My vanity chair was full on a recent Friday night — three friends, one very direct question: “OK, what do you actually recommend? I want the easiest routine possible, not a twelve-step shelfie.”
That’s the question I love being asked, because it forces me to cut past the stuff I’m merely *testing* and name the stuff I’d defend to a stranger. Here’s the shortlist I actually rattle off — the products I rave about when a friend says “just tell me what works.” (Quick note: I’m an editor who reads ingredient labels, not a dermatologist, so treat this as one loyal user’s notes, not professional advice.)
The basics: tretinoin, vitamin C, and sunscreen
This one’s almost boring because it’s settled. I get a prescription tretinoin from my dermatologist — Obagi brand — and she’s been unimpressed by every peptide and trend I’ve ever pitched her. When I ask about anything new, the answer is usually just “tretinoin.” She’s the only voice on the internet I’ve stopped arguing with.
I pair it with the Obagi vitamin C serum in the morning, and I only use tretinoin at night. Honestly, I’m not even disciplined enough to do it every night — I’d be a lot better about it, and you should be gentle with yourself if that’s you too.
For sunscreen I’ve been wearing Missha’s Soft Finish — it sets to a powdery, matte finish and I genuinely love it — but I rotate through whatever sunscreen I have on hand. Different brands, same rule: it’s the one step I never skip.
The exfoliators I actually time with my phone
I also made my friend a firm promise that a good chemical exfoliator is not optional. My skin gets ashy and dull without regular exfoliation, and right after a treatment it glows. So I keep four exfoliators in rotation — and I’ve learned to respect each one’s time limit the hard way.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. My most-used exfoliator, because this is the one I reach for when I only have 5 minutes before a shower. Apply, wait, rinse. It’s the whole ritual, and it works.
Drunk Elephant’s BabyFacial. My favorite of the group — but it needs 20 minutes, and *no more*. One night I lost track of time on a phone call, and 50 minutes later, hooo, it burned. My face was the color of my hair. The 20-minute cap is a law, not a suggestion.
Sunday Riley’s Good Genes. A relatively gentle but effective overnight treatment. I only reach for this on nights when I’m intentionally putting something on my face before bed that *isn’t* tretinoin — the two don’t need to be best friends on the same night.
The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid gets a bonus mention because I don’t use it on my face so much as my scalp — maybe once a month through winter — and people have told me it’s good for rough feet too. Not a face favorite, but it earns its shelf space.
The moisturizer I’m obsessed with
I’ve been through a lot of moisturizers lately — face, body, whatever the moment calls for. But this is the one I’m obsessed with, and I’m buying it as a stocking stuffer for all my female relatives this Christmas.
Gold Bond‘s retinol overnight lotion. I put this on more religiously than my tretinoin. I switch off the bedside light and slather it on my hands, my elbows, any dry patches I can find. The next morning, when I wash my hands, I can still feel it. One of my friends swears it’s also great for the little keratosis pilaris bumps on your upper arms. And I’m a real fan of their neck & chest cream too — I hate the phrase “turkey neck,” but, yeah. It helps with that.
One more, because I just started: the Dior cuticle cream is thick and buttery in the best way. I don’t love the scent, but la di dah.
And the last one — the Neosporin lip balm. It isn’t fancy at all, but it’s been my favorite overnight lip balm for close to 15 years. It’s my go-to for chapped lips and beyond.
FAQ
Can I use tretinoin and an exfoliator on the same night? I play it safe and keep them on separate nights — my skin’s calmer for it, and tretinoin alone does a lot of the exfoliating work already.
Is a chemical exfoliator worth it if I already use tretinoin? In my experience, yes — my skin gets ashy without a proper exfoliator in the routine, even with tretinoin on the nights I use it.
What if my skin is sensitive to acids? Start slow. The peeling-style treatments are the strongest of the bunch, so if you’re new to acids, ease in and give your skin a few nights to settle between treatments.
So — readers, what are the serums, treatments, and moisturizers you recommend to your friends? Tell me in the comments; I’m always trying to earn a spot on someone else’s shortlist.
A note from the studio: the products I rave about are the ones I’d hand to a friend with a straight face — no sponsorship, no pressure, just the shelf I actually use. Tested on my vanity, not on my ego.