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It's that time of year again! Time to sit back and reflect on the past year, and - seeing as this is a beauty blog - today I'm sharing the best skincare products I either discovered or rediscovered in 2024...
First Cleanse: Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm* | £21 | full review
This has been more of a rediscovery for me in 2024 but I've just found myself reaching for it by default over and over again! It's one of those silky, less oil-based cleansing balms that's still very effective, and the £21 price-point makes it a reasonable mid-range purchase. It melts down effortlessly from a solid balm to lift and ease up makeup and sunscreen on the skin at the end of the day. Once you add water, it emulsifies really nicely into a milk and can be removed with water (and optionally, you can also use a damp cloth to remove everything). It doesn't leave a film or excess, it's not fancy or luxurious-feeling, it doesn't have any particular 'added extras' in terms of the INCI list; it's simple, it's functional and (most importantly) it works.
Second or Morning Cleanse: Sachi Saponins Cream Cleanser* | £42 | full review
There was really only one product that could take the award away in this category; the creamy, moisturising, gentle, comforting feel of this cleanser has kept me reaching for it time and time again. This is a non-foaming formula that's rich but not heavy on the skin and includes plenty of nourishment and skin barrier support with ingredients like panthenol, glycerin, prebiotics and kokum butter. It's just exactly what my dry skin is looking for in the morning!
Vitamin C, Antioxidant or Day Serum: Skin Rocks the Antioxidant* | £70 | full review
I always go for an antioxidant serum as part of my morning skincare routine and over time I've been a little less restrictive on it needing to be a pure-form Vitamin C and I actually really appreciate both derivatives but also other antioxidant sources, and this serum provides both. It's cosmetically elegant and has a hydrating milky base, which makes it a really nice morning all-rounder for those of us who don't have the time or patience to layer multiple serums on a weekday morning! This serum is formulated with green tea, an oil-based Vitamin C derivative and supporting peptides and antioxidants to help protect the skin from free radical damage and premature ageing. It also helps to even out the skin tone and keep things looking plump, healthy and radiant. There's not much else I could possibly want from a morning serum!
Retinoid or Night Serum: The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion* | £15 | full review
Honestly, retinal (my personal form of retinoid) has become more and more popular with each year and so I've tried a fair few of them this year, but the most 'revolutionary' new-new formula for me is this one from the Ordinary. It's not for beginners or sensitive skin types, but if you're looking for a really high-calibre active for 30+ skin then this is for you. Retinoids increase skin cell turnover, boost collagen production and help improve existing fine lines and signs of photo-ageing, and retinal is my favourite form of this ingredient; it just gets the balance perfect in terms of delivering incredible results in a short amount of time with minimal irritation. And this serum is no exception; it's a high-strength retinoid formula that brings the results but doesn't cause my (admittedly very-used-to-retinoids) skin any issues. But, every other retinal I've enjoyed has been pretty pricey (though costs are slowly coming down) and the Ordinary have done it for £15, which makes this a standout of the year for me!
Chemical Exfoliant: Skin Rocks the Gentle Acid* | £49 | full review
Honestly, the more I've leaned into peptides, antioxidants and retinoids, the less I feel like I rely on strong exfoliants to get 'results' from my skincare routine. So, using a gentle acid 2-3 times a week suits me down to a t. This leave-on chemical exfoliant is formulated with lactic acid, mandelic acid and PHAs, which are my three favourite gentle exfoliants! Lactic is hydrating but effective at resurfacing the skin, mandelic can help with breakouts and discolouration and PHA is the gentlest of all, with hydrating properties that can help treat surface dryness. This product is also formulated with panthenol and glycerin to soothe and hydrate the skin, as well as to help it retain moisture effectively (this makes it really well-rounded). The result; soft, smooth, plump and radiant skin without any irritation.
Multi-Active Treatment: PSA Visible Improvement Peptides & Niacinamide Serum | £40 | full review
Honestly, I've been a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to this category, but one product that stood out to me from early on this year is this serum by PSA (the more-affordable sister brand to Allies of Skin). This hydrating, milky serum is a great all-rounder and it can be used AM or PM. The niacinamide is going to help with discolouration, regulate oil production in the skin and also boost ceramide production, which in turn is going to improve skin barrier function. It's also formulated with peptides to hydrate and replenish the skin, plus it's a gentle but powerful well-ageing hero that could boost collagen production in the skin. This serum provides gentle brightening benefits, helps smooth the skin so it looks fresh and bouncy and gives a good dose of hydration. So, if you're looking for an all-in-one; this is a great option.
Non-Exfoliating Toner, Essence or Mist: The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky* | £12.40 | full review
Personally, I love a milky toner; I have dry skin and especially during the colder months, these types of products just add a much-needed extra layer of hydration (which is always welcome). This is a lightweight toning milk which isn't overly heavy or serum-like but softens and hydrates my skin beautifully. It's formulated with fermented ingredients and has very mild exfoliating properties, as well as containing squalane (a skin-similar plant oil to help replenish the skin's natural oils). I find this calming, hydrating and it gives my skin that extra boost it needs; for under £15, if you enjoy a milky toner, I highly recommend trying this one.
Moisturiser: Byoma Barrier+ Treatment* | £16.99 | full review
This is the only new moisturiser that's worked its way into regular rotation for me this year; it's primarily been a year of reaching for my established favourites. So, this was easily the best new addition to my lineup. It has a kind of creamy-balm texture and you can spot-apply this, but I tend to use it as an all-over night cream when my skin is feeling a bit dry and / or sensitive, or to follow up stronger actives. It's formulated with ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids which are the holy trinity for your lipid barrier, meaning your skin is strong, healthy and can keep dryness and irritation at bay. It also contains ectoin, which I don't think I've seen in an affordable product at all yet! It helps retain water in the skin and protects it from environmental aggressors. The squalane, shea butter and avocado oil also help keep the skin soft and deeply nourished.
Oil: Zelens Power D Vitamin D Concentrate* | £105 | full review
Ok, this is an old favourite of mine, but I just got it back out for autumn / winter and was reminded how wonderful it is, and I've been reaching for it pretty much every night as a result... This is a lightweight oil (I can't deny it's luxury, but it's the most 'worth it' luxury product I've ever tried) formulated with ProVitamin D3 to help strengthen the skin barrier, fatty-rich Vitamin F, squalane, sunflower, avocado and meadowfoam seed oils, fatty acids and glycolipids. It's a replenishing cocktail of healing and nourishing goodness that my skin just laps up!
Everyday Sunscreen: L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot UV Fluid SPF 50+ | £19.99 | full review
This is a silky, moisturising (but not greasy or shiny) sunscreen that creates the perfect soft, smooth base for makeup; almost as though it's a primer. it contains a high level of UVA and UVB protection, to help protect the skin against premature ageing and dark spots every single day. It also has niacinamide as a treatment for discolouration. It's a wonderfully elegant formula that's seriously impressive, even in the context the now very impressive drugstore sunscreen market. It used to be that you'd have to spend £40+ to get a sunscreen that's this cosmetically-elegant, but this costs less than half that price, and it's almost always on offer!
Summer-Proof Sunscreen: Ultra Violette Fave Fluid Ultra Light Skinscreen SPF 50+* | £37 | full review
I think this was one of my sunscreen picks last year and when summer came again, it honestly blew everything else in my collection out of the water! It's just so lightweight and milky and doesn't leave any residue on my skin, never pills (even under makeup) and is so easy and non-greasy to apply and reapply throughout the day. It's budge-proof on a beach day but also works perfect under makeup and it's completely effortless; like you're not wearing sunscreen at all. And that's what it's all about; a product you actually use because the formula makes it easy to do so!
What were your favourite skincare products this year?
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