Launch List: The Best Skin Care Launching in May

Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF 50 PA++++ ($55)

Leave it to Charlotte Tilbury to create the perfect primer-meets-moisturizer-meets-SPF that makes any makeup you apply on top look airbrushed. She worked with chemists at the forefront of SPF technology and innovation in Asia to design a high-SPF formula with a universal peachy tint that blends seamlessly into all skin tones—I also love that it’s free of synthetic fragrances. And it’s much more than sun protection: It contains a pollution-fighting complex, hydrating hyaluronic acid, anti-aging Collalift18, and the brand’s Magic 8 Matrix, including plumping peptides, camellia oil and aloe vera.

“It diffuses, it smooths, it blurs, it protects,” says Tilbury. “It boosts skin hydration by 198 percent in just one hour. The minute you put it on, you see the glow glide upon your skin. Darlings, an SPF a day helps keep the wrinkles away.”

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Face ($20)

The same hydrocolloid gunk-absorbing power of the small, single-zit stickers, these offer way more coverage for bigger. breakout emergencies. Best for oily and combination skin, the kit comes with five extra-large patches that are shaped to fit specific regions of the face, including the T-zone, cheeks, nose and chin, so you can use all at once if your pimples pop up all over, or just target one section at a time.

Apply before bed on clean, dry skin where whiteheads are, and then peel off come morning to see all the white gunk stuck to the inside. And according to the brand, you should avoid using the patches for one week after using retinol products, and six to eight weeks after getting a chemical peel.

ILIA C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40 ($64)

Gluten-free, fragrance-free and vegan, this vitamin c–infused sunscreen is the first of its kind. Formulated in three tones that span all skin colors because they’re not “shades,” but rather just enough pigment to cancel out the white cast that often accompanies mineral sunscreens. They blend in super sheer for a dewy, healthy-looking finish.

What’s really cool is the patented encapsulated technology that allows for the potent, stable combination of 10-percent l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), niacinamide and non-nano zinc SPF 40 in wateress, lightweight base. It feels like a hybrid of dry oil and serum (the oils are meadowfoam seed and squalane). This one is a must-try.

Shani Darden by Déesse Pro LED Light Therapy Mask ($1,900)

Darden’s high-tech, supercharged mask—it’s a favorite among A-listers—has been reimagined with 238 LED lights and three treatment modes using red and blue light to address aging, acne and pigment issues in just 10 minutes per day. It also comes with a neck piece that delivers the same light technology, because let’s face it, you can’t treat one and not the other.

“It’s been reengineered with dual diodes to deliver medical-grade doses of light therapy in clinically proven color combos for more radiant, clear and youthful skin after just 12 treatments,” the celebrity aesthetician says. In the clinical study, 92 percent of users reported an improvement in fine lines and wrinkles after just 12 treatments, 81 percent saw a reduction in acne lesions when using the mask four times per week for 12 weeks—it reduced uneven skin tone, pigmentation and redness, too. And if that weren’t enough, it’s also clinically proven to elevate mood, lower stress levels and improve sleep quality.

Vivier Skin QuintiSerum ($250)

If you’re looking for a pure, potent vitamin C serum with benefits that go beyond brightening, this is it. A full-fledged anti-aging formula, it’s packed with five peptides to promote collagen synthesis for firmer skin, on top of 15-percent l-ascorbic acid (the most effective form of vitamin C in skin care).

“Our vitamin C serum is vastly different from others,” says Mike Vivier, president and CEO of the family business. “We’re one of only companies to use USP-grade l-ascorbic acid in a glycol encapsulation formula rather than a water-based one, which can hinder the efficacy of vitamin C. This serum also smooths fine lines and wrinkles, improves hydration and strengthens the skin barrier.”

Nécessaire The Neck Serum ($60)

Guilty of staring down at screen after screen all day long and have the neck lines to prove it? Me too. This anti-aging formula doubles as a serum and moisturizer and has the dreamiest texture—it feels like a water cream and melts into skin in seconds with absolutely zero residue (ie, your hair will not stick to your neck after you apply it). It contains five collagen-boosting peptides and a trio of nourishing and hydrating vitamins and botanicals: niacinamide, squalane and rosewater. Plus, in true Necessaire fashion, it’s dermatologist-tested and its glass bottle is 100-percent recyclable.

HIDE Power Nap Eye Roller ($28)

From new moms running on zero sleep to college students pulling all-nighters, and every other sleep-deprived person in between, this cooling gel-cream acts like a power nap for tired eyes, hence its name. Massage the stainless steel ball into dry, puffy spots and let the collagen-infused, oil-based formula work its magic so you look well-rested. 

La Prairie Pure Gold Nocturnal Balm ($975)

Ultra-luxe and indulgent, this rich balm utilizes La Prairie’s 90 years of Swiss cellular science to reenergize skin overnight—when skin is in repair mode—so it can look and act more youthful. The brand’s proprietary Pure Gold Diffusion System delivers releases gold and a blend of nutrients into the skin in a three-step process to increase radiance and firmness.

The cap of the gold metal jar houses a cooling Nocturnal Massage Stone made of sculpted marble, which can be used after applying the balm as a relaxing bedtime ritual to soothe tired facial muscles and increase lymphatic drainage. The jar is also refillable, which aligns with the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

Exuviance Clarifying & Renewing Serum ($49)

Sure to become a staple for oily and acne-prone skin types this summer, this lightweight serum contains multitasking niacinamide to help fade post-acne marks and even skin tone, exfoliating neoglucosamine to clarify skin and unclog large, stretched-out pores, and brightening licorice root extract.

In the brand’s clinical study, after four weeks of twice-daily use, 91 percent of users reported brighter skin with a smoother texture and more even tone; 89 percent said their skin was firmer, renewed, rejuvenated and looked healthier; and 86 percent reported that their post-acne marks appeared faded.

Milk Makeup Hydro Ungrip Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm ($36)

From the brand known for its makeup-gripping primers comes a new cleansing balm that easily takes them all off— it’s already getting rave reviews from Sephora customers. Blue agave extract (also a key ingredient in the cult-classic Hydro Grip Primer) is combined with soybean and sunflower oils, hemp seed extract, hyaluronic acid and aloe to effectively remove a full face of makeup and grime while leaving skin soft and nourished. Massage it into dry skin, add water for a milky lather, and then watch everything come off onto your wash cloth with one swipe.