What kind of beauty lover are you- the kind who created a skincare routine decades ago and hasn’t strayed from it, or are you constantly switching up your routine?
If you are always on the hunt for the next big thing when it comes to skincare, we’re here to help. Each year thousands of new skincare products make their debut, while some tried and true products become elevated to cult hero status (we’re looking at you, La Mer). Sifting through all of the choices and deciding what’s hype and what’s worth a try can be overwhelming but that’s why we are here.
Here’s a look at the best skincare products of 2022. Our top picks address a multitude of common skin issues, such as dry skin, oily skin or anti-aging concerns.
We’ve also included a wide range of prices, from drugstore, picks to medical-grade choices as well as some clean beauty brands. You’ll see a mix of new brands and products as well as some heritage names- and help you figure out where to start.
Formulyst
Don’t hide behind makeup and heavy foundation – instead, work with the right products to get the skin you deserve. The philosophy of Formulyst is long-term and effective skincare, rather than covering up any imperfections. The comprehensive line of products tackles everything from wrinkles to dark spots and dry skin. While some brands rely on unnecessary fillers and scents, Formulyst focuses on ingredients that help create results, such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many of Formulyst’s products harness the power of plant and citrus extracts as well as gold-standard workhorses such as retinol.
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro
The Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro line of products was created to wage war against all the signs of aging, from wrinkles and fine lines to sagging. The line combines potent ingredients with breakthrough technology. The Perfectionist Pro Rapid Firm + Lift Treatment is a fast-acting serum designed to help lift and tighten sagging skin. It’s packed with alpha hydroxy acids to help exfoliate the face, revealing softer, smoother looking skin.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Estée Lauder launched Night Repair in 1982, and one of its many claims to fame is that it’s the beauty world’s first serum. It was also one of the first beauty products to use hyaluronic acid, which is now considered a beauty staple. The idea behind Night Repair is that our bodies kick into repair mode while we sleep, which is the optimal time to heal the skin. Night Repair is a lightweight fluid designed to penetrate deeply into the skin, and is ideal for dry or sensitive skin. The serum was first packaged in a brown apothecary style bottle to help protect it from light, and the design hasn’t changed much in decades. Over the years the formula has been tweaked and it’s now officially called Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. The serum is designed to hydrate the skin and boost its radiance. The peach colored fluid is powered by ChronoluxCB Technology to help reduce the signs of aging. The concept is that the serum works by stimulating the skin’s reparative processes, which then minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and lines.
Chanel Blue Serum
The inspiration for this serum comes from the famous “Blue Zones,” which are specific areas known for high life expectancy rates, including parts of Greece, Sardinia and Japan. Chanel used three active ingredients found in the diets of the Blue Zone population – including olive oil, green coffee and lentisk gum in its iconic Blue Serum. The product is meant to improve skin texture and smooth out wrinkles. Some of the key ingredients include green coffee from Costa Rica; Chanel says they have 70 times more antioxidant molecules than regular coffee beans, and Bosana olives from Sardinia. These specific olives contain essential fatty acids and higher-level skin-fortifying polyphenols. Rounding out the ingredients list is lentisk from Greece, a naturally occurin oleanolic acid that supports the skin restorative qualities. These ingredients work in tandem to help increase hydration, soften wrinkles and firm up skin.
Carrot & Stick
There’s no need to compromise on effectiveness and safety when it comes to skincare. Years ago consumers often had to choose between naturally derived skincare brands that were deemed safe but not always powerful, or synthetically made skincare that was effective but could often raise health and environmental concerns. The new skincare brand Carrot & Stick bridges that gap, offering the best of both worlds. Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare. Its products blend the power of plants with science to deliver straightforward, effective skincare. The collection covers all the basic skincare needs with a moisturizer, serum, face wash, brightening pads and targeted serums to address various skincare concerns. Carrot & Stick products all rely on naturally sourced ingredients such as jojoba seed oil, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. What is equally important is what doesn’t go inside the formulas. The brand skips harmful chemicals commonly found in skincare products. The company is also environmentally conscious, and is committed to eliminating known irritants and pollutants that can compromise skin health and contaminate the environment. The packaging is streamlined to help cut down on waste.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser has been a cult favorite product for decades and is beloved by dermatologists. The cleanser originally debuted in 1947, when it was created by a pharmacist, but didn’t gain momentum until the 1960s. It was formulated to be a gentle but effective product that cleans the skin without stripping it, and moisturizing skin without clogging pores. At first the product was available only from pharmacists but its popularity grew as dermatologists, pediatricians and other healthcare professionals recommended it to their patients, especially those with sensitive skin or rosacea. By the 1980s it was widely available in North American drugstores, and the formula hasn’t changed at all since 1947. It has a gel like texture that is soap free and can be used with or without water- just use a tissue or a cloth to wipe it off. The two main ingredients in this product are propylene glycol and sodium lauryl sulfate. Propylene glycol is a popular skin-conditioning agent commonly found in beauty and skin care products. Sodium lauryl sulfate is what causes the foaming and cleansing action in this soap-free formula. This is the ideal cleanser for someone who wants something simple yet effective.
Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon
This anti-aging cream goes to work while you sleep and helps skin repair itself. As a result, skin is less fatigued and more radiant by morning. Lavender essential oil helps create a calming and soothing atmosphere to promote sleep. The main ingredients however, are tamarind seed extract, Persian silk tree extract and wu-zhu-yu extract. Tamarind seed extract promotes hydration for softer skin and a smoother complexion. Persian silk tree extract helps to offset the process of glycation, helping to reduce skin damage. Wu-zhu-yu extract helps calm thanks to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This formula also contains vitamin E to help promote antioxidant activity and combat free radicals.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
Charlotte Tilbury has worked with dozens of celebrities in her storied career, and she knows a little something about what works. Her Magic Cream is an ultra hydrating moisturizer beloved by models and actresses that’s full of powerhouse ingredients, including vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, peptides and botanical extracts and oils. It’s suitable for all skin types (dry, sensitive, combination or mature). Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps undo free radical damage. If left unchecked, free radical damage will run rampant and accelerate skin aging. Hyaluronic acid seals in moisture to give skin that lovely plumpness and to smooth out wrinkles. Palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 both help reduce wrinkling. Palmitoyl oligopeptide works much like retinol (vitamin A), but without the skin irritating side effects like redness and flakiness. Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 helps prevent glycation damage, a natural process that ultimately has a negative effect on collagen and elastin. The botanical extracts in this formula include wild pansy extract and rosehip oil, which help to moisturize and condition the skin.
Dior Dreamskin
Dior’s Dreamskin is a “perfect skin creator” that promises to target several skin woes, including wrinkles, redness, large pores and overall roughness. The hero ingredients include longoza from the Ranomafana garden in Madagascar and opilia from the Koro garden in Burkina Faso. The longoza, according to the company, is a rare flower with strong regenerative properties. The longoza’s properties are given further power by an anti-gravity complex that penetrates deep to offer its protective and anti-aging qualities to human skin. The opilia targets redness and hyperpigmentation to help even skin tone for a more radiant look.
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50
Another cult favorite, Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 is a lactic acid exfoliator that helps improve skin texture and slough off dead skin cells. Exfoliation should be a part of everyone’s skin care routine but it’s especially important for anyone with dry or mature skin. Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that encourages cell turnover and can help zap blemishes in addition to fine lines and wrinkles. Other ingredients include sorrel (anti-inflammatory), myrrh extract (moisturizing), myrtle (astringent) and onion (rejuvenating). One thing to keep in mind is that the combination of ingredients, especially the onion, means some users find that the product has an unpleasant scent that takes some getting used to. There are several types of the Lotion P50. P50V or P50V 1970 is formulated for those with dry skin while P50W and P50W 1970 is designed for sensitive skin. Finally, P50 PIGM 400 was made specifically to treat hyperpigmentation.