The Shitter's Guide To Skincare, 2025 Edition
All of our tried-and-true product recommendations in one place!
Shitters!!! After years of sharing skincare recommendations across 200+ newsletters (!), I wanted to put all of my tried-and-true favorites together for you in one place. Below you’ll find affordable products that overdeliver, splurges that are worth their weight in gold, devices that actually move the needle, and things that I, a person with sensitive, pigmented, textured, starting-to-wrinkle-like-all-of-ours-has-or-will skin, use/ love/ recommend wholeheartedly.
All the disclaimers apply—I’m not a dermatologist or an esthetician, and if you’re feeling lost/ helpless/ unhappy with your skin (been there!), I recommend finding one you trust. These are simply things that have worked wonders for me, and stand out among the many that I’ve tried. If you find today’s letter helpful, please consider hitting the heart-shaped like-button at the top or bottom! It helps more people find this and is so appreciated!
PSA: Many of the brands and retailers mentioned in today’s letter have kindly offered discount codes for SIBAL readers to try their products and save! I’ve included them throughout, but you can always find them (and 40+ others!) right here!
The Basics
Cleanser
My one and done rec is Dieux’s fragrance-free gel cleanser (PRIYANKA15). This works gently on all skin types (especially acne-prone/sensitive ones) without stripping the skin thanks to its high glycerin content. The texture is nice to the touch, there are no irritating ingredients or scents, and for the price, you get a LOT of product. My other recs depend on your needs: Sofie Pavitt’s (PRIYANKA15) is every pro’s first choice for acne-prone skin. I keep it in my shower for post-workout. Sachi’s Saffron Cleanser (PRIYANKA15) is Ayurvedic AND clinical and great for brightening, and I love Youth to the People’s mini glass bottle for travel.
When I wear makeup, I always like to double cleanse—first with an oil/ balm-style product, and then with my regular gel cleanser. I spent years afraid of anything oil, but oil cleansers are so beneficial, even on acne-prone skin. If you spend the time (about 30 seconds or so) working it in into the skin and letting it break down the makeup/grime, they cleanse so effectively. My favorites are UBeauty’s Mantle Conditioning Wash (PRIYANKA20) and Furtuna’s Cleansing Oil Balm (PRIARIBI). Both are pricier, but they feel like heaven. The Furtuna in particular lasts for ages, and the packaging makes it easy to travel with. I’m also a fan of Josh Rosebrook’s (PRIYANKA15) if oilier textures turn you off. Follow up with your regular cleanser afterwards and rest assured that there won’t be any residual oil to clog your pores.
SPF
I have one true love when it comes to SPF—Beauty of Joseon (there are a few different version, but the one linked is the only one I’ll buy). Whether you’re a seasoned skincare vet or just trying to make yourself a basic routine (or a begrudging boyfriend/ husband/ parent who SPF is being thrust upon), it’s my blanket rec for pretty much everyone. It’s hydrating, lightweight, inexpensive, and KOREAN (America could quite literally never). I’ve tried to make the switch to mineral sunscreen (and tried DOZENS of the new releases), but none of the non-makeup versions have felt quite as nice on. Not a sexy rec, but I’d go with the OG EltaMD if that’s what you’re in the market for.
Moisturizer (Day)
I’ve tried so many moisturizers, but my favorite simple one is Rhode’s Barrier Restore Cream. It’s substantial and hydrating without being too heavy on the skin, has never broken me out, and at $30ish it’s a very manageable price point. To me, it’s an easy, entry-level product that I will always recommend.
For my friends who run oily or are acne-prone and trust nothing (I get it), I love Dieux’s Air Angel (PRIYANKA15). It’s a gel cream that packs lasting hydration into a lightweight, gentle, completely non-comedogenic formula. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you live for a super hydrated, glowy finish, I ADORE UBeauty’s Super Hydrator (PRIYANKA20). It’s rich and luxe and leaves your skin looking juicy for hours. I use before makeup, or just on its own (the glow is seriously otherworldly).
Moisturizer (Night)
I tend to prefer a thicker cream at night, regardless of the season. My first rec is always InnBeauty’s Extreme Cream—it works to lift, firm, and of course to hydrate, and I think it works/feels better than so much of the pricier stuff. It contains a small amount of plant-based retinol, so I don’t it use on nights when I’m already using a retinol-based product or after lots of time in the sun, just to be safe! If you want a one-and-done rich, hydrating cream that’s still remotely affordable, Dieux’s Instant Angel (PRIYANKA15) has never led me astray.
There are some really nice options on the splurgier side. I skip most Bader products, but I’ve been a longtime fan of his Ultimate Soothing Cream (PRIYANKA15). My skin laps it up, especially in the winter months—usually I’ll treat myself once a year when it starts getting cold. But if you want RICH rich, Eighth Day’s Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer (PRIYANKA15) is hands down the most luxurious night cream I’ve ever tried. For dry or mature skin especially, this is a dream, but tbh mine is neither of those things and I still love it. It’s loaded with Peptide-Rich Plasma, and is designed to address volume loss along with smoothing and hydrating. Send to your discerning mom or MIL for brownie points for life.
The Basics 2.0
Vitamin C
The gold standard has always been SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, and don’t get me wrong, it’s good stuff, but if I had my pick, I’d go with Retrouvé’s Nutrient Face Serum. It’s criminally expensive (worse than SkinCeuticals, which is already up there), but my skin DRINKS it up, and the combo of Vitamin C+ E+ Bakuchiol (a plant-based retinol alternative), it does wonders on pigmentation/ spots in addition to wrinkles/dullness. The lore behind the brand is fascinating—it’s made by the former owners of Kiehl’s who started formulating best-of-the-best products to use for themselves. They’re admittedly super luxe (with a price tag to match), but I never feel better about my skin than when I use this consistently.
For a budget-friendlier alternative to these, I’ve loved BeautyStat’s Universal C (PRIYANKA15). The chemist behind the brand, Ron Robinson, is widely respected in the industry, understands melanated skin firsthand, and makes effective products at a price point that won’t make your eyes water.
Exfoliation
There are lots of concoctions out there in this department, but IMO there’s only one that’s worth coming back to—Sofie Pavitt’s Mandelic Serum (PRIYANKA15). I subscribe completely to Sofie’s low and slow method of clearing acne and preventing new breakouts before they start, and this gentle mandelic acid serum is the embodiment of that philosophy. It’s a mainstay in my routine regardless, but when I pare my routine down to the basics, it always includes this.
For a similar approach but more immediate impact, try Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask. It’s a gentle exfoliation mask that leaves your skin bright and glowy without any of the the stinging, burning, or irritation that comes from most exfoliating masks or instant peels.
Retinol/Retinal
Ah, retinol. This is a form of Vitamin A that’s something of a miracle ingredient in skincare. It reduces wrinkles/fine lines, improves skin texture, lightens hyperpigmentation, treats acne—the results work over time, but I feel like I wake up to smoother, more even skin the morning after using! But it does have its downsides—it can easily irritate skin, thin it over time, make it more light sensitive, and it isn’t safe for pregnancy/breastfeeding. I spent a long time thinking it was stupid to stray from the prescription stuff for this, but there are a lot of really nice retinol/al formulas out there that give you the same benefits without the irritation that traditionally comes with the Rx versions (sidenote: retinAL is not a spelling error—it’s short for retinaldehyde, which has a different/more potent chemical structure than retinOL. The more you know!).
My favorites include Sachi’s Ursolic Acid & Retinal Reform (PRIYANKA15). It’s specifically formulated with melanated skin in mind, but anyone can use it—it’s super gentle, but QUITE effective. I’ve been really impressed. I also love this Eighth Day Night Treatment (PRIYANKA15)—it’s a MAJOR splurge, but the nicest formula I’ve ever used. And if you want the prescription stuff, I’ve had good experiences virtually with Ro Derm.
Eye Cream
Everyone comes into the search for an eye cream with their own preferences. In my case, I love an actual cream—something that feels thick and hydrating, rather than a thinner gel or serum (which still work—just not my texture preference). Results-wise, I’m always looking for something that will brighten the area, plump/ help with volume loss, and soften the fine lines/wrinkles that inevitably form around the eyes. I tend to be a guinea pig with eye creams, but the two I come back to are BeautyStat’s Universal C Eye Perfector (PRIARIBI) and UBeauty’s Return Eye Concentrate (PRIYANKA20). BeautyStat is the one I typically recommend across the board—it’s formulated with Vitamin C specifically with brightening in mind, and my undereye skin feels supple and better to the touch when I’m consistent with it. But for the next step up, UBeauty’s is incredible—it has a thick, luxurious texture, but sinks into the skin easily, and apparently even contains diamond powder?!
The Nice To Haves
Specialty Serums
I’ve tried tons of serums beyond the ones listed above, but these are a few of my favorites. I don’t use all of them at once—pick and choose based on the ingredients/your concerns:
Auteur Definitive Renewal Serum: This is a growth factor serum, which feels like the latest it-ingredient in skincare. Growth factors are peptides that prompt your skin’s cells to produce more collagen and elastin, repair wounds/damage, and increase cell turnover, resulting in a more even skin tone and texture, improvement in wrinkles/fine lines, and skin that’s more resilient against the usual signs of aging. This is an extremely expensive serum—one of the most expensive I’ve ever tried—but BOY is it a treat. I put my skin through the wringer with food/ alcohol/ stress/ travel while I was using it, but never once saw the effects on my face. I’ve tried other popular growth factor serums (Dr. Diamond’s Metacine, epi.Logic’s Master Plan, Eighth Day’s Regenerative Serum, etc.) but this was hands down my favorite. If the above are concerns of yours and you have the cash to spare, it’s a super luxurious way to treat yourself.
SkinCeuticals P-TIOX: A lot of things are touted as Botox-in-a-bottle, but this peptide serum was formulated specifically to mimic the results of injectables by softening expression lines (including the ones you can’t really inject away) and giving the coveted “glass skin” effect. Is it a replacement for Botox? I haven’t gotten any injectables personally (nothing against them—I just don’t feel like I need/want them at this point, but that could change!), so I can’t give you a full comparison, but I have been impressed with it. I have a pretty expressive face, and this lets everything move but stay looking smooth afterwards. I use it after Vitamin C in the morning.
Dieux Deliverance (PRIYANKA15): Dare I call this the hero product of the several workhorses across Dieux’s line?! It’s a soothing repair serum that uses ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, and encapsulated cannabinoids to calm redness/irritation, even skin tone by reducing the appearance of dark spots, and promote recovery. OG readers have heard me sing its praises for years—it works powerfully while being gentle on the skin, which as you can probably tell by now, is my preferred way of doing things!
Toner
The point of toner is to prep your skin to absorb the rest of your products post-cleansing while delivering additional benefits depending on the product you choose. I’ll admit that it isn’t an entirely essential step for me, but I do like Isla’s Elixir (PRIYANKA10) a lot. It works to brighten and address redness/ hyperpigmentation (two of my bigger skin concerns) without harsh acids. I find that it plays nice with the rest of my products, and is a nice-to-have prep step. I apply with these cotton rounds, which are my absolute favorite.
Lip Care
This is often overlooked as part of a skincare routine, but it shouldn’t be! I LOVE Eadem’s exfoliating lip balm for keeping the lips hydrated and combatting any dryness/flakiness—I treat it as more of a skincare product than a beauty one. Sisley’s balm (PRIYANKA15) is splurgy, but it’s thick, hydrating, and so nice to put on before bed. Less splurgy (and less thick), but the minty Mutha Pucka Lip Butter (PRIYANKA15) serves a similar purpose, and I love the name! And I’ll never say no to a tube of Augustinus Bader’s simple balm (PRIYANKA15) in my purse. If you hate a glossy finish and just want something simple, hydrating, and easy to bring on-the-go, that’s my little luxury of choice.
Pimple Patches
I always have these ready to go in my medicine cabinet just in case! I put them on overnight and they suck the gunk out of anything brewing (gross visual, but it’s true). I’ve tried a bunch, but my favorites are these inexpensive ones by CosRx. Per Amazon, I have repurchased 13 times, which honestly seems low.
The Fun Stuff
Devices
Red light masks (PRIYANKACB) are the all the rage, and if you’ve spent any time with one, it’s not hard to see why (this is my brand of choice thanks to the clinicals/ expert recs). When I’m consistent (4-5x/week), I see a noticeable difference in brightness, evenness/tone, lines, etc. All it takes is 10 minutes—I usually sit/meditate in my still-warm bed with it on before starting my day.
If you’ve been here a while, you know my all-time favorite skin device is the ZIIP Halo (PRIYANKA). This is an at-home microcurrent device that uses a low-intensity electrical current to lift and sculpt the face while simultaneously using nanocurrent to improving the skin’s tone/texture. Again, consistent use gives you the best results, but I see a noticeable difference after just a couple minutes with this thing. It’s a staple in my pre-event skincare routine, and I don’t travel to weddings or big events without it.
Eye Masks
I love a good eye mask—they’re relatively quick and offer immediate improvement on one of my biggest skincare issues (dark/hollow-looking under eyes). The gold standard is 111Skin (PRIARIBI)—if you run puffy, go for these, but my favorite is this one. I’m not one to describe my skin as “radiant,” but the glow after using these is pretty close. They’re pricey, but I’ll keep buying them for special events and big days on camera until the end of time. YSE Beauty’s Overachiever Eye Masks (PRIYANKA15) give similar results for closer to $5ish a pop. I’ll put one of those on after a long flight or before a night out.
Face Masks
I don’t always have the time for a mask, but there are a few I come back to regularly. The first is the Tata Harper Mask I mentioned earlier. Whenever my skin is looking dull and blah, 10 minutes with this stuff sorts me out. I try to keep it in the weekly rotation. The second is Biologique Recerche’s Masque Vivant (PRIYANKA15). This mask is a bit notorious among skincare buffs—it’s dark brown (looks like shit), smells horrible, and it’s recommended to mix it with a pinch of baking soda and a splash of water to really get things going (as much as I love feeling like a woman in STEM, that means extra time/effort). But when my skin feels congested, that always gets the job done. And finally, this good old Clarins Instant Depuffing Mask. If I’ve had two or more cocktails (as I did literally last night), you can bet this will be on my face the next morning.
Sheet Masks
These are really only a special occasion thing for me because who has the patience otherwise, but maybe you do! BioDance’s Collagen Mask is an affordable, gentle, plumping/hydrating favorite. You have to wear it for at least four-five hours to get the full benefits, so I tend to wear it overnight before a big weekend to start everything with my best face forward. 111Skin’s Black Diamond Mask (PRIARIBI) is similar in that it’s a day-before mask for me, but you only need to spend 20 minutes with it on, which IMO is much more doable. This is my favorite mask of all time—it’s retinol-infused, and you wake up the next day with the clearest, most even, smoothed out complexion of your life. It’s definitely pricey, but can you put a price on having the best skin in the building? Alternatively, I also like 111’s Rose Gold Full Face Masks (PRIARIBI) the morning of an event. It’s really saturated in product, so I’d put it on well before you have to start getting ready, otherwise you’ll run into pilling issues, but it gives the same brightening effect as the corresponding eye patches for your entire face.
Face Oils
Do you need a face oil? No. But I like them for a gua sha moment when I have the time (that stone is my go-to/ makes for a nice gift). UBeauty’s Super Intensive Face Oil (PRIYANKA20) is my favorite—it’s doesn’t sit on the skin/feel greasy, and honestly, they just know what they’re doing when it comes to formulations.
Mists
Arguably the least essential of products, but very fun to have (or gift!) nonetheless! There are too many out there with whack ingredients that irritate my skin on contact, but I love/trust Rhode’s and Sofie Pavitt’s (PRIYANKA15). Rhode’s is simply for hydration and glow—if I’m having a good skin day, I’ll mist myself post-skincare and just go for it. Sofie’s is cooling and designed to protect against breakouts/irritation—I like it on-the-go, especially in a gym or beach bag.
Whew—you made it! This was a real labor of love (hopefully I’m not forgetting anything?!), but I hope this is helpful, especially as we enter beauty sale season! If you have any questions, shared favorites, etc., drop them in the comments! Again, I’m not a dermatologist or an esthetician, but I have tried a lot of things and am happy to share my own experiences with them if they’re helpful!
Related Reading:
Other Things I’m Loving Lately:
Long letter already, but when I go too long without including this section I feel so overwhelmed with new things to share!! I finally started Yellowstone and I think I’m hooked?! I was looking for something to get into for fall/winter and this has been my answer! If you need an excuse to put your Christmas tree up early, mine has been the perfect replacement for the dreaded Big Lights at night (I take pride in the fact that I never turn on overhead lights in my apartment except for in the bathroom, but still). I’m OBSESSED with this sauna blanket—just plug it in and jump inside for a good sweat in the comfort of your own home (it’s pricey, but I asked for a code and they very kindly obliged—PRIYANKA15). I loved this writeup of Minetta Tavern by
—I always look forward to reading his newsletter! Cute boxer shorts for women are hard to find, but these are great for lounge/sleep. And speaking of skincare, I still ride for these capsules when it comes to travel (and the new merlot color is to die for, omggggg).
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