Reader question: I’m looking for a good skincare line with everything…cleanser, toner, and moisturizer included! —@belmarbubby Developing a skincare routine is typically lauded as self-care, but oftentimes it can just feel…overwhelming. How many steps do we really need? Which ingredients do what? Which formulas should and shouldn’t be combined? With the beauty aisles these days basically overflowing with supposed “must-haves,” a surplus of skincare ingredients, and hundreds of new brands, deciphering a skincare routine is harder than ever. Add to that the fact that everyone has different skin—and therefore different skin types, concerns, goals, etc.—and skincare can start feeling more like rocket science. Amidst the marketing noise, there are some brands trying to simplify things. By streamlining their products into categories like ingredient type, skin goals, and time of application, it makes shopping for—and applying—skincare a whole lot easier. From cleansers to serums to moisturizers, I’ve highlighted a few standout collections below so you can shop everything you need, all in one place. Try: The Cicapair line. The entire collection is suited for sensitive skin and infused with tiger grass to calm irritation and help strengthen your microbiome. The soothing formulations are perfect when paired with the brand’s newest collection, The Pore Remedy Album, featuring resurfacing PHAs to smooth skin’s texture. Try: Don’t want to do the mixing yourself? The Buffet features a skin-friendly mix of amino acids, peptides, and hyaluronic acid complexes that sync together for maximum skincare benefits. Try: The recently expanded Pure Retinol Collection, which now includes a night cream and eye cream alongside the cult-favorite Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate for a more targeted, slow-release form of retinol without the common irritating side effects. Try: The Rose collection. The brand says it selected the damask rose out of 200(!) rose species for its special power to retain moisture while strengthening the skin barrier. Neutrogena not only has streamlined collections targeting specific skincare goals (i.e., HydroBoost for hydration and BrightBoost for brightening), it also separates its formulas by day and night (or clarify that you can use it for both), so you know exactly when to apply what. Try: The Rapid Wrinkle collection. The daytime moisturizer has SPF to protect skin during the day, while the nighttime moisturizer includes retinol to boost collagen production while you sleep. Try: If you have dry skin, try the Hydration collection, which aims to lift impurities while restoring moisture balance. If you have oily skin, try the Oil Control collection to control oil without eliminating it. And for anti-aging, try the Lifting and Firming collection, which targets loss of firmness and elasticity. Because the skin naturally has a slightly acidic pH around 5.5, you need to maintain this for proper skin cell turnover and barrier function. But since we don’t all have litmus strips readily on hand, you can look for brands that sell exclusively pH-optimized formulas. See: Necessaire, which only sells products close to your skin’s natural pH—somewhere in the 4.6 to 5.5 range—to avoid stripping the skin. Try: The Body Line. From body wash to exfoliator to serum to lotion to oil, you’ll be able to find everything you need for the ultimate body care routine.
