With the holiday season fast approaching, you might be rushing around for last-minute gifts. If you're searching for skin care gifts, BestReviews skin care expert Dr. Alina Zufall has you covered.
Not only does Zufall have tips on how to choose skin care gifts for your loved ones, she has a collection of recommended products. No matter who you're buying for, there's a skin care product that will meet their needs.
In this article: The Ordinary The Daily Set, Supergoop SPF Bestsellers Starter Kit and Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original.
"Buying skin care can be daunting," says Zufall, "There are so many options out there. How in the world are you supposed to choose what is right for you, let alone your loved one?" As an expert dermatologist, she has a number of tips to help you out when buying for friends and family.
Zufall recommends sticking to trusted brands. These make reliably good products, while unknown brands are more of a wildcard. She says, "Some product brands that I like and trust that are pricier are Skinceuticals, Avene, La Roche-Posay, EltaMD and Paula’s Choice. More affordable brands are Eucerin, Aveeno, Vanicream, Cetaphil, Cerave and The Ordinary."
Of course, you should stick within your budget, but if you have the money to do so, you could splurge on high-end products that the recipient might not buy for themselves. Zufall advises, "Be careful, though, don’t spend too much money, because skin care can be tricky. Some products are irritating to people and then go wasted."
So, splurging can be good, but only if you're relatively sure it's a product the person you're buying for will like and it won't irritate their skin.
It's tougher to buy for someone who has sensitive skin or chronic skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis. Zufall says, "If your giftee has sensitive skin, then pay close attention to that ingredient list! Even if a product claims to be good for sensitive skin, added synthetic fragrance, essential oils and some botanicals can be irritating. Looking for the National Eczema Association Accepted seal can be helpful to find the products you know will be good for dry, sensitive skin."
Although it's fine to buy someone a single product, especially as a stocking stuffer, gift sets are great when you want to splurge. You can find a wide range of gift sets from quality skin care brands, especially around the holidays. Alternatively, you can look for products that work well together to create your own gift set to target the skin care needs of the person you're buying for. For instance, you might pair a gentle cleanser and a face moisturizer for someone who has dry skin.
Zufall says, "Many websites now are offering deals as well as gift guides for their products, which makes it much easier to find a product or group of products that targets a specific issue." This way you can curate a set of products that your loved one will actually use and that will cater to their skin care requirements.
"The Ordinary is one of my favorite brands," says Alina, "because it is super affordable and has simple products with just the ingredients you need." The Daily Set is an everyday skin care set that makes a thoughtful gift for people with most skin types, gently cleansing and nourishing skin.
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Zufall also recommends The Balance Set from The Ordinary, thanks to its range of products to naturally balance skin. It contains a squalene cleanser and a variety of other products to reduce the look of enlarged pores and textural irregularities, reduce shine and make skin look more radiant.
Sold by Amazon
Supergoop SPF Bestsellers Starter Kit
If you have a sun worshipper in your life, this Supergoop sunscreen set is a solid choice, containing sunscreen for the face and body in a reusable pouch. It might seem like an odd gift for the holidays, but it's actually good practice to wear sunscreen year-round.
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Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original
These pimple patches make good stocking stuffers for teenagers or anyone who has acne-prone skin. They cover pimples to help them heal faster and prevent picking that can lead to scarring.
Sold by Amazon and Ulta Beauty
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Paula's Choice is one of Zufall's recommended skin care brands, with this azelaic acid evening skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It also contains salicylic acid to unclog pores and smooth uneven texture.
Sold by Sephora
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
If you're buying for someone with sensitive or reactive skin, this daily facial moisturizer is a gentle choice. It's free from dyes, fragrances and other products that can cause irritation.
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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid Acne Treatment
Zufall recommends La Roche-Posay's retinoid treatment for a range of skin care issues, not just acne, as advertised. She says it's ideal "for anyone looking to treat not only acne, but also wrinkles or hyperpigmentation as adapalene gel will help all of these conditions."
Sold by Ulta
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser
If you're looking for affordable skin care, Zufall recommends Aveeno products as a top choice. This foaming cleaner is ultra-calming, so it's perfect for staying in control of skin complains that can flare up during the winter, making it a perfect gift during the cooler months.
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Aveeno Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer
Zufall rates this moisturizer as a terrific choice for anyone with rosacea because it calms inflammation and reduces redness. However, it's also excellent for keeping all kinds of skin hydrated, which is vital during winter and through the rest of the year.
Sold by Ulta
Skinmedica SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0
It's a bit of a splurge, but if you have the money to spend, this retinol is an excellent gift for anyone who wants to smooth and even their skin tone and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The PhytoShield Complex reduces the chance of irritation that retinol products can sometimes cause.
Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
