The 25 Best Skincare Brands Worth Adding to Your Beauty Lineup
In no particular order, these are the favorites we rely on time and time again
Along with coveted cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and more, the best skincare brands offer many effective treatments that make creating customized routines a no-brainer.
“I always take a bird’s-eye view when it comes to a skincare program, and recommend a less-is-more, streamlined approach, where you want to use fewer products that work smarter and harder for your skin,” board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe tells Bazaar. “A big part of that is thinking about products in terms of how they complement one another—not only in terms of how you’re layering on any individual morning or evening but more along the lines of looking at your skincare program cyclically throughout the week. That’s one of the reasons why I coined the term skin cycling.”
Featured in this article:
Avène
The French Pharmacy Go-To
Avène
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La Mer
The Luxe Essential
La Mer
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Augustinus Bader
The Celebrity Must-Have
Augustinus Bader
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With so many routine favorites available to shop, it can be tricky to narrow down what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash without a little trial and error. The following list of selects from some of the best skincare brands—like Augustinus Bader and La Mer—can help narrow down your options while introducing you to buzzy products worth trying.
It may be tempting to jump into a new routine, but we recommend slowly incorporating one or two new items at a time and seeing how your skin fares. Here, read on for a few of the top skincare brands Bazaar editors have tested and love that also come highly recommended by professionals and beauty shoppers alike.
Avène
The French Pharmacy Go-To
Avène
$19 at Dermstore
$19 at Amazon
Credit: Dermstore
Pros
Pro
Great for sensitive skin
Cons
Nothing works harder to heal sensitive skin than Avène’s products, which is why we consider it one of the best skincare brands ever. Once a staple of chic French pharmacies, the brand is now widely available in the States. The products rely on thermal spring water to help calm and soothe all skin types.
What the experts say: “I count Avène as one of my favorite skincare brands because its staples are as gentle as they are effective. I always keep a bottle of the Thermal Spring Water on hand for an instant hydration boost, or to calm redness and irritation.” —Tiffany Dodson, associate beauty commerce editor
Featured item: Thermal Spring Water
La Mer
The Luxe Essential
La Mer
$435 at Blue Mercury
$435 at Neiman Marcus
$435 at Nordstrom
Credit: Bluemercury
Pros
Pro
Celebrity favorite
Cons
While Le Mer is arguably the brand most synonymous with skin cream, we’d actually argue that the best product from the marine-inspired line is its Regenerating Serum. Centered around the brand’s nutrient-rich Miracle Broth, the serum delivers a quicker and more potent dose of the cream’s skin-renewing effects.
One satisfied customer writes: “I wish this didn’t make my skin amazing. I wish i didn’t notice a difference after the first use. I wish I could find a reason not to buy this. Sorry bank account…” —Mrig1979
Featured item: The Regenerating Serum
Augustinus Bader
The Celebrity Must-Have
Augustinus Bader
$300 at augustinusbader.com
$300 at Revolve
$540 at Dermstore
Pros
Pro
Great for dry skin
Pro
Beloved of makeup artists
Cons
The brand behind the cult-favorite the Rich Cream was developed by a stem-cell scientist with an innovative approach to skincare. Made with TFC8, this PPC cellular renewal cream is luxuriously hydrating—worth the price and the hype.
One satisfied customer writes: “I began my Augustinus Bader journey two years ago around my 43rd birthday. Using it day and night religiously for two years along with a healthy diet, exercise, great hydration, and adequate sleep, it has allowed me to experience a ‘glow up.’ At age 45, I’ve never felt more confident.” —Anonymous
Featured item: The Rich Cream
