What Skincare Products Do You Rave About to Your Friends?

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What skincare products do you rave about to your friends — especially when you're trying to boil things down to the easiest routine possible? What specialty products do you and your friends randomly discover you all swear by?

This came up a few days ago when I was chatting with a few friends. Friend #1, slightly younger, was asking about forehead lines… and before I knew it we were having a great discussion about skincare in general. I thought it might be fun to round up a few of the products I recommend to friends — but I'd love to hear yours!

(By the way: Friend #2 says Frownies are THE thing to use for forehead lines… I've never tried them. Have you guys?)

We've talked a lot about beauty over the years, including a great discussion on beauty empties (products we actually finish), which beauty products we can't live without, specific makeup shades we've worn for ages, how I deal with dark circles under my eyes, and easy makeup products to keep at your desk — and we've also had a great discussion on plastic surgery.

Meanwhile, check out some of our most popular posts on beauty, including how to style long hair for interviews, the best nail colors for work, and the best lip tints for work, and how to make a blowout last for days.

Skincare Basics: Tretinoin, Vitamin C, and Sunscreen

I have learned this from the readers long ago and honestly have mostly trusted you guys on this. (OK, my dermatologist also has a say, but she's always just said “tretinoin” to all my requests about peptides and so forth.)

I get a prescription tretinoin from my derm (Obagi brand, I think), and often use the Obagi Vitamin C as well. For my sunscreen I've been using Missha's Soft Finish — it's like a powdery finish, I love it! — but I alternate between different brands based on what I've got on hand. (I can't find a good link to it right now, alas.)

I only use tretinoin at night (and honestly not even every night, I could be a lot better about it).

My Favorite Exfoliators

I also stressed to my friend that you really need to use a good chemical exfoliator on a regular basis. My skin gets a bit ashy without it, and immediately after the treatment my skin glows.

My favorite exfoliators are these guys from The Ordinary (AHA/BHA), Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley, and The Ordinary (glycolic).

• The Ordinary: I use this one if I only have 5 minutes or less before a shower, so this one is probably my MOST used.
• Drunk Elephant's BabyFacial: My favorite, but requires 20 minutes… and no more. I lost track of time while on a phone call with a friend one night and 50 minutes later hooo it burned.
• Sunday Riley's Good Genes: Another favorite, but I only use it if I'm intentionally putting something on my face before bed that ISN'T tretinoin. It's a relatively gentle but effective overnight treatment.
• The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid: bonus mention because I don't use this on my face so much as my scalp maybe once a month over winter… I've also heard people say it's good for feet!

(I've also taken a more in-depth look to compare and contrast Drunk Elephant and Sunday Riley.)

The Moisturizer I'm Obsessed With

I have been trying a LOT of moisturizers lately — facial, body, whatever. This is the one that I'm obsessed with and getting as a stocking stuffer for all of my female relatives this Christmas

I put this Gold Bond cream on more religiously than my tretinoin! I switch off my bedside light and put this all over my hands, elbows, and any other particularly dry patches. The next morning when I wash my hands I still notice it! One of my friends was saying it's also great for those little KP bumpies you get on your upper arms. I also really really like their neck & chest cream. (I hate the term turkey neck, but… yeah, it helps with that.)

Bonus mention because I just started using it: but I've tried a lot of cuticle creams over the years and this Dior one is really thick and buttery. I don't love the scent, but la di dah.

OK one more: this Neosporin lip balm isn't fancy at all but it's been my favorite overnight lip balm for close to 15 years… it's my go-to for chapped lips and beyond.

Readers, what are the skincare treatments, serums, and moisturizers that you recommend to friends?

Stock photo via Pexels / Mikhail Nilov.