ELLE Editors Share the Best Skin Care Products of 2025

Best Acne Patches

No more squinting at your blackheads in the mirror. Made in Korea, these patches are coated with a special acid technology that melts the dirt and oil in your blackheads and eventually liquefies the gunk. Each strip comes with a flat-sided Q-tip, so that you can gently work to “express” the muck from your pores. Our tester (who loves watching pimple-popper videos) proclaimed that the patches are both extremely fun and satisfying to use. She also loved that they left her pores looking and feeling clean.

Best Sheet Mask

If 2025 has a breakout ingredient, it’s salmon-sourced DNA, also known as polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN). Popularized in Korea, PDRN boosts collagen, evens texture, and helps repair skin. Medicube pairs these DNA fragments with collagen in a targeted sheet mask that plumps and hydrates. “This is by far the most effective face mask I’ve ever used,” our tester said. “It takes a couple of hours to dry down, but it’s totally worth it. After removal, my pores looked smaller, my skin was brighter and smoother, and fine lines vanished. Overall, I was left with a filter-like finish.”

Best Skin Brightener

Most toner pads work with a two-step system of stripping with a high intensity acid and then soothing. These work in just one step to be efficacious and gentle. Glycolic acid paired with grape acids deliver a multidimensional approach to exfoliation that works on tone, texture, and clarity. Our tester (and even her facialist) noticed that the pads didn’t make her skin sizzle or burn, but instead brightened it and worked to gently perk up dullness.

Best Microneedling Mask

This mask is like needleless microneedling, the in-office procedure that uses tiny punctures to boost skin elasticity and improve texture. It delivers professional-looking results with a two-step system using spicules—little dissolvable needle-like structures. First, apply the serum ampoule, which contains spicules, then add the collagen gel mask. After 30 minutes, the mask turns clear, signaling that the ingredients have fully absorbed. Our tester appreciated the fragrance-free formula for his sensitive skin and said the mask was easy to use. effective, and painless. “I definitely felt like my pores seemed smaller and my skin felt brighter the next morning after use.”

Best Skin-Tightening Eye Cream

This product has gone viral on TikTok for its nearly unbelievable before-and-after effects, in which eye bags look like they’ve been Photoshopped away after just seven minutes. Using a blend of seaweed extract and skin-tightening silicates—which form an invisible film that contracts as the cream dries—it creates a temporary tightening effect. The formula nourishes skin as well, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles with a peptide complex. The lightweight gel-serum slides on easily before drying down to an almost glue-like consistency. “As time went by, I could feel the product pulling my skin tighter,” our tester reports. She would recommend it to anyone with puffy under-eyes.

Best New Rejuvenating Serum

Like an entertainer who can sing, dance, and act, this serum is a triple threat for rejuvenated skin with plant-derived growth factors, exosomes derived from a K-beauty super plant (Centella asiatica), and mini proteins (their micro-ionized size penetrates deep into skin). It firms, restores bounciness, and adds dewiness. Our tester liked the silky texture of this serum and noted that it helped her look less tired and haggard—even around the under-eye area.

Best New Snail-Free Serum

If you love snail mucin but don’t want to harm the snails, this serum is for you. It harnesses the power of the prickly pear plant, a multinutrient botanical, to give the same restorative and calming effects. A bioactive peptide stimulates collagen, while a host of other vitamins, including C and A, thoroughly nourish. It was tested by a frequent snail mucin user, who liked that this serum has a similar non-sticky feel. She noticed that her skin looked dewy and supple, and felt like it was “sheathed in moisture.”

Best Liquid Pimple Patch

Consider this an acne-attacking hydrocolloid patch in liquid form. The quick-dry formula paints on, creating an invisible sticker—even over tricky spots such as nose creases or atop a traditional patch for extra grip. Unlike standard patches, it also delivers salicylic acid to clear trapped oil. “It’s so easy to use—you couldn’t tell I had it on,” our tester said. “And it works: by morning my pimple was barely noticeable.”

Best Lightweight Sunscreen

Already a bestseller down under in Australia, this mineral SPF went through 18 iterations before landing stateside. Ultra-light Japanese zinc lends a barely-there feel, while vitamin E and squalane hydrate and deliver a glowy finish adaptable to all skin tones. “This sunscreen goes on smoothly, blends in easily, and feels like a second skin,” our tester said. A self-proclaimed mineral-sunscreen skeptic, she also noted it didn’t pill under makeup or over skin care.

Best Serum for Skin Health

Inspired by Okinawa—one of the world’s five blue zones—this serum supports skin resilience with its proprietary blend of shikuwasa lime (a “longevity fruit”) for anti-inflammatory benefits, noni juice with antioxidant support, and shell ginger, which has been studied by scientists for cardiovascular support. The lightweight formula absorbs instantly, offers a subtle botanical scent, and imparts a healthy glow. “It sinks in right away and is easy to slot into any routine,” our tester said.

Best Skin-Tightening Cream

This neck cream uses silver mushroom, an anti-aging skin care ingredient commonly used in Chinese medicine, and Alastin’s patented blend of peptides and botanicals to help skin produce new collagen. The antioxidant-rich formula also targets dullness and uneven skin tone; in a clinical study of five participants aged 40 to 60, 100 percent reported visibly more youthful-looking skin. After using it in her nighttime routine, our tester reported that she woke up with skin that felt soft, firm, and plump.

Best Collagen-Boosting Serum

The secret to resilient skin might be fermentation. To make this high-powered serum, camellia flowers from Japan’s rugged Goto Islands—where harsh conditions breed hardier plants—are fermented via the same process used by sake makers, amplifying amino acid content. The result helps boost collagen and balance the microbiome. Our tester reported a more supple complexion, and visibly softer forehead lines after using the serum twice a day for a few weeks.

Best Overnight Mask

This Harmonie Sleeping Mask uses the hero ingredient of gardenia extract, which helps to protect against radicals that can lead to premature skin aging. Shea, kokum butter, and babassu oil (known for its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties) work to soften and comfort the skin overnight. Our tester noted that the mask felt like a luxurious nighttime moisturizer and was comfortable to sleep in. When she woke up, she was left with radiant skin that was soft to the touch.

Best Cleansing Oil

Dieux’s new oil aims for cleansing perfection: instant makeup melt, zero breakouts, and no panda eyes. Two proprietary complexes made with emulsifying oils power the formula; the Dissolve Complex breaks down sunscreen and makeup oils, while the Double Emulsifier Complex activates with water to whisk everything away without residue. A devoted balm-and-oil user, our tester said this one outperformed every similar product she’d tried: “I didn’t even feel like I needed to double-cleanse—it removed my makeup so well.”

Best Eye Patches for Sensitive Skin

These eye patches rescue tired eyes with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, plus caffeine and peptides to depuff and firm. Our tester, who has long struggled with sensitivity and puffiness around her eyes, liked these patches so much that she kept them on longer than the suggested 15 minutes. “They’re supersaturated in serum and are very thin, so they’re comfortable to wear and don’t slip and slide around my face,” she says. “I even took the serum leftover in the packaging and put it on my eyelids for extra hydration.”

Best Eye Serum

This eye serum uses the brand’s “flexi-lift technology” to lift skin in the eye area. The effect is temporary but visible, thanks to a mix of polymers that work to subtly “freeze” skin in place. Fragmented collagen also boosts skin bounciness. Our tester noticed that the serum subtly but noticeably made her eyelids look firmer and her overall eye area looked fresher and tighter.

Best New Retinol

Celebrity facialist Shani Darden’s first retinol product was loved by celebrities like Shay Mitchell and Jessica Alba. The new version embraces updated technology, with a new form of encapsulated retinol so that the main ingredient is delivered gently over time. Tripeptide, prickly pear extract, pyrus malus, and glycerin moisturize while speeding up exfoliation. Our tester loved that this serum brightened up long-standing acne scars on her cheek, all without making it red or irritated.

Best Tinted Sunscreen

This tinted mineral sunscreen, with 15 percent zinc oxide, blends like a dream. Our tester, who is extremely fair in skin tone, tried the lightest shade. “I really liked this product! I am very picky about sunscreen and find that tinted sunscreens are usually either too heavy and foundation-y or they have an annoying shimmery texture. This was lightweight and the tint blended in well to my skin.”

Best Spray Sunscreen

This brand introduced a classic face mist with a dose of SPF 30, and the result is an all-in-one hydrator and sun protector—use it as a midday skin refresh or a finishing spray for makeup. Hero ingredients include hyaluronic acid and cica (a botanical extract derived from tiger grass known for its anti-inflammatory properties), which soothe and moisturize the skin. Our tester noted that the fine mist formula was lightweight and left behind a dewy glow. She used it in combination with her daily cream SPF, touching up throughout the day.

Best Eye Cream

Clinical studies conducted by the brand show that this eye cream visibly reduces puffiness by 46 percent and fine lines by 30 percent in just four weeks. The proprietary technology also lessens redness and improves hyperpigmentation. A cooling steel applicator aids circulation and depuffing. “I don’t have severe dark circles, but the skin around my eyes looked lighter and more radiant,” our tester said, adding that his skin felt softer after a few weeks of consistent use.

Best Botanical Serum

This serum taps some powerful but gentle botanicals. Clarifying organic myrtle, a plant extract with antioxidant properties, evens tone and soothes irritation. Soothing nasturtium flower, a botanical known for anti-inflammatory properties, reduces redness and protects the skin from environmental stressors like pollution. Our tester liked the silky consistency, noting that it was easy to apply to the face and neck. “I noticed a difference in how my skin felt immediately,” he said, explaining that the serum had a lightweight and silky texture that left his skin feeling softer with each day of use.

Best Skin Brightening Cream

This product uses Peptilium, a biopeptide that tests by the brand show is proven to work twice as quickly as a synthetic retinol to firm and even skin without irritating it. With nutrient-rich oils like coconut and jojoba oil and vitamin-packed Illipe butter—a cream similar to cocoa butter that is derived from the nuts of the Shorea stenoptera tree native to Southeast Asia—this moisturizer helps revive the skin, treating uneven skin tone, loss of elasticity, and dryness. Our tester particularly enjoyed the velvety texture and noticed visibly brighter skin over the course of just a week and a half.

Best Luxury Serum

It took the brand almost six years of research to develop this product. Formulated around the idea of skin longevity, it combines several wellness-oriented ingredients including gingko extract, red vine, and β-glucan, a biotechnology derived from heart-healthy soluble fiber. The combination works to promote a healthy skin barrier, increase luminosity, and regenerate the skin by treating senescence, a process in which skin cells linger, don’t turn over as quickly, and cause dull skin. Our tester noticed the moisturizing feel of this serum, calling it one of the silkiest serums she has tried, and cited its practically immediate brightening effects.

Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles

This eye cream is inspired by the freezing power of injectables like Botox—but without the needles or hefty price tag. It’s formulated with barrier-supporting peptides, two weights of hyaluronic acid to plump and add volume, and hexapeptide-8, a synthetic peptide that reduces the look of lines. Our tester raved that the cream was “very hydrating, absorbed well, and felt luxurious,” and noticed that the skin around his eyes looked smoother.

Best Glowy Skin Serum

Your skin is precious and should be treated like gold—or in this case, with gold. This serum uses a 24-karat gold retinol complex, an antioxidant-rich ingredient that helps to reduce signs of aging caused by stress and harmful environmental elements. On its own, retinol is already a potent ingredient, but an infusion of 24-karat gold adds antioxidant properties to protect the skin. Our tester reported that the serum was lightweight with a pleasant scent and texture. “It left an immediate highlighter-esque glow that still looked natural, which was unique coming from a serum versus a makeup product,” she said.

Best Purifying Mask

This mask draws out impurities like excess dirt and oil, and is boosted with other nourishing ingredients. Danish purple willow ferment, a botanical extract known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, helps clarify the skin and control oil production, while salicylic acid treats blemishes and minimizes pores. It has a cooling effect that calms the skin, too. Our tester raved that the mask helped to cleanse their congested skin, leaving it feeling fresh. After about three uses, she even noticed that a problem spot on her chin had disappeared.

Best Regenerating Serum

Black tulips are among the rarest varieties—and the darker the tulip, the more antioxidants it contains. This serum pairs black tulip antioxidants with growth factors, plus exosomes derived from Centella stem cells, to generate new skin cells, boost skin elasticity, and calm irritation. “This product has improved my overall texture and brightness,” our tester said.

Best New Cleanser

This product feels like a fluffy, moisturizing cloud. The brand’s signature ceramides help maintain an ideal skin barrier, and its so-called Glycolysine Cleansing Technology attracts oil, dirt, and impurities like a magnet. Our tester noted its airy “consistency and feel,” and used it as a double cleanser. “It improved my skin texture and calmed breakouts. It’s got a lot of great ingredients that make it feel gentle and hydrating.”

Best Brightening Serum

Plump and glowy skin means cashing in on collagen. This face serum aims to build and strengthen the skin’s supply using patented micro-peptide technology. It’s also powered by vitamin C and PHA, a chemical exfoliant that softens while it brightens. Our tester noted that their skin felt smoother after using the serum consistently for nearly two weeks.

Best Next-Gen Moisturizer

Created by Hollywood superstar plastic surgeon Jason Diamond, M.D., this mega moisturizer combines nearly every dermatologist-proven ingredient for hydration, including six different types of hyaluronic acid and nourishing lipids like cholesterol and ceramides. A sonication technology also blends the lipids with water, turning them into nanomolecules that hydrate and penetrate skin more deeply. Our tester loved that this moisturizer felt weightless, didn’t pill under makeup, and provided hydration that lasted for hours. Apparently, it was as refreshing on the face as multiple splashes of water.