We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

    27 Hard-Working Skincare Products For Anyone Who's Starting A New Routine

    Say hello to your new holy grail products.

    1. An instant detox mask that takes about 10 minutes to do, meaning, yes, you can fit it into your busy a.m. routine! This mask contains grape seed polyphenols to fortify the skin with antioxidants and pink clay to soak up any excess grime on the skin.

    2. A set of gold under-eye masks for a brighter, smoother, and plumper under-eye moment before bed. The skin around the eyes is thinner than the rest of the face, making them more susceptible to trans-epidermal water loss. Eye masks like these are pretty much crucial for preventing that.

    BuzzFeed associate editor Jasmin Sandal with wears gold under eye masks
    Before-and-after picture showing dark circles/bags on left and less puffiness on right after using same gold under-eye masks
    Jasmin Sandal/BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

    Promising review: "It is amazing how much better my dark circles look compared to before I used them. They are relaxing to have on and so easy to remove. Once they are applied, they don’t move around and do what they need to do!" —Jenna

    Get 15 pairs from Amazon for $19.47.

    3. An Osea cleansing mudd that's been my saving grace for keeping my adult acne at bay. This formula contains sea minerals and tea tree oil to minimize oiliness, and has peppermint inside that leaves a cooling — not stripping — sensation.

    4. A top-tier mineral sunscreen, because there are so many sunscreen formulas out there, but if you want a classic, no-frills mineral sunscreen that is easy to rub into the skin, you need to grab a hold of this one.

    a bottle of blue lizard sunscreen

    5. And on the topic of renewing, a L'Oreal collagen moisturizer, since collagen is one of the prime building blocks for new skin cells! With continued use, this moisturizer will help plump the complexion, and it's a great option if you have combination skin since it's relatively lightweight.

    reviewer photo of moisturizer
    reviewer selfie holding up container of moisturizer

    Promising review: "I admit I was skeptical about switching to a collagen moisturizer. Nonetheless, I’ve noticed that using it made my skin softer and better hydrated. During the winter, my skin didn’t dry out as easily as it did with my previous moisturizers. My skin is sensitive, and this product has been beneficial for it. On top of all that, I also noticed that incorporating this product and retinol into my skincare routine has also significantly decreased the appearance of the fine lines on my forehead. I have just finished one of these and am currently using this same product again. 10/10 would recommend to others!" —Ghia

    Get it from Amazon for $8.98+ (available in two sizes).

    6. Handmade Heroes Vegan Coconut Lip Scrub so that you can shun the bane of your lip routine! The bane in question is cracked lips, and this scrub contains sugar to slough off dead skin cells along with coconut and jojoba oil to moisturize your pout.

    Finger scoops up cream-colored lip scrub from a tiny clear jar
    reviewers lips before, looking rough, and after, looking much smoother

    Promising review: "I just tried this product and I am completely sold forever and in love! To think I’ve been living all these years with flaking rough chapped lips and this was the answer?! I think this is my first written Amazon review but I felt so compelled to write a review because of how awesome this works! It only takes a tiny amount to work. Easy to use. Works extremely fast, like I think I rubbed it for a total of 60 seconds tops, and my lips feel better than they have in forever. I am someone who literally has chapped lips all year round even using ChapStick constantly and was on the lookout for a solution and this is definitely it! Highly recommend!" —Heather

    Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

    7. A nourishing "skin food" moisturizer that is technically a body cream, but works amazingly as an overnight moisturizing mask on the face. I've been using this at night for years, and I always wake up with even, dewy skin — no matter what.

    8. A Futurewise slugging balm I use every evening to make sure I wake up with plump, smooth skin in the a.m. Futurewise is all about slugging (the brand even has its own system), which is the practice of trapping moisture in the skin by applying an occlusive layer overtop. Slugging basically prevents trans-epidermal water loss (a fancy term for water evaporating from your skin) throughout the evening, and TikTokers rave about the practice. This formula contains plant-based oils that *feel* like good ol’ petroleum jelly without being derived from crude oils!

    9. Eucerin Redness Relief Night Creme since a rosy complexion is natural, but experiencing things like eczema or psoriasis on the face can feel uncomfortable. Eucerin is a dermatologist-loved brand that makes powerhouse products to help treat both eczema and psoriasis, and this night cream is no different, with ingredients like licorice root extract, to diminish redness and smooth the skin.

    reviewer before and after with reduced redness, added caption
    reviewer before and after photo with reduced redness

    Promising review: "It’s easy to apply, very moisturizing, doesn’t burn or sting. No redness. I would buy again." —FFT

    Get it from Amazon for $10.39.

    10. A soothing rosehip oil that works to moisturize the skin as well as diminish redness that you may be experiencing. This is an especially great option if you find yourself dealing with rosacea.

    11. A box of hydrating face masks so you can trick people into thinking that you have your aesthetician on speed dial — but, actually, you just have these centella asiatica-enriched masks that help calm redness while boosting water levels in the skin.

    Reviewer before and after showing the mask made their skin look tighter and reduced the appearance of some wrinkles
    reviewer's before and after pic of skin while wearing the face mask

    Promising review: "Easy to apply. Really tightens skin right away. Washes up easily. Makes skin feel really soft and smooth." —Linda

    "I was absolutely amazed after using this mask! It made my skin so soft! My pores were barely there; this mask tightened my skin and left it baby-smooth! This was only after one use! My makeup went on beautifully and lasted longer. After several uses, I can say the tightening effect has really left my skin firmer. The mask made my skin feel slightly itchy as it tightened. However, it did subside, and it didn’t irritate my face. I am loving how soft my skin is. And yes, it is still making my pores look nonexistent! Love it, would highly recommend. 💕💕" —Sarah

    Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $17.99.

    12. A bar of African black soap to renew your skin in as easy as 1, 2, 3. I have been using this cleanser for years, and I can firmly say that it is the only cleanser that keeps my skin both clear *and* glowing.

    13. A marine algae eye cream that'll help you look like you actually had eight hours of sleep! This cream contains pink algae to plump the skin with hydration.

    14. A snail mucin serum since skin that's hydrated is happy —especially at night! Snail essence has long been a K-beauty secret for glowing, glass-like skin. Incorporate this into your routine after your toner and before your other serums to deliver a surge of jam-packed hydration.

    A person applying the essence to their skin

    15. A BHA cleanser with white willow bark and zinc to wash off any pore-clogging excess sweat or grime that could've accumulated after a long day of outdoor activities! This is also great for those who live near a city since BHAs go deep into pores to wash out impurities and pollution while minimizing oil production as the temps rise.

    containers of Herbivore Aquarius filled with blue cleansing solution

    16. The iconic Baby Foot peel mask, because sandal season is here! This mask uses exfoliators to slough off every last dead skin cell from the soles (and heels!) of your feet. I use this mask every few months, and the peeling experience is always just as satisfying as the soft and supple results.

    a foot before and after the peel mask

    17. A bag of biodegradable face wipes that are individually wrapped, meaning you can easily pop them into your overnight bag, gym bag, or in your desk drawer at work! These wipes exfoliate the skin, so they're perfect for anyone looking to banish excess sebum or sweat.

    the face wipes in a bag

    18. An LED light therapy mask, which aestheticians love to use when looking to neutralize their clients' complexions. OK, this mask may look scary, but it does wonders for clearing breakouts, diminishing fine lines, and even fighting inflammation (basically, all the things that may run rampant during the summer months)! You can wear this after you've completed your nighttime skincare routine and while you're reading your pre-bed book.

    19. A pack of facial and eyebrow razors so you can say goodbye to peach fuzz, while helping to fade dark spots and plump up the skin! Professional dermaplaning can enter the three-digit price range, so this is basically a steal.

    20. A Sunday Riley Luna sleeping oil that is a retinoid oil full of blue tansy (that calms breakouts) and retinol (that helps the skin renew and repair itself as you sleep)! Add this as the last step of your nighttime routine to seal in all the goodness of those hydrating serums underneath and watch your skin glow by morning.

    various sizes of the sleeping oil

    21. A Supergoop SPF 40 sunscreen, because summer is here and you should definitely SPF up! Yes, you should use sunscreen every single day (that includes rainy days, too!) to protect your skin from UV damage. If you're scared of sunscreen leaving a white cast, don't worry — this formula glides on clear.

    a reviewer wearing the sunscreen

    22. And an SPF lip balm since *all* of your skin needs protection from the sun, even your pout! This moisturizing lip balm locks hydration into the lips for a smooth finish and has a whopping SPF 30 inside. (Most sun-protectant lip products only go up to 15, even though the recommended amount is 30–50!)

    a reviewer's lip spf

    23. A bottle of First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub that moisturizes the skin while 10% AHA works to gently slough off dead skin cells and KP bumps.

    24. A pack of pimple patches made from hydrocolloid, aka a superstar ingredient that sucks out things like grime and pus from the skin. Pop these on overnight, and enjoy waking up to a less-inflamed and smoother acne bump!

    reviewer with angry looking pimple on forehead, then the same reviewer with it flattened out and healing

    25. And follow that up with a rescue balm I use on my post-adult-acne dark spots, which I thought would never go away. This formula contains panthenol that will hydrate the area, while beta-glucan works overtime to diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

    26. A bottle of Tend Skin solution that will be the bane of your ingrown hairs and razor bumps! Bye-bye red, angry bumps on the underarms, legs, and bikini line, and hello smooth, even skin!

    27. And a bottle of Bio-Oil Multi-Use Skincare Oil — it helps to fade dark spots on the face, but is also an industry-leading moisturizing oil that can help diminish scars on the body, too!

    A customer review photo showing their skin before (with acne) and after (without acne) using the oil

    The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.