Every brand has their ‘hero’ product, their ‘retirement fund’ product. The one product that it’s most well known for. A skincare product that is beloved by all the skincare community. That one product that will cause an international revolution if it ever gets reformulated or discontinued. These are those hero products. You’ll not be disappointed purchasing any of these hero skincare products.
CLEANSERS
DERMALOGICA
This is a chemical exfoliant, which can be used in the second part of your double cleansing routine. The Dermalogica microfoliant is a best seller for many years, and for good reason. If you have stubborn tiny spots on your forehead like me, this works like a bomb on them – eradicating them instantly! I am never without the Microfoliant.
What does it do?
The microfoliant is a rice-based powder. It activates with water and you can polish your face into looking smoother and brighter, instantly.
THEN I MET YOU
An essential part of your double cleansing routine, the multi-award winning, Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm will make washing your face feel like a dream. The texture is light and buttery, the balm emulsifies perfectly to remove makeup and dirt from your face. Undeniably, it’s a beautifully, luxurious product that delivers an amazing sensorial, aromatic experience, leaving no residue on your skin.
What does it do?
The star ingredient in the luxurious formula is antioxidant and fatty acid-rich seaberry (sea buckthorn) oil, which softens and protects skin, and gives the balm its distinctive bright yellow colour. Other skin-benefiting ingredients include anti-aging and brightening persimmon extract and nourishing olive oil and vitamin E.
AHA/BHA TREATMENTS
Paula’s Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Paula’s Choice #1 product worldwide and an award-winning favourite! This formula is so effective that it has come out in 3 variations: the lotion, the gel and the liquid one (pictured).
What does it do?
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is highly effective at unclogging pores and leaving you with visibly smoother skin. BHA (beta hydroxy acids) or salicylic acid helps to treat and minimise blackheads, with minimal irritation as BHA is a larger molecule than AHA and can be tolerated well. Try this out for yourself and you will wonder how you ever lived without it!
Biologique Recherche
Have you ever seen someone with that perfectly balanced, glowing from within skin? They’re probably using Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion.
What does it do?
It gently exfoliates dead skin from the surface of your skin and balances excess sebum. Secondly, it helps maintain the skin’s acid pH so that your skin is better prepared to receive the next treatments more effectively.
Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion comes in 6 variations: P50, P50W, P50V, P50 PIGM 400, P50V and P50V 1970 depending on your skin’s needs and sensitivity. The 1970 is the most strongest formulations, while P50W is the gentlest formula and the best one to start on if you’re a P50 newbie. Choose the right one for you here.
Dr. Dennis Gross
ALPHA BETA EXTRA STRENGTH DAILY PEEL PADS
These super convenient pouches containing 7 AHAs and BHAs are superb at deep cleaning your pores as well as surface level grease, grime and dirt. Leaving your face clear, bright and well-balanced.
Don’t use these daily or you will risk over-exfoliating, once or twice a week is sufficient. These are pricey, but will last you months.
What does it do?
The first pad effectively exfoliates your skin for immediate radiance, refined pores, cleared blemishes and diminished lines & wrinkles. The second pad will neutralise acid activity, hydrates, and delivers anti-aging actives for dramatically smoother, more radiant, healthier-looking skin.
SERUMS & TREATMENTS
Skinceuticals
Multi-award winning C E Ferulic is one of the most effective Vitamin C serums around. Often copied, or cheaper dupes offered as the same, but nothing ever compares to this original Vitamin C powerhouse. It’s expensive, but worth every single cent.
What does it do?
Clinically proven results to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin firmness, and brighten the complexion. It’s great for pigmentation.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic contains a powerful antioxidant combination of 15% Pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% Vitamin E and 0.5% Ferulic Acid.
Estēe Lauder
Often imitated, never duplicated. This serum has stood the test of time. The best selling serum in the US that fights anti-aging is definitely a hero skincare product.
What does it do?
Can be used in the AM or PM. In the day, it prevents against environmental assaults. And by night, it helps ignite skin’s natural nightly repair process. Fast. A high level of Hyaluronic Acid helps lock in moisture for 72 hours. This helps create the perfect environment to optimise skin’s natural repair process.
MOISTURISERS
Dr.Jart+
Countless. Countless tubes of this has been consumed in our offies. It’s the first thing we reach for when we need deep hydration. With its satiny texture, it sits fantastically under skin. And, it’s an absolute beast at repairing any compromised skin barriers.
Check out our in-depth review here.
What does it do?
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Cream contains a blend of no less than 5 ceramides. These deeply moisturise and strengthen your skin barrier as well as prevent water loss. Suitable for any skin type and everyone who uses it falls in love straight away.
La Roche-Posay
Did you overdo the actives? Been too long in the sun? Is your skin feeling tight or irritated? This is the ultimate healing cream! It’s buttery soft, and instantly soothing. I recommend getting this so that you always have it in your arsenal, when a skin emergency arises.
What does it do?
Dimethicone, glycerin, Shea butter, and panthenol work together to help soothe dry, irritated skin. Secondly, it’s a rich, nourishing cream texture with a satiny finish that sits well under make-up.
RETINOIDS
Medik8
Medik8 has cleverly created a retinal that is suitable for anyone and everyone. With its ladder of retinals, choose from 5 retinal potencies, depending on where you are in your skincare journey.
Look no further than Medik8 for one of the most effective retinals on the market. We’ve also written about their r-Retinoate range with Retinyl Retinoate which is a photostable and more powerful than a retinol alone.
What does it do?
Encapsulated retinal works on time release to deliver retinal slowly overnight, thus reducing irritation on your skin.
Clinically proved to firm skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and brighten skin. This is a fantastic and effective retinal.
