Some remarkable skin-care products have emerged recently, and now is the opportune moment to incorporate them into your regimen. After all, spring is the season for rejuvenating lifestyle habits (cleansing and detoxifying) and nature (healthy growth), so why not extend these concepts to your skin? As temperatures ascend, shed some layers with a chemical exfoliant. Counter the impacts of daylight saving time with a product that supports your skin's circadian rhythm. Fend off environmental harm—now that you're spending more time outdoors—with some antioxidants. Regardless of how you wish to revamp your routine, these diligent formulas we've selected are scientifically verified to invigorate your skin.
Nocturnal Skincare Polar Night Renewal Serum ($92)
While you slumber, your entire body is vigorously engaged in repairing damage—and during this period, your skin becomes more receptive to topical substances as blood flow levels escalate. This formulation from the new brand Nocturnal Skincare was meticulously crafted to maximize your beauty sleep with a combination of peptides that stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin, as well as skin-brightening and -balancing niacinamide. It also encompasses a distinctive lipid derived from oats growing just beneath the Arctic Circle. Harvested in one of the most challenging years on record (extremely frigid winter and intensely hot summer), these resilient oats impart their strength to the skin, aiding it in better absorbing the other active ingredients in the formula while keeping it nourished. (They also offer a very delicate and pleasant aroma.) The serum absorbs astonishingly rapidly, leaving no residue but making the skin feel exceptionally moisturized and supple, perhaps tempting you to forgo night cream. You'll adore the exquisite bottle, which never needs to be discarded—it can be effortlessly refilled with a recyclable insert.
SickScience ShapeShift V-Line Defining Serum ($58)
These days, everyone is discussing exosomes, but only a few brands have managed to harness their regenerative attributes in an at-home topical product—and SickScience is the sole one to have accomplished this at such an economical price. Developed by founders Polen Koçak-Denizci, PhD, and Merve Yildirim-Canpolat, PhD (a molecular scientist and a biogenomic scientist, respectively), this formula utilizes pineapple-derived exosomes and the women's proprietary technology to target and break down lipid droplets along the jawline. And as if that weren't sufficient, the serum boasts potent firming peptides to comprehensively mold and tighten the lower face over the course of eight weeks for a more defined appearance.
SkinBetter Science Trio Luxe Moisture Treatment ($175)
Occasionally, your skin simply craves a thick, opulent moisturizer; this indulgent new concoction from SkinBetter Science will leave dry and distressed skin feeling as if it's been enveloped in a soothing cocoon of nourishment. It operates by supporting three intrinsic elements of the skin—barrier function, hyaluronic acid levels, and natural moisturizing factors—responsible for long-lasting moisture. Formulated with ingredients such as urea, lipids, fatty acids, and niacinamide, the cream rejuvenates and rebalances the skin to make it more comfortable while reducing redness and enhancing texture. The outcome: healthy, lustrous, and more uniform-looking skin.
SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst ($115)
In certain instances, integrating a new exfoliator into your skin-care routine can prove to be a hurdle, especially if you have sensitive skin or are using a retinoid in rotation. This gentle, rapidly absorbing serum from SkinCeuticals can be seamlessly incorporated into any daily routine to stimulate cellular turnover, facilitating light peeling without leaving the skin dehydrated. This is attributed to the blend of alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, which is supported by taurine, an amino acid that optimizes the skin barrier function. Bonus: unlike numerous chemical exfoliants, it can be safely employed in the morning.
Kate Somerville KateCeuticals SuperCell Rejuvenation Peptide Serum ($95)
Why opt for an ordinary face roller when you can utilize one that has a skin-repairing serum integrated? This formula from Kate Somerville is laden with a substantial quantity of peptides—one of the most potent classes of active ingredients—to support the reparative processes of skin proteins. Though it's effective in firming, soothing, and smoothing the skin on its own, this serum is optimally used after intensive aesthetic procedures like Morpheus8, when it's better capable of penetrating the skin via minute channels created by the microneedles. And, naturally, the massaging head merely reinforces the formula's sculpting advantages.
UBeauty The SUPER Intensive Face Oil ($188)
This velvety face oil absorbs promptly to bestow a splendid glow as well as deep, enduring moisture, courtesy of avocado oil, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid, a type of antioxidant that can assist in repairing and safeguarding against skin damage as well as enhancing moisture retention. It's also accountable for this product's charming orange hue—carotenoids are what give cuts of salmon (and flamingo feathers!) their color.
Deinde Moisture-Locking Face Stick ($36)
Although moisturizer in a stick format might cause you to hesitate, don't be deterred: this formula from Deinde is not stiff, sticky, or greasy and provides nourishing (yet surprisingly lightweight) hydration. In addition to skin-loving lipids such as ceramides and squalane, the balm incorporates flavanone naringenin, which offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and regenerative properties in addition to helping the skin retain moisture, all with a few swipes. We enjoy stashing it in our bag for a swift dose of nourishment; it doubles as a cuticle or lip treatment in a pinch.
SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream ($54)
While you might be acquainted with this product, permit us to reintroduce it to you—it's undergone a bit of a transformation, as SkinFix reformulated it to include a patented complex intended to support the skin barrier. It combines lipids, peptides, and vitamins that are biomimetic, facilitating the skin's recognition and deep absorption for accelerated repair (a clinical study indicates that the cream fortifies the skin barrier in just 30 minutes). Because the moisture barrier plays such a significant role in skin health, you'll observe that this formula leaves the skin not only more nourished but also firmer, smoother, softer, and more radiant. We also appreciate that it comes in three sizes—standard, mini, and jumbo—and can be refilled.
RMS Beauty Kakadu Luxe Cream ($55)
The star component of this silky cream from the clean brand RMS Beauty is kakadu plum seed oil. Native to Australia, this botanical is one of the most powerful and stable forms of the antioxidant-rich vitamin C. It's paired here with niacinamide, shea, and plant-derived peptides (pea and quinoa seed extracts) to plump, smooth, and hydrate the skin, leaving it glowing and soft.
Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Retinol Alternative Serum ($84)
If retinol isn't suitable for you, you're not alone. The ingredient is notoriously irritating and cannot be safely used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, plant-based alternatives exist, including this freshly reformulated treatment from Caudalie. It employs a patented blend of the antioxidant resveratrol, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and a vegan form of collagen I (which is most prevalent in the dermis, the deepest layer of skin tissue) to assist in firming the skin. In fact, studies reveal that this serum is three times as effective as retinol. Not only is it safe for sensitive skin and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, but the product's packaging is fully recyclable.
M-61 PowerGlow Peel Body ($56 for 10 treatments)
We've long been enthusiasts of M-61's PowerGlow Peel—the original face formula is highly effective and can be used anywhere, even from bed when you're feeling extremely lethargic—and are excited about this new version for your skin from the neck down. Similar to the original, the formula contains glycolic and salicylic acids to smooth, brighten, and clarify the skin, along with vitamin K to assist in improving dry and red patches. However, this one also incorporates caffeine to help tighten the skin and temporarily enhance the appearance of cellulite. It's all delivered via a saturated pad that's easy to swipe across your body after a shower.
