How do you choose your skincare products? Share!
I look for brands that have a strong focus/emphasis on skincare with moderate pricing and moderate claims. I don’t want to see a lot of hype, and I don’t want anyone promising that I’m going to look 10 years younger in six weeks.
Thanks to Lulle for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I’m in my mid-40’s, and after much trial and error, I found a good mix of products, many people think I’m about 10 years younger
*Sunscreen – broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, mix of natural and chemical sunscreens, wears well under makeup, fragrance free
*Day cream – fragrance free, light to medium moisture
*Night cream – retinol that’s in airtight packaging to fight wrinkles (Paula’s Choice is HG)
*Alternate Night cream – glycolic or AHAs to clear out pores, fade dark spots, and brighten the skin (PTR 10% glycolic acid is HG)
*Night cream- fragrance free, shea butter or natural oils to seal in moisture (First Aid Sleeping cream)
Hey Katherine, which PC retinol are you using? I have been trying to use retin A again. But, it is sooo drying even at every 5 days and “buffering” .I am thinking of just trying a good retinol. I have been sampling some of Paula’s stuff and definitely have found some quality products. My response almost mirrors yours actually for this post! Thanks! 🙂
I’m a huge fan of PC Retinols, have been using for probably +5 years and they totally erase years off my face. My skin is normal/combo but gets drier during winter. Depending on how my skin feels, I’ve been alternating between 3 different Paula’s Choice Retinols. I don’t think any of them are moisturizing enough on their own, so I usually add a heavier night cream (FAB Sleeping Cream) and/or facial oil on top (Josie Maran Light Argan Oil)
*Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum -this is an oil-like serum but it does sink in well. It’s pretty gentle. It’s not that hydrating but not drying either. Paula says great all over, including the eye area.
*Resist Intensive Repair Cream for Dry or Very Dry Skin–this feels like a cream and is more moisturizing
*Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment – It’s a light cream that sinks in pretty well, but it’s also has the strongest concentration of retinol and can be drying if your skin isn’t use to it. But I just put regular face creams/oils on top, and I’m ok
Her website usually has cheap sample packets or kits that you can buy and try first. Hope this helps!
Thank you! Very helpful. I am only able to tolerate the Retin-A about once a week and still my skin is so dry. I’m not sure if if I would get more of a benefit to use a retinol on a little more frequency. From what I understand retinol is basically retin-a but in a more gentle form. Is that what you understand? Also, When my samples of retin-a run out , it is not insurance covered and the brand I have is about $350 a tube! I use a tiny pea size and it will last me forever at this rate. But, in the winter, I don’t see me being able to use it much at all. I am definitely going to check out Paula’s retinols. I use her BHA and Skin recovery moisturizer and mask, and Hylauronic booster. Awesome products for my dry skin and so inexpensive. Thanks again. 🙂
Yes, retinol is a gentler form of the prescription version, it works, but it takes longer, but there is less chance of dryness and irritation. A lot of dermatologists recommend patients start with retinol, so they build up a tolerance before they try the prescription version. Since your skin sounds so dry, maybe you should use some non-retinol creams and get it back to normal before you try the retinol products. For me, the PC retinol products worked really fast, I could see some improvement overnight and definitely within a week, but I’ve read that most people need to give it at least 1-3 months.
My skin is normally dry or combo/dry so the retin- a, as I expected, boosted that. I have added more oils, moisturizing, and that Paula’s Choice Hyalaronic Acic booster which have all helped. But it Is bothersome. I see my dermatologist next week. So, I will consult with her. It is not an intolerable dryness. If it is short-lived, I may be able to stick it out a few weeks. A few months, no- I’ll go with the retinol. I have read in my research that the Clinical 1% Paula’s Choice is pretty strong as far as OTC retinol and to even start slowly with it.Thanks for all your iput! You are always very helpful! 🙂
Argh..input* lol!
Hi Nicole – try using your retin a under or over a facial oil. I’m partial to Mad Hippie antioxidant oil, but I’m sure any good one will work. I seal it all with Epionce medical barrier cream in the cold months, and any other time I feel dry. I just never got much for results with retinols, and I could never use retin a more than a few times a week, till I read an article that suggested layering it with oils and/or other moisturizers. Now I can use it as often as I like without irritation. I hope that helps you!
Thanks Dawn!I actually have been using it over and under an oil. My dermatologist refers to it as “buffering”. I wash my face,appy oil. the I usually do something else for 20 min or so. Then apply a pea sized amt of the retin a mixed in my cream(which is a thick cream) and let it soak in and then apply more oil and cream! lol. Greased up! I started doing this about once a week for 2 weeks then went to every 5 days and am stuck here. I need to bump to every 3 days since the dryness is a little better. But, it is still pretty uncomfortable still with a lot of oils and moisturizers and the weather is not even very cold here anymore. I read some reviews and articles saying that this is to be expected and to just push through it. Like you, I have used a few retinol creams in the past without much noticeable results. That’s why I though to try retin-a again.I tried it when I was younger but never did it right and would go full speed ahead right away and look like a peeling tomato in a few days and quit. I see my dermatologist next week. So, I think I will try to get it by the end of the week and see what she thinks. I definitely will look into that cream. The Omorvicza Gold barrier cream is one I bought out of desperation last winter with a way too high price tag. It saved my skin, does the job. But I don’t want to have to pay that much again! As far as the Mad Hippie line, I have used the cleanser and exfoliating serum..good, effective and clean skin care. Maybe I’ll give the oil ago when I run low. As of now,I have 4 full sized bottles of oil to work through( let’ just say I like facial oils:))..Thanks so much! 😀
I choose mostly by looking through the ingredients. I know roughly what my skin reacts badly to and what it really benefits from, so I go from there. Price is also important. I don’t really believe in spending hundreds of dollars for skincare, when my skin does well with reasonably priced products (drugstores came a long way in the last few years). But then my skin isn’t particularly sensitive or difficult, so others might have made different experiences.
Everything Christine said! I also gravitate towards brands that post ingredients list online and easy to find on the packaging — none of those “peel here to see ingredients list” nonsense. I find that they’re less likely to have ingredients that aren’t really beneficial to the skin. I’m looking at you, alcohol/fragrance/other irritants.
Nothing with too much hype or the non fatty kind of alcohol. Fragrance doesn’t always irritate me (very sensitive here!) but it does make me wary of the product and do a patch test before I put it on my face. I also tend to gravitate towards French brands, as I find their formulas work much better for sensitive skin. I don’t mind paying a little more for good skincare but I’ve never understood the hype about brands such as La Mer or SKII. And for some reason this year everytime I go to a counter they throw in anti-ageing samples despite the fact I’m obviously very much 22!
Something I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older is I do tend to patch test/strand test before I use a lot of products these days, can’t help but chuckle at my younger self that would just slap everything on and hope it doesn’t melt anything off.
I research the ingredients. The formula is what determines whether I’ll buy a product or not. I’ve learned to stop listening to wild claims and promises.
Pretty much the same as you, Christine. I also check out reviews for products (sometimes, I have to force myself to wait if a product is new – it can take a while for reviews online to start appearing) and if possible, I will get a sample (it’s nice when a sample is large enough to get any sort of idea about how a product performs). Also, if it’s a product from a company whose skin care I’ve used and liked (such as Jouviance here in Canada), I am more likely to give a new product a try.
Based on proven ingredients! As a rosacean, it’s vital to have non-irritating fragrance free products that are truly effective, not based on inflated hype. Beautypedia has been my bible for this, they’ve helped me so much with all their information.
Brands that are skincare based. I’m not into science-fiction claims. I look more at the ingredients themselves. Anything with parabans, EDTA, UREA, synthetic fragrance, etc is out. My ultimate anti-aging is sunblock, so I don’t look for miracle cures in skincare. I just look for a really good, honest product that gives moisture, etc as claimed and as needed.
My fav brand right now is Ren, especially their milk cleanser and their 012 rose oil serum.
Ugh, very carefully! Same view on the hype and outrageous claims, and moderate pricing.
I get most of my skincare from Shoppers (Canadian drugstore with a beauty boutique, very department store counter-esque). The girls there are great, esp. the dept. manager. She has given me so many samples to try first because since having my kids, my skin in super sensitive and reactive. I have to try EVERYTHING first.
I have learned some products (depending on what the ingredients are) are very cheap because they use lesser quality ingredients. Mid range French skincare (Vichy, Nuxe, Avene and Yves Rocher) seems to be where I have had the most luck. I have tried a few skincare lines from more cosmetic oriented companies and it’s a bad situation everytime for me.
Like you, a brand that specializes in skin care over other products and doesn’t over-claim. Also, I like natural products without préservatives, etc. Just fresh products basically.
I look for products without added fragrances, SLS or parabens. I also look for more hydrating products for older skin. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and ceramides are some of the things I look for.
I look for products that are fragrance-free and irritant-free. Absolutely no denatured alcohol or irritating plant oils! I also pay a lot of attention to ingredient lists. I research each individual ingredient if I’m not familiar with it to see if it’s safe. Also, lots of vitamins, please! Also: If a brand’s lineup of skincare doesn’t include or at least mention sunscreen that definitely gives me a hint that the rest of its line probably isn’t very good.
I’ve been sticking to Paula’s Choice for the past 3 months and my horrible cystic acne has disappeared, my undereye discolouration is gone, and my face feels smoother than a baby’s butt lol. But when I have the time I’ll be looking into other brands as well!
Hello Sarah- Would you mind sharing your Paula’s Choice regimen and products? I’m currently battling cystic acne and have been debating for a few days on which PC products to try. I’d love to hear your experience! Thank you!
I’d be honoured to help you! I went with the Resist line in the light blue bottles – it’s an Anti-Aging and Acne line for normal to oily skin. Honestly, if the cause of your acne is irritation, using any combo of PC products will be helpful, as long as they’re suited to your skin type. They have a great starter kit, and you can purchase benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid treatments to dry up acne quickly.
My regimen:
Cleanser: I started with the Resist Foaming Cleanser, but it’s pretty expensive so I use the Skin Balancing one which works just as well. They also have a Clear cleanser for acne, which I stay away from because it has triclosan, a controversial ingredient,and no other special ingredients.
Toner: Toner is optional, but I use the Resist Weightless one. It’s soothing and a nice source of good ingredients.
Exfoliator: I use the Resist 2% BHA Daily Pore Treatment, but you can use her regular 2% BHA Liquid. I like they Resist one because it has more sophisticated ingredients. It’s essential to fighting acne and keeping pores clear.
Treatments: These are optional, and it may be best to wait awhile to introduce these into your regimenl. I use the C15 serum and Skin Balancing Serum with Retinol for a bigger boost of vitamins. There are lots of great serums in the line, depending on your needs.
Moizturizer: I use the Resist Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 in the day. The Mattifying Fluid SPF 50 made me oily. At night, I use the Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator.
Acne: I use both the 2.5% and 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Treatments, as well as the BHA 9 treatment for acne. I HIGHLY recommend going with 2.5% BP first; it’s better to err on the side of not drying your skin.
My skin was worse the first month, probably from introducing so many new products. But it cleared up after that, and has stayed clear! I would recommend going with a cleanser, exfoliator, sunscreen, and night moizturizer at first,with 2.5% BP. You can then look at other products that interest you after you get the basics down. Hope that helps! Ask if you have any more questions. 🙂
Oh wow!! Thank you so much for your response!! I was actually looking at a few products that you use, so that definitely helps me make a decision. I’m going on a sample spree!
I believe my issue is irritants, but it’s difficult for me to pinpoint the pesky ingredients causing it because my skin is always a hot mess. I did not know about triclosan! I will definitely have to do some more research. Thank you so much for you help, I truly appreciate it!!
No problem, good luck! I know the struggle and it’s really damaging to self-esteem. And so, so frustrating! With irritants, I just avoid any potentially irritating ones like the plague. The Beautypedia and Ingredient Dictionary on Paula’s Choice are very helpful for skincare and makeup! You get used to reading ingredients list pretty quickly!
Oh one thing I forgot to mention… The Clear Extra Strength Exfoliator is exactly the same as the 2% BHA Liquid, and the Clear SPF Moisturizer is exactly the same as the Resist Mattifying Fluid,so those are two less products to worry about comparing! 🙂
I try to stay as “natural” as possible, and typically use oils/butters & soap-free cleansers. I don’t understand how so many “skincare” products are just loaded with chemicals; how can they be good for your skin…?
I’ve become a frequent reader of Caroline Hirons’ blog and she’s a UK skincare guru – she says she’s a “third generation beauty industry insider”. I’ve always had oily, blemish prone skin and I like her blog because it has great reviews with an emphasis on providing actual ingredients. And she has a basic regimen that’s worked for me. She introduced me to double cleansing, double toning, then eye cream, facial oil, serum, moisturizer. I’ve always washed my face, but I didn’t realize how much makeup actually comes off if you use an oil based cleanser & a cloth – it’s great. I like trying new products & tend to use up what I buy. If I find something that works for me, I’ll repurchase. I generally tend to shy away from foamy cleansers (extremely drying), and alcohol in toners (no one needs that ’90s burn again).
My standard focuses on ingredients and purpose of the product. Say if it’s just a facial cleanser, I wouldn’t spend more than $40 for a full size. Usually pay $25-28 and there are loads of great ones out there.
However, for serum and treatment, I sometimes spend $69-89, depends on the ingredient. I like brightening and a little bit anti-aging ingredient together. And I read a lot of review searching for keywords like “breakouts” and “irritation”. That’s the least things I want to happen on my skin.
Other things like sunscreen, emulsion, facial cream and so on, I would choose newly emerged brands that’s indie, fun, with moderate pricing. I don’t believe in cult products tho.
When I’m not sure what to buy, or trying a new formula, like retinol.Then, pharmaceutical brands are my to-gos, like Avene and Vichy.
This is still a work in progress, but I’ve learnt to look at the ingredients list and see if there’s anything that seems to justify the claims. If a brand claims that a product will revolutionize my skin and it turns out to be petroleum jelly with a minimal amount of an obscure plant extract, I know it’s a scam.
I used to be faithful to a couple brands but I’m not any more: as long as the formulation is good, I don’t need to buy the expensive stuff just because it has a big brand name.
And of course I try to find products that are made for my skin type. In general, I don’t like heavy creams, so I prefer the lighter lotions or gel formulations.
I make mistakes – usually inaccurate reviews on shopping websites have a role in my errors, like people saying a cream feels light when it’s one of the heaviest I’ve ever tried… – and it’s very annoying. Last fall I bought an Ole Henriksen cream that really doesn’t work for me at all, but I couldn’t return.
While I do try to stick to natural products when possible, my skin is not particularly sensitive to a lot of the sort of things that many others have to be careful and considerate of.
For me, it’s mostly trial and error. If a lot of people are having success with an item for the same issues I am experiencing, I’ll see if I can find a small sample size of it anywhere. These days I try to find it at Sephora so I can get a small sample pot to try for a couple days.
I’ve used a LOT of products that weren’t bad, but weren’t particularly amazing or effective either. When I find something that works for me I tend to stick to it for quite awhile.
I am 39 and I have tried everything form drugstore to $300 creams (as much as I hate to admit) and I can say it is absolutely not necessary to spend more than you can if you do your research. I have had oily and acne prone skin to rosacea and dry skin. I bought that $300 cream out of a dry skin desperation moment in the winter and a pushy salesperson . I have recently been on a deep hunt for a good combo for myself and have been trying all kinds of stuff in the process and scouring the internet and have a follow up with a dermatologist next week. For anti-aging and some mild sun damage, I have concluded, the best concoction for myself is: a retinol or retina A(even if it’s once a week-trying retin A first), antioxidants topically (daytime at least ) Vit c for day a multi serum a night(looking for one still- any rec’s are welcomed!),AHA’s and /or BHA’s( I am using AHA in am and BHA at night).,moisturizer, sunblock, for added moisture to my dry skin I love face oil and hyaluronic acid (Paula’s choice has a great new serum that I mix with a face oil). Also, read the ingredients. If you do 2 things only: wash off you makeup every night and wear sunscreen daily.
Anything I’m not comfortable DIYing like chemical exfoliators or whatever I go by price, the concentration of the primary/”working” ingredient, and how long the ingredients list is otherwise (how much of this stuff is unnecessary?).
Sunscreen is the only product I’ll make an exception for on price/ingredients/whatever. They ALL break me out horribly. I’d pay $200 a freaking month if it meant I had a sunscreen that protects everything it has to and looks inconspicuous without giving me HORRIBLE painful zits everywhere it touches!
GG- I’m currently on the hunt for a good sunscreen also – for the same reason! Such a battle!
Sorry to barge in here. But, I have had many years f the sunblock battle and breakouts from them and I don’t generally breakout even! Have you tried any of the mineral sunscreens on the market? Some of my favorites are: Goldfaden Md,Sunvisor ( Beauty.com or Spacenk has it I think); Supergoop! Skin soothing mineral sunscreen (Sephora);Radical Skinacare Skin perfecting screen spf 30(great under makeup if you like a luminizing effect) (Sephora),MD Solar Sciences Tinted Mineral crème Spf 30 ( a light tint -not really much to cover ,just enough to block any white cast,it has 80 min of water/sweat resitance) Probably my fave to wear alone ,not tried under makeup. it probably will work and may be creamy enough to replace a light moisturizer . I also like Algenist Ultra Lightweight Uv defense fluid Spf 50 ( great under makeup) and Supergoop everyday spf 50 for sweating/pool/sports. Those last 2 are not mineral. But the Algenist contains 3 active sunscreen ingredients and the Supergoop has all other “clean” ingredients and I have never had that on my skin more that 4 hours at a time yet. But, all the reviews I read were favorable in hat regard. My daughter who is 9 wears Clarins new Spf 50 fluid. It is too matte for me. But you may like it. She says she doesn’t even know it’s on. She has had breakouts form other sunblocks and that one has caused none for her so far.
Another thing I never did right until last year was remove It with an oil-based cleanser. You can use whatever you want after.
Hope I helped. When I was younger the options were basically thick grease. Trust me, you will be thankful when you are my age if you wear sunscreen daily , and reapply now. Getting old stinks and having sun damage on top of all the other ” fun’ stuff that happens to your body is not fun at all and it is preventable.It cost a lot of money to try to reverse it and it seems like a never ending battle sometime. Sorry to preach. But, I wish I had the option that are really out there and that I did have someone to preach me when I was tanning and running around all day without sunblock. Besides not smoking ,wearing sunblock daily is he best thing you can do for your skins health.
If you want any more description on any of the ss I mentioned ,feel free to ask! Hope I helped some!
Unscented, works well, lowest price for the most value for me personally. When I find something I like, I quit looking around. I avoid sunscreen where possible and consider them toxic.
I look for the science and history behind the brand, I like SkinCeuticals and am using First Aid Sleeping mask over my serum.
I have dry skin with acne scarring so most of my skincare is aimed at helping with one or both of those. I tend to gravitate towards French pharmacy brands as they just seem to suit my skin best. I use a rich cream for the day and a really rich one at night plus either a hydrating serum or one aimed at scarring (I’m currently in live with La Roche Posay Pigmentclar serum). I’ve also just started using a mild retinol every other night and a decent acid toner on alternative nights. Cleanser-wise I always use an oil to remove makeup and second cleanse with a cream cleanser. I try an avoid anything drying, especially alcohols.
I’m not that fussed about products being all natural but I do tend to read a lot of reviews before trying something new and I like to get my hands on sample sizes if I can.
I prefer natural brands or something with a scientific basis. Big claims require photos and stats. I tend to prefer ones without outrageous claims like Nude, Fresh, Ole Henriksen, MyChelle, Derma E, and Ren.
I have done a lot of research about what constitutes “effective” in skincare and I will admit Beautypedia aka Paula’s Choice has been helpful in deciding what’s worth the money and what’s not. I also utilize several other science-based websites that discuss skincare products and formulations, and whether those “innovative” ingredients are effective and at what levels.
I don’t like to switch around much now that I’ve found effective products, and I keep my routine fairly simple; cleanse at night, follow with a retinol cream and retinol eye serum, and follow that with a moisturizer as my skin is getting drier. Day is vitamin C serum, moisturizer, BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN! then makeup.
I check all skincare and makeup purchases on Beautypedia.com. I use Paulas Choice exclusively for my skincare. Absolutely the best.
Christine has a great answer! Being choosy about brands can be important. I want to make sure I’m paying for a carefully formulated product preferably by a pharmaceutical or similar that pays attention to quality control (and it doesn’t have to be fancy–drugstore products by P&G and Johnson & Johnson fit the bill). I educate myself–make sure I’m choosing products with ingredients/formulations that fit the needs for my skin type. My skin type is quite tricky–sensitive, combo skin, and prone to breakouts.
Paula’s Choice is a great place to start for people who are unsure.
I choose skincare products on the basis of being for sensitive, mature age skin. It needs to be moderately priced because you go through it a lot and, if it works, I will be re-purchasing. I currently use the Australian QV range of cream cleanser, face mask and daily moisturizer with SPF 30. I also use the Natio serum and Cetaphil moisture cream at night. All low budget products that are excellent.
By the way I have also tried Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Capsules as well. These are fabulous -it was in a gift bag after purchase. I must say these work really well on my skin. I can’t tolerate Retinol. It really burns my skin.
I always search for reviews, and care more about the reviews from actual dermatologists or other legit sources like Paula’s Choice. I
Ingredients! First and foremost. I look for products containing: retinol, vit. C, hyaluronic acid, aha’s, bha’s, ceramides and ‘good’ oils and butters in their formula, and lacking bad ‘junk’. For daytime: sunscreen. And, yup, I do read the list!
I mostly use skincare-only brands and, like several others mentioned, have picked up a lot of info on the Beautypedia website….My biggest takeaways have been: 1) what constitutes broad-spectrum sun protection; 2) tightly sealed packaging for anything with light- or air-sensitive ingredients; and 3) “fragrance is not skincare.” The third one has been hard to stick to — I love nice smelly things and don’t have sensitive skin — but I THINK I’ve finally kicked the habit.
I use several Paula’sChoice products (toner, a tinted sunscreen/moisturizer and serum), a compounded prescription tretinoin/hydroquinone/vitamin C cream, and a couple of Alpha Hydrox products (for exfoliation). I don’t think I’ll refill the tretinoin until after summer, though. Even with a sunscreen regimen, I tend to tan very easily, and my doctor says the tretinoin + any sun is a risk for skin cancers.
I do go by ingredients, as I have found my skin to react well, and not so well to certain ingredients. I also am more likely to stick with a brand who are well known for their skincare, rather than makeup. And pricing,of course, depending on what I can afford at the time of purchase.