Unintentional Gatekeeping: Ten Skincare Products I Always Use and Forget to Talk About

Looking for underrated skincare products? These hidden gems are for you.

Welcome to the first stop on The Errors Tour (see what I did there?), a public apology to all the products I’ve been unintentionally gatekeeping from you. Here’s the thing: I have a terrible habit of saying something exactly one time and assuming that everyone heard it, committed it to memory and never wants to see or hear another word about it again. Which is another way of saying, I’m a really bad “influencer.” And while there are countless other products that could have been included on this list, these are at least ten skincare products I love and use all of the time that are worthy of celebration — and I’ve simply forgotten to bring them to the party. Until now, that is. Today, finally, is their day and so I hope you’ll indulge me in giving credit where credit is due even if it’s a little late and even if you’ve heard it before. Keep an eye out for the second stop on The Errors Tour, highlighting all the makeup and beauty products I’ve unintentionally wronged. And between you and me, that list was much easier to come up with than this one. The Skincare Savant is a love letter to caring for your skin and you can find every installment here. Let’s dive in.

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1. There’s a special allure and excitement that comes when you discover a game-changing product or brand before it’s thrust by the algorithm into the cycle of transient trends. It’s like when someone tells you a secret that’s so exciting and wonderful that you have to constantly remind yourself not to tell absolutely everyone you know. And this unassuming moisturizer is one of my absolute favorite under-the-radar discoveries that no one seems to be talking about — at least, not yet (save w/ myskinterest20). It’s not at all an exaggeration to say that this product dethroned the moisturizer I relied on for years to become my new favorite, go-to moisturizer. While I initially used this thick, rich “moisturizer mask” exclusively at night, I now love using it as my daytime moisturizer as well (reminder: my skin is akin to an arid climate). It absorbs quickly and really doesn’t feel heavy, and it leaves my skin feeling plump, hydrated and healthy. If your skin isn’t quite so dry, this will be the perfect moisturizer for your nighttime routine. This became a mainstay in my skincare routine over the summer when the heat, humidity, relentless air conditioning and debilitating wedding stress wreaked havoc on my skin. It was even one of the only two moisturizers I brought on my honeymoon. And through all the feverish summer days and the harshest winter winds, I really credit this moisturizer with helping my very, very dry skin look and feel its best. — save w/ myskinterest20

2. Generally speaking, I’ve never understood the appeal of sheet masks. I know it sounds odd but no matter how hard I try to enjoy a sheet mask, it always ends up stressing me out — they’re messy, they slide and slip and drip, never fit my face perfectly and frankly, aren’t super satisfying. I also don’t have anywhere near enough patience to marinate for twenty minutes and then clean up the excess residue left behind (gross). However, before my wedding I started using these face masks and they basically changed my life. The brand claims that the face mask is designed to soothe, comfort, nourish and help skin recover post-treatment or prep for an event — and they aren’t kidding. In my experience, my skin has never looked or felt more hydrated, smooth, plump, calm and healthy than after using one of the masks. So much so that I used a mask every other day in the weeks leading up to my wedding — as well as on my wedding day — to maintain the ethereal glow, lasting hydration and other benefits these offer. And in the nearly four (?) months since my wedding, these continue to be an essential part of my routine. I’ve repurchased them countless times at this point so and I always have an extra box on hand because they *really* are the best for event prep, recovery and a quick glow up. While I still refuse to entertain most other sheet masks (there are only a few others I really enjoy), I can’t recommend these enough.

3. I know, I know — you’ve heard this spiel before but for those who haven’t or still DM me to ask if I like a certain product: This one’s for you. First, let me say that I have a lot of thoughts and I can be rather harsh at times, to put it mildly. I’ve been known to send a brand several, single-spaced pages of feedback after receiving a lab sample of their next launch — often without being asked. And while I know I sound like a nightmare, my intentions are good. I’m just kind of a skincare nerd with a tendency to be extremely specific. But I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with this peptide-packed triumph the moment I first tried a lab sample last summer (save w/ natalie10). It’s not at all an exaggeration to say that it was an overnight sensation in my life and it quickly upended my skincare routine, eclipsing products I had used for years and thought of as holy grails. Truly, and I can’t emphasize this enough, it was an absolute game-changer. And after emptying five bottles of it, I can confidently say that it’s my favorite serum ever. It’s delightfully refreshing, hydrating, plumping, incredibly easy to incorporate into your existing routine and has a Goldilocks texture: It’s not too thick, not too thin and not sticky at all. The serum has a slight cooling sensation upon application (no, it’s not intense and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying) and utilizes peptides and other ingredients to target fine lines and help plump and improve elasticity, among other things. Best of all, two of the peptides use a targeted delivery system to make them more effective and work harder for longer — making it so much more than your average hydrating serum. If I had to pick a favorite release of 2024, this would absolutely be the one. — save w/ natalie10

4. Until this past summer, my experience with acne was largely limited to the occasional pimple on my chin. But then, on a sleepy morning in early June, I woke up to a bewildering “rash” on my face — which turned out to be a delightful mix of hormonal acne and other intense breakouts. To put it plainly, I felt like I was going through puberty at the ripe age of too old for this shit. While I’ve always maintained that the best way to treat acne is to pretend it’s not there, try not to intervene and just let it go away over time, I quickly realized that the situation required serious intervention. And my weapon of choice was this acne-fighting mask that is truly one of the most effective products I’ve ever used, and I really don’t say that lightly (save w/ myskinterest10). Made with five percent benzoyl peroxide to help clear and prevent future breakouts, this short contact mask changed everything. In the past, I exclusively used acne-specific serums and/or spot treatments when I noticed a pimple forming but I never found one that I could rely on. In my experience, most serums and spot treatments were either ineffective or too harsh — and ultimately exasperated by already very dry and angry skin, leading to further irritation. But unlike every product that came before it, this acne-fighting mask is intended for short contact application — meaning you only keep it on for a few minutes. While the area tends to be a little red immediately after removing the mask (I’m prone to redness), this has been a game-changer for me. Of course, my experience is purely anecdotal and everyone is different; however, for me this has helped minimize even the most painful, deep hormonal pimples in just a few days and eradicate other acne with ease. While my acne has mostly returned to normal in recent months, I still reach for this whenever I need it and can’t imagine using anything else. — save w/ myskinterest10

5. As someone with skin akin to an arid climate, I’ve gotten used to being disappointed by most moisturizers — particularly those richer, thicker, balmy products intended to be the last step in your skincare routine. You know the ones. They’re the kind of products that you immediately regret putting on the moment your face is permanently stuck to your pillowcase. They feel like Crisco yet they’re stickier, slimier and gooier than even the best Elmer’s Glue. Those on TikTok say that they use them to “slug” but you and I both know that if we put them on our face we’d either breakout in acne or hives or both. And so I understand that you may have a hard time believing what I’m about to say but know that I don’t say this lightly: this endlessly elegant, barrier-boosting moisturizer is exactly what you’ve been searching for (save w/ myskinterest). And frankly, it’s a disservice to even talk about it in the same breath as those other ones because it’s truly in a league of its own and is unlike anything else on the market. When my skin barrier is disrupted beyond repair and my usual tricks to combat the relentless dryness and irritation fall short, this moisturizer is the ultimate skin savior. It’s not at all an exaggeration to say that, time and time again, whenever I put this on in the evening my skin looks and feels softer, stronger and revived by the morning. Honestly, I’m not sure how they did it but if there’s one product that I can rely on to soothe my skin on its worst days, it’s this one. Trust me. — save w/ myskinterest

6. While I usually share my lengthy morning skincare routine on my Instagram Story, some days I simply don’t want to or have the time to do much more than the basics. But whether I can fit in ten steps or three, this all-in-one hero serum is a product I always want to include in my morning routine (save w/ natalie10). In my mind, this serum has the unique ability to meet you where you are, no matter how much time you have or the state of your skin, and can truly be the one serum you use each day. The formula has a lightweight, milky consistency and is filled with a blend of AHAs, BHAs and PHAs to gently exfoliate, antioxidants to help brighten and protect and other ingredients proven to hydrate and soothe skin. In my experience, this serum is surprisingly effective at helping to maintain a radiant, clear complexion as well as working to fade dark spots and reduce inflammation. Plus, it was created by a chemical and biomedical engineer — so it’s automatically more interesting to me than whatever the latest pineapple scented concoction Sephora is trying to sell me. I’ve used this really consistently for several months without experiencing any irritation and I absolutely love it. To me, there’s something really special about a product that almost works in the background like this one — you may not hear from it often but it punches above its weight to help your skin look and feel its best. — save w/ natalie10

7. Call me fussy, particular, difficult, picky and hard to please but when it comes to sunscreen, I refuse to settle for anything less than the best. Unfortunately, the most innovative, exciting and elegant sunscreens — at least in my opinion — aren’t made in the United States for a variety of reasons I touched on here. However, this astonishingly wonderful sunscreen gives even my favorite European formulas a run for their money. And though I initially thought this would fall into the same traps as other sunscreens made in the U.S., it’s truly in a league of its own. Frankly, if you put it next to one of my favorite formulas from La Roche-Posay and asked me to blindly tell you which sunscreen was which, I’m not sure I would get it right. And let me be clear: That’s about the biggest compliment I could possibly give. The lightweight, silky fluid easily blends into the skin in a way that I personally think is breathtaking. And despite putting it to the test time and time again, it never pills and makes reapplication a breeze. Perhaps the only drawback to the formula is that it’s just short of an SPF 50 but then again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Look, nothing enrages me quite like the failure of the U.S. government to allow for more innovative filters in our sunscreen, and I don’t say that lightly. Not everyone can afford or wants to spend a stupid amount of money importing sunscreen from overseas and wait upwards of two weeks for it to finally arrive (that is, if it gets through customs). And while I’ll continue to do so, this is the first sunscreen that made me hold off on placing my next order. It’s that good.

8. I’ll be the first to admit that I know absolutely nothing about growth factors, though it’s not for lack of trying. But what I lack in knowledge I make up for in very strong opinions on the many growth factor products I’ve tried in recent years. And frankly, I’ve had to test so many different growth factor serums, toners and creams because really none of them are all that pleasant to interact with. In my experience, nearly all growth factor products from the niche brands to the fan favorites either [one] smell absolutely foul to the point where I start to gag and/or [two] pill immediately. Either way, they force me to wash my face and start my skincare routine all over again. But after many fits and starts, I reluctantly tried a product that would quickly become my favorite growth factor serum (save w/ myskinterest when you use code + link). The almost lightweight, water-like consistency makes this a foolproof addition to my existing skincare routine because it won’t pill or complain. This makes it an easy product to use consistently and after doing so for a few weeks you may notice that your skin has an ethereal glow unlike ever before — at least, that’s what happened to me and many of the people I’ve recommended it to. But like I said, I was reluctant to give this product a go because it seemed like every single influencer was ranting and raving about it — which immediately turns me off from a product. And while I remain skeptical about their profuse endorsements, I feel confident in offering up mine after finishing several bottles. Though it’s pricey, I really did notice a difference in the appearance of my skin when I stopped using this while I was on my honeymoon. It’s one of my favorite things, one I’ll always repurchase and one I truly need to talk about more often. — save w/ myskinterest when you use code + link

9. While I’ve never shared my nighttime skincare routine despite countless requests to do so (if you spam the comments, I may finally give in), my nightly ritual always begins with the same step. And for the last decade, that step has always been this affordable and wildly better than the rest micellar water that acts as the first step in my triple cleanse (save w/ myskinterest when you use code + link). And while it may seem like a pretty boring product to include on this list, it’s the one I’ve used longer and more consistently than anything else in my collection. I think of this as my not so secret weapon for effectively and gently cleansing my face and washing off all of the dirt, cat hair, makeup, sunscreen, dust, more cat hair and daily grime. In my opinion, this “extra” step is absolutely essential for many reasons. Not only does it help remove even the trickiest mascara but it also allows my oil-based cleanser to be more effective at dissolving whatever is left over and keeping my pores happy. While there are millions of micellar waters on the market to choose from, this is the only one that is gentle enough for my sensitive eyes but still effective and doesn’t have a ridiculously high price tag. Trust me when I say that this really is the unsung hero of my skincare routine. — save w/ myskinterest when you use code + link

10. When I started thinking about which products to include on this list, there was one in particular I knew would be on it and so I saved it for last. While I may spend more time gushing over another product from the brand, this surprisingly effective and endlessly delightful serum deserves to be celebrated and awarded the highest honors (save w/ myskinterest). The serum is comprised of tiny white capsules suspended in a luxuriously essence that join together when blended into the skin to create a uniquely weightless shield of seemingly endless hydration. It’s also formulated an array of skin-strengthening ingredients to nourish, protect, smooth, replenish and repair skin over time for a brighter, more radiant complexion. Unlike many other serums on the market, this one becomes one with the skin almost instantly to provide both immediate and lasting hydration that *really* helps my dry skin throughout the year — and particularly in these cooler months. It’s quite literally unlike any other product in my entire collection and easily one of the products that surprised me the most. In short, it’s a triumph. And while my impassioned calls to make it the official Eighth Wonder of the World have largely gone unanswered, its one of those rare products that’s perfect for all skin types. — save w/ myskinterest

Tell Me More

• What are some of the unsung heroes in your skincare routine?

• Should I finally share my nighttime skincare routine?

• What content do you want to see from me this year?

Until next time, follow along on Instagram and browse all of my favorite things. myMusings is a labor of love but it is labor. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 button before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.

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