No Cap, It's Good Skin Days Forever With These Best Skin Care Products Of 2021

Initially skeptical of the pear scent, I didn’t expect to like this cleanser at all, much less for it to become one of my top three favorite beauty products. But OTZI’s Crystal Nova Cleanser ($25, Sephora) surprised — nay, shocked — me and our testers. It removes every trace of makeup without any harsh tugging on my part, and the gel formula positively melts into my face, to the point where every cleansing session feels like a luxurious face massage. No cap, my skin feels its absolute softest immediately post-cleanse.

Every #skinfluencer harps on the necessity of a retinol skin care product, but few discuss the more complicated aspects of this ingredient, like dryness, irritation, and the sheer amount of options. Do you go for a retinol serum and a moisturizer? One or the other? What about prescription-grade retinoids? IT Cosmetics’ Hello Results Retinol Serum in a Cream ($69, IT Cosmetics) takes a huge chunk of the guesswork out of choosing the right type of product. It’s like using a retinol serum and moisturizer in one, and because of it, the product left Elite Daily’s moisturizer testers’ skin feeling “hydrated and full.”

Originally utilized to rebalance the skin’s pH because of the harsher cleansers of decades past, toners have gotten an unfair rap in recent years. The truth is, not all toners are formulated with sometimes-irritating astringents or denatured alcohol. Case in point: good light’s Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion ($22, good light). The gentle, creamy formula does it all: balances your skin’s pH, gently exfoliates, fortifies your skin’s moisture barrier with ceramides, and promotes even texture with universally loved niacinamide. According to one tester, the resulting lit-from-within glow is so good, you won’t even want to cover it up: “I hardly ever used makeup with this toner, as it would leave my skin looking bright and dewy all day.”

Turns out, Alicia Keys can craft a face mask as well as she can harmonize. Calming as the experience of using the product may be, the Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask ($28, Keys Soulcare) goes hard to refresh your skin. While activated charcoal unclogs pores, manuka honey deeply moisturizes and protects, and small amounts of gold foil leave behind a noticeable radiance. Our testers also noted just how refreshing the mask feels while it’s on. The subtle sandalwood scent makes this 10-minute masking sesh a full, transformative ritual.

Rest assured, I don’t take expensive product recommendations lightly, particularly when I know something at a lower price point delivers equal, if not better, results. But the SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF’s ($166, SkinCeuticals) quick, surprising efficacy in treating stubborn breakouts and scarring was unmatched. Every single tester (and also my girlfriend) noted that regular use of this serum cleared both small spots and larger, painful breakouts, while lightening acne scars in the process. To sweeten the deal, a little goes a long way, so IMHO, Silymarin CF is worth the investment.

In no way did the fact that I could watch Emma Chamberlain do anything for hours influence this decision. Rather, one tester’s feedback after regularly using Bad Habit’s Dewd Hemp Nourishing Facial Oil ($29, Ulta Beauty) speaks for itself. “It made my skin look so even-toned and glowy that I didn't wear makeup on any days that I used this oil, and I really loved the scent and the packaging,” they said of using the product on their acne-prone skin. “It absorbs quickly, isn't greasy, and I was happy to find something that I loved as much as [other facial oils] at a much lower price point.”

Not only did No7 Beauty’s Radiance+ Roll & Glow Eye Cream ($11.99, Target) deliver noticeable results during the testing process, but the component itself made the entire experience that much better. The metal, glide-on applicator distributed product evenly across the under-eye area, boasted a cooling, depuffing effect, and lightly massaged the area to stimulate blood flow.

The glowing reviews of Bliss’ entire Clear Genius line are no joke when it comes to treating acne, but the Clarifying Liquid Peel ($19.99, Target), in particular, is most deserving of the hype. At just $20, this blend of AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs effectively but gently breaks up the clusters of skin cells that make up blemishes, leaving behind a brighter, smoother complexion with significantly less scarring. After just a few uses, several testers said they experienced a noticeable improvement in their skin’s texture.

I don’t believe in utopia. But dewtopia? That’s something I can get behind. OLEHENRIKSEN’s Dewtopia 20% Acid Night Treatment ($55, Sephora), the brand’s strongest exfoliator to date, easily soared past the competition for best exfoliator given just how well it works to slough off dead skin to reveal radiance underneath. “My skin felt refreshed and glowy after using it, and I'm excited to add it to my nighttime regime,” one tester with sensitive, oily skin said of their experience. “The serum also has aloe, so even though it's an exfoliant, it’s super gentle on your skin and doesn't cause irritation.”

While they’re a bit better for the environment and free of harsh chemicals, mineral sunscreens can be a tough sell. Because they sit on the skin as a physical UV blocker, they’re often more difficult to blend in, leaving a white cast behind, especially on darker skin tones. Olay’s Regenerist Mineral Sunscreen ($28.99, Olay) builds on the well-loved Regenerist product family with a mineral sunscreen that blends well, moisturizes, comes at an affordable price point, and, as one tester put it, “feels like a dream.”