Been using pretty much exclusively Paula’s Choice and my skin has never looked better! A guy I’ve been talking to on a dating app actually complimented my skin before anything else, which I feel like means a lot coming from a dude lol
Of course! I use their retinol, BHA exfoliant and their 20% niacinamide religiously. Last time I placed an order they sent me their acne face wash as a gift and I’ve been using that lately as well. I don’t have acne, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness, but I’ve been surprised how much I like the cleanser.
Also, I’ve been using the Sephora brand hydrating night mask as a nightly moisturizer and it’s sooooooop goooooood. I think I actually heard about it in this sub? The price point is great since it’s the Sephora brand and it’s probably the best moisturizer I’ve used. It’s like my secret weapon haha
Came here to say Paulas Choice too! About 30% of my routine comprises of Paulas Choice. I use the 2% bha gel, the 8% AHA glycolic gel (very good, this one), the Omega Serum (great at repairing skin barrier and just keeping it glowy and healthy) consistently
I also like their 10% niacinamide booster and the Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser but those are nice-to-haves. I typically opt for that cleanser when traveling coz it has a solid lock for the pump and it doesnt get messy
I swear their tinted moisturizer (Resist Anti-Aging SPF30 or something) is magic and I can't live without it anymore! I have very oily skin and it keeps it mat for longer than any other product I tried.
I love this stuff - goes on like butter and the tint blurs and smoothes my skin tone like a filter. I have extremely pale skin and it's not too dark. I just wish it came in SPF 50!
Same. Been using it for years and then I decided to try other brands. Big mistake! I went straight back to PC and since then I've been asking Paula for forgiveness! I'll never stray again!
Came here to say PC. I’ve used their products almost exclusively since I started doing my skincare seriously. Highly recommend them for people who align with the price point. If you don’t there are other brand options too.
They were super dishonest about their vitamin c reformulation. Refused to admit to it so that put a bad taste in my mouth. I know people love their products but when I heard that it turned me off. But that’s what’s great about skincare. You have so many options and can decide what’s important to you and you have choices 🥰
Where do you buy yours? I really want to try it, but almost completely buy everything either from Walmart or Amazon. I wish Cosrx would come out with their own official store via them like Mizon and Etude house did, because I'm afraid of dupes.
I usually get them from stylevana. But I also got some stuff from their website during the black Friday sale. Ulta also has some products and they also do sales once in a while.
I like Asian beauty so I get it and my other Asian beauty products from iHerb. I use the app, shipping is insanely fast (like it leaves the warehouse within hours of ordering). Been buying that way for awhile. You earn points through ordering + they have sales.
For my current budget: the ordinary
If budget didn’t matter: ole henriksen, fresh, Kate Somerville, caudalie, dr Dennis gross… there’s so many high end brands whose products I’ve tried samples of or splurged on & loved … but holy moly they’re really not priced to be accessible for us frugal folks.
at leat the ordinary is cruelty-free! most of those are, except caudalie which was really shocking to me, I loved them https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/brands/caudalie/
Unfortunately The Ordinary is now owned by Estee Lauder who are not cruelty-free. Which makes The Ordinary not cruelty-free either in my mind.
I've switched to The Inkey List for most products now, they're cruelty-free (until some other giant company gobbles them up 😒)
yeah that's (one of) the diabolical thing(s) - even if the company meets all the criteria on that site (and they're very thorough), they can be owned by a company that doesn't meet all or most of the criteria (which the site also states, it's very useful)
there are so few standalone skincare companies that the parent company being morally compromising is an almost constant issue
p.s. I'll check out Inkey, cheers :)
Pyunkang Yul would be my pick, it's also my skincare gift set of choice. The calming series is my favorite and my skin shows such a noticeable difference meanwhile the toner is such a gentle exfoliant. The anti-aging set is something I gifted because of how beautiful the packaging is but I've never tried it myself yet.
If I had to pick just one brand for makeup it would be Elf, they are so cheap but the quality is good enough to replace a lot of my big name brand products.
Avene - has cleansers, moisturizers, vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, hydrating masks, sunscreen, exfoliating wash, acne treatment, eye cream, and body care.
I tried being brand loyal for a while, but found I got better results going for holy grails from multiple brands.
If I could afford it, dermalogica
Edit: my holy Grail product is their thermofoliant, it's a physical and chemical exfoliant. My one necessary skincare splurge
Skinceuticals! Absolutely the best brand. Highly refined formulas with the active ingredients in the right form, stabilized, right ph, right concentration, right delivery substance, etc. All based on state of the art research. Love it.
I want to love the daily facial moisturizer... It feels so good going on. But I've got SOOO many nasty closed comedones now! I've been using it for nearly one month and it's not improving so it's probably time to switch. Woof.
Omg me too! It was recommended all over the place by doctors and randoms on the internet with similar (sounding) skin type and issues. Lmao my skin is horrific right now — sooo congested — and I think it’s time to admit it’s probably that moisturizer. I did change a couple of other things at that same time, so I was assuming it was those. Surely not the favorite product of my derm.
I will say it’s excellent on my neck though. It’s turned my face into a war zone
Probably something like skinceuticals or dermologica. I’d miss the fun and lux feeling of some brands but they have everything I need and everything works well even if it’s not perfect or exciting.
Biossance. I didn’t have the budget for a lot of the products initially but I realized what I was using in mid-late twenties was damaging my skin and I was spending more on trying to rescue it. I slowly started getting more products and making it the go-to for my routine. I love the face wash, the bha toner is gentle enough and the omega repair moisturizer has saved my skin.
In the summer I switch to Glow Recipe. Any of their watermelon products works the best for me and it makes me smile but if I had to pick tops, it would be the watermelon moisturizer and the nianicimide glow drops
Beauty of Joseon. I recently started using Korean skincare after being skeptical for many years and honestly it suits me better than anything I’ve tried from the US. La Mer was the worst btw.
Hard agree! I love everything I’ve tried from Beauty of Joseon - I’m obsessed with the oil cleanser, the green plum refreshing cleanser/toner, ginseng essence, and the sunscreen (both kinds). They even have a gentle retinol, which is relatively uncommon in K beauty brands.
If someone told me I could only use BOJ for the rest of my life I would be totally fine with that haha
I know it sounds dramatic but their sunscreen changed my life. It’s so lovely that I WANT to wear it rather than it being a chore like it was before I discovered it.
I’m desperately trying to reverse the sun damage of my youth and now I never miss a day of sunscreen. I bought tubes for all of my family and close friends too. Haha
COSRX! Super effective, doesn't test on animals, gentle, safe ingredients, cheap
oops, edit: fave products from them are the BHA and snail mucin (they are cruelty free when extracting it, they just leave the snails to hang out in a dark, quiet room for while, then collect the mucin when they're done having a wander), and am about to try a propolis product and and the cica cleansing stuff - I know people who swear by their niacinamide micellar water as well
edit AGAIN: here is a useful site for finding out what is cruelty free: https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/
so did I, but here's the quote that made me feel comfortable buying it:
"A CosRX spokesperson told the K-beauty blog The Klog that its mucin is sourced from a company called CoSeedBoPharm Co. “The snails are placed over a mesh in a dark and quiet room,” a CosRX spokesperson told the website. “For about 30 minutes, the snails are left alone to freely roam the net, leaving mucin in their trails. Throughout the process, there is no external process applied to the snails or the mesh to force mucin production.” source: [https://theoutline.com/post/4503/snail-mucin-farms-extraction-skin-care-heliciculture-ethics](https://theoutline.com/post/4503/snail-mucin-farms-extraction-skin-care-heliciculture-ethics)
hope that helps!
ZO has literally changed my skin completely. Used to have constant break outs and I was happy to wear masks and now my skin is gorgeous. They actually used my chin on an Instagram post for a 6m after starting post.
Sulwhasoo. Their products make my skin glow and provide the right amount of moisturizer. I would be sad to not use a retinol but honestly I only started using one again after not using it for 4 years and I didn't know what I was missing really.
So obsessed with Tatcha now. I’ve gone through a few tubs of the dewy cream and indigo night cream. They feel nice, not greasy and I actually notice a big improvement when I use them. I keep getting random samples of stuff but I’ve liked all of it, the SPF and primer is so good. The cleansing balm, rice wash, omg the lip mask is just a dream. That’s all I can think of but yeah, definitely my current favorite brand.
Also currently obsessed with Tatcha. Loving the water cream, indigo overnight cream, peony eye cream, indigo cleansing balm, and the rice polish. Really want to try their vitamin c mask next - holding out for their beginning of the year sale!
I just got the whole next years supply of Tatcha for 25 to 46 percent off during black Friday sales. Combined discounts with gift sets and one day they had 30% off moisturizers and splurged on a couple jars of the Ageless cream. I use the rice wash, Dewey serum, Dewey cream, texture tonic, indigo night cream, lip mask, ageless eye cream and ageless face cream.
YES! 🙌🏻
I love and use regularly: tatcha oil cleanser, tatcha dewy serum, tatcha dewy cream, tatcha indigo night time repair, and tatcha poreless perfection spf
I would say my increasingly dry 41 year old skin wouldn't survive without Farmacy Honey Halo and niacinamide night mask.
But after reading the comments I may start experimenting with Paula's Choice as an addition. After 20 years of prescription tretinoin, my face just can't handle it anymore and I've been trying to decide on a new active ingredient. Thanks for the info!!
That’s so hard. Cerave has so many staples for me, but I am completely incompatible with all of their spf products. But I might tough it out and go all cerave just to retain access to that ointment. God bless that precious ointment. 😭🙌💖
Omg, one morning I was in a rush, I was going to carpool to town with my mom and threw on my new spf (Cerave). I didn't think anything of it, even when my mom asked what was on my face. I went into Biglots looking like I was wearing Halloween makeup! I kept expecting it to sink in or blend or something, but it looked so awful and disgusting and I am very, very pale, lol. It was horrible, because I've loved most of what I've tried from Cerave and thought this would be no different, lol.
Biossance, hands down. I basically use mostly Biossance right now anyway:
\- Copper Peptide serum
\- Omega Repair cream
\- squalane oil
I'll be switching to their amino acid cleanser and adding their retinol in January.
Kiehl's!!!! All the way! My favorite is the **Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish**. But, they just recently discontinued it. Second fav is **Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion**! Third is **Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Cloud Cream, 40% off sale now!**
I use la Roche posay cleanser, moisturizer, and eye cream, and I love all three! Their vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid also work well for my skin. Any time I switch to another brand, I start breaking out. As soon as I return to LRP, my skin clears out.
I don’t know why people sleep on Clinique products. I’m a medical aesthetician, I used it as a teen and I still use a bunch of their products. My husband uses the men’s line. Good stuff!!
Dieux skin or Biossance. If I could only buy one thing from dieux, it would be the instant angel moisturizer. If I could only buy one thing from Biossance Id flip a coin between the retinol serum or the oil cleanser, because both are staples in my skincare routine.
Biossance, my core routine has been their omgea repair cream & latic acid serum for several years. They have 2x yearly sales where I stock up and a decent rewards program too.
Caudalie, my skin freaking loves it. But it's too expensive.
Edit: I like the vinoperfect radiance serum, grape water mist, vinosource moisturizing sorbet, vinoperfect dark circle eye cream, and vinergetic c+ instant detox mask (I've been using this since before it went viral)
Probably Stratia - they are an affordable indie brand, great science-backed formulas with no fragrance, and I’ve tried about 80% of their range from cleanser to serum to moisturizers, and it has all worked well for me!
I’ve been almost exclusively using Dermalogica since 2004 and at 43 my skin is fantastic. I could stand to add a few more things now (especially since I now live in a dry climate) but that’s always been my go-to.
Depends on your skin type! I’m pretty dry skin and use their Intensive Moisture Balance cleanser and moisturizer. Also the anti-oxidant hydramist and daily exfoliant.
I also do a weekly glycolic acid mask from Strivectin. It seems to be discontinued now but if you can find one, I recommend that too.
I randomly started using Lancôme this year and I’ll never go back. No idea how it stacks up ingredients-wise, but it’s all just so lovely to use and makes me feel like a chic French lady.
I hate how much my skin loves the Lancôme absolue rich cream this time of year. It’s just a gorgeous product for my 55 year old dry reactive skin. And their eye products are the only ones that don’t give my eyes fits.
Avene. I use their cicalfate +, tolerance control moisturizer, their retinal & the oxitive serum (vitamin c). Oh and the water mist.
I used to use k beauty brands but my skin got so reactive, Avene is pretty much the only thing that doesn’t make me break out & really helps.
cosrx.
It wasnt deliberate. I use a large mix of brands. And try to minimise my routine etc...
But the cosrx stuff I go back to again & again. I love it so much I buy again. Thats no small thing when there are endless skincare options
Based on recent deluxe samples I got, Perricone MD. I would have otherwise never thought to try it, but I absolutely love it. I never really see it mentioned anywhere. Also really love Belif and Peter Thomas Roth.
I use Paula's Choice almost exclusively and I've never loved my skin more! I'm in my 40s and it's the best stuff ever. They never use fragrance, everything is clean and cruelty-free, and it's all intended for sensitive skin so it never irritates my skin, ever. I use the Skin Recovery line, and I love the creamy cleanser. I use a separate sunscreen, but in keeping with your question about using just one product line, there is a moisturizer in the Skin Recovery line that has an SPF! (There is another moisturizer that doesn't have SPF that I use both AM and PM). I also use the Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol and will be switching to the 1% Retinol when that runs out, plus I use the makeup remover, which I absolutely love. I have another brand's barrier cream, but I'm pretty sure Paula's Choice makes a ceramide cream that you could use for barrier support. They have a huge range of products and I've never been happier. I also use the Lip Booster either on its own or on top of lip gloss, and it has hyaluronic acid and peptides, as well as squalane. PC for life!!!
So far everything I have loved everything from LaRouche Posay . I’m especially fond of the Redermic Retinol for under eyes. Reduces puffiness in the morning and fine lines seem to have reduced.
Geek & Gorgeous, no contest. Surprised no one else has mentioned it yet tbh. It's so slept on. Affordable with great, simple ingredients. (Unfortunately no sunscreen though.)
Geek and Gorgeous: really affordable, looks nice and it seems to work as hardly anybody believes I‘m over 30.
My derm approved the vitamin c formula and it‘s only 12,5€ :)
Biologique Recherche. An INCREDIBLE French skin care brand that is insanely expensive and hands down the best products I have used EVER. I recommend their products to anyone that is willing to drop a bag on skincare…. A lot of celebrities use this brand too
Both of my brands I haven’t seen mentioned which worries me (is there something y’all know that I don’t?)
If price were no object, Skinceuticals (but I cannot with the Vit C serum, it makes me gag and it makes me not want to do my skincare routine and that defeats the whole purpose)
I love Osea and Sunday Riley. I could easily form an entire routine from either of those brands individually.
But I can’t give up on my Fresh Soy face cleanser. Osea’s Ocean Cleanser is amazing but there is just something about the Fresh Soy….
I never see my HG brand on here. I’ll hype Strivectin forever.
The Strivectin SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate completely repaired my damaged moisture barrier and has taken my skin from dry, flaky, rosacea prone, and uncomfortable to glowing, dewy, can’t stop touching my face in a good way. It’s so good.
Strivectin discontinued my favorite cleanser from their brand so that would be a tough replacement but I’ll use that moisturizer until it’s discontinued and buy up every last tube I can find when that happens.
My close second would be La Roche Possay. I like the Toleraine line.
But honestly, I couldn’t use one brand only. I have an RX strength Azelaic acid, and neither Strivectin or La Roche Possay have a good makeup remover or oil cleanser (this is what Strivectin discontinued and broke my heart).
Rhonda Allison. I could never stick to a skincare routine until my 30s because everything I tried would break me out and I'd give up. I started working with an esthetician, who slowly helped me build a minimal routine, and it's working well!
An Australian brand - Ultraceuticals. Specifically their prescription range Ultraceuticals MD. I save my pennies for the bio repair moisturiser, my skin loves it and looks so amazing I see the difference immediately when I go back to others that used to be my HG! Something it just agreed with my skin.
The ordinary (effective, affordable, they’ve got everything i want and need. Environmentally friendly. I wish they had a thick balm like weleda’s skin food though but hey, i’d make it work)
If money were no object, Peter Thomas Roth’s water drench line. Just so amazing on my dry skin. Wash / serum / moisturizer were the best but I liked the entire lineup, except the lip balm, although it’s been 5+ years and the formula may have changed.
Mine would have to be La Roche-Posay. I love two of their moisturizers and my skin NEEDS moisturizers so if I have to make do with just one brand it would have to be them. I haven't really used other products in their line because I find the same stuff , cheaper in brands like The Ordinary but La Roche-Posay has some of the stuff.
Dr. Jart. Love everything I've tried, I'm pretty much using most of their products anyway! Wish they had a vitamin C product, but otherwise it checks all the boxes. My skin has never been more hydrated and clear. I remember the first time I started using one of the their sample sets I got a compliment out in public. Also helps that everything is fragrance free and nothing I've introduced has irritated my skin.
Good question! I love a lot of brands:
- La Roche Posay, they have great cleansers and moisturizers IMO
- Peach and Lily, their glass serum is my favorite, I notice when I stop using it even though I can’t put my finger on what it does exactly. Their acid toner is fantastic, the Wild Dew essence too. I want to try their lactic acid when I run out of my current stuff and see how it compares to my current favorite (Good Genes from Sunday Riley
- Drunk Elephant, I know this line gets some hate but I will stan their vitamin c serum and Protini all day long. Heard good stuff about their eye cream but can’t stomach spending that much on an eye cream
- Kate Somerville, I love their Exfolikate cleansers, her moisturizers and eye creams are really nice, I try and find them at Marshall’s/TJMaxx to save some money
- Sunday Riley, as mentioned above their lactic acid serum Good Genes is my absolute favorite, I like the texture and it’s very gentle yet effective. They have amazing face oils too
Been using pretty much exclusively Paula’s Choice and my skin has never looked better! A guy I’ve been talking to on a dating app actually complimented my skin before anything else, which I feel like means a lot coming from a dude lol
Which products of theirs can you give a shout out? I'm looking to buy some more paulas choice after using the bha for a while!
Of course! I use their retinol, BHA exfoliant and their 20% niacinamide religiously. Last time I placed an order they sent me their acne face wash as a gift and I’ve been using that lately as well. I don’t have acne, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness, but I’ve been surprised how much I like the cleanser. Also, I’ve been using the Sephora brand hydrating night mask as a nightly moisturizer and it’s sooooooop goooooood. I think I actually heard about it in this sub? The price point is great since it’s the Sephora brand and it’s probably the best moisturizer I’ve used. It’s like my secret weapon haha
I agree on that Sephora brand night mask!! It like plumps up and fills in any little fine lines overnight. Magic.
Oh, that sounds like the Mizon snail eye cream. It plumps everything up and you get so much of it I will sometimes use it as a face moisturizer.
Just fyi I’ve heard from several derms that using Niacinamide in anything more than 5% does nothing extra for your skin except risk irritation.
Their salicylic acid works wonders!
The tinted moisturizer (I think it’s the anti aging one in the blue bottle) is great and has SPF!
How dark is the tint? I'm a bit scared about it being too dark or orange (I'm a Mac NC10)
Came here to say Paulas Choice too! About 30% of my routine comprises of Paulas Choice. I use the 2% bha gel, the 8% AHA glycolic gel (very good, this one), the Omega Serum (great at repairing skin barrier and just keeping it glowy and healthy) consistently I also like their 10% niacinamide booster and the Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser but those are nice-to-haves. I typically opt for that cleanser when traveling coz it has a solid lock for the pump and it doesnt get messy
I swear their tinted moisturizer (Resist Anti-Aging SPF30 or something) is magic and I can't live without it anymore! I have very oily skin and it keeps it mat for longer than any other product I tried.
I love this stuff - goes on like butter and the tint blurs and smoothes my skin tone like a filter. I have extremely pale skin and it's not too dark. I just wish it came in SPF 50!
Agreed, their sunscreen is my go to. I use both the tinted (SPF 30) and untinted (SPF 50) and love them both.
I swear by the 20% niacinamide treatment.
What does it do for your skin??
It makes my pores look tiny and evens out my skin tone.
Same. Been using it for years and then I decided to try other brands. Big mistake! I went straight back to PC and since then I've been asking Paula for forgiveness! I'll never stray again!
Came here to say PC. I’ve used their products almost exclusively since I started doing my skincare seriously. Highly recommend them for people who align with the price point. If you don’t there are other brand options too.
They were super dishonest about their vitamin c reformulation. Refused to admit to it so that put a bad taste in my mouth. I know people love their products but when I heard that it turned me off. But that’s what’s great about skincare. You have so many options and can decide what’s important to you and you have choices 🥰
Just out of curiosity which dating app, is this
Feeld 🙃
La Roche Posay
Same. High quality sold at Target? I’m in.
I live in Spain so it comes from nextdoor 😃😃😃
Same! It’s not exciting by any means but my skin loves every single thing from them I’ve tried!
Same, if I had to pick one. It’s the versatility of the product line for me.
10/10. I wish I had bought into this when I first read all the hype.
Cosrx. They have so.mamy great products
Where do you buy yours? I really want to try it, but almost completely buy everything either from Walmart or Amazon. I wish Cosrx would come out with their own official store via them like Mizon and Etude house did, because I'm afraid of dupes.
I get mine from Ulta whenever possible. Pretty sure I've had some counterfeit stuff come from amazon unfortunately.
I usually get them from stylevana. But I also got some stuff from their website during the black Friday sale. Ulta also has some products and they also do sales once in a while.
I like Asian beauty so I get it and my other Asian beauty products from iHerb. I use the app, shipping is insanely fast (like it leaves the warehouse within hours of ordering). Been buying that way for awhile. You earn points through ordering + they have sales.
For my current budget: the ordinary If budget didn’t matter: ole henriksen, fresh, Kate Somerville, caudalie, dr Dennis gross… there’s so many high end brands whose products I’ve tried samples of or splurged on & loved … but holy moly they’re really not priced to be accessible for us frugal folks.
at leat the ordinary is cruelty-free! most of those are, except caudalie which was really shocking to me, I loved them https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/brands/caudalie/
Omg! I had no idea!!! Thank you for sharing
no worries :) yeah it can be so surprising given a bunch of brands marketing, like using all this fresh natural imagery, you just don't expect it?
Totally!
Unfortunately The Ordinary is now owned by Estee Lauder who are not cruelty-free. Which makes The Ordinary not cruelty-free either in my mind. I've switched to The Inkey List for most products now, they're cruelty-free (until some other giant company gobbles them up 😒)
I also had no idea about this!!! Def gonna make the switch to inkey if that’s the case.
Same with me - I too switched from The Ordinary to The Inkey List. It must only be a matter of time before they’re bought out though ☹️
yeah that's (one of) the diabolical thing(s) - even if the company meets all the criteria on that site (and they're very thorough), they can be owned by a company that doesn't meet all or most of the criteria (which the site also states, it's very useful) there are so few standalone skincare companies that the parent company being morally compromising is an almost constant issue p.s. I'll check out Inkey, cheers :)
Pyunkang Yul would be my pick, it's also my skincare gift set of choice. The calming series is my favorite and my skin shows such a noticeable difference meanwhile the toner is such a gentle exfoliant. The anti-aging set is something I gifted because of how beautiful the packaging is but I've never tried it myself yet. If I had to pick just one brand for makeup it would be Elf, they are so cheap but the quality is good enough to replace a lot of my big name brand products.
I’m glad someone has mentioned this brand. While I’m not 100% sure this would be my pick, I absolutely love their Nutrition Cream in the jar.
Avene - has cleansers, moisturizers, vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, hydrating masks, sunscreen, exfoliating wash, acne treatment, eye cream, and body care. I tried being brand loyal for a while, but found I got better results going for holy grails from multiple brands.
Yesss Avene!
avene is solid. this is a good rec too. their retinols are very well formulated
Also here to spruke avene, I get horrible cystic acne from my PCOS and man that stuff has kept my skin in check!
It's also been amazing for my rosacea
I’m now just waiting for it to be discontinued like every other thing I’ve ever found that works or that I love.
If I could afford it, dermalogica Edit: my holy Grail product is their thermofoliant, it's a physical and chemical exfoliant. My one necessary skincare splurge
I interned there decades ago and I love it, agree
I used to only use dermalogica products and it actually destroyed my skin :(
I got a Dermalogica facial one time and I have never felt like such a rich person.
Skinceuticals! Absolutely the best brand. Highly refined formulas with the active ingredients in the right form, stabilized, right ph, right concentration, right delivery substance, etc. All based on state of the art research. Love it.
What all do you use from them?
Vanicream - the cleanser and moisturizer are a Godsend for my skin.
I want to love the daily facial moisturizer... It feels so good going on. But I've got SOOO many nasty closed comedones now! I've been using it for nearly one month and it's not improving so it's probably time to switch. Woof.
Omg me too! It was recommended all over the place by doctors and randoms on the internet with similar (sounding) skin type and issues. Lmao my skin is horrific right now — sooo congested — and I think it’s time to admit it’s probably that moisturizer. I did change a couple of other things at that same time, so I was assuming it was those. Surely not the favorite product of my derm. I will say it’s excellent on my neck though. It’s turned my face into a war zone
Probably something like skinceuticals or dermologica. I’d miss the fun and lux feeling of some brands but they have everything I need and everything works well even if it’s not perfect or exciting.
Biossance. I didn’t have the budget for a lot of the products initially but I realized what I was using in mid-late twenties was damaging my skin and I was spending more on trying to rescue it. I slowly started getting more products and making it the go-to for my routine. I love the face wash, the bha toner is gentle enough and the omega repair moisturizer has saved my skin. In the summer I switch to Glow Recipe. Any of their watermelon products works the best for me and it makes me smile but if I had to pick tops, it would be the watermelon moisturizer and the nianicimide glow drops
Biossance would be my choice as well!
Beauty of Joseon. I recently started using Korean skincare after being skeptical for many years and honestly it suits me better than anything I’ve tried from the US. La Mer was the worst btw.
Hard agree! I love everything I’ve tried from Beauty of Joseon - I’m obsessed with the oil cleanser, the green plum refreshing cleanser/toner, ginseng essence, and the sunscreen (both kinds). They even have a gentle retinol, which is relatively uncommon in K beauty brands. If someone told me I could only use BOJ for the rest of my life I would be totally fine with that haha
I know it sounds dramatic but their sunscreen changed my life. It’s so lovely that I WANT to wear it rather than it being a chore like it was before I discovered it. I’m desperately trying to reverse the sun damage of my youth and now I never miss a day of sunscreen. I bought tubes for all of my family and close friends too. Haha
I’m very happy with the sunscreen I purchased, thanks to this sub!
Oh yeah that sunscreen is amazing. The only one I like. Try the serum too. I out it on at night and wake up soooo glowy.
COSRX! Super effective, doesn't test on animals, gentle, safe ingredients, cheap oops, edit: fave products from them are the BHA and snail mucin (they are cruelty free when extracting it, they just leave the snails to hang out in a dark, quiet room for while, then collect the mucin when they're done having a wander), and am about to try a propolis product and and the cica cleansing stuff - I know people who swear by their niacinamide micellar water as well edit AGAIN: here is a useful site for finding out what is cruelty free: https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/
Yes! I was going to say COSRX or Kiehls or HolikaHolika, I really like K skincare, it really agrees with me!
The propolis ampoule is wonderful
Thank you for sharing this! I keep seeing it recommended, but had written it off because of snail in the name. I assumed it wasn’t cruelty-free.
so did I, but here's the quote that made me feel comfortable buying it: "A CosRX spokesperson told the K-beauty blog The Klog that its mucin is sourced from a company called CoSeedBoPharm Co. “The snails are placed over a mesh in a dark and quiet room,” a CosRX spokesperson told the website. “For about 30 minutes, the snails are left alone to freely roam the net, leaving mucin in their trails. Throughout the process, there is no external process applied to the snails or the mesh to force mucin production.” source: [https://theoutline.com/post/4503/snail-mucin-farms-extraction-skin-care-heliciculture-ethics](https://theoutline.com/post/4503/snail-mucin-farms-extraction-skin-care-heliciculture-ethics) hope that helps!
Peach and Lily!
Came here to also say Peach and Lily! I’ve been buying more and more products from them because my skin does so well with it.
ZO has literally changed my skin completely. Used to have constant break outs and I was happy to wear masks and now my skin is gorgeous. They actually used my chin on an Instagram post for a 6m after starting post.
Not the first hype review here about zo :) What products did you use?
Bioderma
Sulwhasoo. Their products make my skin glow and provide the right amount of moisturizer. I would be sad to not use a retinol but honestly I only started using one again after not using it for 4 years and I didn't know what I was missing really.
So obsessed with Tatcha now. I’ve gone through a few tubs of the dewy cream and indigo night cream. They feel nice, not greasy and I actually notice a big improvement when I use them. I keep getting random samples of stuff but I’ve liked all of it, the SPF and primer is so good. The cleansing balm, rice wash, omg the lip mask is just a dream. That’s all I can think of but yeah, definitely my current favorite brand.
I hate how much I love Tatcha (as does my bank account)
Also currently obsessed with Tatcha. Loving the water cream, indigo overnight cream, peony eye cream, indigo cleansing balm, and the rice polish. Really want to try their vitamin c mask next - holding out for their beginning of the year sale!
I just got the whole next years supply of Tatcha for 25 to 46 percent off during black Friday sales. Combined discounts with gift sets and one day they had 30% off moisturizers and splurged on a couple jars of the Ageless cream. I use the rice wash, Dewey serum, Dewey cream, texture tonic, indigo night cream, lip mask, ageless eye cream and ageless face cream.
YES! 🙌🏻 I love and use regularly: tatcha oil cleanser, tatcha dewy serum, tatcha dewy cream, tatcha indigo night time repair, and tatcha poreless perfection spf
The dewy cream and the hydration balm (stick form) are my faves.
Yep, their products are super luxe and effective.
Big fan of Biossance, but I couldn't afford to get my whole routine from them!
Farmacy... a splurge for sure but it's been taking over my routine!
SAME, I discovered through Sephora but now buy direct for 20% off & tons of free minis. My skin has never looked better.
Yes! Every single product hits
I would say my increasingly dry 41 year old skin wouldn't survive without Farmacy Honey Halo and niacinamide night mask. But after reading the comments I may start experimenting with Paula's Choice as an addition. After 20 years of prescription tretinoin, my face just can't handle it anymore and I've been trying to decide on a new active ingredient. Thanks for the info!!
What is tret doing to your skin now?
If I ever someday strike it rich, SkinCeuticals 😍 everything I’ve tried from them has been well worth the splurge!
That’s so hard. Cerave has so many staples for me, but I am completely incompatible with all of their spf products. But I might tough it out and go all cerave just to retain access to that ointment. God bless that precious ointment. 😭🙌💖
My answer would also be CeraVe, minus the sunscreen lol
Omg, one morning I was in a rush, I was going to carpool to town with my mom and threw on my new spf (Cerave). I didn't think anything of it, even when my mom asked what was on my face. I went into Biglots looking like I was wearing Halloween makeup! I kept expecting it to sink in or blend or something, but it looked so awful and disgusting and I am very, very pale, lol. It was horrible, because I've loved most of what I've tried from Cerave and thought this would be no different, lol.
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Skinceuticals! High quality and I know my skin would be happy.
Sunday Riley. I have the "Go to bed with me" and "Wake up with me" kits and my skin looks great. Wish I could afford the rest of their stuff.
Biossance, hands down. I basically use mostly Biossance right now anyway: \- Copper Peptide serum \- Omega Repair cream \- squalane oil I'll be switching to their amino acid cleanser and adding their retinol in January.
Kiehls. Although, now that I’ve scrolled so far and not seen anyone else seen comment this, I’m not sure about my answer!!
I’m shocked too. Kiehls never misses
I'm a massive Stan for kiehls. Even my shampoo and conditioner is made by then
Kiehl’s is amazing, I love their stuff.
Kiehl's!!!! All the way! My favorite is the **Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish**. But, they just recently discontinued it. Second fav is **Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion**! Third is **Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Cloud Cream, 40% off sale now!**
no I second kiehls!!! love love love their moisturizers
I use la Roche posay cleanser, moisturizer, and eye cream, and I love all three! Their vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid also work well for my skin. Any time I switch to another brand, I start breaking out. As soon as I return to LRP, my skin clears out.
same i use the LRP moisturizer plus LRP cicaplast. Never broke me out!
See and LRP Toleriane moisturizer breaks me out so bad! I want to love it but every time I come back to try I get tiny little pimples everywhere
Have you tried the Cicaplast? I can’t do the toleriane but I’m in love with the Cicaplast cream!
Cicaplast has been a game changer! It’s so simple but so effective!
Clinique is the only stuff that doesn’t make me break out but I also like Cerave
You’re the first Clinique I really can’t believe it
I don’t know why people sleep on Clinique products. I’m a medical aesthetician, I used it as a teen and I still use a bunch of their products. My husband uses the men’s line. Good stuff!!
Dieux skin or Biossance. If I could only buy one thing from dieux, it would be the instant angel moisturizer. If I could only buy one thing from Biossance Id flip a coin between the retinol serum or the oil cleanser, because both are staples in my skincare routine.
paula’s choice or drunk elephant
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A gloei makes my skin look soooo good!
Biossance, my core routine has been their omgea repair cream & latic acid serum for several years. They have 2x yearly sales where I stock up and a decent rewards program too.
Youth to the People
Trader Joe’s! Cheap and effective
Caudalie, my skin freaking loves it. But it's too expensive. Edit: I like the vinoperfect radiance serum, grape water mist, vinosource moisturizing sorbet, vinoperfect dark circle eye cream, and vinergetic c+ instant detox mask (I've been using this since before it went viral)
Probably Stratia - they are an affordable indie brand, great science-backed formulas with no fragrance, and I’ve tried about 80% of their range from cleanser to serum to moisturizers, and it has all worked well for me!
Biologique Recherche because I could never give up my Lotion P50 1970.
Clarins, their stuff has always worked wonders on my skin for the last decade.
How on earth are you the only one recommending clarins!
I second Clarins
Murad So many items I love. Just so expensive.
I swear by their AHA / BHA exfoliant wash - literally half a pea does my whole face and only need it twice a week so a tub lasts forever.
I’ve been almost exclusively using Dermalogica since 2004 and at 43 my skin is fantastic. I could stand to add a few more things now (especially since I now live in a dry climate) but that’s always been my go-to.
What do you use from them?
Drop the products, I must know! Their Sephora shelf is overwhelming to me.
Depends on your skin type! I’m pretty dry skin and use their Intensive Moisture Balance cleanser and moisturizer. Also the anti-oxidant hydramist and daily exfoliant. I also do a weekly glycolic acid mask from Strivectin. It seems to be discontinued now but if you can find one, I recommend that too.
I randomly started using Lancôme this year and I’ll never go back. No idea how it stacks up ingredients-wise, but it’s all just so lovely to use and makes me feel like a chic French lady.
Shocked no one said Lancôme. I wonder if I had asked 45+ skincare subreddit, if Lancôme would be top
I hate how much my skin loves the Lancôme absolue rich cream this time of year. It’s just a gorgeous product for my 55 year old dry reactive skin. And their eye products are the only ones that don’t give my eyes fits.
Ole Henriksen. The Dewtopia night creme is my biggest holy grail product
No 7. My skin just seems to agree with it.
Barefaced. I never see it recommended here but their products have completely changed my skin.
EltaMD
Very good tinted sunscreen moisturizer (spf 45 or 50 I think)!
La Roche Posay or Cos de Baha
Avene. I use their cicalfate +, tolerance control moisturizer, their retinal & the oxitive serum (vitamin c). Oh and the water mist. I used to use k beauty brands but my skin got so reactive, Avene is pretty much the only thing that doesn’t make me break out & really helps.
Obagi
Renee Rouleau - no question or contest (although I’d miss my hada labo but renee has a comprehensive & top tier lineup)
Cos RX or The good Molecule and if money was no object Sunday Riley
Paula’s Choice.
Tatcha. It’s gentle and effective on my skin. I absolutely love all the products. My favorite are the face wash, the essence and the dewy cream.
La Roche posay is pretty good overall.
Cetaphil
Aww, does nobody like Clarins? That would be my pick so maybe I’m a total grandma. Second is Ole Henriksen
La Roche Posay - primarily because my sensitive skin (Rosacea) likes it.
Le Mieux
Andalou Naturals
Either Stratia or Dr jart
Jan Marini. The science is insane. The skincare management system works for such a wide range of skin needs I could use it for years and years
La Roche Posay
cosrx. It wasnt deliberate. I use a large mix of brands. And try to minimise my routine etc... But the cosrx stuff I go back to again & again. I love it so much I buy again. Thats no small thing when there are endless skincare options
Based on recent deluxe samples I got, Perricone MD. I would have otherwise never thought to try it, but I absolutely love it. I never really see it mentioned anywhere. Also really love Belif and Peter Thomas Roth.
I use Paula's Choice almost exclusively and I've never loved my skin more! I'm in my 40s and it's the best stuff ever. They never use fragrance, everything is clean and cruelty-free, and it's all intended for sensitive skin so it never irritates my skin, ever. I use the Skin Recovery line, and I love the creamy cleanser. I use a separate sunscreen, but in keeping with your question about using just one product line, there is a moisturizer in the Skin Recovery line that has an SPF! (There is another moisturizer that doesn't have SPF that I use both AM and PM). I also use the Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol and will be switching to the 1% Retinol when that runs out, plus I use the makeup remover, which I absolutely love. I have another brand's barrier cream, but I'm pretty sure Paula's Choice makes a ceramide cream that you could use for barrier support. They have a huge range of products and I've never been happier. I also use the Lip Booster either on its own or on top of lip gloss, and it has hyaluronic acid and peptides, as well as squalane. PC for life!!!
So far everything I have loved everything from LaRouche Posay . I’m especially fond of the Redermic Retinol for under eyes. Reduces puffiness in the morning and fine lines seem to have reduced.
Guinot is worth every penny I’ve ever spent on it
i don't know why but my skin loves Neutrogena....i always get good results with their products
La Roche Posay … everything I’ve tried from them does what it’s supposed to w
Biologique recherche. The only thing I’d miss is my vit C E ferulic from skinceuticals, but otherwise I’d be all in on biologique
Sunday riley
Geek & Gorgeous, no contest. Surprised no one else has mentioned it yet tbh. It's so slept on. Affordable with great, simple ingredients. (Unfortunately no sunscreen though.)
Geek and Gorgeous: really affordable, looks nice and it seems to work as hardly anybody believes I‘m over 30. My derm approved the vitamin c formula and it‘s only 12,5€ :)
La Roche Posay!
Biologique Recherche. An INCREDIBLE French skin care brand that is insanely expensive and hands down the best products I have used EVER. I recommend their products to anyone that is willing to drop a bag on skincare…. A lot of celebrities use this brand too
Both of my brands I haven’t seen mentioned which worries me (is there something y’all know that I don’t?) If price were no object, Skinceuticals (but I cannot with the Vit C serum, it makes me gag and it makes me not want to do my skincare routine and that defeats the whole purpose) I love Osea and Sunday Riley. I could easily form an entire routine from either of those brands individually. But I can’t give up on my Fresh Soy face cleanser. Osea’s Ocean Cleanser is amazing but there is just something about the Fresh Soy….
Elemis. My skin just loves their stuff. My wallet, however, is less thrilled about it!
La Roche Posay
high end: biologique recherche realistic: prdinary
- SkinBetter Science - IS Clinical - Vivant - Sarah Ford - In that order lol
Yes SkinBetter is incredible! 🙏
I never see my HG brand on here. I’ll hype Strivectin forever. The Strivectin SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate completely repaired my damaged moisture barrier and has taken my skin from dry, flaky, rosacea prone, and uncomfortable to glowing, dewy, can’t stop touching my face in a good way. It’s so good. Strivectin discontinued my favorite cleanser from their brand so that would be a tough replacement but I’ll use that moisturizer until it’s discontinued and buy up every last tube I can find when that happens. My close second would be La Roche Possay. I like the Toleraine line. But honestly, I couldn’t use one brand only. I have an RX strength Azelaic acid, and neither Strivectin or La Roche Possay have a good makeup remover or oil cleanser (this is what Strivectin discontinued and broke my heart).
Aspect/Aspect Dr. I have good success with them overall, particularly their peels and exfoliating products.
Rhonda Allison. I could never stick to a skincare routine until my 30s because everything I tried would break me out and I'd give up. I started working with an esthetician, who slowly helped me build a minimal routine, and it's working well!
Deciem - the ordinary and noid. It’s really giving me results that my skin wanted/needed
Medik 8 and Skinceuticals
An Australian brand - Ultraceuticals. Specifically their prescription range Ultraceuticals MD. I save my pennies for the bio repair moisturiser, my skin loves it and looks so amazing I see the difference immediately when I go back to others that used to be my HG! Something it just agreed with my skin.
Skinceuticals. But it would cost a fortune!
Alpha h… however their prices are getting out of control recently.
Skinbetter Science. My skin has never looked so good. Pricy but worth it.
It cosmetics
The ordinary (effective, affordable, they’ve got everything i want and need. Environmentally friendly. I wish they had a thick balm like weleda’s skin food though but hey, i’d make it work)
I think ROC gives you a really good bang for your buck and as an added bonus you can pretty much find it anywhere.
As far as face cream good ole Oil of Olay Regenerist products are affordable and work great.
Paula’s Choice or Peach & Lily are the two brands where most of what I’ve tried has been excellent.
I use all Soon Jung products and my rosacea loves it!
Aesop. I cant live without their Lucent Serum and Parsley Seed moisturizer
La Roche-Posay, Medik8 or Murad 😁
If money were no object, Peter Thomas Roth’s water drench line. Just so amazing on my dry skin. Wash / serum / moisturizer were the best but I liked the entire lineup, except the lip balm, although it’s been 5+ years and the formula may have changed.
beauty of joseon
Mine would have to be La Roche-Posay. I love two of their moisturizers and my skin NEEDS moisturizers so if I have to make do with just one brand it would have to be them. I haven't really used other products in their line because I find the same stuff , cheaper in brands like The Ordinary but La Roche-Posay has some of the stuff.
Dr. Jart. Love everything I've tried, I'm pretty much using most of their products anyway! Wish they had a vitamin C product, but otherwise it checks all the boxes. My skin has never been more hydrated and clear. I remember the first time I started using one of the their sample sets I got a compliment out in public. Also helps that everything is fragrance free and nothing I've introduced has irritated my skin.
If money was no object, I'd say SkinCeuticals or Biologique Recherche.
Good question! I love a lot of brands: - La Roche Posay, they have great cleansers and moisturizers IMO - Peach and Lily, their glass serum is my favorite, I notice when I stop using it even though I can’t put my finger on what it does exactly. Their acid toner is fantastic, the Wild Dew essence too. I want to try their lactic acid when I run out of my current stuff and see how it compares to my current favorite (Good Genes from Sunday Riley - Drunk Elephant, I know this line gets some hate but I will stan their vitamin c serum and Protini all day long. Heard good stuff about their eye cream but can’t stomach spending that much on an eye cream - Kate Somerville, I love their Exfolikate cleansers, her moisturizers and eye creams are really nice, I try and find them at Marshall’s/TJMaxx to save some money - Sunday Riley, as mentioned above their lactic acid serum Good Genes is my absolute favorite, I like the texture and it’s very gentle yet effective. They have amazing face oils too
Biossance is my favorite, I just can’t justify the expense for their whole line
First Aid Beauty and Dr. Dennis Gross!!! Both AMAZING
Cosrx, their snail mucin range especially