I Asked 10 People What Their Favorite Skincare Product Is, Here Are Their Top Picks

A friend of mine recently asked me what my absolute favorite skincare product was, and as someone who has a seven-step skincare routine, it was really hard to pinpoint just one. But at the end of the day, there’s always one product that outshines the rest. You know which one I’m talking about — that “must-purchase-a-new-bottle-before-I-run-out” product. Mine will always and forever be Neogen’s Day-Light Protection Sun Screen ($30), because a lightweight sunscreen is always a must!

All this talk got me wondering, what are other people’s top picks? That’s why I asked 10 people what the one product they couldn’t live without is — no sponsors, no gimmicks, just real people talking about products that give their skin major results. Here’s what they had to share.

Alix 

Skin Type

Combination skin: Oily and dry at the same time (yes this exists).

Favorite Skincare Product

This is by far the most difficult decision that I have had to make all day, but after much deliberation (and I mean over an hour) I decided that the product that I just could not live without is my Enjo ($44 for a pack of three) — AKA the most amazing little makeup remover pad that you ever did see!

Why

Enjo is an Australian company that vows to make skincare more gentle and sustainable by making chemical-free products that eliminate the need for disposable makeup wipes and other makeup removers.

As someone who wears mascara and black gel liner every day and sleeps on white pillowcases every night, taking off my eye makeup is an important part of my nightly routine. Before I started using the Enjo, I struggled to find a good eye makeup remover that would not leave an oily residue around my eyes AND did not contain hundreds of unpronounceable ingredients. Enjo solves both of these problems for me; all you do is wet the small pad with water, and carefully wipe away your makeup. For anyone with ultra sensitive skin, I could not recommend this product enough.

The only thing that is a bit annoying is that you have to wash the pad with clear hand soap after every use, then hang it somewhere to dry. However, this is a small price to pay to avoid chemicals and reduce your footprint on the environment. Totally worth it if you ask me.

Katie

Skin Type

Oily! The t-zone is my enemy.

Favorite Skincare Product

I really love using toner, especially Meow Meow Tweet’s Geranium Palmarosa Face Toner ($24). If I’m not using it, I don’t feel awake!

Why

This product is so refreshing and smells ahmazinggg. I never really thought I needed to use toner, but it’s really helped with hydrating and moisturizing my skin so that it’s not too oily or dry. Not only does this product work miracles, it’s also made locally in Brooklyn and they use zero-waste packaging! It’s a total win, win (for my skin and the environment) in my book.

@ktbryden

Lateefa

Skin Type

Dry Skin. It is the death of me, but also a perk!

Favorite Skincare Product

It’s hard to pick just one because I love creams and oils. However, I recently vowed to always use Keihl’s Ultra Facial Cream ($29.50) because it is the most moisturizing cream I’ve tried, without being overbearing. I also like pairing it with their Midnight Recovery Oil ($47).

I’ve been using it for three years now, and I don’t allow anything else to touch my face!

Why

I love this cream because it lasts me the whole day without breaking me out after — it feels thick and light at the same time.

Most importantly, it makes my skin radiate. I’m someone who loves the dewy, glossy look, so on days when I don’t wear BB cream, it makes my bare face bearable to look at.

Like I said in my previous answer, I’ve been using both the cream and the oil for three years now, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. These are products I’m willing to pay a little more for since they make my dry skin feel moisturized (even when living in a hot country).

Majed

Skin Type
Oily. Also easily irritated, my skin will scratch easily when playing sports or cleaning my face.

Favorite Skincare Product
Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash ($6.09). Bought an 8.5oz bottle at first and have since committed to the 30oz refill.

Why
This is the only skincare product I use at this point! I wash my face with it 2-3 times a day – it keeps my skin clear and feeling fresh. I discovered this product about a year ago when I was searching for a new face wash online.

I used to try tons of different things to combat acne, but this is the only product that worked for me. Proactiv, Benzoyl Peroxide, Cetaphil, and everything else I tried didn’t really help that much (in addition to making my face feel terrible for the rest of the day). The Desert Essence wash was so nice and effective, I actually started looking forward to washing my face. I think building that habit has been what’s helped my face finally clear up over the last few years. You have to be doing that if you have oily skin.

It’s great too that it’s a natural product and comes from a sustainable brand. That is definitely what led me to choose this particular wash in the first place. But at the end of the day, it’s simple and effective, and I think that’s why I rely on it so much now.

Ashley

Skin Type

Combination skin — my skin is mostly dry, but my t-zone is my *enemy*. All of the oil really builds up when I’m wearing my glasses.

Favorite Skincare Product

Mario Badescu’s Hyaluronic Eye Cream ($18). You can apply it in the morning or the evening, but my all-time FAVORITE time to apply the eye cream is right before I fall asleep. I wake up the next day feeling incredibly hydrated, and this effect lasts for days!

Why

Admittedly, I am fairly new to the world of skin care. It wasn’t until this past summer that I learned just how important skincare is. Over lunch one day, my stepmother asked me about my skincare routine, and much to her horror, I informed her that I only used Neutrogena Makeup Removal wipes. A few gray hairs and a trip to Blue Mercury later, I was introduced to the wonderful world of Mario Badescu, and more importantly, to the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream.

This eye cream is truly magical. It is super moisturizing without the use of heavy, greasy oils. What makes this product unique is the use of hyaluronic acid, which helps lock in the skins own moisture, leaving the skin looking incredibly soft and smooth.

Tip: If you have a big event coming up, apply a little extra eye cream the night prior. This will help get rid of eye bags and smooth out any creases — perfect for going full glam!

@ashleysillaro

Arona 

Skin Type

Slightly oily and sensitive skin

Favorite Skin Product

Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($8.97)

Why
Ever since I was a kid, I would always use the same moisturizer brands my mom bought. Our skin type is very similar — soft and sensitive — so I followed her judgment when it came to skincare.

Aveeno is a recent favorite of mine. It feels very natural and does not have any scents. I have been leaning away from scented lotions lately because the various chemicals found in them tend to irritate my skin. I also found that this type of Aveeno absorbs quickly. Considering I am fairly active, I want something that does not leave stains or linger too long on my skin or clothes.

With Aveeno boasting about how this lotion has natural oats and ingredients, I thought why not give it a try.

Shurupa 

Skin Type

Dry Combination. My eyes and my cheeks get particularly dry during the winter.

Favorite Skincare Product

Nivea’s Soft Moisturizing Crème ($5.29)

Why

Over the years, I’ve tried many different products to combat my dry and oily skin, but I keep coming back to this staple. I’ve been using it since I was about 11 years old, and it’s the most reliable product in my skincare routine. Even in the summer, when my skin is slightly more oily, it balances it out perfectly. The healthy glow I get doesn’t hurt either!

@shurupesss

Ryan 

Skin Type

I have a combination of dry and oily skin. I travel a lot for work and the various countries that I travel to have different water qualities. This really impacts my skin, especially my face. After the first couple of showers (or face washes) I usually break out a little, but after that, my skin gets used to the water and it stabilizes.

I also have really sensitive skin. I can’t shave more than once a week because my face reacts badly to it (it becomes super dry and a few rashes appear).

Favorite Skincare Product

I used to use a face-specific wash (with those little granules) as an exfoliator, but when I learned that those little plastic pieces didn’t dissolve and were bad for the environment, I stopped. I also found that these products didn’t really give me insane results. Now I use Dettol Face and Body Wash to clean my face.

Why

The Dettol wash just smells clean and it seems to keep my face from getting overly oily. I’ve also noticed that if I use the same product consistently my face reacts well. If I bounce between different face or body wash products my face reacts badly and I break out.

In addition to this, I also like to apply coconut oil to my face once a week (for about 30 minutes at a time). This was suggested to me by a friend for hydration purposes. I’ve only been using it for about 3 weeks, but so far, so good!

@ryanxdenobrega

Nicole

Skin Type

Combination

Favorite Skincare Product

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream ($48)

Why

This product is perfect for those who suffer from dry and acne-prone skin (especially in the winter). It helps prevent my skin from becoming cracked and flaky and doesn’t cause breakouts. Also, it smells amazing. Totally worth the price because it lasts a long time.

Lucas

Skin Type

I have combination skin that’s very influenced by the weather. My skin gets very dry in the winter and can get pretty oily in the summer.

Favorite Skincare Product

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel ($19.99) is hands down the best moisturizer I’ve tried.

Why

I’ve had consistently dry and oily skin for as long as I can remember, but I never really used to use any products to tackle these issues. I just ‘dealt’ with it. That is until Erica introduced me to Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel.

Now, I can’t leave my house without applying it. It’s lightweight, virtually odor-free, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated. I couldn’t recommend it more.

And there you have it folks, 10 skincare products real people are using and loving!

What’s your favorite skincare product? Share your star MVP in the comments below!

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Special thanks to everyone who participated, you are all rockstars!