Our obsession with skin care stretches back to pre-pandemic life, but there’s no question that these "unprecedented times" have us slathering on an unprecedented amount of serums, creams, masks, and more while our makeup bags have mostly been collecting dust. (Remember contouring?)
This shift in interest from color cosmetics to complexion is something Pinterest dubbed "skinimalism" in its 2021 trend forecast, with searches for face yoga and naturally glowing skin both quadrupling year over year. "When we’re staying home, there’s less motivation to do our full face," says Renée Beach, dermatologist and founder of Toronto’s DermAtelier on Avenue. "When you’re left with your bare face, it’s natural to analyze that and say, 'How can I optimize it?'"
But that doesn’t mean chasing an airbrushed aesthetic, either. A hyper-perfect look doesn’t exist without a filter and isn’t a beauty standard we should feel we have to hold ourselves to. Korean beauty brand Glow Recipe recently announced it’s done with terms like "poreless" and "flawless" — a great message, though our own expectations can be harder to curb. "It’s very easy to tell someone, 'we love your natural skin,' but it’s a lot harder for someone to do that for themselves," says skin-care and cosmetic formulator Stephen Alain Ko (aka @kindofstephen). Whether having a product routine gives you confidence, a hobby, or just a chance to play chemist, remember: "Skin care is just there," says Ko. "What you take from it and get out of it is a really personal thing."
Fittingly, spring’s top skin-care trends offer more choice than ever, different textures and formulas, packed with ingredients that coddle your skin. There’s plenty to keep you busy all lockdown long — just don’t try them all at once.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission. This story was originally published on Refinery29 CA.
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End-to-End Acne Treatments
Googling "why is my skin breaking out" is a whole pandemic mood, so much so that the question has seen a 4,200% spike in searches in the past 90 days. It’s fair to point fingers at maskne — acne caused by our masks’ humidity and occlusion — but it could be lifestyle changes, too. Nowadays, you might be eating differently or sleeping poorly, both of which can impact your complexion, says Dr. Beach.
Fortunately, we’re seeing more products that are designed to support acne-prone skin on the daily, rather than attacking every bump that pops up with overzealous spot treatments. "With this work-from-home shift, people are demanding more from their products," says Dr. Beach. "They want something that’s going to not only treat the lesion at hand but also enhance and prevent." That means more cleansers that won’t strip your skin, creams that heal without clogging, preventative treatments tailor-made for oily types, and hopefully less panicked Googling, too.
Biologique Recherche Crème Iso-Placenta
This lightweight cream uses botanical ingredients to mimic the essential growth factors (proteins that send repair signals) found in human placenta. It’s designed to help fade acne scars, smooth out texture, and reduce redness and, honestly, its ability to make post-pimple scabs heal up quickly totally blew our minds.
SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF
By now, most of us know antioxidants as trusty defenders against skin-damaging free radicals, but beauty editor-beloved SkinCeuticals has found that the molecules can also stand guard for breakouts. Here’s the kicker, though: Acne-prone skin tends to have lower levels of antioxidants to start with. This new oil-free serum features a trio of antioxidants designed specifically for oily types: silymarin from milk thistle, vitamin C, and the brand’s signature ferulic acid.
Neutrogena Skin Balancing Oily Skin Clay Cleanser
Overscrubbing your face can actually cause your oil production to kick up in response. This cleanser takes a gentler approach with kaolin clay to absorb grease and 2% PHAs (large-molecule acids that don’t go as deep as AHAs or BHAs) to exfoliate without going overboard.
The Mushroom Boom
From adaptogen lattes to psychedelic microdosing, there’s no question mushrooms are having a moment. And though they’ve long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, Ko points out, they’re now becoming a popular skin-care ingredient, too.
You’re likely to spot species like shiitake in dark-spot serums, thanks to its enzymes that can slow down melanin production. “While there’s not much research that shows shiitake mushrooms directly have an impact on skin hyperpigmentation, mushrooms like shiitake do contain tyrosinase enzymes which could hypothetically inhibit some melanin production,” says Ko. A 2016 study also found shiitake, oyster, and white mushroom extracts to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties when mixed into a base cream.
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Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
This milky serum blends shiitake mushroom extract with 10% vitamin C to help fade dark spots from sun damage and acne scars, while also stopping new ones from forming. (Don’t forget your SPF for max protection.)
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Dermalogica PowerBright Dark Spot Serum
Shiitake mushroom, niacinamide (aka vitamin B3), and hexylresorcinol (a synthetic molecule known for skin-lightening) work together to tackle hyperpigmentation over time, but impatient types will love the light-diffusing polymer and titanium dioxide that brighten things up in a snap.
Pacifica Wake Up Beautiful Super Hydration Sleepover Mask
This sleep mask is packed with vitamins and antioxidants from a mix of botanicals, including both shiitake and reishi mushrooms. Swap it in instead of your p.m. moisturizer, then massage in any excess come morning.
Celebrity Skin Care
First it was A-lister fragrances (who could deny the allure of J.Lo Glow?), then makeup, and now the stars are rolling up their sleeves and getting into skin care. Joining the ranks of Kylie Skin and Goop, newcomers include Alicia Keys’ Keys Soulcare, Jennifer Lopez’s JLo Beauty, Rihanna’s Fenty Skin, Pharrell’s Humanrace, Carmen Electra’s Gogo Skincare, Lauren Conrad’s Lauren Conrad Beauty skin-care expansion, model Emily DiDonato’s Covey, and the recent trademarking of Kris Jenner Skincare.
Though we love to stan our faves via skin care, it’s always a good idea to check your expectations, says Dr. Beach. "There are some amazing products that are celeb-backed, but we need to understand that using the image of a celebrity does not equate to the quality of the formulation, the scientific rigor of its ingredients, nor its clinical daily performance on us." For your best bet, Dr. Beach recommends picking products based on the back of the bottle — look for scientifically-proven ingredients — not just the name on the front.
Keys Soulcare Be Luminous Exfoliator
Alicia Keys teamed up with top dermatologist Renée Snyder to develop her line of clean products, which take inspiration from ancient beauty rituals and ingredients. This water-activated exfoliator polishes skin with powder from Japanese green tea and lactic acid. Plus, Keys offers a glow-boosting affirmation to go along with it: “I am layered, complex, and divine.” Like skin, like self.
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JLo Beauty That Blockbuster Wonder Cream
We all know that olive oil won’t magically turn us into Jennifer Lopez, but the line’s olive complex (made from olive-derived squalane, cold-pressed fermented oil, olive leaf extract, and EVOO) does offer antioxidants and clinically proven hydration help. This rich moisturizer also boasts trusty hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides for extra plumping.
Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum
This thick liquid pulls double duty as both a toner and a serum; you just pour it into your hand then pat it on your skin, no cotton pads needed. Witch hazel and lemon myrtle extract help tighten the look of pores right away, while niacinamide and vitamin C–loaded Barbados cherry add brightness over time.
Upgraded Eye Cream
Mask life has us working our smize like never before, so it makes sense that eye-focused skin care is on the rise, too. If you’ve never used an eye cream, it could be a good time to start, given that the delicate skin area tends to show tiredness and fine lines first. Resist the urge to just swipe on your face cream, though: "The texture of the skin around the eyes is significantly thinner," says Dr. Beach. "You don’t have a lot of fat around the eyes and you have some oil glands, but not to the same extent you’d have on your forehead or nose, so products should be formulated specifically to respond to that."
A cream that’s too heavy can lead to tiny white bumps called milia, but fortunately there are tons of lightweight options to choose from, from lotions to gels to serums. With a wide range of textures available, you can be choosy about your ingredients, too. Dr. Beach recommends no-fail classics such as plumping hyaluronic acid and protective antioxidants like caffeine, which comes with the added bonus of tackling puffiness.
NeoStrata PHA Eye Cream
Looking for a lightweight texture? This gentle cream delivers deep hydration without the heft. It packs quenching hyaluronic acid, antioxidant protection from green tea and grape seed oil, and polyhydroxy acids. (Think of PHAs as cousins to AHAs such as lactic and glycolic acids, but with larger molecules that don’t penetrate as deeply, making them ideal for the delicate eye area.)
Guerlain Abeille Royale Eye R Repair Serum
Sourced in partnership with a conservation association, skin-repairing honey and royal jelly (the stuff the queen bees eat) do their work over time, while tightening polymers and caffeine help with lift and circulation, stat. Fitting of the luxe price tag, the dropper has a round golden tip for massaging the area — even better if you pop it in the fridge first.
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L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Eye Cream for Face
So, we know using face cream under your eyes is a no-go, but what about using that hardworking-yet-gentle eye cream on the rest of your face? That’s the idea between this hyaluronic acid–filled eye cream, which reportedly sells a tube every 10 seconds. The line-smoothing formula plumps up dehydrated under eyes but can also be used from forehead to chin — a win for sensitive skin, especially.
Better Body Care
Ready to peel out of your jogging pants and get into your… jogging shorts? This season, body products are borrowing more and more from actives and approaches usually reserved for the face. The new crop tackles dryness and bumps with chemical exfoliants such as lactic and glycolic acids, antioxidants, and proven moisture magnets like hyaluronic acid.
But the formulas themselves are also broadening: “Some of the new products we’re seeing have lighter textures, which offer more options to people who don’t enjoy heavier or oilier options,” says Ko. That means less sticky lotion legs and more ways to indulge in head-to-toe TLC.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
The buzzy K-beauty brand is taking its skin-care skills to new territory: arms, legs, torsos, feet, and hands. Its first-ever body product offers brightening vitamin C from its namesake watermelon, skin-smoothing AHAs derived from hibiscus, and hydrating hyaluronic acid — all without any greasy feel.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment
Whether you’ve got dull skin, those little red bumps (keratosis pilaris), or ingrown hairs, the occasional chemical peel can benefit your bod just like it does your face. These exfoliating wipes, which can be used once or twice a week, combine glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids to ditch dead skin cells, along with collagen-boosting bakuchiol, sometimes referred to as nature’s retinol.
Vaseline Refreshing Body Balm Jelly Stick
This balm comes in a handy stick format for mess-free moisturizing. Glide it on without getting your hands all goopy next time you’re rushing from the shower to a Zoom call, or throw the travel-friendly tube in with your camping gear. Bonus: Menthol serves up a cooling sensation that’s a dream on sticky summer nights.
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Sunscreen (Duh)
We can’t talk about spring skin care without talking about sunscreen. "Think of SPF as putting your clothes on," says Dr. Beach. "You wouldn’t go outside naked, so you’re not going outside without that protective layer for your face either." Even if you’re inside, you can be exposed to the sun’s aging UVA rays through a window, adds Dr. Beach.
That’s why it’s important to look for a tube that says broad spectrum, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. And you’ll want an SPF of at least 30, though Dr. Beach suggests going higher to compensate for the fact that many of us don’t slather on enough. "The best sunscreen for you is the one you’re willing to use and that agrees with your skin in terms of texture, finish, and integration with your skin care," says Dr. Beach. Thankfully, that’s easier to find than ever.
Olay Regenerist Mineral Sunscreen Hydrating Moisturizer SPF 30
Mineral sunscreens (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) are easy to hate. They can be greasy and leave that dreaded white cast, especially on dark skin tones. To overcome those downsides, Olay turned to micronized zinc oxide, which applies in a thin layer thanks to the small particles. The sheer, fragrance-free formula also contains moisturizing glycerin and free radical-fighting vitamin E, making it a perfect pick for sensitive skin.
Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40
This best-seller offers broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection via chemical filters, as well as blue-light protection from cocoa peptides. With a texture similar to primer, it’s a great pre-makeup step, but its subtle glow does the trick for foundation-free days, too.
Shiseido Ultra Sun Protector Cream SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Typically, scorching temps or a dip in the pool are bad news for sunscreen, but this broad-spectrum defender actually performs better when exposed to heat or water. The smart formula reacts to the exposure by spreading into a more uniform veil; plus, tea extract helps fend off skin-damaging pollution.
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