BEST FACE SCRUB
Physical exfoliants can be intimidating, but after one buff of Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub ($75)—it was developed by a dermatologist to be gentle, yet a total workhorse—all anxieties will subside and it will be tough to stop touching your face.
BEST EXFOLIATING TONER
Finally, an exfoliating toner that works for everyone, and we mean everyone: even those who have sensitive skin or are pregnant. Josh Rosebrook Daily Acid Toner ($29) resurfaces, softens and brightens with ease thanks to a balanced blend of acids and hydrators. We’d bathe in this stuff if we could.
BEST DARK SPOT TREATMENT
Chock-full of buzzy brightener niacinamide— licorice root plays a supporting role—First Aid Beauty Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum ($42) sinks quickly into skin, helping to erase dark spots from the sun, aging, acne, and anything else.
BEST RESURFACING SERUM
Brimming with 10-percent lactic acid, 11 skin-strengthening peptides and hydrating botanicals, Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum ($82) is like a HIIT workout for your skin: Two weeks in, everything looks a little bit firmer and smoother.
BEST RETINOL NIGHT CREAM
Dermatologists routinely rank skinbetter science AlphaRet Overnight Cream ($125) at the top of their “favorite retinols” list because the results compare to tretinoin, but the addition of lactic acid and ceramides helps counteract irritation.
BEST LIQUID RESURFACING PEEL
One dropper full of No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Peel 15% Glycolic Acid ($40) whips rough, dull skin into shape with a mix of glycolic acid and gluconolactone. Apply a thin layer, enjoy the gentle tingle, rinse after five minutes, and then admire your tighter pores.
BEST MATTIFYING TONER
Swipe on the refreshing, salicylic and alphahydroxy acid–infused OleHenriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner ($29) to reduce unwanted shine and refine the appearance of large pores.
BEST AT-HOME PEEL KIT
Want to play facialist at home? Glo Skin Beauty GlyPro AHA Resurfacing Peel Kit ($85) comes with everything you need—down to the cotton swabs and headband—to use it effectively and safely, and the professional-level glycolic acid ignites a dramatic glow.
BEST DAILY PEEL PADS
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with good skin who doesn’t swear by the glowing-complexion consistency of Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel ($88), a must-add piece to any solid routine.
BEST FACIAL IN A JAR
Alpyn Beauty Wild Huckleberry 8-Acid Polishing Peel ($56) combines the powers of a mask, a peel and a scrub into one five-minute fix, and two star ingredients—wildcrafted salicylic acid and huckleberries— are sourced from founder Kendra Kolb Butler’s backyard in Jackson Hole.
BEST WEEKLY PEEL PADS
It’s strong, it’s serious and it’s even suitable for sensitive skin types: Exuviance Pure Retinol Correcting Peel ($72) is a solid “take the doctor home” option for delivering the gold standard in active ingredients.
