Welcome back for the Best of Beauty 2025 edition and in today’s post, it’s my hero products in the Skincare and Bodycare categories. CLICK HERE for the Best of Beauty 2025: Makeup & Fragrance. If you missed it, feel free to also check out last year’s edition to see what stuck, what’s changed and why:
SKINCARE
Before we get started, here’s some background to my skin for context when reading this – I am over 40, have oily/combination skin, hormonal acne and hyperpigmentation issues. I’m not a doctor, just sharing what has worked for my skin. Alright, let’s dive in!
Makeup Remover | Garnier Micellar Water. Same as last year. Ever faithful, ever sure. Use: Everyday PM
Cleanser | My fave everyday cleanser from last year is now called L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Smoothing Cleanser (same formula, new name). Remains a fave. For travel, I’m still loyal to Sephora Super Glow Cleansing Powder. New discovery this year – Tatcha The Rice Wash. Gentle, creamy, somehow makes cleansing feel luxurious and a mini lasts ages! Use: Everyday AM (and PM on makeup days for a double cleanse).
Niacinamide | Anua Niacinamide 10 +TXA 4 has been a standout product this year. Contains 10% Niacinamide and 4% Tranexamic Acid, and consistently puts in work on my hyperpigmentation and discolouration. It’s a little tacky in application but tightens my skin up in the best way. Use: 3-4x a week, AM and PM.
Peptides | Medik8 Liquid Peptides was a discovery last year, but this year the Liquid Peptides Advanced MP takes it up another notch. As I understand it, Liquid Peptides targets early signs of ageing and fine lines, while Liquid Peptides Advanced MP targets advances signs of ageing and deeper lines. I love both, but the Liquid Peptides Advanced MP has my heart. I can’t scientifically prove it but I choose to believe it’s fading my forehead lines. Use: 2-3x a week, AM and PM
Vitamin C | No change from last year, it’s still Skinceuticals Serum 10 (10% Vitamin C) and Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum (15% Vitamin C). Both are excellent for dealing with hyperpigmentation and giving a glow like no other. I love both but I find the higher concentration Vitamin C serums require a lighter hand to avoid adverse reactions.
Honourable mention: Medik8 Super C Ferulic serum (20% Vitamin C). Delivers an unparalleled glow and is the most affordable option of the 3 serums but real talk, it’s EXTREMELY POTENT. Less is definitely more with that one – too much and my skin will let me know SAME DAY. I’m talking redness (and remember I’m black!), tenderness and breakouts. Be guided. Use: 2x a week, AM only.
Other serums | One of my top serums this year has been Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence. This stuff is like a gallon of water for my face. Deeply hydrating under and after retinoids (a nice little moisture sandwich) and perfect as a summer moisturiser. I’m obsessed. The newest addition to my beauty arsenal is Tirtir SOS Serum. Since adding this, my skin feels plumper, brighter and more hydrated. It contains Niacinamide, Licorice root and Botox-like peptides (look, I’m not a chemist, I just know it works!). New, but already earned its place here. Use: As often as needed, AM and PM
Retinoids | For the past couple of years, I’ve used Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream 1% Retinol. Overall, it’s been great – effective and most times, gentle. That said, overuse has humbled me and the brand controversies led me to seek alternatives. Enter Medik8 Crystal Retinal, first 1 and then 10. Retinaldehyde works up to 10 times faster than retinol (TEN!!!) and supposedly causes fewer adverse reactions.
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1 (0.1% retinol equivalent) – too mild for me
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 (1% equivalent) – the sweet spot
I may be transitioning to retinal from retinol. No drama, no irritation (with proper use) and same – or even faster! – results. This may be the move! Use: 2x a week, PM only.
Exfoliants | No change from last year – Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant remains that girl for me, smoothing my skin texture and clearing my pores. Love love love! Use: 2x a week (usually the day after retinol use), AM or PM
Moisturisers | NGL Moisturisers used to be my least favourite category. I felt like they showed up last and tried to take credit for everyone else’s hard work…until barrier damage humbled me. This year’s faves:
- Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack – rich, calming, glowy in the morning
- Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré – winter morning MVP
- Clarins Hydra-Essentiel – silky and surprisingly transformative
- The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer – would have been #1 if I hadn’t met Clarins first
Honourable mention: Aesop Facial Barrier Cream. Saved my skin last winter. Use: Everyday, AM (especially in winter) and PM
SPF | I tried A LOT of SPFs this year – some great, some truly awful. Thankfully more wins than losses. The two standout SPFs are:
- Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50 UVA UVB (no change from last year!) and
- Cosrx Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF50
Both offer excellent sun protection with lightweight textures that melt into the skin and layer beautifully under makeup. If I had to choose, Cosrx just edges Biore, simply because I can buy it in Denmark. I love the Biore SPF, but I refuse to live in a word where I run out of SPF because I forgot to stockpile in London. Heaven forbid! Use: Everyday, AM only.
BODYCARE
Moisturisers | Unlike facial moisturisers, I loooooooove body moisturisers and I’m always on the hunt for a great affordable one. There’s no change from last year. Biotherm Oil Therapy Baume Corps remains gorgeous and effective, I just wish it was cheaper. Neutrogena Deep Moisture Body Lotion is still my go-to in the terrifying Nordic winter, affordable, just annoyingly not readily available in Denmark. First world problems but still. Use: Everyday
Lips | Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Check my bedside table – there’s always one there. Winter time? There’s one in my handbag too. Flavour varies, loyalty does not. No other lip treatment product comes close. Long way to say no change from last year. None needed.
Use: All day, everyday
CLICK HERE for the Best of Beauty 2025: Makeup & Fragrance edition!
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