Most Wanted is a weekly series in which one editor, staffer, or influencer shares their top 30 must-haves or current wish-list items.
If you think that this headline is dramatic, you’re probably not alone. But in my defense, I’ve worked as a beauty editor for almost 10 years. I’ve been introduced to thousands of products! I’ve tested hundreds if not thousands of said products! So really, it’s only natural that over the years, I’ve crossed paths with some stuff I just can’t live without. Take the acne spot treatment that has never let my skin down, or the SPF that feels just like a primer, or the sculpting tool that instantly works its lifting magic on my face. And how about the $11 mascara that changed my entire relationship with my eyes? To me, calling these products life-changing isn’t dramatic at all. But it would be dramatic to end my story here and keep all of these ridiculously good finds to myself. I don’t like drama, so without further ado, keep scrolling for 30 life-changing beauty products that are near and dear to me and will forever hold a special place on my vanity.
This hasn’t been a part of my assortment for that long, but it sure has made itself known. It’s formulated with a combination of Mirsalehi honey and the brand’s Mirsalehi Bee Garden Oil Blend, plus a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid. It’s lightweight and instantly smooths, plumps, and defines my lips. I’ve been using it morning and night and truly can’t get enough of it. I totally understand why it sold out within six hours of launching!
There’s something about this oil that just makes your skin look so good. It’s probably because it’s packed with antioxidant-rich super berries like maqui, the most antioxidant-dense fruit in the world, to protect against free radicals. Acai also helps revive dull, dry skin, while prickly pear soothes redness and hydrates and goji helps soften the appearance of fine lines. It’s a real winner.
If you didn’t know what I do for a living and happened to come over and open my freezer, you’d instantly know that I work in the beauty industry because of how many products I have chilling in there (pun very much intended). This ice roller is a staple. Whenever I feel extra tired, puffy, or just want to wake myself up, I roll this over my face for a few minutes, and it always gets the job done.
This is my go-to everyday SPF for my face. It’s basically a primer—it’s lightweight, totally invisible, and leaves skin with a velvety finish. I use it as the last step in my skincare routine and either wear it as is or apply my makeup over it. I also love that it helps protect skin from blue light, which I desperately need since I’m behind my computer for the majority of the work week.
This is as close to magic as it gets. It’s made with over 22 active ingredients, all of which help fight signs of aging. It smells dreamy and gives my complexion a perfect dewy glow. I use it in the evening by applying four drops to my hands and pressing it into my skin.
Microdermabrasion is great, but it’s pricey. This $45 jar of dermatologist-grade microdermabrasion crystals and AHAs lets you reap the same benefits while at home. When mixed with a cleanser, it gently exfoliates dead, dull skin cells and leaves my face feeling fresh and restored. Use it twice a week, and you won’t regret it.
Just when I thought eye creams couldn’t help my under-eye area, this gem entered the picture. Aside from being a pretty pastel color, this multitasking eye cream is powered by vitamin C and a peptide blend that means business. As soon as I apply it, my eye area is visibly brighter and firmer-looking. Confession: I was sold after seeing it in action on TikTok.
Are you sick of me talking about my gua sha yet? I’ve praised it more times than I can count on one hand because it’s just so good. It increases blood circulation, which increases elastin and collagen, and it also helps with lymphatic drainage. My face looks so much more lifted after using it for five to 10 minutes a day.
Trust me, this stuff really, really works. You will see brighter, glowier, more youthful-looking skin within just a few days—a week, tops. I know it’s pricey, but a bottle lasts me a few months, bringing the cost-per-use way down. For amazing skin, it’s definitely worth it.
You’re never really going to see a huge difference in your skin until you introduce some sort of resurfacing treatment into your routine. That’s why I’ve become so attached to this. When I started using it a few years ago, my skin seriously improved. Think of it as your perfect all-in-one. It brightens, reduces fine lines, minimizes pores, smooths, hydrates, and fades dark spots. I know it’s another pricey product, but you only need to use it in the evenings, and a little goes a long way—one small pump can cover my entire face.
If my skin is looking meh—it’s dry, dull, and kind of splotchy—I slather it with this in the evening and call it a day. It nourishes, hydrates, and calms skin with a blend of niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants. There’s nothing better than waking up to a much healthier-looking complexion.
I love using this after I get out of the shower to clear my pores—especially in the winter when I’m always freezing. I turn on its heat setting, let it warm up, and then have myself a little self-care moment. The steam helps stimulate circulation and makes skincare products absorb better.
I can notice a difference in my skin whenever I stop using this product, which is exactly why I never do! I apply it to my neck in an upwards motion morning and night. The scent will suck you in, but its hydrating powers will keep you coming back for more.
My lovely co-worker and our senior beauty editor, Erin Jahns, turned me on to this years ago. It’s a blend of exfoliating AHAs and anti-inflammatory ingredients that promote skin-cell turnover to help fade acne marks. So if you, like me, are always trying to get rid of pesky red marks, don’t sleep on this. It helps.
The ’80s-beach-culture packaging is what originally drew me in, but the chardonnay oil is what has kept me. It smells like coconut and offers an insane sheen, which isn’t easy when it comes to SPF. It’s also formulated with things like chardonnay grape-seed oil, which contains vitamin E and can help strengthen and moisturize skin.
If you didn’t already know, I’m a total beauty-tool and gadget girl. But truthfully, it’s hard to come across tools that actually work and aren’t just marketed well. But this palm-sized device has changed my life for the better. It syncs with an app on your phone, and every time you use it, it basically delivers the same benefits of an in-office electrical nano-current facial. It essentially creates a circuit with your skin and stimulates collagen and elastin by pushing in electricity. I know It sounds totally crazy, but my face looks way more sculpted and lifted since it came into my life, so I’m not complaining.
I honestly can’t live without these and always have a backup set on hand for dire situations. Whenever an unexpected blemish pops up, I immediately put one of these dots on to help speed up the healing process. They help reduce redness and inflammation, and my blemishes are almost always smaller in a few hours. Each pack comes with three different-sized dots to fit each blemish size.
This is it. If you like to feel like you’re being spritzed with a big, warm hug, then this fragrance is for you. It has notes of jasmine, gardenia, cedarwood, and marigold, which create a mood-boosting blend that you will never regret wearing.
On days when I don’t want to wear any makeup but still kind of do, I’ll use this. It’s a gel-based luminizer that’s made with 75% water, meaning it’s really easy to mix with other products but just as easy to wear on its own. I’ve done both and can report that either option will make your skin look fresh and dewy.
I’m a creature of habit, and this tinted moisturizer is proof. I’ve been using it since high school. That’s a lot of years for a product to stay a true leader. It offers just the right amount of coverage, blends into my skin seamlessly, and gives me the most insane natural glow.
One word: iconic. If you want to have the most insane glow, add a little bit of this to your primer, foundation, or moisturizer—or just use it as a simple highlighter. I can’t be without it.
A concealer that has never let me down. It hydrates, reflects light to help blur imperfections, and never creases. A winning combo, if you ask me.
I love how thin this brow pencil is. The ultra-fine tip makes it easy to fill in any sparse spots in the most natural way. I’ve been using this and adding some clear gel on top to keep everything in place.
I’m telling you if you have sensitive eyes, you need to pick up this mascara immediately. Coming from someone who suffers from chronic eyelid swelling, this stuff causes me zero irritation. The wand is extremely flexible making it ideal to reach and coat every last lash, and it gives me the dreamiest lashes without fail.
Consider this your no-fuss lip-oil formula. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C and leaves lips feeling moisturized and glossy without being sticky. Psst: It’s a good dupe for the Dior Lip Glow Oil ($35). Just sayin’.
I have naturally rosy cheeks but still like adding a touch of color. I’m totally obsessed with this water-based formula. It’s made with primrose and mulberry, so it really leaves skin looking smooth and dewy. And come on, peachy is just the most perfect shade ever. Plus, the soft doe-foot applicator makes it super easy to blend in. (But I typically dab it in with my fingers.)
I’ve never tried a Nudestix product that I didn’t like, but this lip and cheek balm might take the cake. Even though I’ve used it on my lips and cheeks before, I actually regularly use it on my eyes. It’s the easiest to use and the color makes my hazel eyes pop.
This is an amazing bronzer that can also be used as a sculpting contour. I’m telling you it gives skin the perfect bronzy look.
It didn’t take long for me to realize why this lip plumper was making waves in the beauty industry. For starters, it actually works. It’s made with an innovative peptide complex consisting of hyaluronate, niacin, ceramides, and palmitoyl tripeptide, all of which help hydrate and visibly plump lips. If you want some seriously juicy lips, this is the answer.
This launched back in December, and I honestly can’t stop the compliments from rolling in. It’s cozy and comforting with notes of cardamom, bourbon, musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood. Yep, it’s pretty much heaven.
