Best of Beauty :SkinCare

Cleanser

Normal Skin

Aveeno Positively Radiant Makeup Removing Cleanser feels so rich and frothy on skin, it's like a spa treatment; it also happens to be a workhorse that eliminates even waterproof makeup. Win-win.

WHAT IT IS:
A foaming cleanser designed to clear away all types of makeup

WHAT IT DOES:
Dissolves makeup, dirt, and excess oil

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate, disodium lauroamphodiacetate (cleansers); soy extract (moisturizer)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The airy foam has a flowery scent.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This two-time Best of Beauty winner can remove everything—even waterproof mascara—but doesn't make skin feel stripped.

Cleanser

Oily Skin

Many oily-skin cleansers sap moisture, but Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser feels (and smells) pleasant while delivering on its pore-unclogging promise.

WHAT IT IS:
A facial cleanser for oily skin

WHAT IT DOES:
Cleans skin and gets rid of excess oil

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Salicylic acid (anti-acne agent and exfoliant); saw palmetto and coconut and palm-derived surfactants (cleanse); broad leaf kelp (reduces oil)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
It is a thick clear gel that lathers into a foam; it has a strong minty smell.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Skin feels soft and clean (though a little tight) after using this Best of Beauty winner and appears totally matte. Plus, pores look a little smaller, too.

Cleanser

Dry Skin

A pea-size dab of Olay Professional Pro X Cream Cleanser deep-cleans without stripping skin dry.

WHAT IT IS:
A facial cleanser

WHAT IT DOES:
Deep-cleans skin and restores its pH balance

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (cleanser); glycerin (moisturizer)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The milky white lotion hardly has a scent and produces a slight lather when you add water.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
It's not the most moisturizing formula in the world, but this Best of Beauty winner does get skin really clean. And unlike many other cream cleansers, it rinses away completely, leaving no filmy residue.

Cleansing

Wipes

We use Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes when we wake up, after yoga, and during The Daily Show. Each nubby wipe cleans off every speck of oil and makeup, with no filmy feel.

WHAT THEY ARE:
Facial cleansing wipes

WHAT THEY DO:
Get rid of makeup (even waterproof mascara), dirt, and oil on the skin

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Hexylene glycol (cleans); white tea leaf extract (antioxidant); chamomile extract (soothes)

HOW THEY FEEL/SMELL/LOOK:
The white cloths have a slightly textured diamond pattern (but don't feel coarse); there is a relaxing lavender-chamomile fragrance.

WHY WE LIKE THEM:
These convenient, Best of Beauty–winning wipes aren't just for nighttime: Keep a pack in your gym bag to gently, and quickly, remove all traces of sweat and grime after a workout. They leave skin feeling soft and they smell great.

Facial Moisturizer 

Normal Skin

We want it all—a great moisturizer, even tone, and sun protection. The answer: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30, which sneaks in anti-aging benefits.

WHAT IT IS:
A facial moisturizer with sunscreen

WHAT IT DOES:
Hydrates and protects skin with broad-spectrum sunscreen

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone (sunscreens); soy (skin brightener and antioxidant)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The white lotion has a soft, slightly powdery scent.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
It's a whisper-light formula that's perfect for layering under makeup—but it packs a serious punch with antioxidants and broad-spectrum sunscreen. Plus, over time, it helps fade spots from earlier sun damage.

Facial Moisturizer 

Oily Skin

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream delivers on its name—the oil-free soufflé wears well under makeup and diminishes shine throughout the day.

WHAT IT IS:
An oil-free moisturizer

WHAT IT DOES:
Hydrates skin

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Grape water extract (antioxidant); apple water extract (moisturizer); vitamin E (antioxidant and moisturizer)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
It's sea foam green and has a soufflé-like texture that's slightly watery to the touch; it smells like kiwi and cucumber.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Oily types can embrace this grease-free Best of Beauty–winning hydrator that immediately soaks into skin and makes it feel supple. It's perfect to pat on during warm weather or after a workout—the airy gel helps cool down a flushed face.

Facial Moisturizer 

Dry Skin

Kinerase Restructure Firming Cream quenches and tightens with a mixture of potent peptides.

WHAT IT IS:
An anti-aging moisturizer for dry skin

WHAT IT DOES:
Moisturizes, firms, and improves skin's texture and tone

KEY INGREDIENTS:
SNAP-8 (neuropeptide that relaxes lines); argireline (hexapeptide that relaxes lines); kinetin (plant growth factor that moisturizes and improves skin tone); LOXL stimulator (plant extract that helps maintain elasticity in the skin)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
This rich white cream takes a few minutes to absorb; it's hypoallergenic and has no recognizable fragrance.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Once this Best of Beauty winner sinks in, lines and wrinkles are noticeably softened and skin feels well-hydrated.

Anti-Aging Treatments

Antoxidents

Alternate SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic and Phloretin CF Antioxidant Treatment serums, and double your protection against free radicals.

Anti-Aging Treatments

Wrinkles

The wrinkle fighter all skin docs champion is retinol; the product they recommend is RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.

WHAT IT IS:
An anti-aging moisturizer for evening

WHAT IT DOES:
The oil-free formula uses retinol to smooth lines and wrinkles.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Pure, stabilized retinol (helps stimulate collagen production and reduces the appearance of wrinkles); mineral complex of zinc, copper, and magnesium (helps increase cell turnover); glycolic acid (smooths)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The thin white cream leaves a slight tingle; there is a mild medicinal odor; it comes in an airtight aluminum tube to keep the retinol stable.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
The dose of retinol in this Best of Beauty winner (a favorite of dermatolgists) is potent—enough to soften crow's-feet and smile lines.

Anti-Aging Treatment

Discoloration

Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector breaks up dark spots in less than three months with exfoliants and brightening plant extracts.

WHAT IT IS:
A treatment for reducing discoloration

WHAT IT DOES:
Brightens dark spots on the skin to create a more even complexion—without the irritation associated with the classic lightening ingredient hydroquinone.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Dianella ensifolia, ascorbyl glucoside, blackout yeast extract, and trametes versicolor extract (brightening ingredients); glucosamine and salicylic acid (exfoliants); curcuma longa turmeric root extract and scutellaria baicalensis root extract (antioxidants); glycyrrhetinic acid turmeric root extract (anti-irritant)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
It is a milky gel that spreads thin over the skin.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner is gentle but produces serious results, noticeably fading spots over time. Just be patient; like all spot-reducing treatments, this takes at least two months of diligent use for the real fading to begin, plus a daily application of SPF 30 or higher to ensure that you aren't acquiring new damage as you erase the old.

Eye Cream

Dark Circles

Olay Definity Illuminating Eye Treatment

Key ingredients that fade circles gradually, while mica brightens on the spot.

WHAT IT IS:

An anti-aging eye cream

WHAT IT DOES:

Improves the look of crow's-feet and dark circles

KEY INGREDIENTS:

Essential Glucosamine Complex (a proprietary formula that includes N-acetyl glucosamine to even skin tone, and moisturizing niacinamide); mica (brightens)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

The pearlescent gel-like cream is fragrance-free.

WHY WE LIKE IT:

It's rich but doesn't leave the eye area greasy or cause concealer to slide around. And it quickly brightens undereye shadows, but since it contains a good deal of shimmer, you'll want to use it sparingly.

Eye Cream

Anti Wrinkle

Dermatologists hail Relastin Eye Silk as the best elastin booster—we'd ask our crow's-feet if they agree, but we can't find them anymore.

Eye Cream

De-Puffing

Allergies, dehydration, and late-night Facebook sessions are powerless against Guerlain Super Aqua-Eye Anti-Puffiness Smoothing Eye Patch—it's more effective than any gel.

WHAT IT IS:

A depuffing eye treatment—in a patch 

WHAT IT DOES:

Reduces puffiness and hydrates dry skin 

KEY INGREDIENTS:

Hyaluronic acid (moisturizes and reduces the appearance of fine lines); desert rose complex (moisturizes); terminalia sericea root extract (reduces the appearance of undereye circles and puffiness) 

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

The single-use patches are thin, clear, slippery, and U-shaped, so they conform to undereye hollows; they smell like rosewater and feel especially refreshing if they're refrigerated before use. 

WHY WE LIKE IT:

The watery-slick feel of these Best of Beauty–winning patches forces them to stick, so you can walk around and do your thing while wearing them. After ten minutes, peel them off, and that aging, sleep-deprived look is nearly gone. Your eyes look brighter and fresher and feel smooth and hydrated

Facial Sunscreen

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid provides heavy-duty protection, but its liquid texture is so light, we forget we're even wearing it.

WHAT IT IS:

A noncomedogenic, PABA-free, broad-spectrum facial sunscreen for normal or combination skin 

WHAT IT DOES:

Protects against UVA and UVB rays with photostable sunscreens and antioxidants

KEY INGREDIENTS:

Senna-Alata (antioxidant); avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone (sunscreens)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

It's a fragrance-free milky liquid that sinks in lightning-fast. 

WHY WE LIKE IT:

This Best of Beauty winner has a high SPF, but it's so light that you'll forget you're even wearing sunscreen. Plus, it leaves a silky, matte finish that sits well under makeup. It doesn't hydrate much, so pass it by if you're ultradry (or top it with a moisturizer).

Scrub

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle Exfoliating Treatment has microscopic buffers and fruit enzymes that refine without friction. Meaning: no raw skin.

WHAT IT IS:

A non-irritating facial scrub

WHAT IT DOES:

Gently smoothes rough skin

KEY INGREDIENTS:

Papaya, pumpkin, and pineapple extracts, and lactic acid (exfoliants); retinyl palmitate (antioxidant); sage oil (anti-inflammatory)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

The green creamy formula has ultra-fine buffing jojoba beads

WHY WE LIKE IT:

This mild, Best of Beauty–winning exfoliator is perfect for sensitive types: You'll get similar results to what you would get with a more aggressive scrub (a smoother, more radiant looking complexion), but without any raw feeling.

 Peel

Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel. Swipe on a self-neutralizing glycolic acid pad at bedtime, then sleep easy knowing fewer lines and a more youthful glow are just weeks away.

WHAT IT IS:

An at-home face peel

WHAT IT DOES:

Helps increase cell turnover to make skin look brighter and more even-toned

KEY INGREDIENTS:

Glycolic acid (exfoliant)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

The round cotton discs (the jar includes 30) are slightly nubby, so they manually exfoliate the skin; there's no rinsing necessary.

WHY WE LIKE IT:

Dermatologists recommend using glycolic acid peels to get rid of dull-looking skin—and this one, a repeat Best of Beauty winner, really delivers. Used every few days, it makes skin look noticeably clearer and glowing. Plus, it's just one step (as opposed to most peels' two) because the formula neutralizes itself. 

Mask

Oily Skin

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner dissolves stubborn blackheads on our nose—and makes our pores look smaller for good measure.

WHAT IT IS:

A facial mask for oily skin

WHAT IT DOES:

Reduces oil and blackheads

KEY INGREDIENTS:

Silicone dioxide (extracts dirt and excess oil); salicylic and glycolic acids (exfoliate); eijitsu rose (minimizes the appearance of pores)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

It starts out as a pearly white lotion but dries to a light blue color after it's left on the skin for ten minutes; there is a tingly, cooling sensation when you first apply it, and it has a crisp scent.

WHY WE LIKE IT:

Almost like a magnet (or at least a really good pore strip), this Best of Beauty–winning mask cuts down on blackheads on the nose, chin, and forehead. After one session, skin looks smoother and pores seem smaller, too.

 Mask

Dry skin

Makeup artists use SK-II Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask to revive models' complexions quickly before fashion shows; we rely on it to make our sleep-deprived skin look human again.

WHAT IT IS:

A cloth facial mask for dry skin 

WHAT IT DOES:

Moisturizes, smooths, and brightens 

KEY INGREDIENT:

SK-II-patented Pitera (also known as saccharomycopsis ferment filtrate, a vitamin-packed byproduct of sake that moisturizes and brightens skin) 

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:

It's cold and wet but not drippy; smells fresh, like aloe and green tea; and leaves skin slightly tacky.

WHY WE LIKE IT:

The two-piece mask (a Best of Beauty winner) hugs the curves of the face, giving an instant boost of moisture and reviving dull, sleep-deprived skin.

Zit Cream

Proactiv Solution Advanced Blemish Treatment contains 6 percent benzoyl peroxide to dry out pimples; hydrating panthenol prevents flaky patches.

WHAT IT IS:
A spot treatment for pimples

WHAT IT DOES:
Helps clear up zits

KEY INGREDIENTS:
6 percent benzoyl peroxide (antibacterial); panthenol and allantoin (moisturizers)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The milky white gel is light and goes on clear; the fragrance is very, very subtle and smells more like a basic, unscented body lotion than something medicinal.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner is not your junior-high zit zapper: It has a gentle but effective level of benzoyl peroxide (one of the top acne-fighting ingredients recommended by derms) and doesn't make skin flaky.

 What Are Your Favorite SkinCare Items?