The Best and Worst Skincare Products I’ve Tried [review]

A little about me/my skin: Im 25F and have sensitive, acne prone, combination skin. My skin is very sensitive to fragrances, citrus and floral essential oils. Because of this I have become a skincare nerd and a reader of the ingredients list. I definitely still have a lot to learn about skin care but I hope this list helps some of you! Especially our fellow sensitive skin addicts.

I tried to keep the review very short and straight forward, but if you want me to expand on any of the products let me know!
1. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Facial Moisturizer 30 SPF – 3/10
Good: It has no fragrance and is very moisturizing.
Disadvantages: It took me out and burned my eyes Best: dry skin.
2. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser – 0/10
Good: literally nothing.
Disadvantages: I don’t like the smell, it broke me out, it didn’t remove my makeup well.
3. Drunken Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser – 6/10 Good: Clean up the list of ingredients.
Disadvantages: Stripping/drying is also expensive.
For whom? Oily skin or those who like to feel clean.
4. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen 60 SPF (American) – 3/10
Good: It does not leave a white cast.
Disadvantages: Greasy, he broke up with me, he squinted at me.
Bottom Line: Stick to the European version.
5. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen 50+ SPF (European) – 9/10
Good: It doesn’t leave white, reasonably priced actors.
Disadvantages: the texture is too runny for my liking.
Bonus: LRP donates to skin cancer research.
6. Jordan Samuel Hydrate Facial Serum – 0/10
Good: Couldn’t try long enough to tell.
Disadvantages: It gave me a red burning skin reaction.
Bottom Line: It seems they changed their formula (for good reason obvi) so I can’t speak for the new version.
By whom? Those looking for an excuse to cancel dinner plans.
7. Mario Badescu Rose Facial Spray – 0/10
Good: It’s cheap.
Disadvantages: The mist comes out very strong, I don’t like the smell, it contains fragrance, citronellol, geraniol and colorants.
Bottom Line: I’m thankful it was a gift, because I won’t be buying.
8. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser – 5/10
Good: It is fragrance free, affordable.
Disadvantages: It made my skin itch and left a residue.
Bottom Line: I will not repurchase.
9. A313 Vitamin A Pommade – 10/10
Good: My acne is less, skin texture is better (after two weeks). A thick vaseline texture that seals in vitamin A.
Disadvantages: Slight metallic smell
Bottom Line: It’s worth the hype! I use 2x a week at most, alternating with salicylic acid oil.
10. New to People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm – 3/10
Good: Great ingredient list, interesting quotes.
Disadvantages: Smell like crayons with wax, texture that doesn’t dissolve well on the skin, leaves a sour feeling behind.
Bottom Line: I tried better.
11. Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer – 2/10
Good: I loved her organic Vermont farm story and the light gel cream texture.
Disadvantages: fragrance, contains skin irritants such as alcohol, limonene, citral, citronellol, linalool and orange leaf extract.
Bottom Line: Do not use if you have sensitive skin. There is a sunburn warning on the side of the box because it contains AHAs.
12. Saturday Skin Carrot + Niacinamide Moisturizing Cream – 6/10
Good: Hydrating firm gel cream.
Disadvantages: It smells strongly of silicone.
Bottom Line: He bought it in Europe, he loved it. Bought it in the US, it smells like straight silicone. A different formula perhaps?
13. Glossier Future Dew – 0/10
Good: Good packaging.
Disadvantages: He made me look like a greasy pizza, he broke me and I didn’t like the smell.
14. Vered Sunday Morning Antioxidant Oil-Serum – 1/10
Good: inexpensive.
Evil: He doesn’t do anything. The biphase ends up looking ugly and confusing after a while.
15. Murmure Bisou Clarifying Dry Oil – 10/10
Good: It cleared my black heads, it sinks into the skin quickly.
Disadvantages: Contains hazelnut oil so be careful if you have allergies!
The Bottom Line: I use it about 2x a week at night (not on the same day as my retinol). My skin is always a little red and bumpy in the AM.
16. Typology Glycolic Acid 10% – 3/10
Good: Affordable (Typology is the same as the French version of Ordinary).
Evil: Break me down, 10% glycolic acid is too strong for my skin.
17. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi Purpose Dry Oil – 9/10
Good: Sweet dry oil absorbs quickly, love the smell (I only use this on my body so the smell doesn’t bother me).
Disadvantages: I wish there was a dropper or pump to make the application less messy.
Bottom Line: I put this all over my body after showering and my skin feels so soft.
18. Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen 36 SPF – 5/10
Good: Good value for money.
Disadvantages: Break me down, I have very little fat.
Bottom Line: They have changed the formula since I tried it so I can’t speak for the new formulation.
19. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ – 7/10
Good: Super cool and healing.
Disadvantages: it blocked my pores (avoid if you have acne prone skin or milia).
Bottom Line: Can I buy my winter eyelid again? Dry, irritated skin.
20. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serum – 8/10
Good: It brightens and suits my skin.
Disadvantages: It’s so expensive it hurts! Oxidized at about the 4 month mark. It smells a little bad.
Bottom Line: One of the most effective vitamin c formulas Ive tried. Keep it away from light and tightly cap the bottle to prevent rapid evaporation.
21. Glow Recipe Glowing Watermelon Ultra-fine Mist – 1/10
Good: Good packaging.
Disadvantages: He took me out, the smell of candy was strong, it did not drain.
22. Pillow Talk Derm Major Fade Flash Mask – 0/10
Good: I can’t speak to the performance of the product because my skin couldn’t handle it.
Disadvantages: At the same time he burned my face and it turned red.
Bottom Line: 15% glycolic acid was too much for my skin. Be sure to check regularly for new products.
23. Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer – 7/10
Good: Clean ingredient list, good light texture.
Disadvantages: It’s not hydrating enough for my skin.
Bottom Line: If you have sensitive skin and like a lightweight moisturizer it might be worth a try.
24. Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy – 10/10
Good: It heals, hydrates / seals in moisture.
Disadvantages: The packaging is terrible.
Bottom Line: Cult classic for good reason. I am Aquaphor team over vasaline every day.
25. Skinfix Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream – 10/10
Good: Super hydrating and nourishing. Nice cream gel texture.
Disadvantages: there is none.
Bottom Line: My sensitive skin loves this moisturizer. Even though I have acne prone skin I still prefer triple lipid over their gel version.
26. Saturday Skin Yuzu Vitamin C Sleeping Mask – 4/10
Good: a little light.
Disadvantages: Strong smell, contains citrus oils, feels very sticky.
27. New to People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream – 3/10
Good: nice light airy texture.
Disadvantages: It has a sweet aroma with limonene. It didn’t do much.
Bottom Line: The last time I was at sephora I noticed that the cream is no longer a light green color, so I think they changed the formula.
28. Caudalie Beauty Elixir Face Mist – 0/10
Good: Nothing.
Disadvantages: It doesn’t smell good, it doesn’t do anything, it has alcohol, fragrance, rosemary oil, citral, linalool, citronellol…).
Bottom Line: Expired product.
29. Supergoop Invisible Sunscreen 40 SPF – 5/10
Good: It does not leave a white cast.
Disadvantages: It’s expensive and it took me out. The silicone feels very heavy. like my skin is burning.
Bottom Line: Acne sensitive skin beware.
30. Beauty Plasma Lip Compound (Rose) – 0/10
Good: Couldn’t keep it on my lips long enough.
Disadvantages: It smells like straight chemicals.
Bottom Line: It was very disappointing because it was really expensive.
31. New to People Polypeptide-121 Future Cream – 7/10
Good: Hydrating and plumping.
Disadvantages: I started to smell the sweet aroma when I got to the middle of the jar.

32. Light Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm – 8/10
Good: A beautiful cream that melts into the skin. Smells good and removes makeup well.
Disadvantages: It leaves an oily film on my eyes Bottom Line: One of the few light recipe products I really like.
33. Lotus Youth Save Dream Face Cream (Night) – 1/10
Good: lovely texture.
Disadvantages: A very strong scent, like a straight perfume. It has citral oil, limonene, lemon peel and sweet aroma.
Bottom Line: Sensitive skin beware.
34. Typology Niacinamide 12% – 5/10
Good: Inexpensive.
Disadvantages: 12% niacinamide is too strong for my skin.
Bottom Line: research shows that your skin responds best to a 4% concentration. I like to add a little to my moisturizer every now and then to dilute it.
35. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – 3/10
Good: It’s a sweet scent (but it has a nice scent).
Disadvantages: It makes my lips very dry. I don’t like to go into the pot.
Bottom Line: I don’t understand the hype of this product.
36. Clarins Lip Comfort Oil – 9/10
Good: It’s non-sticky, long-lasting and super shiny.
Disadvantages: I wish there was an extra charge for the color and it was less expensive (not expensive place but getting there).
Bottom Line: My favorite lip product so far.