I Simplified My Skin Care Routine, and I’m Obsessed With the Results

Bioderma’s micellar water quickly and effectively lifts dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin. It’s become my go-to in place of a morning face wash and is incredibly useful for removing mascara traces. Just douse a cotton round, wipe, and go. No H2O necessary.

I didn’t like cleansing oils until I tried this one by La Roche-Posay. It’s almost like an oil-meets-gel texture that lathers into a soft foam that’s gentle on skin. Plus, it’s enriched with the brand’s prebiotic thermal spring water, niacinamide, and shea butter so as not to strip skin of its essential oils.

True to its name, Lesse’s cleanser is one of the most gentle face washes I’ve ever used. Optimal for when my skin feels exceptionally reactive, this harnesses the powers of rosa centifolia, aloe vera, and tamanu seed oils to soothe inflammation, reduce redness, and replenish moisture levels with each use.

I like that Epi.logic’s cleanser focuses on balancing and calming the skin barrier. It does so via a blend of rosehip seed oil, polyglutamic acid, ashwaganda, and chamomile that washes away impurities without stripping skin of its natural oils.

A Korean essence meets a French toner, Eadem’s Cashmere Peel is the best of both worlds. A 9% blend of AHA/PHAs (lactic, azelaic, and tranexamic acid, plus gluconolactone) unclog pores for smoother skin, while rice water and colloidal oatmeal extract keep skin nourished and plump.

The Base Face Milk is one of my absolute favorite Ilia launches ever. My skin seriously loves this stuff. Not only is it lightweight and never ever pills, but it’s also full of good-for-skin ingredients—hyaluronic acid, prickly-pear-flower extract, and squalane—that improve the look and feel. I like to use this when my skin is on the drier side and requires a little extra moisture before face cream.

CosRx’s toner draws upon 72.6% of black bee propolis extract and 10% honey extract to to keep skin plump, smooth, and undeniably glowing. And though its composition works overtime to keep enlarged pores at bay, it’s exceptionally gentle—great to pair with more active-forward steps in my routine.

Apt for exfoliating, reducing pore size, and transforming dry skin, Mixsoon’s Bean Essence is one I continuously reach for. It has a subtle stickiness that’s a sensorial experience on its on, relying upon fermented soybean, barley, pomegranate, and Korean pear.

As an oily-skin girl, SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF is perfect for me. It uses L-ascorbic acid, silymarin, ferulic acid, and salicylic acid to reduce excess oil production, refine pores, and protect against free-radical damage.

I’m quite fond Bioeffect’s EGF Serum. Formulated with just seven ingredients, this is led by the power of epidermal growth factors known to boost collagen production for more youthful skin.

Sofie Pavitt once told me that I don’t have to use vitamin C—maybe mandelic acid would be better suited for my oily, acne-prone skin. “Mandelic acid is a large molecule-sized AHA that slowly and gently dissolves the bonds between dead cells and healthy skin underneath," she told Vogue, citing its brightening and antibacterial properties.

My favorite drugstore vitamin C serum by far, there’s plenty to love about La Roche-Posay’s formula—especially for those of us blemish-prone. Alongside 10% pure vitamin C is skin-clearing salicylic acid, neurosensine, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and thermal spring water—whipped into a nourishing serum that reduces pore size and improves skin tone.

Thank you, Issa Rae, for putting me on to OleHenriksen’s Dewtopia. As the Emmy-nominated star says, this limits my breakouts like no other, thanks to potent concentrations of AHAs and PHAs. I like to apply this on my forehead and cheeks only, where I tend to get blemishes. (Remember: You do not have to use every product all over your face!)

Instead of leaving my skin tingling and taut, Elemis’s toner pads keep my skin calm and comfortable. Perhaps we have the featured shea butter to thank for that, pairing the conditioning ingredient with lactic acid and papaya enzyme known for their resurfacing properties.

I like my retinols nonirritating and customizable, which is why I’ve been relying on Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 3 Serum. Encapsulated retinaldehyde leads the formula, working in tandem with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to improve fine lines, skin tone, and texture. This powerful anti-aging ingredient is not to be dismissed.

I am Glo Skin’s Beta-Clarity BHA Drops’ biggest fan! Cocktailing some of skincare’s most potent ingredients—salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and retinol, this clarifies and exfoliates skin like no other. I can go to sleep with a blemish or blackheads, and have them visibly reduced by morning.

A TikTok find that’s certainly worth the hype, I’ve been loving this collagen-boosting jelly cream lately. Even dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman is a fan: “this is beneficial for those with dry or aging skin, as it helps improve elasticity and promotes long-lasting hydration,” she previously told Vogue.

I prefer a really lush PM moisturizer, and Irene Forte’s Hibiscus Night Cream is just the ticket. The elixir features peptides, ceramides, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and omega-rich oils—all things that reinforce skin’s moisture barrier and deliver smoother, bouncier skin come morning.

Sulwhasoo’s Renewing Cream might just be my favorite face cream of all time. Drawing up on the rejuvenating powers of ginseng saponins, ginseng root extract, and squalane, this silky moisturizer drenches skin in hydration—revealing an exceptional glow in the process.

Don’t call Augustinus Bader’s The Cream just a face cream. Per dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian, “It’s an anti-aging [solution] with heavy-hitting moisturizing ingredients, including ceramides, squalane, and vitamin B5, among others,” citing it as one of the best face moisturizers on the market overall.

Dare I say Chanel’s UV Essentiel is the most underrated facial sunscreen? The girlies in the Vogue office can be heard gabbing about it all day long. It has a mid-cream texture that imparts a subtle glow—not to mention it’s safe for sensitive skin.

No matter how many innovative sunscreens I try, I keep coming back to this La Roche-Posay formula. Anthelios Ultra Light is so milky it almost feels like a serum—and leaves skin with a natural matte finish that feels comfortable all day long.

For everyday, I gravitate towards chemical sunscreens but on days where I’ll be spending more time outside, a mineral SPF is a must. I’ve been obsessed with Ranavat’s since its spring launch. It pair 20 antioxidant-rich adaptogens with zinc oxide and squalane to treat and protect skin sans white cast.

Prequel’s Solar Shade alleviates my skin’s dryness but without the weight. Oh the powers of a fluid sunscreen! This one does so with rice antioxidants, microalgae, ethyl ferulate, and ceramide-like lipids to moisturize, protect, and repair.

Dr. Dennis Gross’s LED face mask is my go-to because it offers both red light for anti-aging and blue light for acne. “Patients often report more even tone and less redness after a few weeks of use. It’s FDA-cleared and offers great cumulative benefits when used regularly (three to five times per week),” board-certified nurse practitioner Vanessa Coppola previously said of the device.

I swear by a good facial massage to stimulate blood flow and reduce puffiness. My favorite is this roller by Joanna Czech, which mimics the master facialist’s signature massage technique.

Against all my best efforts, I still get acne here and there which is where Tata Harper’s Clarifying Mask comes to the rescue—targeting blemishes and correcting redness with 40 botanical ingredients, from AHA super fruits and bentonite clay to chlorella and naturally-derived salicylic acid.

From Anne Hathaway to Victoria Beckham…and me, 111Skin’s under-eye patches have a bevy of fans. Before big events I opt for its Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask rich in retinol and peptides to firm and awaken tired eyes, though for weekly use I like these depuffing ones which feel cool to the touch.