Pro tip: The end of the holiday season is, by far, the best time to find beauty gifts at smart prices (and we know there’s a good chance you’ll still be giving presents well into the New Year). December comes and goes in a flurry, often resulting in a missed opportunity for a heartfelt gift or two, but who said holiday shopping should be stressful or challenging? Sometimes, the best finds come when you least expect them.
With the help of my fellow beauty editors, I’ve compiled a list of the 25 best makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance products to consider gifting a loved one with across a wide range of different price points. We’ve even provided customer reviews to ease your decision-making process. Keep scrolling for a look at the gift-able beauty finds, from luxurious L’Occitane bodycare to high-tech NuFace tools Who What Wear’s beauty editors can’t stop raving about to anyone who will listen.
Fortnite Crew is a monthly subscription service for Fortnite.
Members who subscribe to Fortnite Crew receive access to the current Battle Pass, a top up of V-Bucks to their account, and perhaps most importantly, exclusive cosmetics through the Fortnite Crew Pack.
As an additional incentive to keep subscribing, you also receive bonus Legacy Styles for certain skins for each additional month you remain a subscriber.
What is the Fortnite Crew Pack and skin for January 2024?
The Fortnite Crew Pack for January 2024 is the Silas Hesk set, and features Silas Hesk (skin), The Serpentine (back bling), and the Fangs of Hesk (pickaxe).
Image: Epic Games
The skin has a number of Legacy Styles to unlock the longer you keep your Fortnite Crew subscription — with a total of six styles (across five additional months) to unlock.
You have until the last day of the month to claim the skin — you can see the following section for the exact time for when each Fortnite Crew Pack changes — from which point it’s then unavailable to new subscribers.
At least, for now; Epic has said “previous Crew Packs’ items may be made available again to Crew members at a later date,” but practically, if you have your heart on a certain pack, be sure to subscribe and claim while you can.
Fortnite Crew release date and time: When does each new Fortnite Crew Pack release?
Each new Fortnite Crew Pack is available on the last day of each month for the proceeding month at the following times:
4 p.m. PST for the west coast of North America
7 p.m. EST for the east coast of North America
12 a.m. GMT for the U.K. (the following day)
1 a.m. CEST for western Europe/Paris (the following day)
8 a.m. JST in Japan/Tokyo (the following day)
For example, Nov. 2023’s pack (featuring the Drakon Steel Hybrid skin) was released on Oct. 31 at the above times in the Americas, and on Nov. 1 elsewhere.
This means if you’re thinking of subscribing for the first time, it’s worth starting just before the above date and time to ensure you get the current Fortnite Crew Pack before it changes over.
What is Fortnite Crew?
Fortnite Crew is a subscription where, for $11.99 each month, you’ll receive the following:
Access to the current season’s Battle Pass
1,000 V-Bucks
The latest Fortnite Crew Pack (with an exclusive skin and “at least one” matching cosmetic accessory)
The next Legacy Style for any unlocked Fortnite Crew skins
Rocket Pass Premium for Rocket League
As with all V-Bucks purchases, your currency could be locked to the platform you chose to start subscribing, so choose carefully. (At the time of writing, Nintendo Switch is the only platform where your wallet won’t be shared across other platforms.)
What happens if I cancel Fortnite Crew?
If you cancel Fortnite Crew, you’ll keep all unlocked Fortnite Crew Pack cosmetics — including Legacy Styles — as well as any awarded V-Bucks and Battle Passes earned during that period.
In the realm of luxury skincare, Chanel is nearly untouchable. The iconic brand has been making skincare since 1927 when it launched 15 products aimed to help women improve their skin. Since then, the brand has launched a myriad of skincare products and lines, each aiming to help people achieve their best complexion. At this point, Chanel is a skincare staple for many.
If you’re looking to invest in one of Chanel’s skincare products, it can be difficult to figure out which ones might be best for you. I decided to go straight to the source and ask Chanel what its 10 best-selling skincare products are. The results don’t disappoint—you could build an entire skincare routine with these iconic products. From an eye cream that mitigates fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness to a CC cream that blurs while it protects, there’s something here for everyone. Keep reading to find out what Chanel’s 10 best skincare products are and what exactly has made them reach superstar status.
I invest in services like SkinPen micro-needling, Hydrafacial, and Geneo facials to help combat my hormonal breakouts and subsequent hyperpigmentation. Investing in skincare services is less about not aging and more about carefully taking care of my skin. In addition to these treatments, I like to ensure I’m also giving my skin the best of the best at home between services. I’ve loved shopping at Nordstrom for years, and these days, it’s one of my go-to skincare shopping destinations. Over time, I have built a collection of products that keep my skin barrier intact while treating, exfoliating, and masking without unwanted dryness or irritation.
Keep reading for 21 of my top Nordstrom finds that help soothe my hormonal breakouts and fade my hyperpigmentation!
In the winter, it’s easy to feel like you need to switch up everything about your life. From your clothes to your schedule, the dark, cold days can derail almost everything—including your skin. Blame it on the brisk temperatures or the dry air, but skin concerns abound from December through March.
That said, I’m here to make one thing clear. You don’t have to completely overhaul your skincare routine each winter to ward off winter skin concerns. In fact, transitioning your routine is less complicated than you think. Simply gravitate toward products and ingredients that moisturize while calming irritation and inflammation—think soothing serums and facial oils.
As a beauty editor, I know this better than anyone. Each year, I swap out a few steps in my skincare routine to maintain healthy, happy skin. There are some products I always restock and others that I retire for the time being. Keep scrolling to see them all.
I’m generally a big fan of organic skincare. Of course, there are a few brands and ingredients here and there that don’t exactly gel well with my sensitive, acne-prone skin, but for the most part, my skin tends to be happiest with simpler ingredients straight from nature. If you have a similar skin type or just love discovering brands that champion botanical skincare, look no further. I found the crème de la crème of organic skincare, and it’s aesthetician-made. That’s how you know it’s good.
Monastery products are handmade in small batches and designed to worked with your skin’s natural healing mechanisms. Instead of using harsh ingredients that can often degrade this repair system, the formulas incorporate botanical ingredients, each one chosen for its healing properties and gentle effect on the skin. It hasn’t been an easy journey finding the right products for my sensitive, acne-prone skin, but Monastery products brought some much-needed life and an impeccable glow back to my skin. The brand was kind enough to send me the entire line to try, and I’m sharing my thoughts below. Although I know it isn’t exactly a drugstore-priced brand (ugh), I promise these products are made with love and well worth the price. Keep reading for all my thoughts and favorites.
Turns out, it was the lobster! The protein was discovered by the brand’s founders, Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding, who are biomedical engineers. Breeding had discovered that the properties in lobster glycoproteins are naturally reparative. It’s what allows the crustaceans to heal wounds, fight off disease, and regenerate limbs. When applied to human skin issues, it can help with dry, aggravated skin. This was amazing news for Boutiette, as she suffers from eczema.
They launched the brand with sustainability in mind. The glycoproteins are a natural by-product of processing that usually ends up going right down the drain, so they partnered with local B-Corp lobster processor Luke’s Lobster to collect the fluid and purify it in-house. This process allows them to only collect the by-products of already-existing lobster processing and turn what once was wasted into a barrier-repairing skincare ingredient.
“It’s been incredible to see these glycoproteins from lobsters helping others in the same way they helped me,” Boutiette tells Who What Wear. “My eczema was really bad not only around my eyes and face but also on and around my lips, so I knew from experience that there weren’t products that addressed this painful problem. There was a serious need for lip products designed to be safe and effective for this delicate area that everyone can use. We knew we had to introduce a lip treatment.”
Aside from the Lip Treatment, the brand offers its Soothing Hydration Cream, which helps soothe dry, stressed skin (and is also good for those with eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis) on the face, hands, and body.
As a beauty editor, my desk is a revolving door for new beauty products. Chances are, most products that have launched in the past year have either made their way into my hands or into my inbox. Needless to say, it takes a lot for a product to impress me—if I try a product that I don’t like, I’ll almost immediately donate it or give it to a friend.
There are very few products I would actually use to the last drop, but this year, I had a few favorites. Keep reading for some of the products that got me through the past year—they’re all well worth the money.
If you’ve heard of Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, before, it’s likely been in a biological sense. That’s because CoQ10, like hyaluronic acid or amino acids, is found naturally in your body. Coenzyme Q10 helps generate energy in your body’s cells.
“[CoQ10] is a naturally occurring antioxidant that is present in every cell of your body. It’s essential for the proper functioning of many organs and chemical reactions in the body, helping to provide energy to cells and protect against oxidative damage,” says Dr. Margarita Lolis, MD, New Jersey-based dermatologist. “It plays a critical role in the production of ATP, which is a source of energy for cell processes.”
Drunk Elephant’s moisturizers have always been favorites of mine. The Protini Polypeptide Cream works wonders for firming skin, while the Lala Retro Whipped Cream is a restorative powerhouse. Its newest product, the Bora Barrier Repair Cream, couldn’t come at a better time for me. The ultra-rich cream promises 24 hours worth of deep moisture.
“It’s for chronically dry skin, it repairs the barrier,” says Tiffany Masterson, founder of Drunk Elephant. “It’s a much more reparative cream. There’s some confusion on social with the community [on] what’s the difference between Lala and Bora. It’s very simple—Lala is maintenance, Bora is repair. It really goes in and fixes the broken barrier and helps by giving the skin ingredients that it produces itself, along with some of these other great ingredients to help retain the moisture.”
Somehow, in the blink of an eye, I’m 43 (allegedly). Aging is a weird thing. I’m grateful for this gift of getting older, but I’m not lying when I say that it can be a shocking dose of reality from time to time. I remember one evening, about six years ago, I saw Jeff Goldblum perform his then-regular jazz show in my neighborhood. He came to our table and commented on the macaroni and cheese I was sharing with my co-worker. “Ahhh, mac and cheese. That was another life…” I wasn’t sure what he meant by then, but now I sure do. You can’t eat the same way in your 40s as you did when you were younger! I’m learning how to navigate all that gut stuff these days, but one thing I have under control in my wiser age? My skin.
If you want some beauty advice from me, a 43-year-old (again, allegedly) beauty editor, I’ll start off by telling you all the things you’ve heard time and again. Staying hydrated, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and not smoking (my skin was the worst when I used to smoke over a decade ago)—all played out advice, yes, but all true. Now that we have the boring stuff out of the way, my two other tips are getting regular facials (as much as you can) and simplifying your beauty routine.
I’m lucky to be able to get regular (and interesting, sometimes really out-there) facials in my line of work, and it’s taught me that regular facials are super important. I like to think of them as a deep cleaning reboot for my skin. I love a good facial that comes with a serious facial massage, like the ones at Joanna Vargas Spa and Face Gym. Recently, I had the most incredible facial at The Peninsula Spa from Margy’s Monte-Carlo, a Swiss skincare line. The products aren’t available online in the U.S. yet, but I can’t wait for it to be because the gommage scrub is amazing. A couple of months ago, I was blessed to get the celebrity-loved Instafacial from thee Jason Diamond, MD, and am still reaping the benefits. (I’ve been using his amazing line religiously at home.) My skin is truly in the best shape it’s ever been.
When it comes to sunscreen, there are two universal truths. The first is that it’s intrinsic to any skincare routine. (Please, please, please practice safe sun, people!) The second is that you don’t have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to get a quality formula. After all, effective doesn’t mean expensive. That goes for face sunscreen, too. Just because it comes from the drugstore doesn’t mean it will clog your pores, leave a white cast on your complexion, or do any of the other things we often associate with bad sunscreen. In fact, for some drugstore sunscreen formulas, quite the opposite is true. There are sheer formulas, noncomedogenic formulas, two-in-one moisturizing formulas, and more. You just have to know which ones rise above the rest, and that’s exactly what I’m here for. Keep scrolling to see the 15 best drugstore face sunscreens, according to editors and reviews.
When it comes to sunscreen, Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns opts for a drugstore classic: Neutrogena. “I love Neutrogena in general,” she says. “Since I’m breakout prone, I need something oil free and light to keep me congestion free.” Pros: oil free, noncomedogenic, offers SPF 30 protection, fragrance free, water resistant for up to 80 minutes . Cons: reviewers note the formula has a strong sunblock smell . Glowing customer review: “This is my go-to sunscreen in the summer. It is non-greasy, soaks in seamlessly, and does not make me break out. It does smell like sunscreen, but it is not overwhelming. It just feels like regular lotion.”
This sunscreen-primer hybrid is so worth the money. It’s lightweight, offers SPF 30, has a sheer peach tint to avoid leaving a white cast, and treats the skin to hydrating ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. Pros: lightweight; offers SPF 30 protection; available in three shimmer finishes; doesn’t leave a white cast; doubles as a primer; formulated with skin-loving ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, and squalane; fragrance free. Cons: reviewers say the formula can be too shimmery, pills when layered with some skincare products . Glowing customer review: “I have been using this since the beginning of summer. I love the glow when I wear it either as a primer or, more often, as a sunscreen when I’m not wearing makeup. I use Sunbeam, and it’s amazing with my skin tone. It doesn’t feel greasy or heavy.”
Former Who What Wear beauty editor Courtney Higgs recommends this sunscreen, which is lauded for being non-greasy, demi-matte, and water resistant. The real draw, though, has to be its completely sheer formula. Pros: boasts SPF 45 protection, water resistant, fragrance free, reef friendly . Cons: the formula could be too hydrating for some skin types, a bit pricier. Glowing customer review: “This is the last sunscreen brand I will ever use. All these years and they have cracked the code. This is the best face sunscreen. Light, matte, gel.”
Another Neutrogena pick. This one is a mineral formula that goes on smooth, feels lightweight, and doesn’t leave a slick oily residue like some other face sunscreens do. That’s impressive, especially considering it is a 100% zinc oxide formula. Pros: made with naturally sourced 100% zinc oxide, formulated with dry-touch technology that helps the SPF dry down with a non-greasy finish, fragrance free, offers SPF 50 protection . Cons: because of the mineral formula, it can leave a white cast. Glowing customer review: “At first, when I applied it, it felt thick and hard to rub in. But once I got it on my face, I loved how it looked. There is a very subtle tint that makes my skin look really nice without it looking unnatural. I don’t even need to wear foundation after applying this sunscreen. Will definitely be sticking with this one for a long time.”
This Versed sunscreen is a staple around the Who What Wear office. Thanks to SPF 35 and an antioxidant-rich formula, it protects against UVA and UVB rays as well as environmental and blue-light damage. Plus, it never leaves a white cast thanks to its peachy tint. . Pros: formulated with non-nano zinc oxide, offers SPF 35 protection, ideal for even acne-prone skin, prevents UVA and UVB rays from penetrating the skin, pregnancy safe . Cons: mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide can be sensitizing for reactive skin, a bit pricier. Glowing customer review: “This is the first sunscreen I’ve ever tried that doesn’t make my eyes sting—and I’ve tried * a lot* of sunscreens (and many of them were waaaayyy more expensive than this!). It’s cruelty-free, sinks into my skin nicely, and it dries to a matte finish so I’m not walking around all day looking weirdly glossy. I’m sensitive to smells but this doesn’t have any scent—not even a sunscreen-y one! It can be a tiny bit drying on my nose and around my lower lip, but I’m prone to being dry in those places anyway so I just slather on moisturizer before I apply the sunscreen and I’m good to go. 10/10!”
Here it is—one of my all-time favorite drugstore sunscreens. Sure, it’s more expensive than others, but it’s still technically a drugstore sunscreen if it’s sold at Target, right? Plus, you get a lot of bang for your buck. You can use it on the face and body, and a little goes a long way, so it lasts, even with regular application. It’s perfect for everyday use, but I make a point to keep it in my beach bag since it keeps me from getting burned no matter how long I stay out in the sun. Pros: fragrance free, offers SPF 50 protection, can be used on the face and body, non-greasy, water resistant for up to 80 mins. Cons: reviewers say it can take some elbow grease to get the formula blended into the skin, a bit pricier. Glowing customer review: “This sunscreen blends into the skin easily and doesn’t feel greasy. Doesn’t leave white residue and blends in seamlessly without making skin look dry or cakey. It’s easy to put makeup on over it or to reapply throughout the day. I like that the SPF is 60, so I feel protected from the sun. Don’t hesitate to purchase this one or any of their other products. I would give four stars for the price. I only wish it was more affordable. I would recommend this sunscreen.”
Fun fact: This is actually a sunscreen formulated for babies. But with a fragrance-free SPF 50 formula, it also protects grown-up skin from the sun. I use this whenever I want a no-makeup glow since it has a dewy finish. (Oily skin types, beware.) . Pros: baby friendly, offers SPF 50 protection, dermatologist tested, pediatrician approved, hypoallergenic, free of synthetic fragrances. Cons: reviewers note this is a white cast on some skin tones. Glowing customer review: “I have very dry, acne-prone, sensitive skin. I take medications that put me at risk for skin cancer, so I need to wear SPF 50 daily. I’ve tried SO MANY, and this is hands down my fav. Lightweight, moisturizing, and easy to reapply. Doesn’t cause acne and makes my skin look great. There is a white cast when applying.”
This brand has been on my radar for some time, but I wasn’t a loyal customer until I tried this unique sunscreen-serum hybrid. It’s super silky and lightweight. Plus, it sinks into my skin like a serum should, yet it offers the sun protection I need. Ingredients like spinach, green tea, and hyaluronic acid keep my skin plump and hydrated. Pros: protects against UVA and UVB damage, hyperpigmentation and pollution, formulated with hyaluronic acid, dermatologist tested, offers SPF 30 protection . Cons: reviewers say the formula can make combination skin more oily, a bit pricier. Glowing customer review: “Love, love, love this sunscreen. It was recommended by my esthetician, and she did not steer me wrong. It goes on beautifully, doesn’t have a white cast (which is extra important to me as a black woman), mixes well with a variety of other products from different brands and leaves a nice glowy finish without being too oily or greasy. 10/10 recommendation!”
I’m also a big fan of this sunscreen stick, which I pack in my bag on busy summer days. (Seriously though, reapplication is a breeze.) Aside from its convenient packaging, I like that it’s formulated with antioxidant-rich red raspberry seed oil, buriti oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and prickly pear extract to fight damaging free radicals. Pros: formulated with over 70% certified organic ingredients, offers broad spectrum SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection, water resistant for up to 80 minutes, comes in a travel-friendly stick . Cons: has a notable scent, a bit pricier . Glowing customer review: “I bought this to spot-cover some places that need extra sun protection, and it did not disappoint! I love the scent and texture, packability, and sheerness of coverage. Another gold star product from Coola!”
Okay, although this is technically a face moisturizer, it’s worth noting because it includes SPF 30 and is an Amazon best seller (so you know it’s good). The fragrance-free formula includes hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides, so it’s as moisturizing as it is protective. Pros: fragrance-free, offers SPF 30 protection, formulated with skin-loving ingredients, noncomedogenic, oil free. Cons: can leave a white residue, a bit pricier. Glowing customer review: “Perfect for sensitive skin! I’ve tried expensive lotions from Sephora or other brands like Monat, and this is the only one that doesn’t break my skin out. Moisturizing without leaving my face greasy.”
If you have only one criterion for your face sunscreen, and it is that it “has to be lightweight,” then this is the one for you. Its milky texture melts into the skin while vitamin E helps protects against free radicals and moisturizing agents keep dryness at bay. Pros: formulated to help lock moisture in to hydrate and protect the skin’s microbiome, noncomedogenic, offers SPF 50 protection, water resistant for up to 80 minutes, offers a dry matte finish . Cons: reviewers say it leaves a white cast. Glowing customer review: “I love this sunscreen. It really moisturizes well and doesn’t cause my sensitive skin any harm. It has a white cast, but that’s to be expected with a mineral sunscreen. I would definitely recommend this!”
A no-frills face sunscreen. This oil-free, fragrance-free formula is fairly lightweight. I love that it doesn’t slide or pill under my foundation, which means I can apply it daily without fear of a makeup meltdown. Pros: fragrance free, offers SPF 50 protection, oil free, water resistant, Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant . Cons: reviewers say this can be too oily from combination skin . Glowing customer review: “I was primarily looking for sunscreen without a white cast and oily tint to wear with light makeup. I love that this product does not have a white cast. It does leave a shiny residue on the skin, which I am torn about. Sometimes, it looks like a healthy, flushed glow, but sometimes, it’s like oily skin, which I dull down with a face powder. Overall, I don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for sunscreen I use daily, and it’s the best I’ve found in the price range.”
I know what you’re thinking: Didn’t you already include a La Roche-Posay product? I did, but to my credit, this sunscreen-serum hybrid is too good not to be included. Like the previous one, this is expensive for a drugstore sunscreen, but I justify it because it’s a two-in-one product. It’s one part sunscreen (SPF 50, to be exact) and one part anti-aging serum. It uses vitamins C and E to help defend against free radicals. Pros: a two-in-one anti-aging face serum with sunscreen; great for sensitive skin; offers broad spectrum SPF 50; clinically proven to reduce the visible appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots . Cons: reviewers share the formula could be too hydrating for oily skin types, a bit pricier. Glowing customer review: “My skin is problematic [and] prone to congestion with lots of pores, but this cream is the only thing that works for my face, and I look so pretty when my face looks so healthy, and it makes me so happy.”
This sunscreen serum was quite literally made for breakout-prone skin, meaning if you struggle with clogged pores, this one won’t make them worse. It’s a chemical-mineral hybrid that melts into the skin like a serum and leaves behind a dewy finish. Pros: features SPF 50, formulated with breakout-prone skin in mind, noncomedogenic, made with a clean-chemical-mineral hybrid that doesn’t leave a white cast, doubles as a makeup primer. Cons: none. Glowing customer review: “This sunscreen is a game-changer! It doesn’t pill and leaves a beautiful finish under makeup. I have sensitive acne-prone skin, and this doesn’t break me out or burn. Will definitely be repurchasing.”
Offering SPF 50, this sunscreen will surely protect the skin from UV rays. However, what really makes this special is the combination of five potent antioxidants, including vitamin E and C. There’s even hyaluronic acid to keep skin looking plump and smooth. Pros: infused with five antioxidants (glycyrrhetinic acid, licochalcone A, vitamin E, vitamin C, Oxynex ST) and hyaluronic acid to help reduce signs of aging, formulated with SPF 50 formula, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic. Cons: reviewers note the formula doesn’t always stay put in extremely humid weather . Glowing customer review: “I love everything about this product. It leaves my skin so beautiful. [It] has seen improvements in my skin texture, and the best is I could use it with my make-up. It makes my skin much smoother and glowy…love it.”
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
Let’s get one thing clear: I love my 99-cent lipsticks just as much as my $90 ones. However, there are certain products on the pricey side that I consider to be the best. As a beauty editor, I recognize the privilege I have to be able to test high-end makeup and skincare for a living. And I’m here to argue that some of it is worth splurging on.
I won’t say that all luxury beauty products are necessarily better than mid-priced or drugstore products. Though, I think it’s on a case-by-case or product-by-product basis. After all, beauty is personal and subjective. Also, some high-end beauty products are priced that way for a reason. For example, they may contain premium ingredients sourced from some mountaintop in a corner of the world the average person would never be able to visit or are processed using proprietary technological methods.
There’s also the longevity factor. Luxury may come with a hefty price tag, but sometimes, the efficiency of the product is well worth it. Or if it’s something that will last you a while, the investment makes more sense over time. On the other hand, there’s plain ol‘ preference. Maybe a $50 eyeliner works better on your lids than a $5 one.
Ahead, find 15 of my favorite luxury beauty brands and products worth spending a little more on, from Chanel lipsticks to fancy scalp scrub. Consider adding these to your cart if you’ve been curious about high-end beauty. You deserve it.
I’ll admit it—shopping online for beauty products can be somewhat of a daunting task. Finding all of your favorite items in one place is one thing. Ensuring that they get delivered on time to replenish your routine is another. Few retailers can check both boxes and boast a well-curated selection of high-low products.
In my humble opinion, Nordstrom is one of the best. With a massive spectrum of beauty products to choose from, there’s something for every budget, preference, and concern—whether you’re looking for a designer foundation, an intoxicating perfume, or a moisturizing hair mask.
This is why I’ve gone ahead and put together a list of the 16 best beauty products I’ve found at Nordstrom, ranging from an ultra-luxurious woody fragrance to an incredible exfoliating face mask (that just so happens to be under $50). Keep reading to see and shop them all.
Well, it finally happened—I turned 30 years old last month. Even though those around me have insisted that this decade is about a billion times better than the last one, there was still this monumental fear I grasped onto, and a big part of it had to do with the notion that I was starting to lose my youth. Blame it on the world’s obsession with beauty or even my career working in it, but there was a societal echo I couldn’t ignore.
Ironically, when people enter their 30s, they’re often tackling the same skin issues they dealt with in the past, including hormonal acne and oiliness. They might even be presented with new ones, like dullness, wrinkles, and a loss of elasticity. In my case, I don’t have to worry about breakouts, but I do worry that I haven’t been doing enough in terms of prevention.
Even though I’m quite happy about where I’m at in life and know aging is unavoidable, I still want to kick my skincare routine up a notch to prevent early signs of aging. That’s why I created a new arsenal of skin, hair, and body products for top-tier care. Keep scrolling to see the skincare products I’m incorporating into my routine.
My love language has always been gift giving, so as you can imagine, I take the holiday season seriously. It’s like my own personal Olympics. And while many of my friends and family members start brainstorming gifts just a few weeks before winter break, I start brainstorming in July. That’s not an exaggeration. Each year, during the height of summer, I open a note on my phone and start adding ideas to it. By the time winter rolls around, I have my gifts bought, assembled, and wrapped. And I’m waiting impatiently to give them all out.
Because of my fascination with gift giving, I rarely allocate any of my budget to myself. If I do, that means a product is really special. That’s the case with a few Nordstrom beauty products I came across during my gift-giving research—well, 12 to be exact. They were all so promising that I couldn’t help but keep them for myself. Keep scrolling to see all 12!
I’m lucky enough in my job to have access to celebrity facialists, top beauty brands, and the best experts in the industry, but I’ve noticed more and more that it’s A-listers themselves who are becoming all the more influential when it comes to serving up legitimately good beauty advice. Of course, celebrities like Beyoncé and Jennifer Aniston are surrounded by the beauty industry’s cream of the crop on a daily basis—from makeup artists to French hairstylists—so it’s really no surprise that they’ve picked up some expert beauty tips along the way. There’s one celebrity in particular, however, whose skincare knowledge I trust more than most: Victoria Beckham.
With her very own beauty line under her belt and a dedicated beauty reel of product recommendations and top tips on her Instagram, Beckham’s love of all things beauty is obvious. Her passion for products combined with how open she has been about her skincare journey from Spice Girl to bonafide fashion designer means that she’s a lady that I have really come to trust when it comes to beauty tips. Plus, there’s the fact that at 49 years old, she looks damn incredible.
My name is Kaitlyn McLintock, and sometimes, I’m influenced by celebrities to buy things. There, I said it. As a beauty editor, it’s easy to blame it on my job and call it “research” or “due diligence.” After all, I can’t crown a certain product as the best without comparing it to all of the others on the market, right? That’s true, but if I’m being honest, it’s more than that. It’s also about the fact that I want to have the best beauty products at my disposal. If a celebrity, who has access to basically anything they want, uses or recommends something, I want it.
Let me be clear. I’m not necessarily looking for celebrity endorsements. I’m interested in the products they use without being compensated for using them or, at the very least, products they’ve created themselves. Say what you will about celebrity beauty brands, but if they’re slapping their name on something, they have to believe in it at least a little bit.
This year, I bought and tested a lot of celeb beauty products. I, however, only felt a few were worth the money, and I figured I’d share them with you. Ahead, see all the celeb-favorite beauty products I used this year, ranked from most to least favorite.
There are a lot of ways you can finally have the glowing skin of your dreams, but there’s one key step in your routine that can really make a huge difference. “It’s only obvious that everyone wants to achieve that perfect glow, but what I’ve learned after all these years in the industry is that most people do not know how to exfoliate properly,” says aesthetician and Facify Beauty founder Crystal Koro. “Either they are using products that are too harsh and rough or not using the proper form of exfoliation for their skin type.” If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to opt for something extremely gentle and only exfoliate a couple times a week. For those who are acne-prone or have oily skin, you may want to opt for a BHA toner with salicylic acid or even a PHA one.
Dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, agrees. “Exfoliating about two to three times per week is critical to remove dead skin cells to keep skin bright and smooth,” he says. “You’ll also want to protect skin from environmental factors that contribute to aging skin, such as UV radiation and pollutants, by using products that include sunscreen and antioxidants, respectively.”
Another glowing-skin secret Koro has is to incorporate a device like the Facify Beauty Wand ($399). “Facify offers a unique five-iron head pulse magnetic massage head that provides a cooling massage to help with de-puffing, toning, and promotes blood circulation, which truly gets your skin glowing. It also improves fine lines and wrinkles and promotes lymphatic drainage to reduce inflammation of the face. It truly feels like getting a professional lymphatic massage but in the comfort of your own home,” she shares. For a few expert-recommended glowing-skin products, keep on scrolling.
According to Shayk, one of the things she swears by to keep her skin youthful and plump is collagen. Obviously, collagen supplements aren’t a new thing to hit the market in any way, shape, or form, but Shayk even shared that her particular favorite which is Vida Glow’s Marine Collagen (her flavor preference is also blueberry). In true, “I’ll have what she’s having” fashion, I ordered a few for myself and am excited to give this formula go. I’ve had success with other collagen powders.
While this brand offers marine collagen sustainably sourced from fish skin, I’ve been taking a bovine collagen supplement that has helped me in more ways than one. Ingesting collagen can help strengthen your nails and hair, while plumping fine lines and giving your skin new life and vitality. I can say this is definitely true having taken a collagen supplement consistently for around three months now. I was really surprised by the results and am definitely open to trying other formulas to see how they compare. Vida Glow’s formula is designed to do the same, it offers increased skin suppleness, it smooths fine lines, and works on a cellular level to promote optimal skin function.
If Shayk loves it and it will give my skin an otherworldly glow like hers, I’m in! You can shop Shayk’s favorite flavor below.
