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As anyone who's ever perused the aisles of their local drugstore or beauty supply chain can tell you, finding the best skincare products is hard. That's why our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab scientists are always testing the latest and greatest innovations in skincare, from drugstore picks to luxury beauty brands and everything in between, to find the best products in the world that are actually proven to work.
To put together this definitive list of the best skincare products of all time, we consulted dermatologists to ask about their favorite brands and formulas, and included those recommendations alongside the GH Beauty Lab's top-tested skincare products across categories.
Our top picks:
The GH Beauty Lab thoroughly evaluates skincare products using technical Lab instruments and consumer feedback. In the Lab, our scientists use devices that evaluate skin's hydration levels, firmness and the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots and pores, both before and after use of a formula. They also distribute the products to consumer testers, who evaluate them on ease of use and the look and feel of their skin after a set time period. Then these data points are culled together to determine the best skincare products you can buy, from face cleansers to moisturizers, serums, eye creams, sunscreens and more.
No matter your age or what type of skin you have — from oily to acne-prone to dry to sensitive — these are the best products to add to your skincare routine right now.
Pros
- Effectively and deeply cleans
- High lather
Cons
- Some weren't pleased by the scent
Deep clean your complexion with SkinCeuticals's foam face wash, which is infused with glycerin and cucumber extract. A winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s most recent face cleanser test, it earned near perfect points for effective cleansing, with 96% of users reporting that it deeply purified their skin.
Yet it was able to cleanse without drying out skin: "Instead of feeling tight and dry, this facial wash left my skin feeling much more silky, nourished and smooth and rinsed off easily," a tester noted. Quite a few online reviewers prefer the smell of the brand's cream cleanser more, though.
RELATED: The Best Face Washes Ever, According to Skincare Pros
Pros
- Great for all skin types
- Leaves skin hydrated and soft
Cons
- Scent is polarizing
With a powder fresh scent and mild suds, Cetaphil's dermatologist-recommended face wash was a winner in the GH Beauty Lab’s face wash test for cleansing thoroughly yet leaving skin soft. Several testers remarked that it was gentle enough for sensitive skin, but it's great for all skin types, including oily. “It didn’t overdry, strip or irritate,” one raved. Testers ranked it highest of all cleansers tested, with 86% saying they’d continue using it. Plus, it scored well for rinsing off easily and making skin feel hydrated.
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Pros
- Suitable for both day and night use
- 96% of women reported firmer, softer skin after use
Cons
- SPF may not blend as well
Doubling as a day and night cream, L'Oréal's GH Beauty Award-winning formula effectively fortifies skin's moisture barrier thanks to firming calcium and natural oils like passion fruit and apricot. One study of 52 women found that 96% saw firmer and more supple skin in just one month of use, per the GH Beauty Lab's data evaluation. One caveat noted by online shoppers was that its SPF ingredient left a slight white cast on darker complexions.
Pros
- Highly hydrating
- Quality ingredients at a great price
Cons
- Thicker formula may not work for oily skin types
The GH Beauty Lab’s gold standard moisturizer Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream delivers great value and near-record levels of hydration with a mix of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and peptides. In Beauty Lab moisturizing tests using the Corneometer device, the formula boosted skin’s hydration by 68% three hours post-application — one of the highest moisturization scores in Lab history — and maintained the top spot after 24 hours. Oily skin types should consider that its rich cream texture could be too heavy.
RELATED: The Best Anti-Aging Wrinkle Creams That Actually Work
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Pros
- Instantly relieves irritated, red skin
- Fast-absorbing and non-greasy
Cons
- Not as much product in jar
Instantly quench dehydrated skin with Aveeno's GH Beauty Award-winning formula, which melds a water-based gel texture with nourishing, anti-inflammatory colloidal oats. The light moisturizer "melts in with no greasiness or tackiness and cools and calms dry, irritated skin patches on contact," reports GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. "My skin looked better the next day: less red and not rough." The only thing worth noting, per reviewers, is that you don't get as many uses from the one jar.
RELATED: The Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin, According to Skincare Pros
Pros
- Noticeably fades dark spots
- Firming and hydrating
- Boosts radiance
Cons
- Scent may be polarizing
Diminish the look of age spots all the while keeping skin moisturized with Avon's cream loaded with glycolic acid. It impressed in GH Beauty Lab testing, earning a perfect score for helping reduce the appearance of UV spots by 12%, plus top rankings for improving skin firmness and hydration. Several testers even noted that it gave their skin a glow, though some shared that they didn't like the "strong perfume scent."
RELATED: The Best Dark Spot Correctors
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Pros
- Powerful hydrating effects
- Lighweight texture
Cons
- Distinct scent
A GH Beauty Award winner, this Clinique classic lives up to its reputation, effectively hydrating skin for hours in GH Beauty Lab assessments, despite its lightweight feel. Calculations with the Lab’s Corneometer device, which measures skin hydration levels, showed that it increased moisture by an impressive 43% on average over 24 hours after application. Dramatic, indeed! Online shoppers and one GH editor noticed the moisturizer has a distinct scent, however, that may be polarizing for some.
RELATED: The Best Face Moisturizers You Can Buy Right Now
Pros
- Long-lasting hydration
- Great for dry skin types
- Feels silky on skin
Cons
- May need something more heavy duty for nighttime
Like a refreshing drink for dry skin, this silky-smooth cream hydrated even parched skin best, increasing skin hydration by 46.5% over six hours, according to our Corneometer data. Our consumer testers also praised its texture, dubbing it "fine and silky," finding that it left skin feeling "hydrated but not heavy or sticky." Testers and GH editors agreed that "skin feels dewy without leaving a residue," laying a smooth base for SPF or makeup. Severely dry skin types may need a thicker moisturizer for the nighttime time given its lightweight consistency.
RELATED: The Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin
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9
Best Face Moisturizer with Sunscreen
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer with SPF 30
Now 36% Off
Pros
- Measurably moisturizes skin
- Broad-spectrum sun protection
Cons
- Slightly greasy
For high-level sun protection plus proven hydration in one bottle, look no further than Olay's GH Beauty Award-winning moisturizer with added broad spectrum SPF 30. In Lab measurements with the Corneometer device, this moisturizer raised skin's hydration levels by 31%, more than any other SPF 30 we've previously tested. While some online reviewers found it a touch oily, a GH tester noted: "It moisturized my skin and made it feel smooth and healthy."
RELATED: The Best Face Moisturizers With Sunscreen for One-Step Sun Protection
Pros
- Oil-free and won't clog pores
- Helps maintain moisture barrier
Cons
- May not be rich enough for other skin types
Catering to oily and combination skin types, this Good Housekeeping Seal star Mary Kay moisturizer is oil-free and non-comedogenic (not pore-clogging). It significantly improved skin firmness, lines and crow's feet starting after two weeks of use, confirmed by GH Beauty Lab data evaluation. Plus, 95% of users agreed it absorbs quickly and 79% agreed that it helps maintain skin's moisture balance.
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Pros
- Smooths skin's texture
- Reduces wrinkles and firms
- Fast-absorbing and gentle
Cons
- A few users said it caused breakouts
Lightweight and mild, RoC’s formula was a heavy hitter for smoothing lines and skin texture in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day cream test. Digital imaging showed that the cream improved skin’s texture by 11% in four weeks; it also rated highly for diminishing wrinkles and firming. Testers commented on how quickly it absorbed and how smooth their skin felt after use. It also didn't irritate eyes despite containing sunscreen, however, a few testers reported breakouts.
Pros
- Efficiently removes makeup
- Not irritating or breakout-causing
Cons
- Could leave residue on eye area
Melt every trace of makeup with Clinique's buttery safflower seed oil balm. The gentle fragrance-free makeup remover earned the top score in the GH Beauty Lab testing for needing the fewest swipes to completely remove makeup. Plus, 100% of testers agreed that it didn’t irritate or bring on breakouts. While it may leave some residue behind on eyes after rinsing, it "dissolved all my sunscreen and makeup almost instantly" and "skin felt fresh, clean and so soft," according to testers. The formula is also a favorite of GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn.
READ MORE: The Best Cleansing Balms to Melt Away Makeup
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Pros
- Softens and hydrates skin
- Firms and brightens
Cons
- May leave residue on skin
A night moisturizer and skin-smoothing retinol treatment in one, Olay Regenerist Retinol24 was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s night cream test thanks to its noticeable brightening, softening, firming and wrinkle-reducing effects. The cream raised skin’s firmness by 27% over four weeks of use, according to the Lab’s Cutometer device, which gauges skin laxity.
Every tester agreed it made skin feel softer, and it also ranked best at brightening. "When I woke up each morning, my skin was firmer and smoother," a tester reported. "I can see that fine lines are less noticeable." One reviewer did note that it left a residue on her skin, so make sure to rub it in fully.
RELATED: The Best Night Creams for Every Skin Type, Tested in Our Labs
Pros
- Measurably raises skin hydration by 43%
- Light and non-irritating
Cons
- Botanical aroma may be polarizing
Caudalie's silky cream proved to a be powerful hydrator in our GH Beauty Lab tests, boosting moisturization by 43% over six hours. The Lab's Visia complexion analyzer's digital imaging also showed a 12% improvement in skin texture. Six testers reported how "smooth" the cream felt when applied and gave it perfect marks for not being greasy or irritating. "It moisturized my skin into the morning," one raved. “I woke up looking refreshed," another said. Made naturally with grapeseed oil and the antioxidant resveratrol (derived from grape vines), its scent may take some warming to.
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Pros
- Smooths and firms skin
- Minimizes pores
Cons
- Could be irritating
No7 was the best bargain in the GH Beauty Lab's face serum test, delivering results on par with or better than pricier options. The peptide, hyaluronic acid and retinol formula earned the best marks for smoothing skin's texture, plus received strong scores for improving firmness and diminishing pores. Described as “lightweight” by many testers, the serum made skin “look younger” and wrinkles “less visible,” though some reported slight irritation.
RELATED: The Best Face Serums That Really Work for Every Skin Type
Pros
- Non-aggravating formula
- Boosted skin radiance
Cons
- Doesn't lather as much, per shoppers
Naturally scented with cucumber and blended with nourishing botanicals like sunflower oil, Fresh's nearly foamless wash was mildest on skin and best at boosting radiance. "I have extremely sensitive skin and had no reactions to this,” one tester marveled. It also left skin "brighter" and with "a glow," others said. A rare 100% of testers, including those with sensitivity, said it didn’t irritate skin. While Nordstrom reviewers agreed, they did wish the formula lathered a bit more for a more clean feeling.
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Pros
- Measurably reduces wrinkles
- Brightens and firms skin
Cons
- Pricey
A winner of the GH Beauty Lab's face serum test, SkinCeuticals’ formula has high levels of vitamin B3 to stimulate cell turnover. The light liquid was the best of the serums tested by the GH Beauty Lab at reducing wrinkles, by 5% after four weeks of use. It earned raves from testers for visible wrinkle softening, brightening and firming. “I could see plumpness in my skin the next day — I was shocked,” a tester said. “Almost immediate results on my fine lines,” another remarked.
RELATED: The Best Anti-Aging Serums, According to Skin Experts
Pros
- Made with smoothing ingredients
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- Not as lifting as other formulas
Reduce the rings around your neck with this shea butter and amino acid cream, which earned the highest marks for softening wrinkles in the GH Beauty Lab’s test of anti-aging neck treatments. The "rich" formula "improved my neck — I love it!" a tester said. "Both my neck and my décolletage looked smoother," another reported.
It was better than all others evaluated at minimizing the look of testers' neck lines and wrinkles, though it may not give as much lift as some other products, based on standardized digital imaging.
RELATED: The Best Neck Creams for Firming Skin, Tested by Experts
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Pros
- Purifies skin
- Reduces oil and shine
- Doesn't over-dry skin
Cons
- Can be too powerful for sensitive skin
Clarify acne-prone and oily skin with Mary Kay's top-performing face mask, a GH Seal star and Beauty Award winner. Made with two types of clay, it reduced skin's oil by 89% and shine by 84% in 15 minutes, GH Beauty Lab data analysis found. Even though it has intense purifying effects, it doesn't dehydrate skin, instead leaving it "silky and soft," a Lab tester reported.
RELATED: The Best Blackhead Masks That Unclog Pores
Pros
- Quickly tamps down shine
- Easy to travel with
Cons
- Must clean after multiple uses
A GH Beauty Award winner, Revlon's first-of-its-kind rollerball wand is a reusable, less wasteful alternative to oil-blotting papers or face powder, absorbing grease with porous volcanic stone. "It mattified my oily T-zone as if I’d powdered it," says Birnur K. Aral, Ph.D., the executive director of the GH Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab. Another tester marveled that "it works so well." It's reusable but comes with the maintenance of removing the clay to clean and sanitize.
April Franzino
Beauty Director
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Reviewed byDanusia Wnek
Senior Chemist
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
Reviewed bySabina Wizemann
Beauty Lab Director
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.