It’s that time of year and I’ve rounded up my top skincare purchases of 2022. There were a lot of skincare products that I tried this year but I narrowed it down to the products I found myself repurchasing over and over.
Saturday Skin Açai Berry+ Oats Cleanser
I’ve tried several products from the Saturday Skin including the Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask and though I’m not often impressed with cleansers, the star ingredients piqued my interest. Formulated with açaí berry to support natural collagen for visibly firmer bouncy skin and a grain complex that includes oats this cleanser claimed to gently exfoliate to help combat the appearance of dullness, dark spots and hyperpigmentation for improved skin tone while still retaining moisture. After using it consistently for a few weeks I noticed how soft my skin felt and attributed it to the cleanser as that was the only new product that I switched in my daily skincare routine. After finishing the first bottle I immediately bought backups.
Hyper Even Gentle Brightening Cleansing Gel
Well would you look at that. Another cleanser has made it to the list. Similar to the Saturday Skin cleanser this cleanser is also a gel formula. It contains mandelic acid to regulate oil production, reduce breakouts, unclog pores, and brighten the look of dull skin. In addition to this cult fave ingredient it also includes licorice root, bearberry, and willow bark help fade dark spots, calm inflammation, and protect against future acne breakouts—leaving your complexion soft and radiant. If you have been following me on social media or have been reading my blog for some time you already know how I feel about the brand’s Hyper Even Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum. Using the cleanser in conjunction with the serum is a match made in heaven. I also have backups of this cleanser because that’s just who I am.
Fenty Skin Fat Water Hydrating Milky Toner Essence with Hyaluronic Acid + Tamarind
Of all of the products I will be mentioning in this post this is the breakout star of the bunch. I had used the original Fat Water when the brand first launched skincare and although I did enjoy it, I never repurchased. By the time of this launch I was heavily into essences and the milky texture of this one reminded me of Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner a favorite of mine. The niacinamide and hyaluronic acid pairing provided protection to my skin barrier while also giving it a boost of extra hydration which is a must during the cooler months. I immediately noticed how radiant my skin looked and how well it paired with other products in my routine.
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel
Easily the best $6 I’ve ever spent on skincare. As we can see from the previous products that have made it to this list, hydration was front and center for me this year and this eye cream provided that and more to the delicate skin around my eyes. While I do not suffer from dark circles, this definitely made my under eye area brighter over time and can be layered with an eye cream or worn alone. I especially like to use this when I am not wearing makeup as it gives my under eye area a slightly dewy, hydrated appearance.
Sweet Chef Ginger + Vitamin C Powershot Polishing Mask
This mask doesn’t get enough recognition so I’m here to give her her flowers. If you’re looking for a brightening and exfoliating mask, look no further. This mask includes Vitamin C to fight dull skin, dark spots and hyperpigmentation, ginger and turmericto boost of radiance while soothing irritation, rice and maca powders that gently polishes the surface of the skin, and lastly glycolic acid to decongests pores and works to remove dead skin cells. Smooth skin ahead!
Innisfree Pore-Clearing Clay Mask
For a long time I steered clear of clay masks because I find them to be more drying than pore-clearing, but that wasn’t until Felicia Walker from This That Beauty introduced me to the Innisfree Pore-Clearing Mask. I have been a big fan of the brands toners and have raved about them here on the blog but it had been a while since I tried anything new from the brand. This clay mask is the bar for all clay masks. It effectively decongests the skin without leaving the skin feeling tight, essentially banishing texture and revealing smooth skin. I use this mask 2-3 times per week and it definitely can sit with other luxe brands in this category.
InnBeauty Project Retinol Remix 1% Retinol With Peptide & Tranexemic Acid
If you’re into skincare, you already know that retinol can be very tricky. While we love the end results the process can wreak havoc on your skin. When I stumbled across this serum in April, I decided I would give it a try since I love so many products from the brand. This formulation is top tier when it comes to retinol. While it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it is also formulated with Peptide + Tranexamic Acid (one of the years top ingredients) that visibly firms & fades hyperpigmentation for a brighter, more even-toned complexion, Centella Asiatica + Tazman Pepper + Roman Chamomile that prevents look of irritation, bumps & flaking associated with retinol use. This is a pleasure to use all year round and I have had absolutely no irritation since switching to this retinol serum.
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
Sticking with the hydration theme, it should come as no surprise that my most repurchased moisturizer this year is the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer. It only makes sense that the brand would launch a moisturizer to pair with their Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum which I love. A bouncy whipped formula that has both hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids for double the hydration.
Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen
Mineral and hybrid sunscreens were big this year but one brand in my opinion nailed it. The Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Sunscreen definitely had high marks when it came to us black and brown girlies. No white cast, serum texture with a natural finish—yes, yes and yes! Incorporating this sunscreen into my routine was so easy. It felt like I was adding a silky serum. Perfect all year long!
Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream
Bright-eyed and bushy tailed. That’s how I would describe the feeling this eye cream gives me every time I put it on. Formulated with a Vitamin C and Peptide blend, this multitasking eye cream will give your eye area a brighter, firmer look. The moisturizing formula also includes caffeine to help de-puff, Allantoin and Vitamin E to soothe, and natural subtle shimmer to softly illuminate all skin tones, not to mention how it almost acts like a subtle color corrector that works beautifully under makeup.
What were your top skincare purchases of 2022?
