Blogmas Day 16: 2025 Best in Beauty, Skincare

There’s no way I could share all of my makeup favorites without spilling the tea on what I’m putting all the makeup on top of. Here are my skincare favorites from 2025!

Starting with cleanser, and I’ve got three favorites! Newest first, Glow Recipe’s Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser is so luxe. She’s got a subtle fresh scent and a crazy lather that doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped at all. The BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser is super gentle for sensitive skin, does a great job of removing makeup, and is a tried and true first cleanse. I always use the Proactiv Clean Mineral Acne Cleanser as a second cleanse for acne control!

My second step is toner, and I have fully jumped ship from Tower 28 to the Prequel Universal Skin Solution when it comes to hypochlorous acid. I prefer it because it’s more bang for your buck and has a finer mist. Also, I want to call out that Prequel was by far my most loved brand this year, with products that are insanely versatile for face and body. When I’m dealing with breakouts or uneven texture, I opt for medicube’s Zero Pore Pad or the Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Acid Exfoliating & Clearing Serum.

Next up, treatment. With respect, this is where I feel the skincare girlies have gone a little too overboard. Treat your top 1-3 problems with 1-3 solutions, and leave the rest on the shelves. As I mentioned, I have sensitive skin with acne and rosacea, so I prioritize an azelaic acid treatment - my favorite for 2025 was Naturium’s Azelaic Topical Acid 10% (been through three bottles!). When I have breakouts, I spot treat with the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment and it is fantastic! Best spot treatment I’ve ever used, and saves me from the irritation of an all over benzoyl peroxide application.

After we treat, we moisturize. I’m a serial moisturizer purchaser. I try many, and I love few. 2025’s top spot goes to the highly hyped Dieux Air Angel Peptide Plumping Gel Cream. She’s somehow light and rich at the same time, perfect for night or day, does not pill, and is generally an A++ moisturizer that I have and will continue to repurchase!! Honorable mention here is Experiment Molecular Mesh, but she’s too new to me to call her a 2025 favorite!

I’m actually nixing the under eye cream category this year, because I think they’re all BS, and my most recent few have been giving me milia under my right eye, so I’m over it! My hot take is just to gently apply your face moisturizer under your eyes if they’re dry/aging.

Finally, when it comes to lips, I’m still Balm Dotcom’s biggest fan, but sometimes I need a scrub, and e.l.f.’s Lip Exfoliator is the best I’ve ever tried. Amazing price point and easy application, can’t be beat!

What am I missing here? Open to trying your favorite winter serum or moisturizer!

Currently listening to: “Take Me Home For Christmas” by Dan + Shay