The obsession-worthy cleansers, miracle-working serums, can't-live-without moisturizers that we loved in 2022.
Well we’re here. The end of another year. And having just recently launched, it feels strange to celebrate an end when we’ve only just begun. In the lead up to our launch, we’ve scoured and tested countless products. These are the skincare products that made an outstanding impression on us. Enjoy!
Best Cleansers
Imperial Glow Facial Polish is a dream! Ranavat created a creamy yet gentle exfoliating cleanser that is suited for all skin types. Formulated with finely milled rice powder to polish the skin, almond oil to nourish and adaptogenic herbs to help fight against environmental stressors. Skin is left smooth, soft and with a natural glow.
Pai Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil exceeded our expectations for an oil cleanser. Formulated with their renowned rosehip oil, you get a rich-never-heavy textured gentle cleanse while simultaneously feeding your skin good plant oil nutrition to help with renewal. Plus, it rinses off clean, and always makes the skin feel like you’ve been treating it with kid gloves.
Water-based second cleanse is done right with Klur’s Gentle Matter Cleanser, a refreshing and gentle cleanse that gets deep down in an effortless, lightweight low-to-no foam gel textured cleanse that leaves the barrier healthy and intact.
(Acid) Toner
Acid toning, the big risk-reward category of products that can make a world of transformative difference, or wreak havoc.
Biologique Recherche P50W, is the sensitive variant on the acid toner that really defined the category. P50W is meant for their customers with the most sensitive/reactive skin, and yet still packs all the high performance acids. If you’re looking for proven performance, with minimal risks of harsh exfoliation, start here.
PSA Heroine Mandelic & Licorice Superfood Glow Toner is a well formulated, and accessible acid toner that combines two beloved acids: mandelic acid and lactic acid, both gentle and multibeneficial, with superfoods like licorice, and Centella Asiatica that also help with hyperpigmentation, and redness. We love the impressive ingredients, performance, and price point, a winning combination.
Finally, there is Moon Juice’s Acid Potion, our favorite product from their skincare category. It should come as no surprise that Acid Potion would get it right, as Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon had previously stated elsewhere that the P50 was the only skincare product she used. Acid Potion with its 25% AHA and BHA formula is a powerhouse, but also not as harsh as we thought it would be due to the inclusion of mushroom extract and niacinamide, making it quite genius.
Face Mist
Royal Tonique Hydrating Jasmine Mist is a luxurious hydrosol with an intoxicating yet light jasmine scent. This mist is great to use between product application, when traveling, or for a mid-day skin refresher and mood boost.
Marie Veronique’s Soothing Pre+Probiotic Mist is one of our favorite products because it’s so versatile. It instantly refreshes and calms skin with hydrating coconut water, anti-inflammatory sodium salicylate, and soothing calendula.
Metamorphic Elixir is a powerful anti-aging, deeply hydrating botanical essence that is engineered to work with the natural affinity for the epidermal layer to structure lipids and waters for maximum absorption of anti-aging and rejuvenating actives. This elixir has been one of our staples for years, suitable for all skin types and can be used year around.
Serums
Serums are power players, but for those with sensitive skin know the fear of using a serum that is too active. With Tata Harper’s new SUPERKIND Bio-Barrier Serum, there’s much to love whether you have sensitive skin, or you’re looking for a breather from retinols and acids. This serum builds up the skin’s barrier with microbiome boosting natural ingredients, smooths the appearance of wrinkles and helps to firm, hydrate and brighten skin.
Not all vitamin C serums are created equal, and this best of class Marie Veronique Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum is a winner. It is rich in antioxidants that provides extra sun protection that neutralizes free radicals by day, and rebuilds collagen and deeply nourishes the skin by night. This powerful serum promotes skin health and a radiant complexion, and replenishes the skin with antioxidants and is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
YÜLI Ambrosia Beauty Nectar has been our go-to hyaluronic acid based serum for years, and even after trying dozens of others on the market, we always come back to this hero product. Formulated from an unprecedented base of 18+ hyaluronic acid variants with a next-generation anti-aging cocktail of nutritive skin-strengthening actives, it’s a no brainer as to why this made our list of favorites.
Oil
Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum is a cult classic luxurious face oil that we love for its array of benefits, and the immediate glow it gives to any complexion. All ingredients are organic, wild-crafted, or sustainably harvested from the highest quality growers; they’re also used in some of the highest concentrations in the industry, and combined to allow specific synergies to occur. This product is great for all skin types, especially those seeking one product that tackles aging, hyperpigmentation, dry/oily patches, and hormonal challenges.
African Botanics Pure Marula Oil is our favorite single carrier oil that is lightweight, good for all skin types including dry, mature, sensitive, blemish-prone, and combination skin. It is also wild-harvested, cold pressed, and sourced from the remote pristine areas of South Africa’s Marula Belt. This natural, omega-rich oil packed with Vitamins E and C works to hydrate skin leaving you with an improved radiant and youthful glow.
Cell Perfecto PM by YULI is a high performance night time oil serum. This has been a staple in our medicine cabinet for years, and if you are sensitive to more traditional retinols this should be your go to product to brighten, smooth and repair hyperpigmentation, dark spots and discoloration, acne marks and scars, and sun damage.
Moisturizer
Marie Veronique released the Multi Retinol Night Emulsion toward the end of 2022 and within just a month of using this creamy emulsion it has made the starting lineup in our nighttime skincare routine. The innovative formulation leverages the unique benefits of three different retinoid actives to deliver comprehensive age delay benefits gradually and effectively, without causing redness, discomfort, or irritation.
Alpyn Beauty’s, true to name, “melts-right-in” PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer is a rich cream targeting dry, dehydrated skin with weightless, lasting hydration and a velvety, makeup-ready finish. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, Bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, squalane, and wild plants.
Augustinus Bader’s The Cream has been our go-to traditional moisturizer for years. This is also a staple in our travel bag because it can be used day and night, blends well with other products and can be used as a effective skin primer pre-makeup application. This lightweight, hydrating cream has been designed to deliver the brand’s patented TFC8 complex into the skin as effectively as possible. The mysterious TFC8 is a blend of 40 different natural amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules that are found in healthy skin.
Body
OSEA’s Anti-Aging Body Balm is the ultimate anti-aging body moisturizer to firm, smooth and deeply hydrate skin. This formula was recently upgraded and we love all of the new changes. It’s the perfect product to apply post exfoliation, directly out of the shower while your skin is still moist to lock in all of the moisture.
If you are a leisurely bath person like we are, the Ayla Sea Soak needs to be added your bath time arsenal. It is designed to be a profound way to witness the power of individual ingredients in their natural state, at the highest level of quality, and at the peak of freshness — as close to a spa treatment as you can get without having to leave your house.
Twelve Beauty’s luxurious silky lotion Jojoba Quench Body Serum is a quick-absorbing, long-lasting, skin-quenching superhero formulated for sensitive or irritated skin. Rich in moisturizing jojoba extracts, essential fatty acids and other skin barrier boosting nutrients, it works to instantly calm, nourish and renew dry, compromised skin while improving its elasticity and suppleness.
Hope we covered your favorites! Let us know what products we should keep an eye on in 2023!
