Clinique

The 11 Best Matte Foundations For A Smooth, Shine-Free Finish

Although some people are using these stay-at-home days to give their skin a break from foundation, others are using this time at home as an excuse to test new base makeup. If you’re wondering what people are loving in the matte foundation category, lucky for you, there’s quite a range of picks to share. These oil-free base products are often assumed to be drying or face-flattening, but that’s not always the case — especially if you pick the right matte foundation formula. 

According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, it’s the silica powder in the oil-free formulas in matte foundations that makes them dry down with zero shine or dew. “Silica powder helps to absorb oil and is often used in foundation ingredient lists to give a matte appearance,” she says. “Some brands also use clay as a way to keep skin looking matte.”

Knowing that, matte foundations may be the way to go because many of them are also transfer-proof, meaning the product won’t smudge onto your mask. Plenty of non-dewy base products deliver a flawless finish, stave off shine all day, and disguise blemishes. 

New York City-based makeup artist Tommy loves to use a matte base on anyone with oily or acne-prone skin. “I always pull for a matte foundation when working on a client that wants to cover any blemishes,” he says. “I’ll apply small amounts at a time to the face to ensure nothing dries down before I blend it out with a large kabuki brush. If I need more — I add as I go.”

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation

This liquid foundation is an anti-shine person’s dream. The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation comes in 56 shades and creates an even skin tone if you’re trying to cover up blemishes. Keep in mind, it’s full coverage, so if that’s not your jam, you can use it as a spot cover-up because it’s also great for that.

$42 (Shop Now)

NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation

The NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation is a great pick if you want a matte finish but sheerer coverage. “This hydrating formula has a way of just appearing like real skin, just better,” says Tommy. I believe that the hydrating hyaluronic acid in its formula explains why. Just one drop is enough to cover your entire face with whatever application tool your heart desires.  

$40 (Shop Now)  

UOMA Beauty Say What?! Foundation

Yes, UOMA Beauty’s Say What?! Foundation is matte, but it’s spiked with hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated throughout the day. Its creamy texture is a medium-coverage finish in 51 shades — no wonder it has received a Best of Beauty Award.

$39 (Shop Now)

NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation

The NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation is oil-free, so have no fear of it clogging your pores. Its hydrating, water-based formula is packed inside a squeezy tube, making it a mess-free dream and allowing you to get every last drop of it.  

$8 (Shop Now)

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation

The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation is a great pick because it’s affordable, and the coverage is incredible. Apply a pea-sized amount to your forehead, cheeks, and chin, and buff it out with your favorite sponge, brush, or even your fingers. You’ll have a smooth, even base in no time.   

$13 (Shop Now)

Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen

“The Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation is a great splurge because it gives you an even base with its luxurious texture,” says makeup artist Nam Vo. The luxe liquid is infused with SPF 20 and illuminates skin while keeping it shine-free in all the right places.   

$130 (Shop Now) 

Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation

If you have oily skin, this one’s for you. The Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation provides a soft, velvety finish for an ultra-smooth base. It also has oil-absorbing powders in it to keep you completely matte for a full day of Zoom meetings.  

$38 (Shop Now)

CoverGirl Full Spectrum Matte Ambition All Day Foundation

The CoverGirl Full Spectrum Matte Ambition All Day Foundation is the perfect base to wear under your mask. It’s comfortable, soft on the skin, and it’s so full coverage you may want to even skip concealer. Plus, it won’t leave foundation marks on your mask.  

$12 (Shop Now)  

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

When Rihanna dropped the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation it paved a way for beauty brands to become more shade inclusive. It also has an insanely good formula that’s never cakey and doesn’t let any shine come through. Tommy suggests applying this formula in dots around the face a blending it out with your favorite foundation brush.

$35 (Shop Now)

HUDA Beauty #FauxFilter Full Coverage Matte Foundation

The HUDA Beauty #FauxFilter Full Coverage Matte Foundation is commerce writer Angela Trakoshis’s favorite foundation ever. “With just one pump, this thick foundation does exactly what its name reads: creates a filter for your face,” she says. It’s matte, it’s lightweight, and those dark spots you want to conceal? They disappear with just one layer of this stuff.  

$40 (Shop Now)  

Clinique Stay Matte Oil-Free Foundation 

The Clinique Stay Matte Foundation is an oil-free formula that keeps your skin looking crease-free all day long. It’s also buildable, so layer it up with your favorite beauty sponge for a more full-coverage effect.  

$31 (Shop Now) 

ALLURE article

The Most Exciting New Skincare Products of January

Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide24 Hydrating Moisturizer

For plump skin, try Olay’s Collagen Peptide24 Moisturizer. Its lightweight formula has vitamin B3 to brighten your complexion and collagen-boosting peptides to firm skin and diminish fine lines. When the two work together, you’re looking at a hydrated, smooth complexion. 

$39 (Shop)  

Yes to Avocado Hand Cream

If there’s anything 2020 taught us, it’s that we need to wash our hands all the time. With hand-washing comes dry skin and the Yes to Avocado Hand Cream will fix those dehydrated, cracked hands right up. The avocado-based formula replenishes skin, and hyaluronic acid will maintain hydration. 

$5 (Shop)  

Mario Badescu Caffeine Eye Cream

If you didn’t get enough sleep, that’s OK because Mario Badescu’s Caffeine Eye Cream will make you look like you got a full night’s rest. The moisturizer in this tub is filled with caffeine for brightness, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and jojoba oil to help treat dryness. 

$18 (Shop)  

Dermalogica Neck Fit Contour Serum

Dermalogica’s Neck Fit Contour Serum is filled with firming ingredients to give you a tight, line-free neck. The list includes rye seed extract, which smooths skin, and resurrection plant to strengthen the area. It’s applied with the built-in roller bar that also gives a cooling effect. 

$82 (Shop)  

Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol

The Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol flattens out fine lines with the power of retinol. Plus, it also has hyaluronic acid and squalane to give you a boost of hydration while you sleep. 

$69 (Shop)  

Simple Instant Glow Cleansing Wipes 

The new Simple Instant Glow Cleansing Wipes do way more than flawlessly take off stubborn makeup. Each cloth is made with niacinamide to brighten skin and glycerin to moisturize. So once your skin is clean, it’s also glowing.  

$5 for 25 wipes (Shop)  

The Inkey List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment

Meet the Inkey List’s first spot treatment: Succinic Acid Acne. This magical little tube is loaded with succinic acid, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps to reduce oil levels in your skin, as well as salicylic acid to exfoliate, sulfur powder to unclog pores, and hyaluronic acid to ensure skin stays hydrated. 

$9 (Shop)

L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t bronze up your complexion. The L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops give fairer skin tones a subtle glow when you mix five drops of this serum made with dihydroxyacetone (a sugar that when mixed with proteins on your skin makes it tan) and hydrating hyaluronic acid with your favorite moisturizer.

$17 (Shop)  

Drunk Elephant Sweet Biome Fermented Sake Spray

Your skin’s about to be drunk in love with Drunk Elephant’s Sweet Biome Fermented Sake Spray. It’s a cocktail of coconut water, vitamin F, and sake extract to calm redness and hydrate the skin. Use it as a step in your skincare routine after cleansing or as a refresher during the day. 

$42 (Shop)

Holifrog Halo AHA + BHA Evening Serum

The blend of alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids in the HoliFrog Halo AHA + BHA Evening Serum is going to give you clearer skin once you start using it for a few weeks. Not to mention, this formula is packed with moisturizing oils like that of rosehip and prickly pear, so no need to worry about all of those acids drying your skin out.   

$62 (Shop)

ALLURE article

The Watercolour Makeup Trend Will Transform Your Winter Look

Looking at the makeup on the models walking the autumn/winter runways, you could have been forgiven for thinking that you were seeing a show from the wrong season. Pops of blue, flashes of orange and pink, dustings of yellow, green and lilac… the painterly palettes chosen by makeup artists backstage at shows such as Dries Van Noten, Gucci, Maison Margiela and Missoni were decidedly springlike. And so, too, was their application, which was as important as the spectrum of colour itself. Sheer watercolour washes gave the look a very accessible appeal.

Missoni autumn/winter 2020. 

“Transparency automatically makes colour more beautifying on the face,” explains Terry Barber, director of makeup artistry for MAC Cosmetics. “It takes away the fear of looking garish or retro, and it’s those fresh, plump washes of colour that allow you to be more playful.” Be it a halo around the eye, a new or unusual experimentation in lip colour, or a gentle tonal clash on both eyes and lips, using products in this way gives an end result that is much softer – and this is, according to Barber, the easiest and most flattering in-road to exploring technicolour choices. “Veils of colour that bring out the features rather than enclose them are the unsung heroes of makeup,” he says.

So what to make of this more romantic approach? “It’s a good time to break the seasonal rules and not resort to the classic earthiness of autumnal beauty,” says Barber. “Instead celebrate the colours of optimism and freshness. Can we say spring/summer is the new autumn/winter?” It’s a resounding yes.

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint in Big Blue

£18.50; available at LookFantastic

Glossier Lidstar in Lily

£15; available at Glossier

MAC Cosmetics Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in Crossfade

£19; available at LookFantastic

Byredo Colour Stick in Ultramagnetic

£26; available at Selfridges

Chanel Rouge Coco Flash Lipstick in Freeze

£32; available at Selfridges

Dolce & Gabbana Solar Glow Universal Illuminating Drops

£38; available at Harrods

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic blush in Ecstasy

£30; available at Feel Unique

Lancôme Hypnôse Eyeshadow Palette in Bleu Hypnôtique

£42.50; available at LookFantastic

Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in Rose Gold

£36; available at Selfridges

MAC Cosmetics Powder Kiss Soft Matte Eyeshadow in Ripened

£17.50; available at LookFantastic

VOGUE article

The Best Hydrating Tinted Moisturizers

For some days and for some people, foundations and concealers just feel like way too much work — and way too much coverage. While there’s certainly a time and a place for a full-coverage face, there’s no denying the effortless and hydrating properties of a tinted moisturizer. But although the concept of a tinted moisturizer sounds pretty simple, there are tons of specific ingredients that make the difference between an OK tinted moisturizer and an amazing one. And by “amazing tinted moisturizer,” I really mean one that actually — well, you know… moisturizes.

So ALLURE editors asked makeup artists and cosmetic chemists to break down what they think are the best tinted moisturizers out there. If you love makeup that comes with added skincare benefits for plump, dewy, and hydrated skin, try one of these picks.

Whether you end up loving an older staple from a brand like Laura Mercier or an experimentative new take like Ilia Beauty’s pigmented serum, you’ll find your skin is in much better shape for it.

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

Many tinted moisturizers have powder pigments that soak up skin’s oils, zapping some of the natural moisture from your face. To fix this, BareMinerals coated its pigments in lauroyl lysine, an amino acid derived from coconuts. 

“Because the pigments are cocooned, they won’t dry out your skin. Instead, the formula feels very soft and silky,” says cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson. When you mix those pigments with glycerin and squalane, you get a formula that “actively promotes hydration.” In addition to containing moisturizing ingredients, the light, cooling gel evens out skin tone and minimizes redness, which means all you’re left with is a soft, dewy glow.

$33 (Shop Now)

Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator

Tarte’s tinted moisturizers have always been an Allure editor favorite, and its latest version is no different. The Maracuja Tinted Hydrator combines the skin-nourishing properties of maracuja oil with plumping hyaluronic acid and collagen, plus brightening turmeric, for skin that glows well after you’ve taken this off. 

$29 (Shop Now)

Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint

Squalane, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide join forces for Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint. With the added benefit of sun-protective SPF 40, this thick, hydrating serum offers up light but buildable coverage you can rub in quickly and easily with your fingertips. 

$46 (Shop Now)

Erborian BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer

Even though its only available in a few light shades, Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen loves this BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer for its hydrating ginseng and brightening fruit extracts. For those who are extra prone to redness, you can also turn to the brand’s Best of Beauty-winning CC Red Correct. 

$39 (Shop Now)

Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Tinted Moisturizer

With its pH-balancing glycerin, squalene, and sunflower seed oil, it’s clear to see why Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows has such high ratings online. What’s more: It contains antioxidant green tea extract that reduces redness, leaving behind a calm, even base for its sheer pigments. 

$12 (Shop Now)

Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

This tinted moisturizer is free of pthalates, parabens, and 1,500 other ingredients that the cruelty-free brand has identified as potentially harmful or irritating, so you’re left with only tried-and-true elements, like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. 

“Both of these ingredients are humectants, meaning they draw moisture to the surface of the skin to keep cells hydrated,” says Wilson. The creamy formula is more pigmented than most tinted moisturizers, so it does a great job of covering imperfections. One catch: Its thick consistency makes it a little difficult to spread, so you’ll likely end up using more product than usual.

$45 (Shop Now)

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector

Ask any beauty fan and they’ll likely tell you that Laura Mercier’s is the first tinted moisturizer they ever used — and fell in love with. With its sheer, buildable coverage and moisture-packed formula, there’s a reason this product is a cult favorite and four-time Allure Best of Beauty winner.It’s noncomedogenic, but those with acne-prone or oily skin may benefit even more from the upgraded oil-free version of the formula.

$47 (Shop Now)

Chanel Les Beiges All-In-One Healthy Glow Fluid

For skin that needs a hefty dose of hydration, this illuminating tinted moisturizer packs a major punch. It contains glycerin, which leaves skin feeling soft and plump while dimethicone wards off dryness throughout the day. 

“Dimethicone reduces transepidermal water loss, which is when water escapes through the skin and into the atmosphere, so it works long-term to increase skin’s hydration,” explains Wilson. And thanks to the smallest, tiniest shimmery gold particles, you’re left with a natural, allover glow that will have people asking if you just got back from vacation.

$40 (Shop Now)

Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator

Just like Clinique’s beloved Moisture Surge cream, the Sheertint Hydrator penetrates deep beneath the skin to hydrate and calm the skin — that’s thanks to its strong concentration of cucumber extract, aloe, and hyaluronic acid. 

$39 (Shop Now)

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer Tinted SPF 47 Protect + Perfect

Josie Maran’s Protect + Perfect is less of a tinted moisturizer and more of a tinted sunscreen, and we’ll take all the sun protection we can get. Alongside its SPF 47, this formula is very lightly tinted with pigments in one tan shade, giving it just enough color to mask slight skin imperfections and give its wearer and warm, sun-tanned look.

$34 (Shop Now)

L’Oréal Paris Visible Lift Luminous Serum Tinted Moisturizer

Consider L’Oréal’s Visible Lift Luminous Serum the perfect solution to skin that needs an extra boost of shimmer for radiance. Available in five warm shades, this tinted moisturizer acts more like a highlighter than your average formula, so feel free to pat a little extra on all the high points of your face.

$15 (Shop Now)

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

It’s not shocking at all that a brand that Neutrogena could deliver one of the best tinted moisturizer formulas out there with ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E. On top of all those antioxidants, Healthy Skin Tinted Moisturizer also contains small pearlescent pigment that provide a glowing, dewy sheen.

$13 (Shop Now)

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

Sensitive-skinned girls, Nars has got one just for you. The silky-smooth Radian Tinted Moisturizer has a formula that’s both oil-free and made without parabens or synthetic fragrances, so you won’t have to worry about irritation or clogged pores.

“This is a really great product to apply with your fingertips; it’s super sheer and easy to blend,” says makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci. “Or you can tap it on with a sponge to build subtle coverage.” Its barely-there coverage might be a little too light for those with post-breakout redness or discoloration, though, so have a concealer on hand for touch-ups.

$45 (Shop Now)

No7 City Light Tinted Moisturizer

This highly rated tinted moisturizer formula from No7 is a fan-favorite for low-effort application and comfortable light coverage. Although it contains SPF 15 for sun protection, we still recommend wearing an SPF 30 or higher underneath it, especially if you plan to go outside.

$15 (Shop Now)

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint

This thick and creamy skin tint from Philosophy has slightly higher coverage than other tinted moisturizer, according to Dall’Asen. But you can still apply it directly with the fingers just like you would your favorite moisturizer for effortless all-over coverage with a slightly matte finish.

$40 (Shop Now)

ALLURE article

The 11 Best Cleansing Balms at Every Price Point

There are a lot of reasons you might want to try a cleansing balm in place of your regular liquid, wipe, or bar cleansers. For starters, there’s the change of season. As temperatures fluctuate, it gets harder to keep your skin hydrated. “A balm is an effective option to remove dirt and oil without overly drying the skin,” says New York City-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. (Having flaky, parched skin no matter the season is another key motivator to switch things up.)

There’s also a more practical consideration: If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like washing your face, several of the following require no water. Massage, wipe away, and allow the leftover goodness to soak in, leaving your skin even more supple. Face wash plus night cream in one swoop? That’s our kind of win-win.

Whether you are looking for an affordable pick (how’s $10 sound?) or you are looking splurge on your skin, here, 11 of the best no-fuss formulas to try.

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm

The combo of sunflower and ginger root oils in this balm-to-oil formula work to cleanse skin from dirt, oil, and pollution buildup, while papaya extract gently sloughs off dead skin cells. Together, they make one rock solid cleanser.

$34 (Shop Now)

Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser

The Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser is an Allure 2019 Best of Beauty winner for many reasons. Yes, it will remove makeup in a flash, but its formula is what makes it really stand out. Infused with fruit extracts (blueberry, kiwi, and strawberry) to slough off makeup, dirt, and grime, and a blend of nourishing oils (marula and baobab), your skin will feel baby smooth once you’re done double-cleansing.

$34 (Shop Now)

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm

The Inkey List has been doing skin care right since day one, and its Oat Cleansing Balm is yet another great launch. Formulated with oat kernel oil to keep skin hydrated and one percent colloidal oatmeal to reduce redness, this luxurious formula will never strip your sensitive skin of moisture.

$10 (Shop Now)

Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm

Waterproof mascara can be nearly impossible to remove, but the Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm makes it possible. The non-greasy formula efficiently melts away waterproof formulas, leaving skin hydrated and velvety soft. (No wonder it’s an Allure 2019 Best of Beauty winner.)

$38 (Shop Now)

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original

The Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original is a K-beauty fan favorite. It’s a three-in-one hybrid that exfoliates, hydrates, and cleanses by removing makeup, dirt, and oil in one fell swoop.

$18 (Shop Now)

Pond’s Cold Cream Cleansing Balm

The cleansing balm version of the iconic Pond’s Cold Cream has quickly become a staple in its own right: it’s a highly effective makeup remover that nourishes skin as it wipes away dirt and grime. This drugstore option is great for all skin types (it’s even gentle enough to use on sensitive skin) — and that’s why it won a 2018 Best of Beauty Award for best cleanser under $10.

$10 (Shop Now)

Yes To Coconuts Coconut Oil Cleansing Balm

Perhaps the most innovative of the balms out there, Yes To’s coconut oil-infused cleanser comes with its very own (reusable) sponge, making the dreaded mascara-removal process kind of…fun.

$10 (Shop Now)

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

Made with an impressive cocktail of botanicals like smoothing lavender and chamomile, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm takes you straight to the spa. Warm a scoop between your palms, massage into your skin, then gently wipe away with a damp cloth. Because some of the balm will be left behind, the collagen-boosting and antioxidant-rich blend will have more time to get to work.

$64 (Shop Now)

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Test the cleansing balm waters by starting out with a lightweight formula like the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm that gently lifts dirt and makeup sans one bit of elbow grease. Plus, the creamy formula is less occlusive than some waxier balms, so it will feel more comfortable on slicker skin.

$30 (Shop Now)

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Balm

Dark burgundy lipsticks and stay-put metallic shadows don’t stand a chance against this creamy soufflé of botanical oils and hydrators in the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Balm. Once all that mess is taken care of, a layer of high-performing ingredients, like retinyl palmitate, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides stay behind to work as a line-reducing serum.

$38 (Shop Now)

Goop by Juice Beauty Luminous Melting Cleanser

At first touch, this Best of Beauty-winning product feels just like its name — goopy. But after swirling a scoop of the Goop by Juice Beauty Luminous Melting Cleanser into your face, it instantly softens and disappears, which makes sense considering coconut oil is the second ingredient. (It also contains olive oil and a veritable English garden of dreamy botanical essential oils.) You may balk at the price, but in this case, you do get what you pay for: The product is formulated with 75 percent organic content and includes a white linen cloth to stylishly wipe all the balm away.

$90 (Shop Now)

ALLURE article

20 Night Creams That Will Help You Wake Up With Glowing Skin

Ask any skincare lover, and they’ll tell you there’s no better feeling than coming home after a long day, removing all your makeup, and applying your nighttime skincare routine. While you can use the same cleansers, toners, and serums that you applied in the AM, if you’re looking to really transform your skin, you should be using a night cream as the last step in your PM routine instead of your regular face moisturizer. 

According to New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, that’s because “night creams are more nourishing and hydrating than your daytime moisturizer. Generally, night creams contain more moisturizing ingredients and are thicker in texture.”

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner agrees on the importance of having a night cream in your beauty arsenal, telling InStyle, “We know that skin goes through circadian rhythms, where specific activities occur in the morning and others in the evening. Skin hydration levels start to decline in the afternoon and continue into the evening, and skin cell turnover increases while we sleep. So a night cream is important to address the specific issues that the skin faces in the evening — offering hydrating and enhancing skin repair and collagen production.” 

When it comes to choosing the right night cream for your skin, Dr. Zeichner recommends looking for creams that are “designed for nighttime use, usually containing ingredients that stimulate collagen production to address fine lines and wrinkles, such as retinol, hydroxy acids, peptides, or specialized botanical ingredients.”  

Meanwhile, Dr. Jaliman says that in addition to formulas that will stimulate skin cell renewal, the best night creams should also feature moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and ceramides. That’s because “improving our skin’s hydration as we sleep is very important.”

With so many night creams on the market, it can be tricky figuring out which ones are actually worth buying, so with these dermatologist guidelines in mind, InStyle editors rounded up 20 night creams that customers say help them wake up with glowing skin each morning. From a retinol-infused night cream to a multitasking option and an affordable drugstore pick, keep reading to shop them all.

These are the best night creams to buy:

Top-Rated Option: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

Over 10,000 Amazon shoppers are obsessed with this CeraVe night cream, with many calling it a “miracle in a jar.” The popular product is packed with ceramides and peptides that work together to soften and rejuvenate your skin overnight, so you’ll wake up with a refreshed and glowing complexion. Even better, it’s also infused with hyaluronic acid to target fine lines and wrinkles. “This product is amazing,” raved one shopper. “I saw results the first morning after use. Unbelievable. Significantly less redness and a huge reduction in acne. It’s been about two weeks now and my skin looks the best it has in years. I’ve even had compliments this week on my clear, youthful skin! I’m hooked for life.”

Buy on Amazon $22

Best Dermatologist Pick: Senté Dermal Repair Cream

Santé’s night cream may be pricey, but Dr. Jaliman says it’s worth every penny. It’s one of her top picks because “it contains green tea and hyaluronic acid and has an ingredient called Heparin Sulfate Analog (HSA) that works to deeply hydrate and maintain your skin’s health. It helps lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” In addition to hydrating skin and reducing redness, Dr. Jaliman says it’s a great option “for those who need to repair the skin barrier.”

Buy at Dermstore $158

Best for Dry Skin: L’Occitane Ultra-Rich Shea Butter Cream

This L’Occitane night cream uses shea butter and glycerin as its active ingredients, which makes it a great deeply moisturizing treatment. Shoppers with extremely dry skin said this product is the only thing that finally got rid of their dry patches and flaky skin. Plus, they love that the night cream left their skin looking fresh and dewy and not greasy. “This is my holy grail product for my super dry and dehydrated skin. It is a lifesaver during the cold and drying winter in Massachusetts,” raved one reviewer.   

Buy on Amazon $34

Best for Dull Skin: Clarins Extra-Firming Wrinkle Control Regenerating Night Cream

Clarins’ overnight cream will revive lackluster skin and give you a more youthful appearance. Dr. Zeichner is a fan because it’s “a rich, hydrating cream that contains a blend of botanical extracts to help firm and improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles.” Reviewers say that it made their skin look firmer and smoother in just one use. One shopper called it “an overnight facial in a bottle,” before adding “My skin was glowing and plump. I was in awe of how much it changed my skin in less than seven hours. I repurchased this again finally and this morning my boyfriend mentioned how supple and radiant my skin looked”

Buy at Sephora $94

Best Collagen-Infused: Maryann Organics Collagen Night Cream

This night cream by Maryann Organics is infused with collagen to help reverse prominent signs of aging. The multitasking product smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, diminishes the look of dark spots, and hydrates skin at the same time. Customers love how the cream is made in the U.S. from organic materials and that it doesn’t leave behind a sticky or tacky feel. “I love this moisturizer,” said one reviewer. “It’s not super pricey and it does exactly what I need, evens out skin tone and helps wrinkles — really makes me feel awake and young just after 20 minutes of putting it on. Especially overnight I wake up feeling great on my skin in the morning.” 

Buy on Amazon $40

Best Drugstore Option: L’Oreal Revitalift Night Cream

If you’re looking for an effective night cream that won’t break the bank, thousands of Amazon shoppers recommend L’Oreal’s Revitalift version. The product’s three main ingredients (pro-retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C) hydrate and smooth skin while evening out your complexion. According to the brand, you’ll see brighter and firmer skin with just one week’s use, and tons of customers agree. “After a week, I felt that I had a younger glow. After at least two weeks, my skin actually does look a more consistent texture and color — I haven’t even been wearing makeup,” raved one shopper. “It’s lightweight and smells delicious and is very inexpensive, which surprised me. I almost feel like it’s too lightweight to work, but the ingredients must be doing something for my skin.”

Buy on Amazon $20

Best Multitasking Option: RoC Multi Correxion 5-in-1 Restoring Night Cream

The best beauty products can tackle more than one issue at once, so it’s no wonder this multitasking RoC night cream is so popular with Amazon shoppers. The five-in-one product smooths wrinkles, reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, tightens and hydrates skin, and evens out skin tones at the same time. Plus, the product is non-comedogenic, so you never have to worry about it clogging your pores or causing breakouts. One shopper wrote, “I can’t rave enough about this product! I’ve been using it for over a year now and can really tell the difference when I miss a few days. When you put this on the night before, your skin feels so smooth and supple the following morning. Some days I can actually skip my day moisturizer, this product works that well. It is definitely a workhorse against fine lines and pores. I’ve used products costing far more that do much less.”

Buy on Amazon $24

Best Cruelty-Free Option: Kleem Organics Anti-Aging Retinol Cream

If shopping cruelty-free products is important to you, check out this night cream from Kleem Organics. Along with toning and firming your skin, the paraben-free product also works to improve the look and feel of your skin’s overall texture. For these reasons and more, over 4,000 customers have given it a perfect five-star rating, with one writing,  “This stuff feels like silk going on and works great. Soaks in immediately. I used it twice a day when I first received it because of the cold weather my face turns into scales. It worked overnight it seemed. My face is as smooth as a baby’s tushie.”

Buy on Amazon $35

Best Brightening Option: Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Overnight Cream

Using viniferine and hyaluronic acid, this brightening night cream by Caudalie will visibly reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation while also plumping your skin. In a clinical self-assessment study, 95 percent of users said their skin looked brighter and 100 percent of users said their skin looked more rested after using the night cream for just 56 days. “I’ve used this consistently at night for a least a year now, and I can honestly say this is one of the BEST night creams on the market,” raved one shopper. “No matter what my skin is going through, this cream restores my skin texture at night and leaves it bright come morning. I’ve also seen the effects of brightening as my dark spots have faded tremendously.”

Buy at Sephora $75

Best Firming Option: StriVectin Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer

To start off their day with firmer and smoother skin, hundreds of Amazon shoppers slather on this StriVectin night cream before they go to sleep. It’s loaded with powerful ingredients like copper tripeptide and retinol to minimize the look for wrinkles, tighten crepey skin, and increase your skin’s elasticity. “I have definitely noticed a positive effect on my skin. I’m 58, and have fair skin with a tendency to dryness, and, in this recent foul weather, redness. This intensive night moisturizer has done a lot to alleviate that. It goes on easily, and you don’t need a bunch to get good coverage. My skin is clearer, firmer, and some of my fine lines have already started to disappear,” said one shopper.  

Buy on Amazon $112

Best Strengthening Option: Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital Overnight Moisturizer

This Lancome night cream is a favorite of Nordstrom shoppers who love how well it hydrates their skin and improves their complexion. The popular skincare essential uses a unique strengthening complex made up of omegas 3 and 6 and vitamins E and C, which work together to hydrate skin and protect it from external aggressors. “Absolutely love this night cream,” said one customer. “Best I’ve ever used. I suffer from dry skin on my forehead and cheeks and clogged pores on nose and chin. This has done wonders to hydrate and smooth my skin. I’m 41 and have finally found my holy grail! Better than any other high-end or drugstore brands I’ve used including those twice as expensive.”

Buy at Nordstrom $56

Best Hydrating Option: Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream

Target dryness by letting your skin soak up this Burt’s Bees Night Cream while you sleep. Made from 98.9 percent natural ingredients like jojoba oil and Clary sage, the top-rated night cream promises to hydrate your skin for up to 24 hours at a time. After using the cream for a few weeks, many shoppers said it not only softened and moisturized their skin, but it also reduced redness and inflammation. “This feels amazing and creamy,” wrote one customer. “Rubs in well, leaves a little oily sheen, but I like that. I have super dry skin, particularly in the winter so it’s very soothing. I’m sensitive to smells and this doesn’t bother me. I’ve tried multiple natural night creams but none of them leave my skin feeling as hydrated as this one.”

Buy on Amazon $18

Best Fast-Acting Option: It Cosmetics Confidence In Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream

While most skincare products can take weeks or months to work, It Cosmetics says you’ll see results from its night cream in just seven days. The fast-acting formula is full of hyaluronic acid, adenosine, and ceramides that smooth out fine lines, wrinkles, as well as revive dull, dry, and saggy skin, all while you sleep. Shoppers also love how great it smells. “What’s not to love with this cream? It has a pleasant, light lavender scent — perfectly relaxing for nighttime,” wrote one shopper. “I love that it’s thick enough to have that luxurious feel on my face, yet so absorbent that it immediately sinks into the skin. I never knew just how thirsty my skin was until I started using this. And bonus — my fine lines on my forehead have started diminishing after one week of use. It’s noticeable!”

Buy at ULTA $54

Best Day & Night Option: Tula 24-7 Hydrating Day & Night Cream

Looking for a super hydrating night cream that’s also lightweight enough to be used during the day? Check out this option from Tula. The moisturizing treatment gives your skin a dose of olive oil squalane, shea butter, grape seed oil, and vitamin C to increase skin hydration and target dark spots, fine lines, and more. Meanwhile, the probiotics in the cream work to calm skin and reduce inflammation. “This product is amazing and is by far the best moisturizer I’ve ever used,” wrote one reviewer. “I first started using it when I was getting hormonal acne and it soothed my skin almost immediately (along with the salicylic acid gel). Then, I moved from a humid climate to the Arizona desert and it supported me through that too! The only con is the price, but the little jar lasts me well over a month, so no big problem.”

Buy at ULTA $52

Best Vitamin C Cream: Derma E Vitamin C Intense Night Cream

This Derma E night cream is loved by hundreds of Ulta customers because it uses vitamin C to make dark spots and hyperpigmentation much less noticeable. The vegan face cream also helps smooth wrinkles, improve skin texture, and even out skin tone. “I apply a thick amount right before I go to bed, and magic seems to happen overnight. I’m a skincare buff and have tried so many products. I’m hooked on this night cream. My acne scars are slowly fading and skin is consistently smoother and more radiant. And the price for this cream is incredible, compared to hundreds I’ve spent on other brands that haven’t worked half as well.” 

Buy at ULTA $20

Best for Wrinkles: No. 7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Night Cream

Ulta customers say their wrinkles have met their match with this night cream by No. 7. According to the brand, your fine lines will be reduced and skin will appear firmer with just two weeks of use. The product also targets dark spots and scarring at the same time, leaving you with a brighter and smoother complexion. “This cream does exactly what it states it does, just better. In less than two weeks, I could see a huge difference in my skin,” raved one shopper. “Both my face and neck are so amazingly soft now. It has made me just speechless at how wonderful this product works.”

Buy at ULTA $27

Best for Sensitive Skin: Clinique Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer Cream

If you suffer from sensitive skin and need a night cream that won’t cause any outbreaks or irritations, consider this Clinique option. Along with being non-acnegenic and allergy-tested, the cream is also free from any fragrances, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Shoppers love the skincare product because it revived their dull and dry complexions and left them with smoother, firmer, and plumper skin. “I’ve been using this moisturizer for a little over a month now and I am quite pleased,” wrote one customer. “It is not heavy, has not caused any breakouts and I have noticed improvement in the appearance of my skin. I’m sure the longer I use it, the more it will help, and I look forward to further results.”

Buy at Nordstrom $59

Best Splurge: Shiseido Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Moisturizer Night Cream

If you’re willing to splurge on a top-of-the-line night cream, Nordstrom shoppers say to make it this Shiseido option. The rich and hydrating formula features the brand’s signature SkingenecellEnmei complex, which “slows down the appearance of visible signs of aging and helps restore and prolong a youthful look.” The cream is also infused with Brunet extract and Japanese botanicals that make your skin look and feel more supple. One shopper wrote, “This cream is amazing. It makes pores tiny, leaves a beautiful texture on your skin, and my face has a healthy glow all day. I went on vacation and forgot my regular very expensive cream at home. Had a sample of the Future Solutions cream and used it. I kept looking in the mirror because my skin looked gorgeous after one day. By the time I got home, I had to buy cream! It continues to make my skin look terrific, and I will continue to buy it.”

Buy at Nordstrom $285

Best Retinol Option: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream

Retinol is the main ingredient in this Murad night cream, meaning it will boost skin’s natural collagen production and help reverse prominent signs of aging. The cream’s ultra-hydrating formula also features niacinamide and picolinamide, which help even out skin tone and leave you with a glowing complexion. In a four-week clinical trial, 83 percent of users said they “noticed firmer, more supple skin,” while 80 percent said they “saw increased radiance and glow.” One shopper called it their “holy grail” before adding, “This night cream is great for those who want to reduce fine lines and reduce breakouts. I was struggling with acne after stopping birth control and was under quite a bit of life stress (i.e. wrinkles formed) and this stuff has saved my skin.”

Buy at Sephora $82

Best Mask: Glow Recipe Watermelon + AHA Glow Sleeping Mask

This Glow Recipe Sleeping Mask is one of Sephora’s most popular overnight treatments with an impressive 205,000 “loves” from shoppers who say it has transformed their skin. Like the other night creams on this list, the nighttime product should be applied to your face before you go to sleep. The hyaluronic acid and AHAs in the formula to exfoliate dead skin cells and shrink the look of pores, while the watermelon extract and peony root work together to hydrate and brighten the skin. “This stuff is amazing! The first night that I tried it, it made my face tingle. The next morning I woke up with a very noticeable difference. My pores were minimized, my skin tone was even, my fine lines were less noticeable, my skin looked healthier than it has in a long time. Very polished. The results got even better as I kept using it.”

Buy at Sephora $59

INSTYLE article

The 9 Best Foundations for Oily Skin

When your skin is naturally shinier than a glazed donut, the struggle is real when it comes to finding a foundation that controls excess oil and stays in place all day. To say that wearing foundation when you have an oily skin type is tough may be a massive understatement, but it’s not completely impossible.

More often than not, the reason that makeup slips and slides down oily complexions is because it’s the wrong formula. “Some of the most common mistakes that people with oily skin make is wearing the wrong foundation,” explains celebrity makeup artist Daniel Chinchilla who works with Ariana Grande. “They choose foundations that are for dry skin or formulas that have a glowing finish to them. You should definitely stick to foundations that are matte and possibly oil-free.”

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Mattifying Foundation

No one likes a quitter, so when you’re choosing a foundation that will keep you shine-free, opt for a formula that will stick around for the whole day. Along with keeping excess oil under control, MAKE UP FOR EVER’s tube offers full coverage that isn’t cakey or pills as the day goes on.

Buy at Sephora $38

Giorgio Armani Beauty Power Fabric Longwear High Cover Foundation SPF 25

Armani’s newest foundation is the matte counterpart to its cult-favorite Luminous Silk Foundation. This formula glides on like velvet and will keep oil at bay without settling into any fine lines or wrinkles.

Buy at Sephora $64

Bare Minerals Matte Foundation SPF 15

Bareminerals took their original foundation formula and mattified it. While it may be a powder, the product goes on smooth like a cream and minimizes and clears pores.

Buy at Nordstrom $32

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation

Although L’Oreal’s tube helps you achieve a shine-free complexion, it won’t leave your skin looking flat. Its demi-matte finish conceals imperfections and lasts for up to 24HRS, so those blotting papers in the bottom of your makeup bag are no longer necessary.

Buy on their website $13

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

The next time you find yourself in a heat wave or you’re finally taking that SoulCycle class after work, this foundation is your best bet. Its formulated to keep skin from looking like an oil slick throughout heat, sweat, and humidty.

Buy at Sephora $43

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation

This drugstore staple renders pores invisible and de-slicks shiny complexions.

Buy on their website $11

Lorac Porefection Foundation

A cocktail of vitamins A and E, olive leaf, and papaya extracts leaves skin poreless while working to fight signs of aging.

Buy on their website $38

Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup

Get a foundation that does both: Clinique’s liquid formula hides breakout-induced redness on oily, acne-prone skin while treating blemishes.

Buy on their website $38

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation

This foundation is spiked with Amazonian Clay which sucks up excess oil and erases pores without drying out complexions. Even better: its coverage lasts up to 15 hours, so you can skip your previously scheduled lunchtime touchup.

Buy at Sephora $39

HEALTH article

21 Of The Best Concealers To Give Tired Skin A Boost

Whether you need it to cover a blemish, lift dark under-eye circles, or simply even out skin tone, finding the best concealer for you and your skin can be game-changing. In fact, now that fresh, luminous skin is wholly in (and we’re all about cutting down on time spent in front of the mirror), concealer is the one product we all really need to get right. Many make-up artists actually recommend forgoing foundation in favour of a good concealer applied in all the right places: on reddened areas, spots, hyperpigmentation, and anywhere that needs brightening.

Of course, different occasions (not to mention skin types) call for different concealers, and it can be a minefield finding the right one for the job. Those who want to cover blemishes might look for a kind-to-skin concealer which is formulated with ingredients like salicylic acid to unclog pores, while mature skins should look for a concealer with a subtle, sheer coverage that won’t settle into fine lines, but instead will bring the glow. What everybody wants – whatever their skin type – is a flexible, elastic concealer that melts seamlessly into skin, delivering smooth, even coverage.

Formulations have come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years – you will be hard-pressed to find anything that imparts a cakey effect now. But if it does, it might be down to the way you’re applying it. Many make-up artists recommend applying concealer with your fingers, since the warmth from your skin helps melt the product into skin for an imperceptible finish – although make sure you do so with clean hands. For those who prefer a brush, look to Artis – its brushes are the best for buffing product into skin.

Once you have found the best concealer for you, your skin will thank you. For all of your texture, finish and coverage requirements, here is British Vogue’s edit of the best concealers to buy now – from Tom Ford’s Emotionproof Concealer (great for weddings), to MAC’s Studio Fix Conceal & Correct Palette.

Best For Long Wear: Tom Ford Emotionproof Concealer

We all have those occasions when we know tears will roll. That’s when you need Tom Ford’s Emotionproof concealer – it will stay put through those trying moments.

Tom Ford Emotionproof Concealer, £42, available at Selfridges.com.

Best For Long Wear: Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer

Designed to diffuse light for a soft-focus appearance, Laura Mercier’s Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer works wonders on dark circles, but remains more or less undetectable on the skin. Shades are divided into cool, warm and neutral undertones, making it easier than ever to find your perfect match.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer, £24, available at CultBeauty.com.

Best For Long Wear: Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Concealer

True to its name, this liquid concealer lasts for up to 16 hours and won’t budge no matter how much humidity you are hit with.

Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Concealer, £23, available at Selfridges.com.

Best For Long Wear: BareMinerals BareSkin Stay-In-Place Liquid Concealer

For something that lasts but is still lightweight, look to this BareMinerals concealer, which has numerous skincare benefits, too. 

BareMinerals BareSkin Stay-In-Place Liquid Concealer, £24, available at Feelunique.com.

Best For Long Wear: IL MAKIAGE Fck I’m Flawless Concealer

For a vast spectrum of shades that is sorted by skin tone and undertone, to make finding your perfect shade easier, this longwear concealer is the ultimate for covering all manner of skin concerns, from blemishes to under-eye circles. A must-try.

IL MAKIAGE F*ck I’m Flawless Concealer, £24, available at IlMakiage.com.

Best High Street Concealer: L’Oréal Paris True Match Eye Cream In A Concealer

The ultimate hybrid product, this concealer is also an eye cream that is packed with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and brighten the delicate skin around the eyes. It’s also less than £10. 

L’Oréal Paris True Match Eye Cream In A Concealer, £9.99, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Best High Street Concealer: Benefit Boi-Ing Industrial Strength Concealer

Creamy and soft, this concealer will disguise anything you’ve got – and will stay put for hours.

Benefit Boi-Ing Industrial Strength Concealer, £19.50, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Best High Street Concealer: Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation And Concealer

If you like to keep the products in your make-up bag to a minimum, look no further than Clinique’s dual foundation and concealer, which offers full coverage and a flawless finish.

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation And Concealer, £28.50, available at Selfridges.com.

Best For Full Coverage: BECCA Ultimate Coverage Longwear Concealer

Known for products that make skin glow, Becca’s longwear concealer is no exception: it utilises light pigments to blur fine lines, pores and uneven texture while imparting a satin finish, which makes skin look fresh and radiant.

BECCA Ultimate Coverage Longwear Concealer, £21, available at SpaceNK.com.

Best For Full Coverage: Marc Jacobs Beauty Accomplice Concealer & Touch-Up Stick

For those who like a full-coverage concealer that isn’t cakey, look no further than Marc Jacobs’s offering, which is formulated with snow mushroom to help hydrate as it conceals.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Accomplice Concealer & Touch-Up Stick, £24, available at HarveyNichols.com.

Best For Full Coverage: Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer

A brilliant shade range for all undertones, plus fun packaging, make for a must-buy concealer that, importantly, is also small enough to fit inside any purse or clutch bag you own.

Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer, £21, available at Selfridges.com.

Best For Full Coverage: Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer

Double Wear foundation is a best-seller for a reason, so if you’re a fan of the classic Estée Lauder foundation, you’ll love this full-coverage finish concealer. The dual-ended wand has one side that dips into a hydrating base to prep the area, while the other gives instant brightness and coverage.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer, £25, available at EstéeLauder.co.uk.

Best For Under-Eyes: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Nars’s award-winning concealers are truly amazing. This particular one is popular for its medium to buildable coverage, which allows for correction with a more natural and dewy finish – it works perfectly on fine lines under the eyes.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, £24, available at CultBeauty.com.

Best For Under-Eyes: Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer

Using clever adaptable pigments, this fluid concealer is as good on grey, sallow skin as it is on red, raised skin. The angled doe-foot applicator allows you to apply small amounts in delicate areas (like under the eyes), or sketch a little more broadly across larger areas if needed.

Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer, £22.50, available at Boots.com.

Best For Under-Eyes: Erborian BB Eye Touche Parfaite

With purslane, a powerful antioxidant that is also anti-inflammatory, this concealer is as good at being an eye cream as it is obscuring under-eye bags.

Erborian BB Eye Touche Parfaite, £34, available at SpaceNK.com.

Best For Under-Eyes: Sarah Chapman Eye Insurance SPF 30 Protecting Eye Tint

If it’s a light-reflecting glow you want under your eyes, rather than anything too full on, Sarah Chapman’s new eye tint is your guy. This light-as-air formula is primed to make you look more awake, and simultaneously firms, brightens and protects from UV damage, thanks to an SPF of 30.

Sarah Chapman Eye Insurance SPF 30 Protecting Eye Tint, £48, available at SarahChapmanLondon.com.

Best For Mature Skin: Chantecaille Real Skin & Eye Face Stick

Creamy, lightweight and in a travel-friendly stick format, Chantecaille’s concealer is a must-try for those who like a soft touch.

Chantecaille Real Skin + Eye Face Stick, £57, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Best For Mature Skin: Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer

If you’re keen to treat your skin to some nourishment while disguising blemishes, look to Bobbi Brown’s hybrid serum concealer; expect a fresh, flawless finish and hydration thanks to mushroom, Indian tree root and bamboo grass extract within the formula.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer, £30, available at Selfridges.com.

Best For Mature Skin: Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Super Natural Concealer

Imparting a bright finish, this concealer feels like satin and contains brightening pearls to help lift areas of darkness or uneven skin tone. It’s particularly brilliant for underneath the eyes.

Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Super Natural Concealer, £24, available at SpaceNK.com.

Best All-Rounder: MAC Studio Fix Conceal & Correct Palette

Can’t find the exact concealer shade for you? One of MAC’s six-part palettes will have you covered in both winter and summer as your skin tone changes – you can also layer or blend for the ultimate colour match.

MAC Studio Fix Conceal & Correct Palette, £30, available at Selfridges.com.

Best All-Rounder: Glossier Stretch Concealer

Elastic micro-waxes mean that Glossier’s Stretch Concealer never settles into fine lines, whilst the oil-packed formula gives it a dewy finish. Perfect for subtle, natural-looking coverage.

Glossier Stretch Concealer, £15, available at Glossier.com.

Best All-Rounder: Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher

The Retoucher does exactly what it says on the tin. Perfect for concealing blemishes and imperfections, its lipo-siliconic compound provides a traceless, plaster-like cover which blends seamlessly into the skin.

Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher, £25, available at CharlotteTilbury.com.

Best All Rounder: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer

If you’ve tried Giorgio Armani’s cult Luminous Silk foundation, you’ll know how brilliant it is at offering just the right amount of coverage and the ultimate radiant finish. The concealer is just as good, and blends seamlessly into skin.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, £34.50, available at Selfridges.com.

VOGUE article

Buzzy Beauty Ingredient of the Moment: Squalane

It seems like every day brings with it a new beauty ingredient we, as a civilization, must know about. (Cue: Eva Longoria over-pronouncing “hy-a-lur-on-ic acid” at us on repeat!) But every now and then, a substance comes along worth really, truly knowing. Hyaluronic acid is certainly one of them — particularly for anyone who favors a hydrated complexion without an oily, slick feel — but what we’re here to focus on right now is a slightly more old-school ingredient enjoying somewhat of a resurgence in the beauty world of late: squalane.

“Squalane is a saturated and stable hydrocarbon. It’s a form of squalene oil (which is a natural component of human skin sebum), which means it’s not subject to auto-oxidation, so that makes the shelf-life longer,” explains Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist at Day Dermatology & Aesthetics in New York City. In other words, squalane is a more stable ingredient derived from less-stable squalene, just in case you were about to Google “what is the difference between squalane and squalane?” Got that?

In the past, both ingredients have typically been derived from shark liver oil (like, from actual sharks), but most formulas now rely on cruelty-free, vegan (and much more sustainable!) alternatives made from olive or rice bran oil. It’s these innovative new formulas that have reinvigorated the industry’s interest in squalane, particularly as consumers seek out vegan and cruelty-free products (not to mention dewy, hydrated aesthetics that rely on intense moisture).

Dr. King notes that squalane “has emollient properties which make it a good moisturizer, able to help skin barrier function and prevent loss of hydration that impairs dermal suppleness.” She recommends it for a range of different skin types and concerns, beyond just those associated with moisture. “It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help soothe inflammatory skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and inflammatory acne.”

Cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson agrees there are many benefits associated with squalane in skin care: “It is a great product for all skin types to provide moisture; at high enough levels it has anti-wrinkle properties,” she says. She also notes that while many squalane formulas are thick oils and creams, there are also other options for those who don’t want to feel greasy. “It can be made to feel lighter or heavier on the skin depending on what it’s mixed with. It’s a versatile ingredient,” says Wilson, who also notes that there are few risks associated with it on the whole.

Not all experts are fully sold on the ingredient for every skin type, though. “It can be used across almost all skin types, but I am cautious in recommending it to people with acne because it may contribute to breakouts,” notes dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital.

Dr. King also points out that there are times when squalane itself may not be enough, particularly for those coping with severely parched skin. “If the skin is very dry and the environment is very dry, a stronger, heavier occlusive may be needed in addition to or instead of the squalane to lock in the moisture and ensure that hydration is not evaporating from the skin,” she advises.

Fashionista article

10 Cult Classic Lipstick Shades Every Beauty Lover Must Know

In beauty, there is no category more timeless—or quintessential—than lipstick. As an enduring symbol of power and femininity, the transformative swipe of classic lipstick is never to be underestimated. Over the decades, brands have met perennial demand with a dizzying menagerie of offerings, leaving no color, undertone, or finish unturned. But despite the scale of options, there are those strikingly universal shades that women keep coming back to. From true reds to nuanced nudes, here, 10 classic lipstick shades with that certain something loyal masses can’t get enough of.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire & Ice

In 1952, Revlon launched its Fire & Ice ad campaign, starring Vogue cover girl Dorian Leigh, and caused a stir with its kitschy quiz supplement designed to decide if one was, in fact, suited to this tried-and-true bold red.

Purchase at ULTA $5.10

NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita

Inspired by the 1960 Italian drama La Dolce Vita starring Anita Ekberg, this dusty rose strikes a sophisticated balance between retro and modern pale-pink lips.

Purchase on Amazon $19.45

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Making a hyper-gothic wash of color both flattering and accessible, the secret behind this deep berry hue is its sheer, glossy, and balm-like texture.

Purchase at ULTA $19.50

Dior Rouge Lipstick in 999 Matte

In 1953, Christian Dior created two “perfect red” lipsticks for the runway, “9” and “99,” and more than half a century later, this rich red is the gorgeous amalgam of the two.

Purchase at Sephora $38

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk

A single slick of this matte nude pink will enhance the natural color of your lips to bespoke effect, while a few more layers builds to a more dramatic true mauve for a dose of understated glamour.

Purchase at Violet Grey $34

MAC Red Lipstick in Ruby Woo

The coolest of cool reds, this iconic shade is flattering on virtually everyone, with subtle blue undertones that brighten teeth and the whites of the eyes in one fell swoop.

Purchase at ULTA $19

RUBY WOO – THE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE BEST-SELLING LIPSTICKS IN THE WORLD

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Fairest Nude

With its unmistakable vanilla scent, this creamy pinky-taupe nude goes on sheer and supplies a boost of radiance to a wide variety of complexions.

Purchase at ULTA $7.70

Tom Ford Lip Color in Bruised Plum

This shade is a darker-than-dark plum in the tube, but when you swipe on the shiny, semi-opaque formula, it reads more like a juicy deep fuchsia that you can layer on to your desired opacity.

Purchase at Violet Grey $55

NARS Lipstick in Schiap

Named after Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who made shocking pink her signature color, this electric fuchsia shade is just as head-swiveling as her Surrealist designs.

Purchase at Amazon $19.45

Giorgio Armani Beauty Rouge D’Armani Matte Lipstick in 400

Known as the “Armani Red,” this rich, highly pigmented crimson strikes a perfect balance between cool and warm, and is a definitive classic for the Old Hollywood look.

Purchase at Macy’s $38

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