Skincare marketing, it knows how to play us.
We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve been fooled by bells and whistles, wild claims and TikTok hype but amongst the overrated formulas and viral regrets we’ve also discovered our fair share of keepers and MVPs along the way.
From the essentials, we reach for on a daily basis to the faux pas we made so you don’t have to (you live and you learn), here’s a look at the products we would peck, march down the aisle and avoid like an ex in a pub garden.
Charlotte says…
Snog: Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs And Rosewater
Ahhh this spritz is honestly such a joy to use and one of my favourite parts of my skincare routine. It smells absolutely divine and is both lovely in the morning when you need something refreshing to wake your skin up as well as in the evening when you’re super tired and want something quick to sort your complexion out. I have oily skin and I find this moisturises and hydrates it whilst keeping it matte, in addition to creating a lovely clean base for the rest of my skincare routine. It’s super affordable, lasts ages and is always something I repurchase immediately when I run out! Shop it here.
Marry: Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
Now if you’re going to get married then it’s worth investing in something special and that can always be relied on, and that’s exactly how I feel about this cleanser. It’s not a product I always have stocked up on, purely because of the price, but every time I use it I’m reminded that literally no other cleanser compares. The scent is super calming (can you tell I love rose water?) and ingredients such as chamomile and pumpkin enzymes are always soaked up by my skin in an instant. A great one for removing every tiny last scrap of make-up and balancing the complexion- it would be my desert island cleanser for sure! Shop it here.
Avoid: The Body Shop Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser
Now I always hear wonderful things about The Body Shop skincare but I bought this cleanser in a bit of a rush one day and let’s just say foaming washes are not for me. Despite having oily skin and wanting something to mattify that, this product sucked all the life out of my skin along with the sebum and in general left my complexion feeling super tight and in need of a heavy moisturiser. Tea tree is quite a drying ingredient so this is probably where I went wrong- I reckon it would be great for targeted areas of my skin but not all over! Shop it here.
Lareese says…
This is a fairly new discovery for me but as someone who loves dewy skin, I knew this product would be a bit of me. It’s an oil serum hybrid packed with powerful plant extracts to make your skin beam. The light-reflecting formula feels quite rich initially but once applied, it’s weightless on the skin and absorbs beautifully without any tackiness. I put it all over my face as the last step in my skincare for a pop of all-over radiance. If you don’t want that high octane editorial glow, you can dab it on the high points of your face for a lit-from-within glossy complexion. It’s glass skin in a bottle! Shop it here.
Marry: Anything from ROWSE tbh.
I particularly love their floral waters and avocado oil. Everything they do is clean, green and plant-based. Their whole philosophy and approach to skincare is inspired by a deep respect for the environment and a commitment to raw, organic, cruelty-free beauty. It’s a wonderful collection of products that not only feel great to use ethically but are effective and look the part on your bathroom shelfie, too (but not at the expense of the environment). Shop it here.
Avoid: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Purely for the hefty price tag! If you’ve got dehydrated skin, chances are you’re going to need more than this serum to make a difference and when there are so many more affordable hyaluronic acids on the market that are just as effective (if not more) then you really don’t need to fork out for this trendy bottle. Shop it here.
Danielle says…
Snog: Dermatica treatment for Rosacea
I’ve struggled with redness for probably the last 5-7 years (used to have perfect skin, soak it up while it lasts gals) and I’ve tried so many different products that aim to help with redness including niacinamide, azaelic acid, vitamin C, green pastes etc. And although I think my skin is in a good place texture and glow wise I can’t seem to shift the underlying redness. I’ve known I should probably just bite the bullet and go and see a dermatologist but that was just added to the long list of things I keep putting off until I looked into Dermatica which is prescription skincare done online, hallelujah. I answered questions about my skin and general medical health uploaded some photos and was sent my prescription of Ivermectin 1%/ Metronidazole 0.75%/ Niacinamide 4%. It’s a nightly treatment I pop on after cleanser that I think is really making a difference to my skin, I’m interested to see what it can do for me long-term which is why it’s just a snog! They also have treatments for melasma, acne and hyperpigmentation if, like me, you CBA to go to a dermatologist. Shop it here.
This is so hard because I genuinely love skincare but my routine does change over time and I’m not using anything at the moment I was using a year ago. I tend to gradually change products then by whole new routines so I’m going to cheat and marry a whole brand which is Glow Recipe. I just love the products I run out of some things and pick up others but I finish everything I buy from this brand I know no matter what I buy I’m going to like it. Over the past year or two I’ve tried: The Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream, The Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask, The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, The Watermelon Mist and I’ve just finished The Pineapple-C Bright Serum. I’ve loved them all and will definitely be picking up more in the future. Shop it here.
Avoid: Dr Jart Cicapair Colour Correcting Cream
If you’ve read The Team’s “TikTok Made Me Buy It” List then you’ll know all about my disappointment with the Dr Jart Cicapair colour correcting cream! It was kind of billed to me as a skincare product but when you apply it, it becomes more of a tinted moisturiser / light foundation? I’ll admit it looked to help neutralise redness but it kind of just made my skin look dry and pasty. So many people rave about this product so even though I’m avoiding it doesn’t mean everyone should, which is also something to remember for ALL skincare, what works for one person might not work for another, take recommendations with a grain of salt and get yourself some samples! Shop it here.
Darcey says…
Snog: THE ORDINARY Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
It’s taken me a while to find a really effective eye serum. I’ve tried so, so, so many brands, but the best one I have found so far is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution. I love the texture of it, it’s has a watery texture and is very cooling when you apply it to the eyes. It has EGCG in it which is in green tea, so it’s anti-inflammatory (great for puffy eyes) and antioxidants (great for dark circles). Also, it’s so cheap, £5.80 to be precise. The Ordinary are pretty ethical as well, so it’s a good all-rounder. Shop it here.
Marry: Clinique Moisture Surge
This moisturiser I ALWAYS find myself going back to, it’s such a lovely moisturiser for the morning. It’s very light and feels super refreshing. It’s also oil-free which is good for someone like me who is super oily, so it helps me keep that at bay during the day. My skin always feels really hydrated when I use this, I only use it once a day as I opt for a thicker moisturiser in the evening. They also sell loads of different sizes in this product, even selling a teeny 25ml, so good if you want to test it out but not splash the cash straight away! Shop it here.
Avoid: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
I really liked this cleanser when I first started using it, but I found the longer I used it the tighter my skin felt after using it. In all honesty, it’s not the product as CeraVe is amazing and I now use the cream to foaming cleanser which I love. The issue was it was too strong for my skin, I think this product was taking too much oil and sebum from my face, but stripping me of all the natural oils my skin needs to stay hydrated and plump. I think if you have super, super oily skin, this will work well for you. But maybe it’s a once a day cleanser, not a twice a day one! Shop it here.
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