2023’s Most Exciting Beauty Trend? Skincare Over Makeup

A good cleanser is the foundation of a skincare journey; it should clean your skin without drying it out. The Shani Darden Cleansing Serum ($38) is a concentrated but gentle cleanser that cleanses and protects your skin. It has a nice, thick texture and works hard to clear pores without being abrasive on sensitive skin.

Before you put on a nighttime moisturizer, it’s always a good idea to start with a base layer serum. The Renew & Smooth Glycolic + Polyhydroxy Acid Night Serum ($25) from Bliss uses a unique blend of six acids like powerful glycolic acid and some gentler polyhydroxy and fruit acids to gently dissolve dead cells to refine your skin while you sleep. It has a nice, watery texture that feels great and cools the skin.

After you wash your face, you’ll need to moisturize it. But the trick here is to find one that will give your skin back all the good stuff it needs without clogging the pores you’ve just washed out.

‍The Dew Gooder daily hydrating emulsion ($32) has sodium hyaluronate, squalane, and antioxidant sunflower seed oil to help create a healthy skin barrier and moisturize without clogging your pores. I use this as part of my nighttime skincare routine.

Charlotte’s Magic Cream ($100) was originally created for backstage use to prep and transform models' skin before they walked for fashion shows. It firms, hydrates, brightens, and smooths the appearance of fine lines and blemishes. You won’t need foundation with a quality moisturizer like Charlotte’s Magic Cream.

It’s a bit pricey, but if you think about how much money you can spend trying to match foundations, concealers and highlighters, one jar of Charlotte’s Magic Cream is actually a pretty good deal

If you live in a dry or cold climate, your skin can sometimes need intensive relief from dryness or wind-related sensitivity. The Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream ($48) from Kiehl’s has Colloidal Oatmeal and Beta-Glucan that supports the moisture barrier on your skin and visibly reduces redness caused by dryness. This is my go-to during cold winter months when my face is feeling chapped and tight.

Lano is an Australian company that created the 101 Ointment Multi-Balm ($13.50). It uses natural lanolin instead of petroleum-based balms and is infused with seed oil and vitamin E. This makes it safe to use on chapped lips or any other dry part of your body (and it comes in seven different 100% natural flavors!). Bonus: It gives lips a healthy-looking shine without being sticky.

Ciate’s Everyday Vacay Coconut Lip Oil ($15) moisturizes and protects your lips, giving you that shiny gloss look without the sticky feeling. As I move away from colored lipsticks, this is my go-to for a neutral, healthy-looking lip cover. My favorite part is that it has a beachy coconut scent!

Milk Makeup’s Bionic Glow ($34) can be used as a versatile highlighter or eye shadow when you want a natural-looking glow. This creamy formula leaves your skin with a sheer, hydrated finish that catches the light. I apply a few spots on my cheekbones, inner eye corners, and the bridge of my nose on days when my skin looks dull.

With powerful ingredients like caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, Drmtlgy’s Brightening Eye Mask ($44) gently renews the sensitive skin under your eyes. It brightens dark circles and smooths wrinkles…and they’re super hydrating, too. I apply these during my nighttime skincare routine and in the morning if I notice dark circles from a poor night’s sleep.