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Don’t be surprised when your friends start calling you ~doctor~ and coming to you for product recommendations.

I am a contributor and former editor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2017, with a focus on beauty, travel, and practical products, and in addition to writing, am in the process of getting my master’s in speech-language pathology.

Promising review: "My dry neck and the annoying itchiness I used to experience have completely gone away after using this cream. It’s not only soothing, but it also feels like it’s really nourishing my skin. The firming benefits are a bonus! I highly recommend this product to anyone dealing with dryness or discomfort in their neck and chest area. It’s become a must-have in my skincare routine." —La Bella Vita Finds

Good Molecules is a small business that specializes in affordable skincare products. 

Promising review: "Saw this on TikTok and decided to give it a try since the price was amazing. OMG, buy it. I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes and now fine lines and crow's-feet. While this doesn’t completely eliminate my dark circles, the fine lines are really diminished. It wears extremely well under makeup and doesn’t feel cakey, or like there’s a ton of product on." —K. Grant

The color adaptive formula is designed so one of four shades will work on any skin tone. 

Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." —Placeholder

Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades). 

Caffeine has a number of skincare benefits, including brightening and temporarily reducing the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, if that's something you're looking to do! You can read more about the skincare benefits of caffeine at the Cleveland Clinic.

Promising review: "I am 60, and I could not get rid of the cellulite on my legs. I started using this product six weeks ago and can noticeably see a difference. I apply morning and evening before bed for optimal results. It goes on smooth and has a creamy, nonsticky feel. The smell is dreamy, and even my husband has commented on the improvement. Make sure you apply in a circular motion for optimal coverage, absorption, and circulation." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $24+ (available in three sizes).

Promising reviews: "At first, I was kinda skeptical as they're seen on TikTok, but these are amazing. You don’t see them, makeup goes right over it, and most importantly, they WORK!" —Ashley

"I am a 40-some-year-old woman who still gets pimples. I tried a wide swath of pimple patches. These are the best. Like the goldilocks of patches — some were very adherent but took off skin to remove, and some fell off very quickly — these are just right. And they work. They reduce the inflammation and keep gunk from getting in. They also keep you from picking at the zit. My teenage daughter also uses them, and they work for her. I have very fair skin, and she is much darker, and they seem to blend nicely with both skin tones." —K. Dahl

Read our Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch review!

Get a pack of 36 from Amazon for $10.39 (also available in a 72-pack).

Read more about tea tree oil and acne at Mayo Clinic.

Promising review: "I've battled painful acne on my rear end for years, and no dermatologist, cream, scrub, antibiotics, or ointment has ever been able to keep it under control. I bought this cream on a whim based solely on the reviews, and I'm so glad I did! After just one week of treatment, the acne was gone! No more painful days sitting at my desk or nights wondering if sitting on the couch too long was going to make my butt sweaty and cause another breakout. It's been almost two months, and just following the recommendations on the bottle, the acne hasn't returned. The scars from previous breakouts are even starting to fade. This cream is amazing, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. You won't regret this purchase." —deirdreD

Promising review: "My skin dries out severely during the winter, and I have to constantly use Vaseline to keep it moisturized (normal cream doesn't work on me). Imagine my surprise when my SO tried to put snail goo on me. Eww!! I resisted for weeks, refusing to use this product as she constantly vouched for its abilities. After a month, I finally gave in, and boy, it was amazing! My hands feel more moisturized than ever for longer, and it doesn't leave a disgusting, greasy feel like Vaseline. Take it from a once-nonbeliever: You have to try this. Even if it doesn't work for you, you paid a fraction of what you would've paid for any other name-brand moisturizers." —Kyoko Ozaki

Get it from Amazon for $18.50 (also available in a pack of two). 

Check out our TruSkin Vitamin C Serum deep dive for more info!

Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! I am 39 and have dark spots on my face from sun damage and some scarring from cystic acne. Holy cow, this has lightened my dark spots by at least 75%. Honestly a miracle. And for the price! Other brands are four times the price. Try this out for sure. Stick to it and give it some time. I saw an amazing difference, so so happy with it. Also, some of the best customer service I’ve ever had." —Ashley F.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "After just two days of use, this adorable little octopus has done wonders for me. It smells great, too. Here's how I used it: I wore down the stick just a little to where the texture from the salt was visible, scrubbed around on my face so there was plenty of product, and then used my fingers to gently massage all the gunk away. Rinse, pat dry, and enjoy the softness. Highly recommended for people with sensitive skin like me." —LuckLocust

Mad Rabbit is a small biz that sells clean and natural tattoo skincare products and was featured on season 12 of Shark Tank!

Promising review: "Product was awesome. It rejuvenated a 5-year-old tattoo and made it look like new again. Mad Rabbit absorbed into the skin very easily without being greasy." —Janson Ward

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three scents). 

Most reviewers recommend doing this treatment once per week. 

Promising review: "Caught wind of this on TikTok and decided to give it a whirl. Honestly, it’s pretty solid! It really makes my skin look tight and shiny like I just came out of a professional facial. It’s an overnight mask, so yeah, it does have to stay on for a while, which is a bit of a hassle, but the payoff? Totally worth it. My skin feels more elastic, and the pores look minimized, too. If you don’t mind the long wear time, this mask could be a game changer for your skincare routine!" —Nala

Promising review: "So far, I am loving this lotion. I put it on every morning under my makeup, and it leaves my face perfectly moisturized all day long. I also noticed I use less foundation because it’s so moisturizing. I don’t believe there is any miracle moisturizer that will ever get rid of our crow's-feet, laugh lines, neck sagging, etc., but this moisturizer helps reduce the look of these problems as long as they’re not deep surface. I’m 68 years old and never was someone who was a 'sun worshipper'; fortunately, I stopped smoking in 1980 after smoking for 15 years. Those two things do a lot of damage to your skin, so to all young women reading this who are doing these two things, take it from me: If you want to retain healthy, youthful skin, stop these too-harmful habits. Use sunscreen when you are in the sun, and use moisturizer now. Embryolisse seems to be a good place to start!" —Janet Cahill

Promising review: "I have very dry sensitive skin and this lotion is amazing. I found it on TikTok and decided to give it a try because it’s hard to find good quality and affordable fragrance-free lotion. And let me tell you, this is some of the best lotion I have ever used. I’m currently on my fifth bottle. I have very dry skin, so it’s hard to find a good moisturizing location that doesn’t leave me feeling greasy. This lotion has never left me feeling greasy. It’s very lightweight." —The Edick’s

Juno & Co. is a small business specializing in personal care and skincare products. 

Promising review: "I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!! I found it on TikTok, and OMG!! It works so well. I don't have to sit there and rub the crap out of my eyelashes to get the waterproof mascara off. I will admit it doesn't take 100% of the makeup off, but about 95% of my makeup comes off. It is not water-resistant, as emulsifying it with water helps take the makeup off. I have not found a better makeup remover, and yes, that includes Micellar Water (which also works well but leaves my skin feeling oily). With this cleansing balm, my face feels hydrated and smooth. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!! 1000/10 would recommend!!!" —Deetje Frederick

If you're looking for a water-based cleanser to go with this one, reviewers love this pore-deep cleansing foam from the same brand for their double-cleansing routine! 

Promising review: "I don’t usually leave reviews, but this product is the best cleansing oil EVER!!!!! It worked flawlessly after the first try, and I could actually see the results immediately!! My gosh, it’s lightweight and smells relaxing. Massage it to your skin for 5–10 minutes, and you can see the magic. I will definitely add this to my skincare routine. JUST GET IT!!!!!" —Vince

Promising review: "Just received this item after reading about it multiple times on BuzzFeed. I’ve never made an effort to exfoliate beyond a sugar scrub, but my new waxer said it was essential. This product is great. It removed more dead skin than I thought possible and left my skin soft and looking refreshed. I do have sensitive skin, so I was careful to follow the instructions as written and had no skin discomfort or reaction." —Katherine E.

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in five colors and packs of two).

Promising review: "I tried this after seeing TikTok reviews. I love how it feels when it goes on. It's very cooling and soothing. I used it during the day to freshen my under-eye area. I just ordered more, so I have one in my purse and car as well!" —MaryR

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three formulas and various multipacks).

Promising review: "I’m big, so my inner thighs have always been darker than the other parts of my legs. I’ve tried other products for it, but nothing has worked. I HAVE BEEN USING THIS SOAP FOR THREE DAYS AND OMG!!!! My inner thighs are SMOOTHER, and they are ALMOST THE SAME COLOR AS THE OTHER PARTS OF MY LEGS. I'M SO SO SO HAPPY!!!! I hate that I didn’t take a before picture but trust me!!!! BUY IT!!!! My face also looks brighter and fresher, agghhh!!" —Daphney

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.49.

Promising review: "I was skeptical at first, but honestly, this stick is life-changing!!! In a matter of minutes, my skin felt hydrated and plumped. After an hour, still hydrated. No greasy after feeling, very light, and you can feel your skin hydrated and absorbing. I love the fact that you can use it on your eyes, lips, and wrinkles!! Game changer for me; will def try the others!" —Kristy 

Get it from Amazon for $14.50+ (also available in other formulas).

And remember, like with any retinol (that actually works) *just do not use it every day.* Start slow and work yourself up if needed, paying attention to your skin. It's recommended to use this at night and follow up with sunscreen in the morning!

Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this stuff! I saw a dermatologist on TikTok who raved about this product and tried it out, and it's been the most amazing stuff! It's helped my face to clear up very quickly removing all of the blemish spots and dark spots around my face. It's been one of the best products I've added to my face routine. This would be great for all ages/stages and for any weather types." —Successful Solo

"I bought this for my teenager to use for his acne scars, but he ended up not using it. I ran out of my Murad retinol serum, so I gave this a try. I actually like it better than the Murad! It absorbs quickly, with zero smell or irritation. As with any retinol product, be sure to wear sunscreen when you're going to be outside." —C. Munsterman

Check out BuzzFeed editor Daniel Boan's Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum review for more deets!

Promising review: "I could kick myself for not trying this sooner! It is my new favorite lotion. After one night of using this, I woke up to smooth, soft, moisturized skin that wasn’t itchy at all. This lotion goes on and absorbs beautifully. It’s not too thin or thick, and the scent is sensational. It’s not greasy or slick and does not have a residue that pills or transfers." —TickTockAlice

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in other formulas).

Promising review: "First off, if you have extremely oily skin, this. is. it. I was so tired of getting blotting powder/wipes. It felt wasteful and always left residue on my face. I saw this on TikTok and NEEDED it. It was back-ordered, but then I got an email saying it was in stock, and I was SO excited. Not only is it affordable, but it's washable, which helps you save money and be less wasteful." —Kelsey B.

Promising review: "I kept seeing this product on social media and finally decided to give it a try. I use this twice daily, and it’s been a couple of weeks, and I definitely noticed my pores have shrunk. I even apply it to my neck and chest area. The product is soothing, gentle on my skin (I have extremely sensitive skin), has no strong smell, the cottons are soft, and did not cause any breakouts! It’s great for the value, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing these." —Ee El

Get a pack of 70 from Amazon for $18.90 (also available in four other styles). 

Promising review: "If I could give this 10 stars, I would! I ran out of The Ordinary hyaluronic acid I’ve been using for a year, and no stores close sold it, so I gave this a try. So glad I did because it’s a thousand times better!! I put it on first, then moisturizer, after I put on my primer and makeup, and it looks the best it’s ever looked. My pores were smaller in just three days, and my skin was so hydrated. I have combo skin, so my T-zone gets awfully oily. The fix is to make sure your skin is hydrated. Also, the bottle is twice the size of The Ordinary! This does it all!!! So very impressed." —smnthfinch

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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.