6 Beauty journalists on their favourite skincare products

The beauty world can feel daunting—there are endless products out there, and they all claim to do something amazing. When I’m yet to try something for myself, I often turn to my friends, fellow beauty journalists, who are great at breaking down what’s worth knowing about a particular product.

Skincare is possibly the most complicated region when it comes to beauty. We all have a different combination of needs, budgets and conditions, so it can feel overwhelming to know where to look. I asked some beauty experts what skincare products they’ll always have on their shelf, and their answers were enlightening. BRB, off to do a skincare haul!

Tori Crowther

It provides instant relief for redness and the uncomfortable flushed feeling I get due to my rosacea. It's not going to cure rosacea alone, so it has to be used alongside other treatments (for me, that includes prescription Rozex and Finacea) as recommended by a dermatologist. 

As soon as I stop using this product, my skin is never as comfortable; it becomes less hydrated and lacks a glow. It's a staple that I try to never be without, along with the La Roche-Posay Dermallergo Soothing Cream. I always stock up on them both with Boots 3-for-2.

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac Anti-Redness Intense Serum

Vanese Maddix

Skin Proud's Proud Pods have become a holy grail in my skincare routine thanks to the serum's super soothing and hydrating ingredients that include 100 per cent squalane, which is most notable for softening and smoothing dry skin. As someone with a normal-to-dry skin type which becomes increasingly drier in the winter months, I've found this serum to give my skin maximum hydration throughout the day without the feeling of oiliness. Plus, the natural glow it provides is unmatched.

My favourite thing about it is definitely the fact that the serum is in ampoule packaging, which I've found makes it much less of a hassle to apply. You get all you need from just one vial and don't have to overcomplicate things by trying to figure out how much you need. The compact packaging also makes it great to pack for long holidays and overnight stays.

Skin Proud Proud Pods

Keeks Reid

It's so effective at waking up my skin thanks to the Vitamin C, the PHAs exfoliate dead skin gently and the hyaluronic acid keeps my skin from drying out. Honestly, my skin really drinks up the stuff, and it layers well under moisturisers and SPF too—it’s a true staple.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum

Lucy Partington

It’s the most effective yet gentle Vitamin A cream that I’ve used. It harnesses the power of retinaldehyde (which works 11 times faster than traditional retinol), but the genius formulators at Medik8 have created a product that doesn’t irritate skin or dry it out, so it has all the benefits that vitamin A is known for.

Every dermatologist I’ve spoken to mentions how good Vitamin A is, so it’s a staple in my routine. I’ve tried so many different types from numerous brands but I always come back to Crystal Retinal. I love that it’s available in different strengths because it means I can recommend it to everybody—and you can work your way up the more your skin becomes acclimatised to it. I tend to use six because that feels like a middle ground.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

Mollie Davies

I often find cleansing balms to be too heavy—I find that they don't offer the kind of deep cleanse that I like, and can feel weighty on my skin, almost clogging. I tried a pot of this Eve Lom Cleanser a few years ago, and finished every last scrap before replacing it. The scent takes some getting used to, as it's quite aromatically herb heavy, but it makes for a spa-like cleanse.

Removing even the most stubborn of makeup (and I find my eyelashes really cling to mascara), the balmy texture melts into my skin without leaving a sticky residue. My face feels decongested, smooth and calmed after each use. I’m yet to find a balm cleanser to rival it.

Eve Lom Cleanser

Tara Ledden

If there was a disaster scenario where I had to sacrifice all of my skincare products except for one, I'd spare this. It might sound basic, but it's everything you could ever want from a moisturiser. The lightweight gel-like texture isn't too heavy for my oily combination skin and doesn't break me out, but it provides enough moisture to get rid of any dryness I do have (whether that's seasonal, or down to overuse of actives).

It calms down my rosy cheeks and doesn't irritate chapped skin. I can use it all year round, and I imagine it would work for all skin types too. It sits really well under make-up and the silky texture isn't at all greasy, but it doesn't immediately disappear into the skin and provides enough slip for a mini facial massage. At such an affordable price, I don't feel the need to use it sparingly; even with twice daily application, a tube lasts a couple of months. Despite all the lovely luxury products that land on my desk every day, it proves great skincare doesn't have to be expensive.

The Inkey List Omega Water Cream

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