Drugstore Skin-Care Steals
Best Serum
Best Toner
Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Solution
Best Moisturizer
Burt's Bees Truly Glowing
Night Cream
Not going to lie, we started using the Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Solution ($18) just for the aesthetically pleasing packaging and satisfying pump that gets the product directly on the cotton pad (a reusable, terry-cloth pad, of course). But it's the brighter, more even-toned skin we experienced after a few weeks of use that keeps us coming back. This toner is packed with exfoliating acids, like lactic, glycolic, azelaic, and kojic, and brightening vitamin C and bearberry extract (a natural alternative to hydroquinone) that target dark spots and unwanted pigmentation with ease.
A great night cream is like a great
pair of jeans: finding your right match
can be a little tricky, but it's an absolute staple in every wardrobe . . . or, in this
case, every skin-care routine. Our current favorite: Burt's Bees Truly Glowing Night Cream ($18), a soothing, cushiony cream that's loaded with proteins, humectants, and oils to give your skin all the hydration it needs. After your recommended eight hours (OK, six), you'll wake up with plump skin that reflects light for an unbeatable glow. If only finding jeans were that easy.
Best Lip Balm
Eos The Hero Extra Dry
Lip Balm Treatment
This Eos The Hero Extra Dry
Lip Balm Treatment ($4) doesn't
mess around. The brand's proprietary blend not only delivers tons of moisture
to even the driest, most cracked lips, but it also heals your skin's natural protective barrier, ensuring that the hydration stays right where you want it. It will work its magic for a full day, so there's no need
to reapply — even though the yummy
berry flavor will make you want to
swipe it on every hour.
Best Sunscreen
Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen SPF 30
We won't bore you with all the
health and aesthetic reasons you need to wear sunscreen every single day. We know you know. The truth is, unless you find one you actually enjoy using, the chances of you applying SPF are slim to none. Luckily, the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen SPF 30 ($20) is so good, you'll actually
look forward to this step in your skin-care routine. The lightweight, silky (not greasy!) formula dries down to a pretty blurring effect that can replace your foundation,
and the sheer tint counteracts any
white cast you sometimes get from a
100 percent mineral formula.
Garnier Green Labs Canna-B
Pore Perfecting Serum Cream
"Skinimalism" is in, and with our
hectic morning routines, we couldn't
be happier about it. To help us Marie Kondo our medicine cabinets, we've been reaching for the Garnier Green Labs Canna-B Pore Perfecting Serum Cream ($17) in the a.m. This all-in-one serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen (it boasts an SPF of 30!) takes the place of three products and still manages to leave our skin feeling brighter, smoother, and more hydrated, thanks to the combination of hydrating cannabis sativa seed oil and soothing niacinamide.
Sean Garrette
Aesthetician and skin-care influencer
