Our Editors and Readers Agree—These 28 Skincare Basics Are Worth Buying

OSTN Staff

Simply put, it’s our job to find the best beauty products out there for you. From the newest serum to the hottest lipstick color to the dry shampoo that will change your life, we will find it, test it, and let you know what we think. We’re not complaining. It’s a pretty fun gig, and we’ll volunteer to be beauty guinea pigs any day.

But one of the cool things to come out of this is finding out what products you’re loving and buying. It helps us figure out what you want to learn more about and what you’re into so we can bring even more personalized recs to you.

Because we share a lot of our favorites with you every single day, we recognize it might be hard to keep up. So we’ve decided to put together a handy weekly list of what we love and what you love—consider this a CliffsNotes, one-stop shop of what’s really trending and worth adding to cart at this very moment.

Take a look at what the Who What Wear universe (including editors, staffers, readers) is obsessed with right now, and if you don’t see a new favorite on this list, we’d love to know. Send us a DM

This all-star cleanser has rave reviews. Associate beauty editor Courtney Higgs said it changed the game for her: “It’s silky and slippery, so it clings to all sorts of makeup and grime to remove it with ease. The best part is that my face never feels tight or overly dry after I use it—just really, really clean.”

Like its name suggests, this cleanser will give your acne-prone skin a break. It has a probiotic smart complex that replenishes the skin and protect against breakouts. Other ingredients include organic green tea, salicylic acid, and blue green algae.

I remember the first time I tried this cleanser—it was just so creamy and silky, and I was just amazed because I’d never used something like that before. I love using this when my skin is going through intense dryness because it doesn’t make the problem worse. It’s super gentle but still effective enough to get off the grime and makeup.

This drugstore staple made it on our list of affordable face washes. It’s formulated with prebiotic thermal water, ceramide-3, niacinamide, and glycerin, and is free of fragrances and parabens, so it works well on sensitive skin.

TruSkin’s vitamin C serum might be the best-rated one on Amazon with over 14,000 reviews and 4.5 stars. It also contains botanical hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to reduce the signs of aging and leave your skin brighter and firmer.

This serum from Sephora’s new affordable skincare line is a total steal at just $10. The retinol promotes smooth skin and a radiant complexion while its second ingredient, squalane, leaves your skin hydrated.

If you’re wondering what French girls are doing to make their skin look so damn perfect, it’s probably using this Caudalie serum. The oil-free formula is designed to target dark spots, even out the skin tone, and brighten.

While it’s on the pricier end, this serum is really worth it, according to Who What Wear UK deputy beauty editor Mica Ricketts. After six weeks of use, she said her skin was smoother and even, and that any redness and discoloration caused by blemishes was reduced.

This affordable toner made our list of best drugstore toners, and from its 12,000 ratings and 4.5 stars on Amazon it’s not hard to see why. Witch hazel tightens pores and controls oil production while rosewater provides some relief and moisture.

Glossier’s exfoliator works to slough off any dead skin, making your dull skin a lot brighter and smoother. It contains acids like alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid, and polyhydroxy acid.

For those with dry skin (myself included), this toner will do the work without making your skin even more parched. The antioxidant coenzyme Q10 protects the skin while hyaluronic acid and extracts from aloe vera, chamomile, sage, papaya, and cucumber rejuvenates.

Ole Henriksen’s toner works to refine pores by removing excess oil and cleansing thanks to salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids. It also has a nice, refreshing eucalyptus peppermint scent for a fresh feel.

Formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, shea butter, and jojoba oil, this retinol moisturizer is made for daily use but won’t cause any irritation. The cream absorbs so quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky residue.

This is one of my absolute favorite gel moisturizers. It just feels heavenly when my skin is on the fritz. The hyaluronic acid ingredient ensures my face is super hydrated and the gel texture is so cooling.

Contributor Caitlin Burnett says this moisturizer is one of her favorites and helps with her eczema flare-ups. The rich but quick-absorbing cream is formulated with six rare African oils and ceramides to hydrate and protect the skin barrier.

If you’re looking for an affordable daily moisturizer, you should consider this one from CeraVe. It keeps your skin moisturized all day (thanks to ceramides) and contains SPF 30 for sun protection.

I’m obsessed with this sunscreen from Supergoop because it does double-duty. It protects my face from the sun but also has a glowy finish so it looks like I’m wearing makeup. When I’m feeling especially lazy with my makeup routine but still want to look good, I put this sunscreen on, curl my eyelashes, swipe on some mascara, and call it a day.

This affordable option is 100% mineral-based, so you know you’re getting broad-spectrum protection without any chemicals. It also contains ceramides to lock in moisture while you’re out in the sun.

This dermatologist-recommended product is on our list of best mineral sunscreens. The oil-free formula is especially good for those with sensitive skin or who are prone to acne, rosacea, and discoloration.

Use this one on your face and body for fast-absorbing protection. Its velvety texture doesn’t leave your skin oily and it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

A drugstore staple, Roc’s retinol eye cream is affordable and so effective. It’s formulated to address the three signs of aging: puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles.

This eye cream is a popular one with celebs and beauty insiders. Gwyneth Paltrow even swears by it. The eye cream contains purslane, which fights the signs of aging; vitamin E to protect against free radicals; and macadamia oil to nourish the skin

On our list of best eye creams for dark circles is SkinMedica’s eye cream, which contains ingredients like phenylethyl resorcinol to help with hyperpigmentation. It also has hyaluronic acid, marine extracts, caffeine, St. Paul’s Wort, and more to moisturize, firm, and protect from free-radical damage. It’s recommended to apply twice daily.

This industry favorite brightens your tired eyes thanks to a jolt of caffeine. Use it in the morning to make you look more awake.

One of our favorite masks, this clay really does some deep cleaning on your pores. Mix with apple cider vinegar or water, apply to your skin for 5 to 10 minutes, and then rinse off.

Turmeric works to brighten the skin tone, reduce redness, and combat signs of aging. Other ingredients in this mask include papaya enzymes to exfoliate and aspen bark to help clear pores.

Soothe dull and stressed skin with this mask that’s formulated with BHA from white willow bark and pomegranate enzymes. It will purify, exfoliate, and leave your skin with a healthy-looking glow.

Babyfacial might be one of Drunk Elephant’s most iconic products. The nontoxic mask works to clarify, improve skin texture, and balance and brighten the skin. Apply for 20 minutes and rinse off just once a week. Next up, Nordstrom’s beauty sale is next-level—here’s what I’m telling my friends to buy.

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