As a bit of a rule, we beauty editors don’t like being asked “What’s the best…” questions. Not because we don’t know what the best products around are, but because tastes and preferences vary so vastly. While the best retinol for one person might be something gentle, for another that product might seem ineffective. Most of the time, when someone asks after the best anything, we’ll have to ask what your requirements are first.
However, when it comes to skincare brands, I’m a little more inclined to make sweeping recommendations. The reason is that some popular skincare brands just get it right every single time. Out of the thousands of brands out there, there are only a few that manage it, I’ll admit, but I believe the ones that do to be the very best.
They are the brands that just seem to really understand the skin’s health. They don’t get sucked in by trending ingredients and instead focus on skincare products that give the skin exactly what it needs to stay healthy. It’s not to say that every single one of the products in that brand’s offering will be suitable for everybody, but rather everybody will find a great skincare product that suits them.
In order to make a definitive list of the best skincare brands around, I didn’t think it smart to compile a list of my favourites. In a bid to make this as fair as possible, I reached out to everybody I know to get their insights. I received a huge number of nominations from Who What Wear editors to beauty PRs and every beauty buff and lover who follows me on Instagram.
After considering every single brand suggested, I used my own knowledge as a beauty editor to whittle it down to 12. The criteria for making it onto the list were simple: Is there a single product in this brand’s offering that I would be loath to recommend? Of course, it makes sense that these brands also offer some of the best products out there in terms of formulations. So without further ado, behold (in no particular order) the 12 best skincare brands in existence.
I know I said that this list was in no particular order, but I would like to point out that if Ihad to choose only one skincare brand to label the best, it would be La Roche-Posay. Out of the 50+ nominations I received, La Roche-Posay was by far the most recommended. Traditionally a French pharmacy brand (although now available just about everywhere), it is a brand adored by skin experts who really know their stuff. I’m talking dermatologists, aestheticians, beauty editors and influencers. It puts efficacious ingredients that target some of the most common skin issues, from rosacea and irritation to acne and ageing, at the forefront of its formulations. The branding is minimalist, and the packaging doesn’t ooze Insta-worthy shelfie, but what’s inside is exceptional.
If you struggle with breakouts, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar range is considered the gold standard, while Toleriane is a go-to for those with sensitivity, and Lipikar is without a doubt one of the best bodycare ranges out there for those with eczema. Oh, and the suncare is second to none.
This has to be my favourite product from the brand. The perfect daily SPF for just about everybody, there isn’t a dermatologist out there who doesn’t recommend it. It’s lightweight and non-greasy and has an invisible finish on the skin. If you don’t own this and aren’t already applying a facial SPF every day, buy it right away.
If you have oily skin, I’d definitely recommend giving this a go as the glycacil and zinc work together to reduce sebum. I find it to be the perfect cleanser to use when the weather has warmed up as you don’t need as much additional moisture making a light-weight foaming gel like this one a great option.
Another skincare brand that really champions science is SkinCeuticals. It’s (a lot) more expensive than La Roche-Posay, but the active ingredients it delivers are much more powerful too. It was created after decades of research into skin cancer and the power of antioxidants. A straight-talking clinical brand (seriously, I’ve been recommended this stuff by both dermatologists and plastic surgeons), it delivers high-octane ingredients that really work. In fact, the brand’s vitamin C serums are regarded by many to be the best skincare products in existence. No skincare product is worth bankrupting yourself over, but if you have the money to spend on your skin, SkinCeuticals is the way to go.
Yes, I have had to choose two products from SkinCeuticals to hero—the offering is just too good. Out on top is this stuff. C E Ferulic is the crème de la crème of vitamin C serums, formulated to protect the skin against ageing aggressors and help boost glow while it’s at it. The first time I was ever introduced to this serum, the brand handed me two slices of apple. We all know that when apple oxidises, it turns brown. However, when one drop of this antioxidant serum is applied to one slice of apple, the reaction doesn’t occur anywhere near the rate of the untreated slice. The apples are not to be eaten, of course, but this proves a very impressive test to showcase just how well this product stops ageing oxidation in the skin. The results also speak for themselves. After just a few weeks of using this product, skin appears glowier, more even in tone and significantly more youthful. No other vitamin C serum out there comes close to how brilliant C E Ferulic is.
If you have a dry skin type, you’ll massively benefit from this potent concentration of hyaluronic acid. It’s not only deeply hydrating but also helps to plump out crow’s feet and fine lines for a smooth skin texture.
It’s not a great thing for a beauty editor to admit, but there are very few brand founders who I am willing to trust implicitly. Most have an agenda that pushes their products or champion a belief that might not necessarily put skin health first. (When you really love your own products, it’s only natural for this to sometimes happen.) The founder of Paula’s Choice, Paula Begoun, however, is someone who really knows her stuff. She has pretty much dedicated her life to demystifying the complex world of skincare and formulating products that are backed up by proper science (not the sort of small studies a lot of other brands latch on to). The products are simple to shop and come with easy-to-follow guidance. It’s safe to say the results are pretty spectacular too.
This is probably one of the most well-known and well-loved Paula’s Choice products out there. It is essentially a salicylic acid toner/treatment that helps decongest pores and prevent further breakouts. If you use it twice a week, you can expect to see clearer skin basically from the get-go.
Great at improving the overall skin tone and texture, supporting skin barrier function, softening fine lines, reducing redness and minimising the appearance of the pores. In short, a hero product all round.
Most of the brands on this list are all substance but lack a certain “style.” Sadly, really efficacious skincare tends to be this way. However, a lot of respected dermatologists admit that while fragrance-free, sulphate-free, fun-free skincare is typically the best way to go, the very best skincare products are the ones you actually use. Elemis is a brand that straddles this line expertly. A spa brand first, the products are luxurious and joyful to use while delivering really great results, too.
This is potentially one of the best cleansing products in history. It’s adored by every Who What Wear editor on the team thanks to its sensorial, spa-like formula. Just massage the rich balm into dry skin, add water to turn it into a soothing milk and flannel off to reveal the glowiest skin of your life.
A perfect pick for all skin types, it contains mimosa to take down inflammation, rose to calm and the brand’s iconic padina pavonica marine algae to deliver a serious hit of hydration. One of my all-time favourite day creams.
Please trust me when I say that recommending really expensive skincare products makes me feel very uncomfortable. However, it would be irresponsible for me to discredit certain skincare brands based on their price tag. Because, yes, while Augustinus Bader products (and a couple of others on this list) are ludicrously expensive, they’re also really very good. All of the products are formulated with the brand’s TFC8 complex, which aims to nourish and tackle virtually every major skin concern out there.
This cult cream is adored by celebrities far and wide (including Victoria Beckham). It is an intense moisturiser that aims to streamline your routine so that you can forgo other serums and lotions. It soothes, plumps, hydrates and gives skin a healthy-looking radiance that is genuinely hard to come by.
This cream gives the same benefits as outlined above, but for your entire body. Yes, please.
When it comes to affordable skincare, it can be very tricky to find a brand that hits the nail on the head every time. Many brands bring out huge lines that leave us feeling confused and let down by false claims. CeraVe, however, has a tight edit of products that really do deliver everything that they promise. The products are formulated alongside dermatologists and, as a result, give skin the essentials. In fact, most dermatologists will say that CeraVe’s affordable cleansers are the best that money can buy.
Although this is dubbed a hydrating cleanser, that’s not to say it is just for those with dry skin. In fact, it’s the perfect cream cleanser for just about everybody. It’s fragrance-free and doesn’t irritate skin in the slightest. Instead, it delivers the perfect fuss-free cleanse and provides a hearty dose of barrier-restoring ceramides and hyaluronic acid while it’s at it.
A lightweight and deeply hydrating day cream that also offers a high UV protection. Made with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and CeraVe’s famous ceramide complex, it soothes skin as it works.
Alongside La Roche-Posay, Sunday Riley is another brand that is amongst the most-nominated for this roundup. The brand’s ethos is “Powered by science, balanced by botanicals,” and I would say that sums it up quite nicely. The active ingredients are powerful and do their job expertly, and the botanical extracts also do their job to create a more luxurious user experience. The “natural” fragrances can take a little while to get used to, but the amazing results will have you repeat-buying for eternity.
Asking me to choose just one Sunday Riley skincare product to champion is like asking a mother to choose her favourite child. Honestly, there isn’t a single Sunday Riley product that isn’t fantastic in its own right. However, this moisturising cream is suitable for everybody and anybody. It’s rich, luxurious to use and leaves skin plump and glowing beyond belief. It’s ideal for dry winter skin and irritated, flushed skin come summer, too.
If you have sensitive skin prone to acne and redness yet find that retinol causes irritation, give this a go. It features an ingredient called trans-retinol ester plus blue tansy, which is a super soothing, anti-inflammatory extract. When I first used it, I was alarmed with just how blue the formula is, but it quickly absorbs into the skin and doesn’t stain.
I have written about the wonders of Dr. Barbara Sturm products a lot purely because I get asked about them a lot. It seems as though every celebrity out there swears by the power of this brand, which makes sense seeing as Sturm herself is a facialist to the stars. The products are eye-wateringly expensive but are also exquisite. Do you need to part with the cash to get great skin? Absolutely not. However, the science-backed formulas do their best to convince you otherwise.
Do not use this cleanser if you have sensitive skin—it means serious business. With exfoliating enzymes, it starts off as a powder and transforms into a foaming wash once mixed with water. After just one use, skin is left glowing and pores are near-on invisible. If you have oily skin like I do, using this once a week will totally change the way you feel about your skin.
A far cry away from some of the really active skincare brands on this list, Avène puts skin-soothing formulas at the heart of its ethos. Another French pharmacy brand, Avène utilises the “healing” powers of thermal spring water. I’m not entirely sure I buy into it, but the products are great nonetheless. Ideal for those with skin prone to redness or those with particularly dry skin, Avène products make for great skincare-shelf staples.
This serum is probably one of my most-recommended skincare products. It is soothing, nourishing and comforting all at once without saturating the skin in greasy moisture, making it perfect for just about every skin type. It is rare that my skincare cabinet is without a bottle of this stuff.
One of my favourite products to have to hand during the summer months, and perfect for all skin types. Just spritz over the face to instantly cool and refresh.
You might not be familiar with FaceGym’s skincare offering, but trust me when I say it’s time to get on board. Famed for its hardworking, lunchtime facials, the brand knows a thing or two about what people really want from their skincare products. While the intense facial massages that they offer (seriously, they’re like a workout for your face) focus on lifting and tightening, the products are simple and put general skin health first.
It’s not very often you find a hyaluronic acid serum formulated with niacinamide, which is odd considering they make the perfect pair. With polyglutamic acid to further amp up the hydrating, plumping benefits of hyaluronic acid, this serum gives dolphin-esque levels of dewiness. Plus, niacinamide helps to soothe and smooth while it works.
Face gym are known for their collection of at-home face tools which mimic the results from their iconic facials. Use this one evening a week after your nightly cleanse, which is designed to visibly reduce redness and fine lines.
I have been feeling some sort of way about The Ordinary for a little while now. I know that the products are great, but I can’t help but feel as though the brand has contributed to the growing confusion around skincare products in recent years. Having said that, the products are truly excellent given the price. Before you shop from The Ordinary, I recommend doing a little bit of research into the product you are buying, the skin types it is best suited for and exactly how to use it. It’s not an easy brand to navigate. However, if you know your stuff and buy the right products, you’re on a one-way track to great skin.
Again, if your skin is sensitive in any way at all, steer clear of this product. TikTok reviews would have you believe this little red bottle will clear up acne—it won’t. What it will do, however, is help prevent and tackle congestion, give skin a stellar glow and refine the appearance of pores. It contains a seriously impressive blend of actives for a product that costs just £6, but as a result of its efficacy, make sure you only use it once a week absolute maximum.
Another facialist to the stars, Kate Somerville really knows skin. Having worked with it every day of her career, she sees exactly how skin reacts to certain products and ingredients. As a result, it’s safe to say that every single one of her skincare products works exactly as she promises. The thing that is most admirable about Somerville is her honesty. She doesn’t promise that her products will clear up chronic skin conditions, but she can deliver products that will help keep issues at bay and prevent exacerbating them.
Rumour has it that Cleopatra herself would bathe in goat milk thanks to its skin-loving benefits. This cleanser is gentle but works a bit harder than other milk cleansers on the market. It contains proteins to soothe and nourish and gives a deeper, glow-boosting cleanse. I’m yet to meet a soul who’s tried this cleanser and hasn’t fallen head over heels.
I love using the cleanser alongside this cream in the day, especially in spring/summer. It’s light-weight yet super nourishing thanks to its glorious blend of jojoba, avocado oils, grape seed oil and, of course, goat milk.
Next Up: 22 Eye Creams That Actually Work on Dark Circles
This story was originally previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
