Best 15 Skincare Products for a Flawless Complexion

Whether you’re a beginner or a bonafide skincare addict, tons of top skincare products are waiting to be discovered. These products can address common concerns and maintain the overall health of your skin. From targeted skin serums to gentle face washes and everything in between, this vetted list of the best skincare products promises to eliminate the fuss of creating a routine. This way, you can get excited about shopping instead of dreading the entire process. 

Best skincare products overview:

• Best overall: The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer
• Best cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• Best sunscreen: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
• Best toner: Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic
• Best oil: Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
• Best retinol: Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® Anti-Aging Serum
• Best eye cream: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Creme
• Best acne treatment: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
• Best makeup-skincare hybrid: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
• Best face mist: Caudalie Beauty Elixir Prep, Set, Glow Face Mist
• Best essence: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
• Best night cream: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Night Cream
• Best face mask: Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Whipped Clay Pore Detox Face Mask With Salicylic Acid + Charcoal
• Best lip product: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
• Best physical exfoliant: Dermalogica daily milkfoliant exfoliator

How we chose the best skincare products

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including price point, standout ingredients, application ease, and more, to create a short list of the top skincare products. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best skincare product overall for each category.

Our picks for the best skincare products

One of the best skincare products overall has to be The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer. It’s a hydrating and replenishing option that absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling supple. Though it’s a bit pricier than similar options, what sets this moisturizer apart is the Hyaluroset™ Complex, a proprietary alternative to hyaluronic acid.

Standout ingredients: Squalane, hops extract, proprietary Hyaluroset™ Complex | Skin type: All skin types, but particularly good for sensitive skin | When to use: Daily

The CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a gentle and non-irritating formula that hydrates the skin without stripping away its natural oils. Because it’s so gentle, we recommend pairing it with a cleansing oil or micellar water if you wear makeup every day.

Standout ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Skin type: Normal, dry | When to use: Daily

With a velvety finish and ingredients that boost moisture, it’s no wonder shoppers are willing to save up for this pricier skincare option. Still, optimal blending is required to prevent a slight white cast on darker skin tones. 

Standout ingredients: Red algae, frankincense, meadowfoam oil complex | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: Daily

Pixi Beauty’s Glow Tonic is formulated with glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that powers its exfoliating benefit. That potentially irritating feature is balanced out with the addition of soothing aloe vera and energizing ginseng, making it suitable for a range of skin types.

Standout ingredients: Glycolic acid, ginseng, aloe vera | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: A couple times per week

The Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil is a daily treatment for all skin types that can be used alone or mixed in with other products, like a moisturizer. Since the texture is on the thicker side, be sure to test a small amount first.

Standout ingredients: Marula fruit | Skin type: All skin types, especially sensitive | When to use: Daily

The Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® Anti-Aging Serum is a potent retinol formula powered by retinol and lactic acid, both of which speed up cell renewal to help prevent breakouts and signs of aging. Some reviewers aren’t a fan of the pump applicator or the expensive price point but nonetheless invest in the unique time-release formula.

Standout ingredients: Retinol, lactic acid, apple extract | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: A couple of times per week

The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Creme is powered by a proprietary vitamin C triple complex that enhances the eye cream’s brightening benefit. Should you wear under makeup, be sure not to go overboard with the concealer to prevent pilling.

Standout ingredients: Vitamin C, hardy orange extract, bioflavonoids | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: Daily

The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% solution is a targeted treatment for zapping blemishes and improving skin texture. As long as it isn’t applied alongside certain skincare products, like retinol and vitamin C, most skin types can benefit from the water-based formula.

Standout ingredients: Salicylic acid | Skin type: Oily | When to use: Daily or as needed

Part skin savior and part coverage product, the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is an all-in-one option for people who want natural-looking makeup, sun protection, and ample moisture in one fell swoop. It’s suitable for all skin types and performs best when applied on bare clean skin that hasn’t been touched by other products yet.

Standout ingredients: Squalane, shea butter, niacinamide | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: Daily or as needed

Whether you need a midday pick-me-up or a setting spray for your makeup, the Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a standout multitasking option that provides antioxidant protection against the elements. The scent tends to divide reviewers, but its versatility outshines the cons. 

Standout ingredients: Grape extract, peppermint essential oil, rosemary essential oil | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: Daily or as needed

The COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence harnesses the power of snail secretion to do everything from improving texture to increasing elasticity. The formula takes some time to absorb and works best when applied to wet or damp skin.

Standout ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, betaine | Skin type: Blemish-prone | When to use: Daily

For skin that needs an intense surge of moisture, Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Night Cream’s rich texture will slowly absorb into the skin overnight, leaving it more supple and plump by sunrise. The thick formula may be too much for oily skin, but the calming scent and travel-friendly size make it a must-have for many.

Standout ingredients: Squalane, omega fatty acids, flower oils | Skin type: Dry | When to use: Daily at night

Instead of microbeads found in similar face masks, this 10-minute treatment depends on encapsulated charcoal to provide gentle exfoliation as it works to reduce oil. Careful application ensures that the mask will dry evenly across the face and that the charcoal dissolves quickly. 

Standout ingredients: Whipped clay, encapsulated charcoal, salicylic acid | Skin type: All, even sensitive and dry | When to use: All, even sensitive and dry

Though the packaging isn’t convenient for on-the-go application, the nourishing effects of shea butter and murumuru butter out rule this shortcoming. The formula is also antioxidant-rich, providing protection against environmental stressors.

Standout ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru seed butter, vitamin C | Skin type: Normal, dry | When to use: Once per week at night and/or as needed

Dermalogica’s daily milkfoliant is one of the gentlest yet most effective physical exfoliators on the market. The rice-based formula buffs away dead skin cells while coconut milk soothes and hyaluronic acid boosts the skin’s moisture barrier.

Standout ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, papaya enzymes, oat bran extract | Skin type: All skin types | When to use: Daily

Final thoughts

Shopping for skincare products can be just as daunting as it is exciting. There are many factors to consider, but no matter your needs or goals, don’t forget to patch-test your products before incorporating them into your daily routine. Most brick-and-mortar stores, as well as digital sites, offer samples free of charge or with purchase. 

What to look for in skincare products

There are a few factors to keep in mind as you shop for a skincare product. All of them matter, but the one you prioritize first will depend on your natural skin profile, budget, and various lifestyle choices. 

Ingredients

Skincare products contain a variety of ingredients, depending on their purpose and formulation. Common ones include emollients like oils and butters for hydration and texture; humectants like hyaluronic acid to retain moisture; and active ingredients like retinol and vitamin C for more specific concerns like dark spots and dullness. 

Skin type

When shopping for a skincare product according to skin type, pay close attention to the formulation. For example, those with sensitive skin may benefit most from formulas that are free of artificial fragrances and other irritants. Daily makeup wearers prone to acne may want to double cleanse with an oil-based remover followed by a cleanser chock full of soothing skin boosters, like aloe vera. 

Quality

The quality of a product isn’t always dependent on an equally high price. Oftentimes, pricier skincare products are due to proprietary technology or ingredients sourced from a unique location or renowned expert. 

FAQ

Which skincare ingredient is trending in 2023? 

Post-pandemic, 10-step routines and maximalist-style skincare are officially past tense. Today, shoppers are prioritizing minimal healthy routines instead. Multitasking ingredients like squalane and niacinamide are most sought after because their multitasking benefits eliminate the need for more products and simplify routines. 

Which brand is best for skincare?

The best skincare brand is truly relative to the shopper’s skin type, skin concerns, and budget. But overall, The Ordinary is in a rare breed of skincare brands that offer a wide range of options for both common complaints and targeted challenges, boasts innovative formulations, maintains overwhelmingly positive reviews, and keeps its offerings budget-friendly. 

Why is Korean skincare better?

The underlying philosophy of Korean products is that they emphasize the skincare ritual as a form of self-care, combining physical health with mindfulness and overall well-being. Korean beauty products are also responsible for introducing Western consumers to innovative ingredients derived from nature, like snail mucin, mugwort, and Centella asiatica.