best of 2020: skincare edition
Skincare for me has been a rough journey this year. Over the spring and summer I started breaking out super badly, with constant deep, painful hormonal breakouts. Thankfully I was able to clear that up through the help of my doctor and a prescription tretinoid, so for the last few months I've been focusing a lot on clearing up acne scarring and brightening!
I tried out a lot of different products this year so here are my favourites!
C L E A N S E R S
I really like a simple gentle cleanser for the morning so this was great for that! Never stripped my skin at all!
One of my favourite cleansers of all time! If you haven't tried this one yet I highly recommend it! I use it as a morning cleanse since it's so gentle.
I've been loving this one from Holifrog for the winter months! It's a nice milky consistency so perfect as a second cleanse! Great if you have drier skin.
This is such a great affordable cleansing balm! It turns milky with water and removes makeup really well (I do avoid my eyes though cause they're really sensitive). It does have a light herbal scent but I don't mind that mush since it's just being rinsed off.
Another amazing affordable cleansing balm! I will definitely be repurchasing this one in the future since it's one of my favourites I've tried at such a great price point!
This is what I use to take off my eye makeup since it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes at all! This is always in my routine cause it's incredible!
My favourite cleanser discovery of 2020 and definitely in my top 5 favourite products! This was such an amazing cleanser for my skin when I was struggling with acne! It's a great morning cleanser since it's so gentle!
T O N E R S & M I S T S
I tried this toner at the beginning of the year and stopped using it cause I wasn't sure if it was breaking me out but I retried it again in the fall and am so glad I did! It's just a really great simple toner! Light and hydrating, and I love the dispenser! It says you can use this to remove makeup but I find you need something a little bit stronger for that.
I haven't been using a lot of chemical exfoliants since starting tretinoid but this is one I still try to use every week! It's just very effective while still being gentle on the skin.
Honestly I've loved every toner I've tried from Cosrx and this one was no exception! This has a really interesting texture because in the bottle it looks a little thicker than water but it still feels light on the skin which I love.
Another one of my top 5 favourite products of this year! The texture of this toner is just so incredible! Super light, milky and hydrating! It does have a light vanilla scent but I don't mind cause it's not strong or overpowering at all.
This mist made me love face mists again! It's just such a fine mist that feels so nice and refreshing on the skin! Definitely not an essential but it's great if you're looking to treat yourself!
S E R U M S
Prescription Tretinoid
This is the product that changed my skin the most this year! I was suffering from such bad, painful hormonal breakouts this summer and nothing I did was making a difference. I ended up getting a prescription from my doctor for a tretinoid and it's cleared my skin up completely! I haven't really broken out since starting this (although the introduction period is definitely rough).
Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum $19.99
This is a really nice serum that helps my skin if it's feeling congested. It really helps to calm down any flair ups I might be having. Doesn't really work for large breakouts but definitely helps me with more minor spots.
This is a really great beginners vitamin c! It's not irritating to the skin at all and did help to brighten up my skin a bit! Not the most effective but it's great if you're just starting out with vitamin c!
I would say this is a great option if you're looking for a brightening serum that doesn't use vitamin c! It's light, hydrating and does help to brighten up dark spots a bit! Plus it's super affordable!
This is the most effective vitamin c I've ever tried! Just a warning, it's very strong! It made my face tingle every single time I used it but it didn't hurt at all and I don't mind putting up with it cause the results were amazing!
This was a serum I was obsessed with at the beginning of the year! I went through 2 bottles of it! It doesn't really do much in terms of visible results but I liked using it during the daytime for a glowy base!
Another amazing vitamin c serum! This is another great one for beginners to vitamin c since it's really gentle! No huge results but I actually loved using this for the hydration it gave my skin! The texture was just perfect!
M O I S T U R I Z E R
This has been my daily moisturizer as of lately and I love it! It's a really simple moisturizer and I really like that it doesn't have any scent. This one is pretty hydrating so it works well for my skin in the winter.
This was my nighttime moisturizer for the summer since it had a really nice thicker gel cream texture! Hydrating without being too heavy for the hotter weather.
Another product in my top 5 favourites of 2020! This was such an amazing product discovery for me! Technically this is a mask but I use it to "seal" in all my other skincare as the last layer in my routine. It's so soothing and saved my skin when it was super dry from starting my prescription tretinoid. I cannot recommend this enough!
I tend to forget about products I used during the beginning of the year so when I looked back through my empties I found this one and remembered how much I loved it! This was such an amazing moisturizer for under makeup (back when I was still wearing it) cause it gives a really pretty glowy finish and never pilled! It's also super affordable and doesn't have a scent.
This is definitely a pricey moisturizer but it's worth it imo if you have really sensitive or irritated skin since it's so soothing. I've went through a lot of tubs of it and am obsessed! It also lasts quite a long time!
S U N S C R E E N
This is honestly the best sunscreen I've ever tried! No whitecast, light and hydrating on the skin, plus it has no scent! If you still haven't found a sunscreen that works for you I highly recommend trying this one!
This was my go-to sunscreen before discovering the Keep Cool spf and I still really love it! It has a really similar formula to the Keep Cool one in the sense that it doesn't have a whitecast and is light and hydrating, although this one does have a slight scent from one of the ingredients. I highly recommend this one too if you aren't sensitive to citrus oils.
E Y E C R E A M
This is such a nice eye cream for the day time since it's so lightweight. This doesn't really do anything special except hydrate but I like that it wears well under makeup and can be used on your lips as well.
This eye cream is probably on so many people's 2020 skincare favourites list since it was such a great launch! I would highly recommend getting a sample of this if you can so you can experience how good it is for yourself!
I think this is my favourite eye cream of all time! I like brightening effects from my eye creams and this one actually delivers results for me! Plus it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes at all and is still very hydrating.
S P O T T R E A T M E N T
I wasn't sure about this spot treatment when I first started trying it but now I love it haha. It's better for smaller breakouts and it doesn't completely clear them up but I find that it helps reduce the size. Plus the applicator is so handy!
This has been my go-to for a long time cause it just gets the job done so well! It's just super effective and really helps to dry out spots!
F A C E M A S K S
My go-to face mask cause it really is brightening but also helps detoxify and calm irritation at the same time!
This stuff is amazing when your skin is just going through it. I love that it detoxifies and calms irritation without stripping my skin at all.
This was definitely a stand out product for me this year! It gives such good results and you only have to leave it on for 1-2 minutes! It does have a physical exfoliant in it so I'm just super gentle when applying and removing this but it leaves your skin feeling so soft!
This has slowly been replacing the Glossier Mega Greens mask for me! I find that it gives pretty much the same results which is great!
L I P P R O D U C T S
I finished up an entire Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask this year which feels like one of my greatest accomplishments haha because if you have this you know how long it lasts! I started using the vanilla one and love it even more than the berry one!
This has been so great when my lips are just feeling dry and in need of a refresh. It's a super gentle and hydrating scrub that smells incredible!
H A I R C A R E
The best dry shampoo! Refreshes my hair by getting rid of oil without leaving a whitecast or residue! Plus the scent is light and not overpowering.
You need to try this shampoo if you have super oily roots! This works so well for my fine straight hair cause it really helps to decrease oil production. I've gone through so many bottles this year!
This works so well with the clarifying gel shampoo and is the perfect duo for my hair! I have a flaky scalp that can get pretty irritated so I use this before getting into the shower to help get rid of flakes and soothe the scalp.
Such a great launch from this year! I don't like to use conditioner during the summer cause I find it's too heavy for my hair so I use this mask instead! You only need to leave it in for 1-2 minutes and it leaves your hair so soft and shiny!
Another dry shampoo I really enjoy! This one if a little more intense then the Amika one so it's great for days when you've pushed the hair wash day back a little too far haha. It does have quite a strong scent though so just beware of that if you're sensitive to scent. It can be a little strong for me as well sometimes so I don't use it everyday.
I love leave-in conditioners instead of actual conditioner for my fine hair and this one from Ouai is my favourite! The beach scent is also really nice!
This stuff is incredible if you have frizzy hair! It's perfect for taming frizz without weighing down your hair.
B O D Y C A R E
I can't get over how good this body wash smells! I love that it's a fresh more unisex scent! It also is a really nice formula that cleans without leaving the skin feeling stripped.
Fur Oil $46
This is essential for me! If you suffer from ingrown hairs or irritation from shaving I highly recommend! I use this every time after I shave and it's helped so much!
I'm so glad this product launched this summer cause it's helped my skin so much! I tend to get body breakouts during the summer and using this helped so much to keep my skin a lot clearer! The mist applicator is also really quick and convenient for application cause you can reach hard to reach spots like your back.
Soap & Glory body scrubs are my favourite body scrubs! They're gentle, affordable and come in so many amazing scents! Plus they aren't messy like coffee scrubs. My favourite scents are the original and the uplifting ones!
Ouai Body Creme $50
One of the best smelling body creams I've tried! The scent reminds me of a fancy hotel and I love it haha. It also is very hydrating but sinks into the skin nicely.
This new duo from Frank Body is so good! The body cream is hydrating and smells incredible! Plus you can reuse the packaging as a travel coffee cup! The Booty Drops I really like using after my shower to help with any stretch marks and just as an extra layer of hydration.
F R A G R A N C E
Glossier You $75
I go through phases where I either love or hate this fragrance and recently I've been loving it, especially for fall and winter. I really don't know how to explain the scent of this but it's a very musky, peppery scent (not really floral or sweet).
Ariana Grande makes some incredible fragrances and I think Moonlight is my favourite! It's a soft sexy scent that I can't stop wearing lately!
Another one of my favourites from her! This one smells like coconut but a sophisticated version of it that isn't too sweet or overpowering!
I feel like I've talked about this fragrance way too much but it's cause I love it so much haha. If you're a fan of beauty scents this is an essential!
C A N D L E S
I'm burning this candle as I write this and I can't get over how good it smells! Such a great winter scent because it feels very cozy to me! It has notes of jasmine flower, orange blossom, cinnamon and patchouli.
My favourite candle scent of all time! If you like spicy oriental scents you will love this one! Plus it burns really beautifully in the jar with the see-through hot pink vessel.
These are honestly the cutest thing I've ever seen! If you're a Disney fan you need these in your life! Plus they smell incredible (each scent is tailored to the Disney Princess it represents!)
Here are some discount codes in case you're looking to purchase anything I mentioned and want to save some $:
10% off Versed: LILYYTAY10
10% off Amika: LILYYTAY
15% off Fur: TAYLOR
Hopefully you enjoyed seeing all the products I loved in 2020! I also have a makeup version of this blog post up in case you missed it! I would love to hear what your 2020 favourites were either here or on my Instagram @lilyytay !
xx Taylor
(Some links are affiliate so I do earn a small commission if you choose to shop through them <3)
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