Browse links
US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Because the struggle with maskne is very, very real.
Promising Review: "Like many other gals, I suffer from the dreaded oily t-zone. So, when I heard about Hylamide's Pore Control — which promises to reduce the look of pores, shine and congestion — I just had to give a whirl. Now, I've only been using it for a short time, so I'm yet to see long term results. But, what I do adore about this product is how quickly it absorbs into your skin. Seriously, you have to work fast, because this baby just melts into your skin, leaving it feeling as soft and smooth as a baby's bottom.
Oil? We don't know her! And that's why I'm loving this product."
Buy it from Myer for $28.
Promising review: "I have tried what feels like 500,000,000 different types of face masks because I like relaxing and living my life. I typically go for Aztec Secret when I want an intense purging of my pores, but I was curious about Australian pink clay since it supposedly removes toxins, stimulates cell regeneration, reduces skin inflammation, tightens pores, and provides anti-aging results.
The Alya pink clay mask is gentle but strong and smells AMAZING — a little bit like floral, I think? My skin absolutely looked brighter and more evenly toned once I washed it off. I felt VERY pampered. Also, Alya is cruelty free — which is important to me."
Byt it from Alya Skin for $49.95.
This clean, natural and skin conscious brand transcends the boundaries of skin and makeup, with their award-winning, plant-based formulas to enhance and nurture your skin, while adding a healthy, illuminating glow.
Powered by light-reflecting, multi-dimensional mineral pigments, the brand is proud to be plant-based and sustainable, using untamed organic botanicals and minimally processed ingredients that have been both responsibly and ethically sourced.
Buy it from Sephora for $34+.
These makeup remover cloths replace up to 500 single use wipes, so not only will you be reducing your waste, but you'll also have no excuse not to get your eyeliner and mascara off before bed.
They reach deep into your pores to remove makeup and impurities and when you're done using it, just toss it into the wash up to 200 times. You can get the remover cloths in black or white on Amazon, or you can get them in dark red from the Face Halo website.
Buy a pack of three from Amazon Australia for $30.
This lightweight, tinted moisturiser will give you a natural glow and it will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. It doesn't feel super sticky on your skin when you apply it and is barely noticeable when it absorbs into your skin — but be careful when you're applying it as the formula is quite runny!
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $23.99.
These soaked cotton pads are packed with antioxidants and are super exfoliating, so if you suffer from large pores and sagging or generally dull skin, this will change your life.
Promising Review: “My absolute go-to exfoliator when I want to take off all my dead skin cells is the Neogen Bio Peel Gauze. Yes, I know you're thinking, 'WTF? Bio Peel? Is my face going to fall off?' Not at all my friend! The package comes with individual cotton pads that have an exfoliating side and a gentle side to clean off all the excess stuff on your face. After you rinse it off, I can guarantee that your face will be smoother than a baby's butt!”
—Lisa Hua
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $29.40.
Aussie homegrown brand Hey Bud Skincare have quickly amassed a cult following for their signature product, the Hemp Clay Mask. In addition to its hero ingredient, hemp seed oil, the instantly recognisable pale green mask is also infused with goji extract, avocado oil, aloe vera and matcha. You can expect to see results in just one week.
Buy it from Hey Bud for $49.99+.
Promising Review: I've been using this cleansing bar for about a month now and I think it's the product that has single-handedly saved my skin from stress acne. This bar contains charcoal to draw out bacteria and excess oil, shea butter to keep everything moisturised and tea tree oil to fight inflammation and target breakouts. Plus, Carbon Theory products are also all vegan and cruelty-free!
Buy it from Carbon Theory for $14.99.
Silvi's groundbreaking, silver-treated pillowcase is here to save the day and literally eliminate pesky acne-causing bacteria. That's right — silver, like the jewellery metal. It naturally has antimicrobial properties, which basically means it zaps out bad bacteria on contact. Silvi's pillowcases are so effective, you can sayonara to breakouts, dry/oily skin, blackheads and whiteheads in as little as four weeks.
Buy it from Silvi on sale for $89.
This gel cleanser can be used on dry skin to remove makeup before it's washed off or it can be mixed with water to create a lather for you to really get in there. It's great for sensitive, oily and acne-prone skin.
Buy it from YesStyle for $19.24.
The Woke Up Like This Foundation smooths and evens the skin with an advanced, innovative formula that instantly minimises the appearance of shadows and pores, effortlessly enhances the complexion and generates a flawless natural matte finish. This foundation makeup is streak-free in application and lightweight in feel for comfortable wear all day, every day — even if the only people you're seeing all day are through a webcam.
Buy it from Il Makiage for $68.
Promising review: "Much to my delight, my pores appeared significantly smaller and brighter, and my skin felt as smooth as a newborn baby's booty. In addition, the peel almost immediately handled the amount of shine I was experiencing throughout the day. That's because it has salicylic acid in it, a BHA commonly used to treat acne-prone skin. Now I'm able to go almost all day without blotting my face and I have yet to have an acne breakout."
Read about Jamé's experience (and see the amazing before-and-after photos) here.
This wildly popular solution (almost 2,500 five-star reviews!) is near impossible to get anywhere anymore, but we found a few floating around on eBay Australia.
Buy it from eBay for $31.90.
Promising Review: "The first thing I love about these is the price. I love these pillows of self care, that have a small amount of hyaluronic acid in them which helps alleviate puffiness. They also apparently contain orange juice for reasons unknown, but it sounds delicious. I pop these in the fridge and whack them on for 15 minutes in the morning, or at night before bed. Did I mention they are super cheap? Hence why they are always low in stock, so I get some every week."
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $1.97.
This tinted moisturiser contains hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water to keep your skin hydrated for over 12 hours. The oil-free formula contains SPF and antioxidants to help protect your skin from UV rays and pollution.
Buy it from Clinique for $52 (available in five shades).
Promising Review: "I’m a big fan of products that go the extra mile and this sunscreen, my friends, is one of them. It’s not only SPF50+ — which means it’ll protect my face from that harsh Australian sun — but it’ll act as a sunscreen, moisturiser and primer in one. Sounds a little too good to be true, right? I thought so, until I tried this baby out for myself. The Supreme Screen has a fresh scent, light tint (no white cast face!) and just melts onto the skin, leaving a matte, satin-like finish. It’s quickly become one of my favourite products and I’m mad at myself for not discovering it sooner. Plus, it’s cruelty-free and made right here in Australia!"
Buy it from Adore Beauty for $45.
This mask draws out all the gross gunk that's been caught in your skin. Just mix a bit of the powder with some apple cider vinegar and you'll be all set.
You can read all about how magical this stuff is here.
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $26.95.
Promising Review: "I was told that hyaluronic acid was a must-have in my beauty regime to help my skin hold moisture. After researching different brands, I found The Ordinary to be highly rated and I have to say, I absolutely love it! My skin feels supple after applying it and while it's a little sticky at first, it dries up into the skin, quickly leaving it feeling fresh and full of moisture. It's such good value for money, too!"
—Catherine Scro
Buy it from Adore Beauty for $12.90.
This serum will give you radiant skin right off the bat, but it also contains keto-sugar that will react with your skin's natural amino acids and give you a glowing tan within 1-3 days. Just apply it twice daily during your regular skincare routine.
Buy it from Myer for $28.
Promising review: "When I used to go to the salon to have my brows done (I now shape them myself), I always looked forward to having my brows tinted more so than the actual wax/tweeze. After I started doing my own shaping, I figured there was no reason why I couldn't do my own tinting as well. I go between using the Brown Black and Black tints. My biggest tip is to leave the product on for around 20 minutes rather than the recommended 10. Although you might want to play it safe if you're hoping for a subtle look or it's your first time using the product.
I find the tint lasts really well for around two weeks, then starts to fade. The kit is super easy to use and I highly recommend applying Vaseline on the skin around your brows and using a cotton tip to neaten up your tint and avoid staining."
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $13.99.
Designed for a variety of skin types, this next-generation blackhead remover has three suction heads for different skin conditions, and helps to clean up blackheads, remove dirt grease, reduce dead skin and fine lines, as well as massage and tighten the skin.
Promising review: "I am that person who loves gross things. Videos of nose strips — seen them. Compilations of ear wax removals — seen them twice. I am obsessed with clearing out the gunk living in our skin. So, when I saw this nose sucking action, I just had to try it out.
The suction machine comes with three different heads, all of which are meant for a different purpose. But, to be honest, I can’t remember what those other purposes are — I’ve got my gunk sucking one and I’m good. It’s easy to hold, the nozzle fits around your nose nicely and most importantly YOU SEE RESULTS! Have you ever done a nose strip only to be completely let down by it? Either it didn’t stick properly, stuck too well or didn’t rip out enough of your blackheads so you could see them on the strip. With this machine, you’ve got a clean nose and a whole lot of satisfaction.
A few tips though: Prep your pores beforehand by getting them to open up with a hot towel, moisturise after you use it and most importantly, don’t suck any part of your skin for longer than five seconds."
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $10.99.
This serum is made from all-natural ingredients — including 11% hyaluronic acid, 20% vitamin C and vitamin E — to help with skin ageing, sun spots (relevant for basically every Aussie), wrinkles and dark circles. Customers with sensitive skin have also reported that unlike other serums, they don't experience breakouts from this bad boy. Not convinced? It is currently sitting just shy of a five-star rating with over 10,500 reviews.
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $24.88.
Arithmos' exacting formulas are hand-blended and produced in micro-batches to ensure you’re getting the freshest product possible, not a bottle that’s been sitting on a shelf for months. The body oil are deeply hydrating, nourishing and healing for your skin — improving the appearance of visible fine lines and wrinkles, as well as helping to regulate oil production to help keep skin clear.
Buy it from Arithmos for $72+.
Alcohol-free and made with rose petal water, Vitamin E and Witch Hazel extract, this thing is honestly miracle water. It's no surprise is has more than 8,570 five-star ratings on Amazon.
Promising Review: "I have combination skin that's prone to redness (especially around my cheeks and nose, with the latter being really annoying), plus the occasional pimple. After two weeks of regularly using this toner in my evening routine, I barely need concealer to cover the Crayola redness under my nostrils. PLUS! It's super effective as spot treatment. This stuff attacks your pimples with the same vendetta that Buffy used to destroy vampires: It works that well."
Read more about this excellent product here.
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $31.95.
This green clay face mask is 100% natural and mined straight from the earth in the Montmorillonite region in France. Because of its unique blend of minerals and very fine texture, it's able to act as a magnet — drawing out the toxins and impurities from the skin.
Promising Review: "My skin has been problematic AF for pretty much the entirety of my lockdown living. Whether it's due to stress, a change of environment or because I have way too much time on my hands to pick it to death — all I can say is, this mask saved my skin. I use it once a week and it draws out all kinds of shit, leaving me looking glowy and radiant!"
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $34.99.
Lather a good dose of this stuff onto your face and watch it bubble as it rids your face of dead skin cells and pore-clogging gunk. Reviewers love its pleasant scent, the way their skin feels fully cleansed after use — and yes, the undeniable fun factor.
Read all the positive reviews this bubble clay mask has here.
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $20.
This activated charcoal mask peel clings to the impurities clogging pores, leaving toned, radiant skin once removed. Plus, pure and natural, vitamins and nutrients boost the health of your skin. Win-win!
Buy it from Amazon Australia for $16.99.
An electric facial cleansing and firming massager, you'd be hard done to find someone who hasn't loved the results of this cult favourite beauty tool. This particular model is targeted to normal skin — there is also one specifically for sensitive skin and one for combination.
Promising review: "Sonic waves are sound waves and they pulsate, like, really fast. When these waves are directed into your skin, they travel deep into your pores to shake loose all the gunk, like dirt and makeup residue. Your hands or even your most high-quality washcloths can’t reach all that. The sonic waves also help increase circulation, exfoliate the skin (without pulling on it), and gives your skin a nice detox by stimulating the cells."
Read the entire low down here.Buy it from Amazon Australia for $165.