glycolic acid in this, so you can use this maybe once or twice a week on nights that you are taking off from your retinoid. I like these pads because there is a textured version and a smooth version, so you can really get a nice gentle peel to help break up the dead skin and make your skin glow."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

"Please for the love of skincare do not spend 140 on this triple lipid restore by SkinCeuticals product. You do not need this. I mean it feels nice, it smells nice, I get that, but this is not the answer to your skin prayers. Save your money for your treatment product."

✕Nay

77%Guru Score

Supergoop Mattescreen

"This has both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in it. If you prefer a mattified finish, more like a blur with less noticeable pores, this is going to be your best option. It is a bit more pigmented and will be a little bit more difficult to match as wide of a variety of skin tones as the Zinc Screen will. This is oil-free and it will be a great option for oily skin types if you want shine control. Only go for this one if you have truly oily skin or really do not want anything dewy or shiny at all—this is your best bet for a truly matte finish."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original

"These patches really work. They offer a quick, easy, affordable and effective way to treat a pimple overnight while you sleep or leave it in place for just a few hours to get major improvement, no doctor visit or prescription required. This pimple patch is made of high-grade hydrocolloid, which is the only ingredient in it. It's a medicine-free solution for your acne bumps. Because this is only a hydrocolloid material, it is safe for all ages, all skin types, and it's even safe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Hydrocolloid is a type of wound dressing that is highly absorbent, so it draws out all that inflammation from pimples to help them flatten out and heal much more quickly without the risk of scarring or hyperpigmentation from popping."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Masks & Peels21 reviews

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

"An example from Paula's Choice has no glycolic acid in it, it's actually a 6% mandelic acid and a 2% lactic acid. It's a good AHA blend that will be a little more gentle on your skin. Really good exfoliation benefits from this."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Prequel Multi-Acid Milk Peel AHA Exfoliating Solution

"One's a little more gentle, sensitive skin friendly, by Prequel. It's the multi-acid milk peel, has 15% glycolic in it."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Glycolic Acid Leave-On Exfoliant

"A premium anti-aging glycolic acid option by Paula's Choice, at 8%. You will apply this by cleansing the skin with a gentle cleanser, then applying a thin even coat across the face, [...] and following with the rest of your skin care routine such as moisturizer or moisturizer and sunscreen in the morning."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

"The last product I do not recommend you buy is a harsh scrub. St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I'm looking at you. These are so harsh and so abrasive on your skin barrier. They are more likely causing more damage than any benefit you are looking for them to do on your skin."

✕Nay

39%Guru Score

Good Molecules All-In-One Exfoliating Treatment

"Good Molecules is an amazing brand that has affordable products and they are very transparent with their key actives in the product. They often tell you the exact percentages of the exfoliant in the product or the ingredient, the key active in the product. And that is so important to me when trying to pick quality products. They have an overnight exfoliant. It's under $10."

✓Yay

88%Guru Score

PanOxyl 2% Salicylic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

"I have chosen a salicylic acid product for your routine to help unclog your pores for acne bumps that are already on the skin. This one I chose is by PanOxyl. It is very affordable and it contains 2% salicylic acid which is the highest percentage you can get over the counter. This is a leave on solution that you kind of would use almost like a toner in your routine. The way this works is that salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid, it's oil soluble. It gets down into the pore and the oil gland where it can help break up that debris and unclog the pore. So this is going to be the most effective type of acid that I recommend for acne routines. I recommend this type of acid over glycolic, lactic, mandelic, all of the AHA or alpha hydroxy acids which do not get down into the pore as effectively as salicylic acid."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

AcneFree Acne Clearing Sulfur Mask

"This product also by acnefree is an Acne Clearing Sulfur Mask this has 3.5% sulfur in it"

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

"I love to incorporate this ingredient as a pumpkin mask it feels like self-care it's enjoyable and it's something that you really don't need to do every day so I find that very manageable. This is one of this brand's bestsellers, it's a viral skincare product. This has obviously pumpkin in it but it also has ceramides which are going to replenish and maintain the hydration of your skin barrier. It has peptides in it which are good for building collagen and anti-aging and it has clay so that's really good to draw out the gunk from your pores and help them shrink down and look way more less noticeable. Inside it has these little orange beads that contain jojoba esters and vitamin E and they are so soft and pliable they basically melt into your skin as you massage them in and this helps exfoliate but in a very gentle and soft way. They're not rough and gritty, it's not a hard texture and they melt as you are applying this mask and they really can hydrate the skin. I love that little addition to this mask. I use this mask at night after I do a gentle gentle cleanse of my skin."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

"They're called their microfoliant cleansers and it's basically just powder, it's like rice powder, it has salicylic acid and some other ingredients in it. You just pour the powder in your hand, add some water to make this paste, and then apply it to your skin for a very gentle skin polish and exfoliation. I love this concept because you can add as little or as much of the powder as you want to create the texture that you need for your skin."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Three Ships Soothe Vitamin C Clay Mask

"I love a good mask in my routine once a week or just some self-care or nights that I take off from doing kind of my whole traditional routine. This is called Soothe, it has two types of clay in it, it has rose hip extract and oil in it, and that's pretty much it. It's super clean. This is actually a little bit unique because it comes in this powder and you mix it yourself and then apply it. You can mix it with water, a toner, an oil if you want it to be more hydrating."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Three Ships Detox Mask

"They actually have another mask too that's called the Detox Mask. It has very few ingredients in it as well and it's clay in it which does a really good job pulling out dead skin cells and debris from your pores so they look smaller and tighter, less noticeable. I really love that Detox Mask for skin barrier maintenance routines, especially if you have normal to oily skin or if you wear makeup a lot or if you have acne prone skin. It is a great way to keep your pores unclogged. You can do that once a week, every other week, however much you feel like your skin needs that and it's just a really simple clean mask."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Versed Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask

"Versed has one of my favorite masks with glycolic acid in it, the Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask. It is gentle enough that you can incorporate this one into your skin cycling routine and literally use it once and you notice a lot of amazing results."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Peel Pads

"Another option is in the form of a peel pad by Peter Thomas Roth. It's the Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Pads. They have 20 percent glycolic acid and 1.5 percent microencapsulated retinol. The budget hack for you is that you can almost always shop these on sale, and that is when I make sure to get my pricey skincare items. You can usually get these at least 20 percent off if you do a little digging."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Qure Q Rejuvalight Mask

"Some of the masks that I've researched and I've tried over the years that I really like and will generally recommend are Qure."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

"It is a 2% BHA, which means salicylic acid liquid exfoliant. This is a longterm like viral holy grail product. I love this product. If you have bumpy skin complexion or bumpy skin texture or a lot of comedonal acne, just like bumpy texture, this gets down into the pores because it's salicylic acid, which means it's oil soluble. So, this does a really good job getting down into the pores and helping clear those out."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Three Ships Super Fruit Exfoliating Mask

"So I am in love with this specific product from Three Ships"

✓Yay

Notverified

Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Mask

"Peter Thomas Roth, a brand I love, has a 10% sulfur mask. It's almost this like clay-like consistency."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads

"The universal daily peel pad has a five AHA and BHA blend compared to the seven of the one I just did, so this one is a little more gentle. You can really use this nightly depending on your skin condition and skin type."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

"The Ordinary Peeling Solution is your most affordable option and I recommend this for experienced users only. This is kind of a wild product. It can be very beneficial but you need to be super careful with this and patch test it before using. It has a 30 percent AHA combination. This is not 30 percent glycolic acid, it's an AHA mixture including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acid, and it has two percent beta hydroxy acid in the form of salicylic acid. You will apply this precisely as recommended on the label."

~Mixed

58%Guru Score

SkinFix Resurface+ AHA BHA Enzyme Exfoliating Pads

"The Skinfix Resurface+ Enzyme Exfoliating Pads have more ingredients compared to the L'Oreal option. These ingredients help offset that tingling feeling associated with the glycolic acid, so I find these a bit more tolerable to use. It has a strong acid content in it including five percent glycolic acid, five percent lactic acid, and two percent salicylic acid, and it has niacinamide as well."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Sleep Mask

"I haven't tried it yet because I don't usually use a sleeping mask. I don't feel like my skin is that dry, I don't really need one that much. But I think I might try it out, I'll keep it on hand if I do feel like I get dry or irritated."

~Mixed

78%Guru Score

Retinoids21 reviews

Anua Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream

"The Collagen Retinol from Anua has retinol in it and doubles as a gua sha tool, you squeeze it out and use it to help promote absorption and sculpting. This is one I've been using the most and it's so good."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game Retinol 10

"If you love a good budget pick, Geek & Gorgeous A-Game makes three retinaldehydes and you can't beat this product for this price. It's so good."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Prequel Retinal Renew Retinaldehyde Gel 0.1%

"This actually does a really nice job protecting the skin barrier and feeling nice and lightweight on the skin so that you can follow it up with whatever else you have in your skincare routine without causing like peeling or too much issues there. I find this very agreeable on sensitive skin, redness prone skin. I am not worried that this is going to flare it up and make it much worse. It's very gentle. So the 0.1% that's where I'd recommend to start, especially if you've never used retinoids. You don't even have to go up to the 0.2%. If you want to, sure, and it's not causing irritation, yes. But definitely at least start with the lowest option first."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 Retinol

"Retinaldehyde is my personal favorite ingredient for anti-aging. It is going to be the one that's going to do your heavy lifting and do the most. This one is under $25. So it's a really great price. The lower strength ones are under $20 and then the 0.05 is under $15. This is an incredible brand that makes really great products and they're really good prices. I like that this one also contains ectoin serum in it too which is really nice and hydrating and soothing for the skin because you really have to balance out retinaldehyde on the skin because it can be irritating. So just a little bit dot it over and blend it in."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

AcneFree Adapalene 0.1% Gel

"The third product that I recommend in this routine will address follicular hyperkeratinization. It's an Adapalene 0.1% Gel by AcneFree. Many brands make an adapalene gel and I don't really care which brand you use. Choose one that's affordable and make sure it has adapalene 0.1% in the active ingredients. It's going to work to prevent new acne from forming. Adapalene helps normalize your skin cell turnover and helps a lot of things on the skin, but it's really good for addressing this particular cause of acne. All of these ingredients are anti-inflammatory. They help reduce redness and swelling and address the inflammation that comes with acne."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ Regenerating Cream

"Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair is a gentle retinol, it is safe for the neck, low chance of irritation. If you are choosing to treat signs of aging with a retinol which I think can be very beneficial but you have to be really careful, an example of a great gentle product would be Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

L'Oreal Revitalift 0.3% Pure Retinol Night Serum

"One by L'Oreal I love"

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

"This is another 20% option so now we're in the 20% let me first say you don't have to have a 20% vitamin C serum to get benefits"

✓Yay

63%Guru Score

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3

"I am using Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3. I splurge on this one for a few reasons that make this one unique. First and most important, this has retinal, not retinol, which is the strongest form of retinoid that you can get over the counter without a prescription. You can find retinal DHEA eye creams at the drugstore, but this brand makes three versions of this in graded strength. This is the lowest strength, 3, they make a 6 and a 10, so you can start and graduate up and go slow and get more results over time. One of the reasons to splurge on this, I love that concept of the graded kind of ladder to climb for more results. I really like knowing the exact percentage of the key active in the product, and not all drugstore brands or products will disclose that. And then also just their overall formulation, this has peptides in it, so it's really hydrating and nourishing to that delicate eyelid skin."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol

"This one is by Paula's Choice. It has five skin-identical ceramides in it. This is just a really nice lightweight moisturizer. It has hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, glycerin, other oils containing fatty acids, and peptides. So I would consider this one to be kind of an all-in-one, well-rounded barrier repair product."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Aesop 0.1% Retinaldehyde Intensive Cream

"I don't even use this every night and I still maintain these benefits. Over the past three almost four years this has been in my skin care routine in some fashion, even if it's just been two or three times per week. At any point if I've ever taken a break from this product, when I do go back and put it back into my routine I see immediate results after just the first night of using this. My skin has more bounce and glow because it does that good of a job repairing your skin texture. And then consistent use of this, you are going to start to notice a softening of your fine lines and wrinkles. There is nothing else compared to this that has given my skin more results, more bang for my buck. I have this must-have list for retinoid products that I have to check before I would consider something to be a holy grail and this checks every single box. I have not found any other product like this one. The true secret sauce here in this product is that it contains retinaldehyde, which is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the most researched ingredient and effective ingredient for anti-aging that you can get in a skincare product. When you use a retinoid consistently you are going to maintain your youth as much as possible, you can slow down your aging and even reverse some signs of aging, and that is what I feel this product is accomplishing for me over the past three years."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer

"The Olay Retinol 24 [...] is not my first choice because retinol has to undergo two conversions to get to retinoic acid. [...] Retinaldehyde has to only undergo one, so retinaldehyde is closer to prescription strength. Now retinol can still be effective and you'll get even less side effects with that, but it's not the strongest option."

✕Nay

70%Guru Score

CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

"CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, it's a good product but it has a retinol not retinaldehyde in it."

✕Nay

84%Guru Score

Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer

"The reason I say this is not my first choice is because retinol has to undergo two conversions to get to retinoic acid. Retinaldehyde has to only undergo one, so this is closer to prescription strength. Now retinol can still be effective and you'll get even less side effects with that, but it's not the strongest option. But if you still want to go with a retinol product I support that."

✕Nay

75%Guru Score

SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3/0.5/1.0

"There are other over-the-counter retinol products that come in higher strengths that I think would also be reasonable, such as the Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Maelove Moonlight Retinaldehyde Serum 0.1%

"I use moonlight which is 0.1% retinaldehyde in it. A lot of people have concern about putting retinaldehyde on their skin because maybe you're sensitive, maybe you're worried about dryness or irritation, but this has other really great supporting ingredients in it. It has ceramides, it has hyaluronic acid, so it's really going to be gentle on your skin considering you're putting a retinoid on there. You can use this actually morning and night. Do I want you to use a retinaldehyde product every single night? No, I do not. Because I think it's important to take a few nights off as rest nights to rest and reset your skin and to take one or two nights off a week to do an exfoliation night."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Maelove Stargaze Enhanced Retinol

"If you're really sensitive, you've never tried a retinoid product, you could start with their retinol."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game Retinal Serum

"Retinaldehyde is my favorite anti-aging ingredient that you can get over the counter. It's the strongest retinoid you can get over the counter. It only has to undergo one conversion to get to retinoic acid, which is the prescription strength form. The A-Game serum has three versions starting with 0.5, the lowest strength, then they have a 0.1 and then a 0.2. The 0.5 and 0.1 are under $20. The 0.2 is just above $20 and it is worth it if you need to scale up to that to get better results. This is a very lightweight consistency serum. It's yellow in color. We love yellow when it comes to retinaldehyde or retinoids because yellow means retinaldehyde. It's naturally yellow in color. So there's no dyes or anything in this and it just rubs in very nicely, very lightweight on the skin. You use this at night to get to work on our skin. Retinoids are amazing for helping fine lines be improved, helping wrinkles, helps your skin texture, can fade dark spots, helps build collagen in your skin. So it is the workhorse anti-aging ingredient. It's so good. It's actually so rare to find one brand that has multiple different strengths of a retinoid. But I love that because that allows us to start low and go slow, build up as we need, and that is going to help protect our skin barrier and really prevent a lot of side effects that people get so often from retinoids that prevents them from getting benefits."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

"I spend the majority of my skincare budget on my single most effective nighttime anti-aging product, maybe it's a retinol. I really want that product to do the most and to last a long time. This is an example by Medik8. It's a pricey product, it's a retinol product. You don't need to use it every single night to get those results. In fact, I encourage you not to use it every night because your skin barrier will thank you if you give it some rest nights. Try to space this out to every other night or even just three times a week. You can still get results. You are going to protect that skin barrier from breakdown and you're going to make this product last longer and get more for your money."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The INKEY List Retinol and Novaretin Scar, Mark and Wrinkle Solution

"This one here that I recommend is the Scar Mark and Wrinkle Solution because it has one percent retinol in it. If you use this one consistently, this level of retinol which is converted in your skin to retinoic acid or the prescription form of retinoid, you will improve your skin. Consistency is key. This one by The INKEY List is $24.99 and it is the most expensive product in my whole routine here because this is the step that I always say you should devote the most of your budget to, because this is going to do the biggest heavy lifting against your fine lines and wrinkles. I also love this one because it has squalane in it and apricot kernel oil. It's good at hydrating to the skin as it corrects those fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture, pigmentation, all of that. You will use this one at night. Give this time to absorb nicely into your skin before going to bed."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick

"Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick is really awesome because it's your retinol product but in a nice stick form that you can just rub on. It's great for travel and on the go if you want to keep things simple. I actually love this balm-like texture."

✓Yay

69%Guru Score

Body & Tan19 reviews

Remedy KP Exfoliating Body Scrub

"If you are struggling with something like KP or keratosis pilaris, that rough, bumpy skin, you can incorporate a body scrub gently, just in the areas you need. I don't love scrubs in general because sometimes we overdo it with them, but if you are able to gently use a scrub, the brand Remedy makes a KP glycolic acid scrub."

~Mixed

77%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Retinol Skin Smoothing Body Treatment

"You can also use a retinol body lotion like the one from Paula's Choice, also 30% off, another good option for firming."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Naturium Skin Renewing Retinol Body Lotion

"If you want to target more of the crepey texture or aging skin look, you can try a body retinol. [...] I have another one from Naturium, the Skin Renewing Retinol Body Lotion. These can help as well. But [...] you have to protect your skin from the sun. If you're going to be using these, especially, you need to be wearing body sunscreen or pants, UPF clothing to balance that out so you're not making matters worse."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Good Molecules B5 Hydrating Body Serum

"I also love one, I think it's called the B5 body serum from Good Molecules."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Naturium Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Lotion

"I use this body wash by Naturium, the smoother glycolic acid body wash. It has 5% glycolic plus lactic acid and other acids in it. I really like it for the glycolic acid content. This is a chemical exfoliant, which is so important for your KP skincare routine. Look at this up close, there is no beads or texture to this at all. It's very smooth. When I added water, you can see the nice lather. It's going to do the job for your skin. You don't need a rough texture for this at all. Keep it simple."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick

"The Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick by The Inkey List. You can rub it on the skin right like that. It's super quick and easy. Hands-free. This is another one that is a go-to for me."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

CeraVe Intensive Foot Repair

"You put a nice thick layer of this all over the feet. I put socks over it, go to bed. I wake up in the morning after just one use. It is so good and so helpful for the feet. You don't need to do too much. Just get a tube of this."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion

"I have tried several more expensive body retinol moisturizers and guess what? I am coming back to one of my tried and true super affordable Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight. It is a workhorse. Use it and use it up. Super affordable. I cannot say that I have found a more expensive one that I felt like has been worth it. So we are circling back to one of our holy grail tried and true, just like the cleanser situation. This one body retinol, if you are looking for one in your routine, just grab this one. It's so good."

✓Yay

93%Guru Score

Dove Sensitive Skin Hypoallergenic Body Wash

"Dove Sensitive Skin, this is like dermatologist number one recommendation that's actually true. This is great for the body to cleanse with it, it's hypoallergenic, this is fragrance free. I love this."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum

"[Paula's Choice] has this one this is a 5% niacinamide serum that I am obsessed with this is so helpful it has completely resolved that dry kind of crack skin appearance that is so rampant in the winter and then I lock in that hydration with my moisturizer so this one is absolutely incredible if you feel like your normal body moisturizer is just not enough add a body serum under it"

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Necessaire Deodorant Gel

"The Deodorant Gel is my top pick from this brand overall. I will always keep buying this again and again. It's different than other deodorants because it contains five percent AHA, or alpha hydroxy acids, and niacinamide, and together these can significantly lighten dark spots on the skin. It has no aluminum in it, so it's aluminum free, has no baking soda, no parabens, no synthetic fragrance. It comes in this [...] glass bottle, it's a roll-on, it's clear. Necessaire is truly a great and sustainable skincare brand, and this is one of their standout products in my opinion."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion

"Versed makes a Body Retinol that is a good option."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil

"Bioderma makes an Oil Cleanser for the body that I like."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion (Glycolic Acid)

"The Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion has a free acid value of 17.5. This is good for larger surface areas."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Verso Firm Ground Retinol Body Lotion

"The first product is by Verso, it's the Firm Ground Retinol Body Lotion. This has encapsulated retinol in it so it will be most effective at firming the skin, smoothing out the rough texture and make it look all over brighter. Use this at night to preserve the effectiveness of the retinol. This has squalane cocoa butter and vitamin E which all give it the luxurious feel while still containing the powerhouse retinol to do the heavy lifting."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray

"The spray Aquaphor is like that Vaseline consistency but it's in a spray format, which is really innovative and different. I've never seen a product like this before and it's actually incredible. If you've ever tried to apply these thick ointments on your own skin or the skin of your babies or children, it can be really difficult to do, but this spray really makes it a lot easier. You can see it goes on really lightly like a foam and then when you blend it in, it feels like an ointment on the skin but it's just applied a lot more quickly and easily with a lot less rubbing and tugging. This is an absolute must-have in my skincare stockpile ever since I first discovered it. I love it for myself and children and I highly recommend this. It's so cool."

✓Yay

90%Guru Score

Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream

"The Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream has colloidal oatmeal in it, which is a protectant of the skin and it can help soothe it and repair that skin barrier. This one is one of my top recommendations for people who truly have eczema, more than just dry skin."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Wash

"Eucerin also has an eczema line with a body wash and an eczema relief cream. These both have colloidal oatmeal which is a skin barrier protectant and helps soothe irritated skin and they have ceramides. These are all suited for dry skin and eczema-prone skin."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

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

"This is one of the brand's best-selling products and is currently 28 dollars. This is considered a physical exfoliant body scrub because it contains pumice buffing beads. You will use this in the shower and wash it off. This focuses on the key ingredients of lactic acid and glycolic acid, which is what will be doing the smoothing work. The specific percentage of each of these is not listed, though the package says it's a combined 10 percent. This is not super helpful; I'd prefer the breakdown listed instead. It does contain a longer list of ingredients with added extracts aimed to soothe and nourish the skin, and people really seem to love this product in general. However, I am not overly impressed with this particular ingredients list."

~Mixed

69%Guru Score

Eye Care13 reviews

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal

"Another incredible K-beauty under eye treatment, the retinol for the under eye by Beauty of Joseon, is more focused on rebuilding collagen. It's super affordable, around $11 or $12, and on sale for Prime Day."

✓Yay

95%Guru Score

Numbuzin No.9 NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream

"This under eye cream by Numbuzin is an NAD+ retinol with niacinamide and peptides, a multitasking treatment for fine lines and wrinkles that also brightens the under eyes. What I really love is that it has ceramides that give it a shimmer, so when I rub it in it instantly makes the light bounce off my under eyes and the dark circles seem to disappear, while the niacinamide gradually improves the under eye color. It's right around $13."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Eye Balm

"This is another one of my favorite dedicated eye products by RoC. It's the RoC Multi-Correction Revive and Glow Eye Balm. Touch-free -- you just swipe and go."

✓Yay

77%Guru Score

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream

"The way they formulated this with ceramides helps restore and fortify your skin barrier, so you don't get irritation from the retinaldehyde, but then you're still getting the results. This really started it all when I first discovered this product from Medik8, it led to my whole deep dive into finding their best products. This was my favorite product last year when I discovered it, so I called it my 2024 product of the year. I did a whole deep dive video on why this was my favorite product of the entire year last year and I'm still on my game with this because there is nothing better in my opinion."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

"Another one that I really love more affordable price by Rock is the Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream. This has retinol, not retinol, so not as strong. Better if you are a beginner or have really sensitive skin or you just want something more affordable that still works."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Eye Cream

"This has 5% L-ascorbic acid, which is pure active form L-ascorbic acid. You just need a teeny little bit of it and you dab it under the eyes. I love this one, it's super gentle. I am a very sensitive skin person and this has never irritated my under eyes or my skin at all. It also contains ceramide, so it's going to help strengthen the skin barrier in this delicate area."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Tula Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm

"These eye balms, the Glow and Get It, I also love the rose glow and get it one, it's the pink one. So these are great to put right under the eyes. You can tell I love eye care. I think it's so so important. It's one of the biggest things that shows our age so quickly because that skin is so thin, you really have to protect it. So the Glow and Get It, it's a brightening and cooling stick, so again touch-free swipe, nice little glow up under the skin under the eye. It's really really nice to keep on hand."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum

"You can find a dedicated peptide serum for the eye area at a reasonable price by The Ordinary called The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum. This also has niacinamide in it."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Eye Cream

"There's an eye serum in this line too if you need targeted help to brighten the under eye skin. This one has 10% THD, 3% vitamin E, and 2% ferulic acid, very similar to the power serum. This is a great addition if you want a dedicated eye cream in your routine."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Peter Thomas Roth Potency Eye Cream

"For my number one luxury pick, it's this one. This is the strongest and most effective product that I've tried. It's the Potency Power Eye Cream by Peter Thomas Roth. This has 10 percent tetrahexyldecyl which is THD ascorbate for short in ultra-stable form of vitamin C that actually gets converted to the active l-ascorbic acid form once it is in your skin. This also has three percent vitamin E and two percent ferulic acid so you can think of this as like a vitamin C, E, and ferulic in an eye cream form. Definitely shop this when it is on sale because it's pricey. A note about the texture of this product, it is somewhere between a serum and a cream, it's very nice and it smells very much like the Skinceutical C E ferulic vitamin C serum. It sits really nicely on the skin and actually absorbs in."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

Avène RetrinAL Eyes Eye Cream

"The Retronal eyes is a holy grail product for me that not only treats crow's feet but also decreases dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. This is the one product that I try to use every single night."

✓Yay

91%Guru Score

The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream

"The Inky List also has a specific Retinol Eye Cream that is far more gentle. It has a different stabilized form of retinol in it that will not be irritating to the delicate skin here."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

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

"I got this new product to try also by Dr. Dennis Gross, kind of in the same line as this peel. This is a correction eye serum. I got this to try because not only does it have a retinol blend but it has bakuchiol in it too, which is what I am trying to use more often on my skin to avoid irritation, so this one is really unique. It has a unique texture to it so it's like a serum but when you put it on it's actually kind of thick texture but it's still clear and lightweight. It feels kind of refreshing to put on. I do have my tried and true eye creams that I have not given up on, but you can get this also for 20 percent off right now because it can be kind of pricey."

~Mixed

88%Guru Score

Haircare13 reviews

Rogaine Minoxidil 5% Foam

"If you have hormonal hair loss, perimenopausal or menopausal hair thinning, topical minoxidil in the 5% option from Rogaine is going to be the most effective thing you can do, research proven to slow down hair loss and even regrow new hair. It's a great deal on Amazon Prime Day."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray

"The Flex Hairspray by Living Proof is on Amazon Prime Day and I'm restocking it because I go through a lot of it. I think this is the softest hold hairspray that lets your hair still move without feeling crunchy, stiff, or sticky like so many hairsprays, and it doesn't seem to dry my hair out. I've been using this exclusively since I discovered it a few months ago."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (1% Ketoconazole)

"My argument is that ketoconazole shampoo will actually give you better long-term results that do not wash away. So, if you are more budget conscious and results driven, opt for Nizoral, your ketoconazole shampoo. I personally love to use it."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Seen Restore Scalp Serum

"They also have a scalp serum called The Skin caring Restore Scalp Serum it gives more balance and hydration to the scalp it prevents dry scalp"

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Divvy Scalp Serum

"Divvy Scalp Serum is much more pricey but it does contain rosemary oil as well as numerous other topical agents that may also be of benefit in growing hair."

~Mixed

73%Guru Score

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo

"Selenium sulfide is an ingredient you have probably heard of as Head and Shoulders or Selsun Blue shampoo. Both of these brands make selenium sulfide anti-dandruff shampoos. This ingredient also has anti-fungal properties and it's effective at treating dandruff. You can find this over the counter in various strengths and you can get this definitely under ten dollars."

✓Yay

74%Guru Score

Neutrogena T/Gel Coal Tar Shampoo

"Salicylic acid can help smooth away the dry flakes on the scalp by acting as a keratolytic to break up that flaky skin. It is not as effective as an anti-fungal shampoo in my experience, but it works wonderfully in addition to your other dandruff shampoos. What I like to recommend is alternating this salicylic acid shampoo with your anti-fungal shampoo. Neutrogena has a shampoo called T/Gel that I've recommended for years because it has the strongest concentration of salicylic acid in it compared to its competitors. It is fragrance free, has three percent salicylic acid in it, and it's just under ten dollars."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Selsun Blue Anti-dandruff Shampoo

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Vanicream Free and Clear Hair Shampoo

"Zinc pyrithione is also anti-fungal so it can cut down on that malassezia. My favorite shampoo with this ingredient is by Vanicream, it contains two percent zinc pyrethione, which is higher than some of the competitor shampoos that contain one percent. So this one is a little more expensive at just under fifteen dollars, but that is still a great price for a shampoo."

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

"This has been a total game changer for me and something that I really love and look forward to using in my own beauty routine. One of my favorite things about this Dyson hair dryer are the attachments, which are so durable and so well made. The attachment I use most is magnetic and easy to adjust and twist when it's on there, and then easy to take off. The other thing I noticed is a huge difference in how soft and smooth my hair is when I use this compared to my other hair dryer. I never thought my hair was not soft and smooth with the Babyliss until I used this, and it's just so much different. It's silkier and just really smooth, so honestly to me for that reason it's worth it. But if you just don't have it in your budget to buy a super expensive beauty product, you can wait to get it on sale like it is now, ask for it as a gift, or honestly stick with your affordable hair dryer and you'll be just fine. But now that I have this, I truly love using it."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

Maelove Full Follicle Advanced Scalp Serum

"You can put this on at night before bed and you wake up the next day, your hair is not greasy. Not with this. I put this on before bed, right down the scalp line, kind of under the hairline as well. Massage it through the scalp, wake up, hair's back to normal. So it's really an incredible product."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Maelove Full Follicle Shampoo and Conditioner

"I used that shampoo and conditioner one time and it gives so much fullness and like volume and texture to my hair that I have not had in so long. It's really really impressive."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Seen Shampoo and Conditioner Set

"This is made by a dermatologist who specifically studied and researched acne and the type of acne called acne cosmetica that is caused by products that are being left on the skin. The mission was to formulate a shampoo and hair care product line that are really clinically proven to produce healthier hair, to be safe for the skin even for sensitive skin and acne prone skin people. I discovered Scene over a year ago and they're sponsoring this portion of the video. I love about this shampoo and conditioner that they are available in fragrance free options which is so hard to find in a shampoo. This is the one that my family use, my children use who have sensitive and eczema prone skin, and my husband who has back acne which is now way better. One of the studies really stood out to me that showed 70% of people saw improvement in their trunk or back acne when using this shampoo and conditioner. Switching to a non-comedogenic option like Scene can improve your acne without actual acne medication. I recommend this for patients with acne or eczema or sensitive skin or even for early thinning hair loss. This has also been shown to create more fullness in the hair and reduce shedding by 44%."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Lip10 reviews

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk

"My lip trifecta is Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk in the shade Fair, the lip cheat liner, the lipstick, and if I'm really going for it, the lip gloss over it as well. It's just the best trifecta of all time, I love it."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm

"The Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm from The INKEY List has been a go-to of mine for well over a year now. I would put this on right before bed."

✓Yay

60%Guru Score

DRMTLGY Lip Silk SPF 40

"And last but not least, SPF for the lips. This is SPF 40, shade Soft, from DRMTLGY. Another great makeup option with SPF."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Remedy Lip Balm

"Remedy Remedy for Dry Lips is an all-in-one lip treatment. I am using this every night before bed for a while now. My lips are on point. So smooth. They're not peeling. It's so good. This has peptides, ceramide, squalane in it. It goes on really easily. It's so moisturizing. I've been slathering this on before I go to bed, and it really has been a remedy for dry lips."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lip Balm

"I'll bounce back and forth between the Cicaplast lips by La Roche-Posay depending on kind of how thick of repair I want on the lips. This is a little bit thicker, more occlusive if I feel like I really need it."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Plus Peptide Lip Booster

"This one is the Hyaluronic Acid Plus Peptide Lip Booster from Paula's Choice for $33. It has been amazing in my own skin routine this year since it came out. It will hydrate the lips, repair cracked damaged lip barrier, and then help plump and build collagen with their peptides in this."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross DermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment

"Dr Dennis Gross, splurge option here for $45. I actually did a before and after video on my channel where I use this product and you can see what it did to my lips in under 2 minutes. Spoiler alert, it really worked and it worked in a big way. I actually really loved the results from this. The absolute number one biggest difference is that the Dr Dennis Gross is going to give you instant results in a matter of minutes. When you put this one on, the lips will literally grow in size in under 2 minutes. It also has peptides in it that over time can build the collagen in your lips too, so I would consider this one to have both immediate and delayed benefits. With the Dr Dennis Gross, the pro is immediate plumping results, but the con is that you will experience a tingling sensation on the lips and this is actually kind of how it works to swell the lips more quickly. I do not mind this sensation."

✓Yay

72%Guru Score

Dermelect Smooth Upper Lip and Perioral Anti-Aging Treatment

"If you want a dedicated product in your skincare routine for these lip lines, the one that I personally use and recommend to my patients is this one. It is by Dermelect, it is called the Smooth Upper Lip and Perioral Anti-Aging Treatment. The reason that I specifically love and recommend this one, well there's really five main reasons. First of all, this has Matrixyl 3000 in it, which is the most powerful blend of peptides that can build new collagen. So that's what's going to plump the lip up, prevent those wrinkles from forming, and then help plump and kind of smooth out those fine lines. I love Matrixyl 3000 for anti-aging, and another benefit of that is that it's really great for sensitive skin or in sensitive areas of the face like around the eyes and around the mouth. The second reason I love this, that I think this is a superior product, is it also contains retinol in it, which is one of our very best anti-aging ingredients to also build collagen. The third thing I absolutely love about this product formulation is it contains arbutin in it, which addresses hyperpigmentation, kind of that melasma look on the upper lip, which is a common problem for many women. Fourth, I love this ceramic applicator tip. It is really unique and it really helps just squeeze a little bit out and it really helps get in the grooves and etched in lines."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Naked Sundays Glow + Go Lip Oil SPF 50

"These come in a lot of shades and it is a really subtle tint. The way I actually use this is I will put whatever lip color I want on for the day, lipstick or whatever, and then I put a layer of SPF 50 over it to keep my lips protected. Our lips can really make us look aged because we lose collagen from our lips too. You can get skin cancer around your lips. I actually am a skin cancer surgeon in my real life and I do skin cancer surgery on people's lips all the time because people don't protect them. This comes in a lot of different shades, which is what I love about this one. It is unique. Whatever SPF lip product you like, just make sure you are using it."

✓Yay

70%Guru Score

EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36

"This is SPF 36 with the transparent zinc oxide. It comes in a nice applicator tip. Don't forget to protect your lips."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Eye Makeup9 reviews

Tarte Tarteist XL Tubing Mascara

"The Tarte Tartlet tubing mascara is on sale, about 40% off, and it's super high on my list of favorites. I love this one and so many of you guys love it too, you actually recommended it to me, so I tried it and I love it."

✓Yay

66%Guru Score

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

"Starting with Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. This is one that you guys would not stop telling me I needed to get. So I got it and I've tried it. It's probably one of my top three favorites. It has that [...] tapered wand, little fine tooth brush."

✓Yay

87%Guru Score

e.l.f. Lash 'N Roll Mascara

"Can't beat the price for sure. It looked nice on the skin. It was a little clumpy for me. Maybe that's a personal thing. Like sometimes skincare pills on some people and doesn't on the other. [...] It was like a little bit clumpy for me, but other than that, honestly, for $8, it's really hard to beat that."

~Mixed

70%Guru Score

Dibs Double Standard Primer and Mascara Duo

"This is the mascara that started my entire search for the best tube mascara because I was on my Instagram raving about, 'Hey you guys, I found a mascara that I'm absolutely obsessed with.' This is what I was talking about and I want to show you why honestly I still am not jumping ship from my original favorite because it's very versatile. So this is the duo. It has two sides. You have a brown primer that is a tubing mascara and you have a more traditional regular mascara that's black with a big dramatic brush on this side. So you can kind of have two different looks. Just your tubing light primer everyday and then you can over dramatize it with the extra mascara if you want to get extra dramatic lashes. So it gives you options, but it just looks so good on the eyelashes that I can't part with this."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum

"I wish I was better with this peptide prostaglandin-free lash serum and brow growth. This one is by The Ordinary. I like it fairly well."

✓Yay

68%Guru Score

Merit Brow Gel

"This is also Merit. It's eyebrow gel and it really makes me come alive."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara

"This mascara is one of my favorite mascaras ever from Ilia. It really separates the lashes out very well and has two like ends to the wand."

✓Yay

99%Guru Score

Babe Essential Lash Serum

"Babe Lash is an over-the-counter product containing prostaglandin analogs that are unregulated and 10 times stronger than prescription Latisse. It causes the same dangerous and potentially permanent side effects including dry eyes, redness, permanent eyelid and iris discoloration, permanent eye color changes, fat atrophy causing sunken eyes, and deepening of the upper eyelid crease. These unregulated products put women at serious risk because they don't know what they're using or what side effects to watch for."

✕Nay

55%Guru Score

Rodan+Fields Lash Boost

"Rodan and Fields Lash Boost contains prostaglandin analogs which are unregulated over-the-counter versions that are 10 times stronger than prescription Latisse. It causes the same dangerous side effects including dry eyes, redness, permanent eyelid discoloration, iris discoloration, permanent eye color changes, fat atrophy causing sunken eyes, and deepening of the eyelid crease. Women don't realize these are the side effects and don't know what's causing the sinking of the eyes or discoloration, so they don't stop using the product. The side effects start appearing early and can be permanent."

✕Nay

45%Guru Score

Tech9 reviews

CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Mask Series 1

"The Current Body Mask and Omnilux. I think these are all very reasonable options."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Omnilux Face Contour Red Light Therapy Mask

"The Current Body Mask and Omnilux. I think these are all very reasonable options. They are all quite an investment, but they should last you for years and give you significant improvement on your skin."

✓Yay

75%Guru Score

iRestore Laser Hair Growth Helmet

"Photobiomodulation is thought to promote the growth phase of hair and provide anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show that low-level light therapy increases hair density in patients with androgenetic alopecia. When choosing a device, look for one that is FDA cleared with appropriate wavelengths, typically 630 to 660 nanometers, for red light. Devices like this one from iRestore is a great option. This comes in various models. [...] This is one part of the routine. Think of it as giving you more synergy with your minoxidil."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

Qure Q Rejuvalite Pro Face Wear LED Mask

"I use this mask by Cure. Red light therapy can reduce the inflammation on your skin, improve your hydration and strengthen your skin barrier. It also can boost your cellular processes to speed up wound healing if you are getting any irritation from your retinoids. And bonus, it boosts collagen production in your skin, so even better for anti-aging. This one also has a blue light setting, too. So, if you are using your retinoid for acne, this still is a great addition as a step three in your skincare routine. I like to do this before I apply any other skincare products to my skin."

✓Yay

Notverified

Qure Neck & Décolletage LED Mask

"Red light therapy works by stimulating the mitochondria, which are the energy centers of your skin cells, to boost their cellular activity and improve the repair of your skin. This increase in energy can help stimulate collagen production, and all of that can improve the look of your skin's firmness and texture, can reduce the appearance of fine lines, make you feel and look more vibrant. I recommend getting an additional device of red light therapy that is specifically designed to hit the neck and chest area. This one by Qure wraps around the neck and then lays flat on the chest. If you do this consistently on your face, neck, and chest, you're going to be doing the most for your skin as you age."

✓Yay

Notverified

Qure Micro Infusion Targeted Patches

"It's probably been one, maybe two years now that I've been experimenting with patches that basically contain micro darts, or these little needles in them. It sounds scary, but it's really not, and let me tell you, they don't play, they really work. This is what I am using right now, the Qure Micro Infusion Targeted Patches. These were actually gifted to me, so thank you Qure for sponsoring this little portion of my nighttime skincare routine. I am extremely focused on anti-aging around my eyes because this is the thinnest skin on your face, it is going to be the first area that shows signs of fine lines, crepy skin, wrinkles, so I am always trying to do the most here in this location. In this little pouch are these patches. I will put these on my skin at night and I wear them overnight. You only have to wear them two hours, but I get the best results if I wear them overnight, I just kind of set it and forget it. I will do this on nights that I do not use my anti-aging serums or other products. I will cleanse my skin and then apply these directly to the skin. These have eighty little tiny tiny darts that are self-dissolving that aim to really soften fine lines and wrinkles. These are micro micro micro little darts that just slightly will penetrate the skin so it can deliver the infused ingredients in this patch deeper into your skin so they work better. These can be applied to crows feet, kind of under the eyes, to target dark circles."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Qure Micro Infusion System

"This gets the budget derm stamp of approval for results and price, plus it's just super easy and quick to do, which always wins me over."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

"I think just be consistent with this I'm committing myself to use this through the end of the year I want to see what I think of it long term but I think it's a really cool product"

✓Yay

71%Guru Score

iRestore Professional Hair Growth System

"I did a ton of research on different hair growth devices and the technology there, and we went with iRestore the professional option because of the design covering most of the scalp, the power output of this device, and it has 282 lasers and LEDs which is a lot. The low level light therapy is proven in many studies to actually regrow hair from viable hair follicles, likely because it can increase blood flow to the hair follicles so more blood means more oxygen and nutrients for hair to grow. This FDA cleared clinically proven device is not invasive, hands-free and it is easy to use—you just set it on your head for 25 minutes every other day. I love that iRestore stands behind their product with a 12 month money back guarantee."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Acne5 reviews

Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots

"I really like the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots for this reason."

✓Yay

92%Guru Score

PanOxyl PM Blemish Aftercare Brightening Patches

"Another option is to buy this panoxyl overnight patches eight dollars for 40 patches"

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Paula's Choice Clear Acne Body Spray

"Paula's Choice has a Clear Acne Body Spray with maximum strength 2% salicylic acid in it. It also has allantoin in it which is soothing to the skin and licorice root extract in it that can help fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne spots. Overall this one by Paula's Choice is a very simple formulation so I really like this option."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

The INKEY List Hydrocolloid Invisible Pimple Patches

"These patches are really unique to me because they are more invisible on the skin than any other patches that I have tried. They have invisible technology that helps the patch instantly blur the appearance of the pimple underneath. They are ultra thin and ultra matte and that allows it to blend in all skin tones so that they are undetectable. This patch is made of hydrocolloid which is a hyper absorptive material that draws the gunk out of the pimple. It also has salicylic acid which penetrates into the acne pore to unplug it so the gunk can come out. Sumic acid is also in this patch that can improve redness and ectoin will soothe blemish prone skin. You should apply this to clean dry skin directly after cleansing and leave the pimple patch on for at least 4 hours or overnight to help clear up your acne fast."

✓Yay

84%Guru Score

Peace Out Acne Serum

"This Acne Serum has two percent salicylic acid, which is the strongest amount you can get over the counter. It has niacinamide and vitamin C. This is going to treat an acne spot and improve the acne spot and also help fade dark spots and pigmentation with the vitamin C. This is actually a really cool product. It's like a very thin serum that rubs in and absorbs in. You can wear this in the morning or at night depending on what your skincare routine is, just a little bit all over the face and let it absorb in."

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Mists & Essences4 reviews

Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray for Face and Body

"This one by Prequel, the hypochlorous acid spray, is such a holy grail of mine. [...] I love this one because it's packaged really well. It has a great pH, very simple ingredients, and it's not overpriced. [...] We don't need to be spending like $30 or more on hypochlorous acid, that's insane. [...] It's like a one fix all type of product. It can help acne, rosacea, eczema, sensitive skin, can help fix or repair your skin barrier. It's great to use after the gym to cut down on bacteria on the skin. It's a really, really great addition to any skincare routine."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

"It's a big bottle and it is under $15. Tower 28 you will pay more for this brand but this is a quality product. It has the National Eczema Association seal of approval which I like."

~Mixed

82%Guru Score

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

"It's 96% snail mucin and hyaluronic acid so it's super lightweight and thin and it does a really good job giving you just this nice seal of hydration on your skin. You can put a moisturizer over this if you need to, I usually don't need to. [...] It's very viscous. [...] This is like 60% off, [...] it's less than $10 on the sale, usually it's $26. It's a really cool product if you're looking to try something new and trendy. [...] Snail mucin gets that nice dewy hydration, draws in water, really seals the skin."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

Evian Facial Spray

"I use my event thermal spring water because it's very soft water usually water that comes from the tap or the sink is hard water"

✓Yay

79%Guru Score

Toners4 reviews

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

"This is 7% glycolic acid, so it's a little bit stronger. I would say start with 3.5% before you go crazy leveling up, 5% or greater I consider more intermediate to advanced users. It's such a viral product, I love this one. [...] You can actually use glycolic acid beyond just your face, [...] on the body, and even on the scalp, where it can decrease flaky scalp."

✓Yay

76%Guru Score

CeraVe Hydrating Toner

"I love this one from CeraVe. A Hydrating Toner can be helpful if you wear heavy makeup or if you want to even just skip your morning cleanse and just use a toner instead to freshen your skin and prep it to absorb your skincare actives."

✓Yay

85%Guru Score

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toning Solution

"They also have a glycolic acid 10% product for $14."

✓Yay

78%Guru Score

e.l.f. Pure Skin Toner

"The ELF Pure Skin Toner has ceramides in it, so all of these products are so hydrating and not irritating. This is really easy, it's just a clear liquid that's easy to put on the hands and then apply to the face and neck, or you can put it on a cotton swab and apply it that way. It feels really nice and hydrating. This does not feel like it's drying to the skin like some toners can. I am absolutely loving this product."

✓Yay

73%Guru Score

Balms & Ointments3 reviews

Vaseline Original Healing Jelly

"The alternative that I actually want you to use potentially works better at preventing infection. It works better at healing your wound and it's cheaper. It's Vaseline or the generic petroleum jelly. Studies show that when you use just plain petroleum jelly or this occlusive ointment on top of your wound, you are going to prevent infection and you are going to help your wound heal plenty quickly without the added need of an antibiotic ointment on top of the skin. I'm asking you to keep it simple and keep it more affordable and just go with plain petroleum jelly or Vaseline to heal your minor cuts, wounds, scrapes, and burns."

✓Yay

86%Guru Score

Neosporin Neosporin

"Neosporin, or triple antibiotic ointment, is a product that I do not recommend and I'm constantly deinfluencing people from. The three main ingredients are Polymixin B, Neomycin, and Bacitracin. While people use it on minor wounds, scrapes, cuts, or procedures to prevent infection, there are several very common problems with this product. First of all, it is very highly likely to cause an allergic reaction on your skin called contact dermatitis. This is going to be very uncomfortable, it looks red, inflamed, itchy, burning, and can cause a new problem on top of the problem you are already initially trying to treat. The neomycin and other ingredients in it are common culprits of contact dermatitis that we see in our clinics. The other issue with triple antibiotic ointment is it can lead to antibiotic resistance."

✕Nay

31%Guru Score

Aveeno Skin Relief Healing Ointment

"This gives you the benefits of a traditional ointment like protection and repair, but without the heavy greasy feel. What else makes this unique is that it doesn't have petrolatum in it like traditional ointments, but rather 40% glycerin, which helps provide up to 72 hours of moisture. As a dermatologist who treats a lot of patients with skin barrier damage and even conditions like eczema, I know that ointments are a mainstay of therapy, but I've seen that compliance from my patients can be so low because of that greasy feel. That's why I love and recommend the Skin Relief Healing Ointment. Instead of that feeling of it just sitting on top of your skin like most ointments, this actually felt like it absorbed in. And I find that my patients like this feel better. Therefore, they are more compliant and actually able to keep up with using it, so their skin stays moisturized. [...] I recommend this product to fix dry, cracked, or chafed skin."

✓Yay

83%Guru Score

Blush & Bronzer1 review

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Liquid Blush in Bliss

"My liquid blush is Bliss by Rare Beauty. It is by far the best one I have found so far. Remember just a little bit of blush; too much blush can actually really age you. This took me the most practice of all of the non-powder new products I tried, so give it time."

✓Yay

89%Guru Score

Nails1 review

Derma Nail Conditioner

"It's a Nail Conditioner called Derma [...] Nail Conditioner, not a lacquer to harden the nail. [...] The idea with this product is that you will apply this to the base of the nail where the cuticle is so that it is absorbed into the cuticle and matrix area where the nail grows from. This product is very simple, it's a clean formulation. It has mandelic acid in it which binds the corney cells in the nail to make your nail plate harder. So you can apply the Derma Nail Conditioner down at the base of the nail to promote new growth."

✓Yay

80%Guru Score

Powder & Setting1 review

Tula Filter Blurring Primer

"This one has turmeric in it and licorice in it. It's 38 but again buy one get one so that's another great option."

✓Yay

81%Guru Score

Tools1 review

Clean Skin Club Clean Towels XL

"I also like to recommend Clean Skin Club towels. These are disposable skincare towels that are soft on the skin. They do not disrupt our skin barrier and they don't harbor all of this bacteria like our classic towels and washcloths can. So that is another thing you can do to really help cut back on acne-causing issues on the skin."

✓Yay

82%Guru Score

The Budget Dermatologist.

The Budget Dermatologist's top picks.

What they review most.

The Budget Dermatologist's hot takes.

Every review.

This week's top beauty news, in your inbox.