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.
1. Avarelle Hydrocolloid Acne Patches are almost undetectable and infused with redness-fighting cica, zit-fighting tea tree, and skin-calming calendula oil to stop blemishes from overextending their invitation on your face — just clean the blemish, pop on a patch, and watch the patch absorb pus and deflate the sucker in just a few hours. *mind blown*
2. Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel keeps oily T-zones and pimples in check, and generally washes out every last bit of pore-clogging dirt from your face — so you are only left with a clean, refreshed face ready for all the moisture-loving essences, serums, and lotions your skin can take!
3. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is a powder-to-paste mask you create by mixing with equal parts of raw apple cider vinegar and/or water — it's basically magical, pimple-healing face sauce with an average 4.4 star rating across over 14 THOUSAND AMAZON REVIEWS. ✨
4. Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser leaves your skin feeling clean, refreshed, and tingly — it goes deep within your pores to totally empty them out and really gives skin (especially oily types) the reset it needs!
5. Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule contains — as the name suggests — 80% snail filtrate extract (no snails were harmed in this process!), which is really effective for soothing inflammation and smoothing skin texture, so you *know* your face is well taken care of. And it absorbs instantly, so it doesn't feel heavy or sticky at all.
6. Sephora Collection Water Gel Mask Hydrate + Refresh only needs a few minutes before you start to feel the immediate effects of skin softening and hydrating, which is powered by amino acids (derived from beet molasses and sugar cane!) and marine algae — but the results keep going overnight and spill into the next day. Long! Term! Hydration!
7. Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream fortifies your skin with SPF 50, doesn't dry you out, doesn't feel greasy, soothes irritated skin (I see you, aloe), and sits super well under makeup.
8. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is the perfect not-harsh product (it's alcohol-free, btw!) for people who want to start incorporating AHAs into their skincare routine to get real results in terms of skin clarity and an even skin tone, and ingredients like ginseng root and aloe vera help soothe skin.
9. Weleda Skin Food contains sustainably sourced ingredients like pansy flower, rosemary leaf, and organic sunflower seed oil that'll work wonders on your face and hands — it's been a best-selling product since it launched all the way back in 1926 and has been a cult favorite ever since...so, to say the least, it's a great moisturizer to start off with.
10. Acure The Essentials Argan Oil is the truth when it comes to attaining supple skin on the cheap — it not only gives you real results (i.e. smoother skin texture, calmed redness, no more dry patches), but it's also vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free, so newbies need not fear!
11. Nature Republic Soothing Aloe Vera Gel serves up clear healing goop that's conveniently multipurpose in that it can do anything from relieving sunburns, rashes, and itches to diminishing the appearances of acne scars, to soothing redness — be it on your face or body.
12. If double cleansing seems too intimidating to start off with, Garnier SkinActive All-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water removes any and all makeup — even waterproof mascara, with enough effort — with a few gentle swipes, so you can be lazy and responsible at the same darn time!
13. Mario Badescu Facial Sprays are the perfect refresher that you'll want to keep everywhere — at home, in your purse, and at the office — for a quick spritz of aloe-and-herb-infused hydration. It's the easiest way to relieve your face from any tightness, dehydration, and dullness. Afternoon slump? Don't know her.
14. Cosrx Two in One Poreless Power Liquid produces real results in a short matter of time: it deeply cleans and tightens enlarged pores so they aren't so noticeable, all while controlling sebum production and leaving you cooled (huge thanks to 88% willow bark water!) and refreshed.
15. Seoul Ceuticals 20% Vitamin C Day Glow Serum's main job is to furnish the power of Vitamin C (duh), hyaluronic acid, and ferulic acid to brighten your complexion over time, shrink pores, and reduce hyperpigmentation, and acne scars — so pretty much any problem you had no idea how to address until now!
16. If you're in your 20s (and definitely 30s), it's probably a good idea to start incorporating retinol into your routine because that stuff is the best at smoothing out lines and skin texture and accelerating cell turnover, which slows down as we age — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer is an accessible, well-loved product to do the job, and alongside Retinol SA it also has hyaluronic acid to keep skin happy and hydrated. And it has SPF 30 for added protection and because you need to be wearing SPF at all times if you're using retinol.
17. RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream has a non-greasy formula that's as gentle as can be (it's non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic!) and nips crow's feet, dark circles, and puffiness in the bud over time and with consistent use.
18. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion reduces redness by, like, ten-fold, and generally stops unwelcome acne and whiteheads before they even have a chance to grow with just a tiny dab of pink magic — aka, salicylic acid, calamine, and other quick-drying ingredients. Just dab on some before you go to bed, and let it do all the work!
19. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque leaves your skin feeling tingly and clean, while also drying up pimples, shrinking enlarged pores, and generally leaving you feeling relaxed as hell.
20. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel drenches your dry, flaky skin in hydration and comfort, so your skin becomes soft and taut, whether it's bare and sitting underneath a big ol' glob of foundation.
21. Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 Acne Spot Treatment contains prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide to speed up the healing process of your breakouts and prevent new ones from forming — talk about an easy, targeted treatment!
22. Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask temporarily transforms you into a lovable foam creature made up of carbonated water, mud, and charcoal for a satisfying AF deep clean — bye, dirty pores! Because skincare should be fun, dammit!
23. Simple Foaming Facial Cleanser is a godsend for sensitive skin because, as the brand name suggests, it doesn't contain harsh ingredients or fluffy scents that cause major irritation — just a ~simple~ clean.
24. A Facetory subscription box curates a bunch of sheet mask brands for ya', so you can figure out what you like and don't like in a totally, non-intimidating situation. But *do* expect your skin to feel recharged and less dull and tired-looking — time to live your dewiest life! ✨
25. E.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant gently breaks down all of your dead skin cells with tangerine, papaya, and licorice extracts, so you end up looking like a glowing cherub! Just dampen your face, dispense a pump, and go to town.
26. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming and Hydrating Gentle Cleanser are no-fuss daily face washes that, depending on your skin type, help remove makeup, dirt, and excess oil, but also help your skin retain the moisture it truly needs. And that ingredient list? Whew! So clean, free from questionable ingredients, and suitable for the most sensitive of sensitive skin types!
27. Yes To Soothing Hypoallergenic Wipes sweep away pore-clogging dirt and makeup in a pinch, because giving your face some sort of wash is **always** better than nothing.
28. Cosrx One-Step Green Hero Calming Toner Pads calm redness with just a flick of the wrist, thanks to a blend of soothing green tea and effective witch hazel that'll minimize pores, reduce production of excess oil, and up your skin's moisture levels. You can even cut your pads in half to make each container last even longer!
29. If you're new to the world of acids, Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads can be your ~gateway~ into tackling breakouts with gentle but effective resurfacing ingredients — namely 2.8% glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and witch hazel. Bye, recurring acne! Hiya, softer and brighter skin!
30. Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel instantly (and safely!) removes oodles of gunk and dead skin so *all* of your skincare products penetrate deeper into your skin and do their jobs more efficiently. It might look a little unsettling, but it's so worth it.
31. The Inkey List Collagen Serum costs less than a typical NYC lunch and has far more lasting effects — whether you're trying to hop on the skincare train early and use it as a preventative measure or as a ~I-need-this-right-now~ solution, this lightweight concoction keeps it simple with its peptides and other collagen-producing ingredients. Plump and firmer skin is on the horizon!
32. Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Restorative Night Cream with Antioxidant-Rich Blackberry works overtime to strengthen your skin's natural moisture barrier, and improves overall elasticity/firmness — plus, it's non-greasy, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic (no chances of clogged pores, yay!).
33. Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil remedies scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, and dehydrated skin faster than most other products — and its quick-absorbing, non-greasy, and hypoallergenic formula doesn't feel like you're even applying oil on your bod. Come thru, vitamins, plant extracts, and oils!
34. SheaMoisture African Black Soap is a gentle yet effective cure that you've been waiting for to target hormonal acne, eczema, broken capillaries, and all-around sensitive skin. Plus raw shea butter adds moisture, while organic oats and aloe deep clean.
35. Teddie Organics Rose Water Toner Spray makes it possible to treat your acne anytime, anywhere, and calm down redness and oily T-zones with just a few spritzes. And, not to mention, it smells so dang lovely!
36. Jivi Face Moisturizer provides all-day hydration thanks to a lineup of all-natural ingredients like shea butter, cucumber peel, and aloe vera, calms redness (Hey, green tint!), and also dries down matte so your makeup goes on and *stays* on all day. It also has a lil' extra dose of SPF 12 mineral sunscreen — although you should definitely apply a higher SPF separately, but it's the thought that counts!.
