My Best of Skincare 2017

Because skincare is such a big deal for me at this age, I have a lot more favorites when it comes to skincare than makeup even. Maybe not as exciting, but more important IMHO. Also, being a blogger of a certain age, I get to try lots more new skincare products than makeup.

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This post will focus on skincare products that I tried and really liked in 2017 for my dry, mature skin. Some of them may not be new in 2017 (though quite a few were), but they were all new to me. I know we all have our own favorites, but if your skin is similar to mine, I thought you might be interested in what worked for me this past year.

So here goes!

Facial Cleanser

• Derma E Hydrating Cleanser Hyaluronic Acid (reviewed here): If you’re looking for a gentle, hydrating, affordable gel cleanser, this is one to try. I use it primarily in the morning. It has a lovely light sweet scent that I can’t quite identify. The gel doesn’t lather, but it works very well with my hands or with my Foreo Luna. My skin feels soft and plumped afterwards. $13.50-15.50 for 6 fl.oz.

• Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser (reviewed here): I use this creamy glycolic acid cleanser primarily at night. It contains sorbitol, a natural humectant to keep skin hydrated, and glycolic acid as a “follicular agent” that prepares skin for follow-up skincare products without the need for toner. Glycolic acid also stimulates collagen production, removes dead skin and tightens pores. I have been searching for the percent glycolic acid in this cleanser, but I can’t find it. At any rate, it is gentle and soap free. Recommended for those with aging skin, dry, oily or sensitive skin, hyper pigmentation, and acne. Priced at $35 for 8 fl.oz. and often on sale at many websites, it lasts for months and is a very good value.

• MyChelle Perfect C Cleansing Oil: OMG, how could I have forgotten to review MyChelle Perfect C Cleansing Oil? I reviewed (here) the excellent MyChelle Perfect C Eye Cream in late October, but the fabulous cleansing oil fell through the cracks in terms of getting a full review. Well, it was my favorite cleansing oil of the year, and I tried several. What I especially like about MyChelle Perfect C Cleansing Oil is that it has no discernible scent, it is gentle, and when water is added it provides some lather. It does a great job removing my all of my face makeup. I don’t usually use oil to remove my eye makeup because my eyes are so sensitive. Plus I wear contact lenses, so I don’t want any oil in my eyes. However, I believe I did use this cleansing oil once or twice to remove my eye makeup, and I had no issues. It contains antioxidants (L-ascorbic acid) as well as baobab oil that’s loaded with omegas as well as an exotic oil I never heard of, Tamanu Oil for hydration. My skin feels so nourished by not greasy after using this. Love it especially for winter. $18 for 4 fl. oz., vegan.

Exfoliator

• Feel Renewed Pumpkin Facial Cleanser: I got a 1 oz. travel size pouch of Feel Renewed Pumpkin Facial Cleanser in my Ipsy bag a couple of months ago, and it has become one of my favorites. It is a creamy, pumpkin-scented cleanser with walnut powder grains in it for gentle exfoliation. Recommended for dry or dull skin, the formula is perfect for me. I use it a couple of times a week. It says that the smaller molecular structure of pumpkin allows it to penetrate deeper into skin and work better. Interesting. $28 for 4 fl. oz.

Eye Cream and Serum

• Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Concentrate (reviewed here): This gel serum that I found at Ulta in November has stolen my heart. I use it as an eye cream mostly, though I sometimes use other eye creams on top of it. It does a great job firming my skin above my crease. I truly believe it’s worth it to work on this area with eye creams because it sure beats having plastic surgery. This is a pricey product ($67 for 0.54 oz./15 ml), but I picked up a backup during the holiday sales.

• Aveda Tulasara Wedding Masque Eye (reviewed here): I almost forgot about this rich, super hydrating eye cream that I used up a while ago. This is the perfect eye cream (though it’s in an oddly shaped jar) for winter when it’s cold and dry. It’s called a masque because it gives overnight deep hydration that you’d be looking for for a special occasion. Excellent eye cream. $55 for 0.5 fl. oz./15 ml

Hyaluronic Acid Essences

This year, I’ve been addicted to hyaluronic acid in all forms. But lightweight essences that feel like somewhat thickened water are my faves. The two I liked best this year are:

• IUNIK Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner (reviewed here): This Korean skincare toner/essence with 45% hyaluronic acid and 5% sea buckthorn is a steal. Everyone with dry skin should own it! $16.45 for 8 fl. oz.

• Vichy Mineral 89 Daily Booster (reviewed here): Vichy Mineral 89 is very similar to IUNIK Toner in what it feels like – heavy water – but its ingredients are somewhat different. It is made up of 89% mineral-rich Thermal Water with a lesser percentage of hyaluronic acid than the IUNIK. But the elegant pyramidal ombre glass pump bottle for the win! $29.50 for 1.7 fl.oz./50 ml

Face Oil

• Amalie Beauty REWIND Anti-aging Face Oil (reviewed here): Just a couple of drops of this golden, lightweight, very lightly fragranced, organic farm grown, handcrafted oil is enough to turn my often dry skin to velvet. Helps with elasticity too. Love love love it! $60 for 1 fl. oz./30 ml

• Kiehl’s Midnight Concentrate: A more affordable option is lightweight Kiehl’s Midnight Concentrate also made from organic botanicals: evening primrose and lavender oils and squalene, a botanical lipid (fat) that is similar to skin that restores and rebalances. $46 for 1 fl.oz./30 ml

Masks

• Glamglow GravityMud Firming Treatment (reviewed here): The fact that this mask makes me look like the Tin Man as it turns metallic silver is enough to make me love it. It also is a peel off mask that makes my skin feel super clean and firm. $60 for a 1.4 oz.  jar with brush, but it’s available in a travel size 0.5 oz. tube for $24

• Laurmè Lemon Tart Exfoliating Mask (reviewed here): This creamy mask that’s like lemon pudding is a delight to use. What a lovely, gentle way to exfoliate! Although it’s an exfoliating mask, it leaves my dry and somewhat sensitive skin hydrated as well as oh-so-clean and smooth. 4 fl. oz. for $42

• Masqueology 24K Gold Under Eye Gel patches (reviewed here): These juicy, rubbery under eye masks provide a temporary (maybe not temporary if you use them everyday) but quick pick-me-up for tired eyes or fine lines under the eyes. They are perfect for use before you go out for an event or just to look your best. They’re loaded with gold and collagen to lift and firm as well as hydrating ingredients to help plump fine lines, address dark circles and make eyes look refreshed. On top of all that, they’re super affordable: $15 for 15 pairs.

Facial Mist

• Georgette Klinger Lavender Facial Mist (reviewed here): I used to not be able to tolerate spraying myself in the face so I always had to apply mists to a cotton pad and then dab them on. GK Facial Mist changed that for me. This very lightly lavender scented mist is so fine that it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I almost enjoy it. 🙂 I use this mist to help my follow up products work better, to hydrate my face during the day if it’s dry due to heat or cold, or to freshen foundation if it needs it. Wonderful stuff! During the Georgette Klinger Skincare holiday sale, I picked up a bottle with their other fragrance – Coconut – to try next. $9 for 4.2 fl. oz.

Facial Serums

This is going to be tough because I tried about a million fabulous facial serums this year, way too many to list here. I know I’ll be leaving out some real winners, but I’ll limit my recommendations to just a few.

• Paula’s Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA: Earlier this year, I received Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA (reviewed here), a peach colored lightweight cream serum. I liked it a lot, and I was almost finished with the bottle when the 10% AHA version arrived in the mail. Perfect timing because I was ready to graduate to the higher concentration. Instead of a cream serum from a pump bottle, this is a lightweight milky serum, applied with a dropper, that completely disappears into my skin. I love fighting lines and wrinkles with it. Full review coming soon. $36 for 1 fl. oz.

• IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Anti-aging Collagen Veil Primer (reviewed here): I wasn’t sure if I should put this multitasking serum-primer here or in the makeup category, but I couldn’t wait to add it to a Best of Makeup post yet to come. I use this delightful serum mostly as a primer so that I won’t use it up too fast. Strangely, it has both pump and dropper applicators, and I’m not sure why we need both. Get rid of the dropper and just give us more serum in the bottle! It contains over 50 ingredients, mostly botanicals and oils. But I assume the ingredient that makes my skin feel so silky soft and smooth is the dimethicone, and it is truly fabulous as a primer. No. 50 fights lines and wrinkles, reduces the appearance of pores, and hydrates skin with HA and botanical oils. A bit pricey at $48 for 1 fl. oz./30 ml, it’s my favorite primer with benefits by far!

• StriVectin Advanced Acid Dual Response Serum Rehydrate + Replump (reviewed here): A wonderful lightweight gel from StriVectin that with their patented NIA-114 as well as hyaluronic acid and ceramides does exactly what it says: rehydrates and plumps. It’s a cool double-sided pump that combines the key ingredients within one pump. Good stuff! $63-79 for 1 fl. oz./30 ml. QVC is where to buy this for a better price.

Anti-aging Moisturizers

• Paula’s Choice RESIST Skin Restoring Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 50: First off, let me tell you that this fantastic daytime moisturizer protects from UVA/UVB rays with chemical sunscreens, so if you prefer physical sunscreens pass on this one. But if you can wear chemical sunscreens, OMG, this daytime moisturizer with SPF 50 is THE ONE! It is so darn lightweight and makes my skin so soft and smooth that I couldn’t love it anymore than I do. It’s a little pricier than many Paula’s Choice items at $33 for 0.5 fl. oz. but worth it.

• Georgette Klinger Collagen & Elastin Moisturizer (reviewed here): So thrilled that the skincare brand of my youth, Georgette Klinger, has come back to life this year! If you’re looking for a lightweight but very nourishing moisturizer, look no further. Collagen & Elastin in a handy pump revitalizes dry skin and helps firm and smooth too. I love the light tutti-fruiti scent that disappears after it’s on my skin. I bought a backup bottle during the holiday sale. $34 for 1.7 oz.

• Laurmé Ultra Hydrating Face Cream (reviewed here): You may remember that Laurmé Skincare was first developed for cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemo treatment for their sensitive, stressed skin. Thus, it is extremely gentle and made with natural and organic ingredients. Like the Georgette Klinger moisturizer above, Laurmé Ultra Hydrating Face Cream is a very nourishing but lightweight cream that comes in a pump bottle. It is fragrance-free. Because of its ingredient DMAE, it’s called “facelift in a jar” for its firming benefits. $35 for 1.7 oz. Vegan.

Facial Sunscreens

• Marini Physical Protectant Broad Spectrum SPF 45 by Jan Marini (reviewed here): If you’re a fan of physical sunscreens, you must check this one out. Lightly tinted, this high SPF mineral sunscreen acts as a lightweight tinted moisturizer for me so it is another terrific multitasker. This cream completely disappears on my skin leaving it feeling smooth and silky. I have a tiny bit left in the tube. Definitely something I will replace next summer. $51 for 2 oz./57 ml I should have picked it up during the 30% off holiday sale on Jan Marini, darn.

• Murad Age Reform Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++: I haven’t reviewed this product yet, but I needed to include it in this year’s best of skincare. It’s another multitasker, but I bought it for one reason alone. Ever have a moisturizer and a foundation that you love to wear during the day, but they have no or low SPF? That’s why I sprang for the pricey Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30. What I adore about this is that it disappears completely and leaves a silky smooth shield on my skin. I wear it over moisturizer and under foundation. It’s heaven. $65 for 1 fl. oz./30 ml & $80 for 1.7 fl. oz. Murad is offering 25% off for the holidays on their website. Full review soon.

There you have it. My tip top skincare favorites for 2017. What skincare products did you fall in love with in 2017?

Today's Author

Allison Cohen

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