January is not quite over, so I’m going to get in my skincare favorites for 2015. For me, 2015 was a banner year for skincare, and it looks like 2016 will follow suit. Frankly, in each of the skincare subcategories, it will be hard for me to pick a winner and I know I’ll have to miss a number of brands/products that should be right up there but I’ll do the best I can.
IMHO, using skincare products is the most important thing you can do to keep your skin looking youthful and feeling comfortable for a lifetime. If you don’t like and don’t wear makeup, that’s fine. But skincare is a must!
Skincare is personal, depending so much on the type of skin you have. My skin is dry, somewhat sensitive, and mature. So if you have oily or combo young skin, you may skip this post 😉 🙄
As a blogger, I’ve been lucky to get to try out so many different skincare brands including luxury brands as well as many specifically targeted skincare products. Frankly, if money is an object as it is for many of us, I recommend the Olay Regenerist and the L’Oreal Revitalift skincare lines that are the result of lots of research and development and provide great ingredients and benefits at an affordable price. Also highly recommended is Paula’s Choice, a more natural brand that has a number of different skincare lines for every skin issue and problem at affordable prices. In my favorites below, you’ll find a mix of affordable and prestige products.
Favorite Facial Cleansers
- MyChelle Creamy Pumpkin Cleanser: For colder weather, MyChelle Creamy Pumpkin Cleanser (reviewed here) with the yummy pumpkin scent helps hydrate my skin while cleansing. I actually look forward to washing my face with this stuff!
- Murad Essential-C Cleanser: For warmer weather when my skin is greasier and dirtier, I love Murad Essential-C Cleanser (reviewed here). A clear orange-scented gel with vitamin C, this cleanser gives my skin a thorough cleansing while not stripping it. The vitamin C antioxidant also helps prevent environmental damage. I tried a sample size, but loved it so much I bought a big tube.
Favorite Daytime Moisturizer
- Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: affordable, natural, very hydrating moisturizer with a decent SPF (reviewed here). Although it does require working it in to get rid of the white cast, I prefer the physical sunscreen that Paula’s Choice uses to a chemical sunscreen.
Favorite Sunscreens for Face
- Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 35: Very lightweight, great to wear with a moisturizer that doesn’t have sunscreen. No white face, no heavy feeling, plus it tightens pores! (reviewed here)
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid: If you’re looking for an ultralight sunscreen with a high SPF, this one from La Roche-Posay (reviewed here) is the way to go. They have lower SPF versions, but this is the big gun. Super lightweight, perfect to wear with a moisturizer without sunscreen.
Favorite Nighttime Moisturizer
- Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream: This rich, luxurious BLUE cream (it also comes in white) from Tatcha, a state of the art skincare brand inspired by the skincare secrets of the geishas, is so soothing for my sensitive skin and so hydrating for my dry skin. I love it! (reviewed here)
Favorite Neck Cream
- StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream: The somewhat stiff, thick neck cream with StriVectin’s patented molecule NIA114 has definitely made a difference in better hydrating my neck and keeping it looking more youthful. I wish I had discovered this neck cream earlier! (reviewed here)
Favorite Eye Creams
- Lindi Skin Eye Hydrator: My eye issues are different from most people because I have blepharitis that makes my eyelids red and raw. Lindi Skin’s Eye Hydrator (reviewed here), a thick, soothing, golden gel, is the only thing I’ve found that soothes them. In fact, the Eye Hydrator is out of stock right now and I’m panicking!
- Shiseido IBUKI Eye Correcting Cream: For dark circle camouflage, Shiseido IBUKI Eye Correcting Cream (reviewed here) has a brightener that instantly makes my dark circles less apparent. I haven’t found any eye cream that actually gets rid of my dark circles, though I’m lucky that they aren’t too bad.
Favorite Blemish Healer
- Shiseido IBUKI Multi-Solution Gel: My skin doesn’t break out very often, but on those rare occasions when it does, the Multi-Solution Gel (reviewed here) gets rid of them literally overnight! It’s good for shrinking pores too. And it has an amazing rubbery jelly consistency.
Favorite Hydrating Mask
- Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask: A thick white cream (reviewed here) that does a great job hydrating my skin during the winter or when it feels super-parched. Love it. I wear it over my moisturizer or anti-aging cream.
Favorite Peels
- Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel: A unique peel where I rub on the clear gel, leave it for a few seconds, and then make circles on my skin with my fingers. The dead skin balls up and comes right off. Sounds a bit gross, but boy does it work!
- Exuviance Triple Microdermabrasion Face Peel: A peel that works with both chemical – papaya enzyme and glycolic acid – and physical properties – fine professional-grade microdermabrasion crystals (reviewed here). Love it because my skin feels ultra smooth after using it.
Favorite Brightening Serum
- ISA Professional Xanadu Serum: With small 24K gold flecks, this brightening serum (reviewed here) gives my face a lovely glow, plus it’s stunning to look at. One of the prettiest serums ever!
Favorite All-Around Anti-aging Serums
- Bellatora Cellular Renewal Complex: If you hear me crying, it’s because my bottle of Bellatora Cellular Renewal Complex is almost finished! The ultimate luxury serum, Bellatora’s complex is a fabulous serum made from antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, botanicals, and plant stem cells that works as a multi-dimensional anti-aging serum. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles, accelerates skin’s natural repair functions, and protects from environmental damage while targeting discoloration, uneven tone and preventing the appearance of future damage at the cellular level. I love that it’s time-released, ultra lightweight formula. I need a “scholarship” so I can buy another bottle 😉
- OZ Naturals Pro-Retaxinol 2.5 Serum: A more affordable option, OZ Naturals Pro-Retaxinol 2.5 Serum (reviewed here) contains a number of anti-aging ingredients including Retinol at the 2.5 level helps fade fine lines and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
Favorite Hand Cream
- H2O+ Targeted Care Hand and Nail Cream: When my hands are really dry like they are now in winter, H2O+ (reviewed here) does the best job hydrating them. Period. The end. (reviewed here)
Favorite Body Lotion/Cream
- DermaMD Soy Moisturizer Intense Healing Serum: Though called a serum, this mint green colored gel cream from DermaMD (reviewed here) does an incredible job softening and keeping my desert-dry skin hydrated and looking younger and better. I adore it!
Favorite Sunscreen for Body
- MyChelle Natural Sunscreens: MyChelle makes three sunscreens (reviewed here) that are very lightweight though they contain physical sunscreens. When applying sunscreen all over my body, I prefer using physical sunscreens instead of chemicals. These sink right in, aren’t greasy, and are either unscented or have a great coconut scent. They’re the best!
Favorite Nail and Cuticle Cream
- Nail Butter: I just adore lemongrass-scented Nail Butter (reviewed here), a thick cream that instantly hydrates my dry nails and cuticles. This stuff makes my nails look and feel so much healthier.
Favorite Body Wash
- Rituals Zensation Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Shower Foam: This unique shower foam (reviewed here) comes out of a spray can as a clear liqui-gel but turns to a moisturizing foam on contact with water. It smells heavenly and leaves my dry skin feeling much more hydrated than any other body wash I’ve ever used.
Favorite Multi-Use Skincare Product
- MyChelle Advanced Argan Oil: I really love MyChelle Advanced Argan Oil (reviewed here) because it is lightweight, does an amazing job softening and hydrating, and it dries with no greasy feeling. I use it on my skin, hair and nails. Although coconut oil is a close second to argan oil for multi-use, there’s nothing like MyChelle Advanced Argan Oil for not being messy (it comes in a pump) and for it’s greaseless feel.
These are some really good products! I still want to try Paula’s Choice one day! Nail Butter is my fave too!
Kat Dinges recently posted…Irresistible Me Hair Extensions
Paula’s Choice products are so well made and so affordable plus she’s always having 20% off sales. Definitely give ’em a try some day
So many different brands I haven’t tried before, very exciting! Can’t wait to discover more skincare in 2016!
Tess Galen recently posted…5 Things: Meet My New Baby
Tess, I’ve been fortunate that I’ve received so many of these fantastic skincare products to try out for review. I still love Olay and L’Oreal, but I am amazed at how many really great skincare products and brands there are.
No kidding about skincare, I’ve always said that I can live without all my makeup but I can’t without my skincare. This is a brilliant list, Allison and I’m familiar with some of the brands but not all. I’ve seen the gold serum featured on another blog and it received a great review too. And I adore Strivectin as a brand, they are very reliable and I love all the products that I’ve tried and the eye cream is one of the best. I have never thought of investing in a neck cream but I’m 37 this year and I think it’s time for me to try one.
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
I’m not sure when I started using neck cream but it might have been around your age. I used to go to a fabulous skin salon on Madison Avenue in NYC that was started by a woman from Budapest and staffed with women from Eastern Europe who were fantastic estheticians and masseuses. Unfortunately, the daughter sold her mother’s incredibly successful chain of salons and the company who bought them proceeded to go out of business in less than 2 years. But they turned me on to neck cream. Still miss their facials and massages as well as their proprietary skincare line 🙂
What a fantastic list of favorites, Allison! There are so many products that i need to try from this list!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Savannah Bee Royal Jelly Body Butter in Tupelo Honey and Majesty Gift Set | Review
Always, isn’t it so?!
You’ve listed so many amazing products. I’ve always wanted to try that Tatcha Indigo Cream and the Shisiedo gel sounds amazing!
Lisa recently posted…Tie It On!: December 2015 & 20% off Coupon Code
If you have sensitive or stressed skin, Tatcha Indigo Cream is the way to go. The Shiseido Multi-Solution Gel is an absolute miracle worker for me. I put it on and the breakout is gone in an instant. At $38, it is so worth it.
Yesss, Paula’s Choice is the best! I love how they have something for everyone, and you don’t have to sell your first born child to be able to afford any of their products. I’d like to try more of their stuff in 2016. I’ve seen that Tatcha cream mentioned on quite a few blogs. Although it might be gimmicky, the indigo color is pretty cool.
Sammi the Beauty Buff recently posted…Trash Talk: Bath & Body Empties (Jan 2016)
I couldn’t agree more about PC. All the Tatcha products are heaven, though pricey. Although the blue color definitely got me, the stuff itself is so soothing for sensitive skin.
Glad to see so many of my personal favorites on that list!
Yes, I thought a number of these were ones you use as well!
So many different skin care products that I’ve never tried. I’m really interested in that Tatcha sunscreen. I need to go back and read some of your previous posts on some of these products since we look for many of the same types of products.
Stacie recently posted…Correct and Conceal
Yes, I always enjoy reading your reviews for that reason, Stacie!
Wow! There’s so many different skincare brands I haven’t tried before. You got so many nice products to try.Agreed that skincare is really important!.
sharon beauty prime recently posted…Attention! Readers & Followers
I’ve lucked out big time when it comes to skincare! I could open a store
I had so much trouble narrowing down favorites. This list is so much more complete than I did. I haven’t used a lot of these but some sound very interesting. You’ve made some good choices.
MarciaF recently posted…Are you ready to be wowed with some WOW Facial Masks?
Marcia, there were a number of other skincare categories I intended to do but it was so long already. I realized that my skincare routine is soooooo complex that I need to simplify but I have so many great products, it pains me not to use them
Great round up of skincare! I really want to try the Tatcha sunscreen – love that it minimizes pores too!
Elaine recently posted…Birchbox Canada January 2016
The Tatcha sunscreen is a perfect sunscreen. Most of the sunscreens we get in the US are so heavy and white, they’re annoying. This one is perfection
There are quite a few products on your list that are on my favorite list as well… Tatcha and Paula’s Choice (the skin recovery specifically) are some of my daily loves. I haven’t tried the Nail Butter but I hear nothing but great things about it.
Honeygirlk recently posted…Foodie Friday Feature – Farmacy Health Bar, Pukalani
Nail Butter is terrific and the lemongrass scent is wonderful
I spy some of my faves, too, like the Xanadu serum and Nail Butter, and some I need to try like the Ibuki gel! Great list, even for me with my oily skin!
Nidia – Lit From Within recently posted…Refreshing Vitamin C! #refreshvitaminc
The Shiseido IBUKI Multi-Purpose Gel would be great for you!
Murad has saved my skin and I just adore IBUKI multi-purpose gel. I am also a huuuge nail of nail butter. Especially, now, during these dry winter months. You have a great line-up going here.
Color Me So Crazy recently posted…Make Me Pretty Giveaways
Thanks, Brigitte! I’m glad we all know about these great skincare products
Such a great list. I love Tatcha and Paula’s Choice SO much!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…The Beauty Spotlight Team’s Pleasures with Perilously Pale!
They were both brands that I tried for the first time in 2015, and I’m hooked!
I love that La Roche Posay sunscreen too. It’s so nice under makeup. I definitely need to try the MyChelle cleanser when I finish a few. It sounds so great.
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The LRP sunscreen is a really good one! That high SPF coupled with the lightweight formula is a winner
I love the Pure Revival Peel! I used it a few days ago. I need a good eye cream, so thanks for putting Lindi on my radar.
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I’m glad you like the Exuviance Pure Revival Peel too!
LOVE the Tatcha Indigo line!
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So far, I’ve only tried the Soothing Cream. I’ve gotta try some of the others in the line.
You’ve definitely added a lot of must tries to my list!
The Beauty of Life recently posted…They Say it’s Your Birthday: My Birthday Wishlist!
I really need to order from Paula’s Choice again — I ordered from her once before and loved the products! I just always forget until I’m literally OUT of a skincare item, and then I rush out to the drugstore and get something, lol.
Katie Garvin recently posted…Project Pan – Finish 7 by Spring
And now with a new baby, I’m sure you time is at even more of a premium! I think Paula’s Choice skincare is the bargain of the century, but I do wish they were sold in stores coz it’s so much more convenient. I’m so cheap that I reorder whenever there’s free shipping and/or a discount so I often have one waiting in the wings.
I thought I already commented on this, I don’t know what happened! Anyway, the Ibuki Gel was one of my favorites last year too along with my Origins Zero Oil face wash. 🙂
Kristina recently posted…PUR Cosmetics HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation is a Winter Makeup Must!
Oh no, sorry if my blog ate your initial comment, Kristina! So nice of you to return and try again 🙂 I’m glad that the Shiseido Gel made your favorites list too. I used it again the other day, and the nascent blemish disappeared almost immediately. That stuff is a miracle for me!