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I spent $1,000+ on beauty products in 2024 — here are the most effective I tried
The best beauty products of the year include high-quality picks from CosRx, Ogee, Paula's Choice and more.
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but as a 50+ beauty writer, I've learned quite a few in 2024. I've tested and reviewed hundreds of anti-aging serums, mascaras and hair-thickening sprays over the past 12 months (and shelled out more cash than I'd like to admit). In the quest to find the best beauty products of the year, I wound up changing my makeup, skin- and hair care routines a good deal. This was the year I discovered that my hair need not be frizzy, even on the most humid days. It was the year I first came upon a tightening eye cream, which is making my under-eye area smoother than it's ever been. In 2024, I experienced LED masks for the first time and found the best brow-growth serum (and now have the best brows of my life!). Yep, 2024 was an exciting year for new beauty surprises — or at least new to me. The following are my favorite beauty products of the year. I think you'll like them too.
The best skin care of 2024
There's an entire World Wide Web of vitamin C-serum-heads debating individual products' pH levels and the inferiority of C derivatives such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) over the gold-standard L-ascorbic acid. However, once you get DEEP in wonky skin-care Reddit, you find the consensus: For an affordable, high-quality vitamin C serum, the closest to Skinceuticals is this one by Timeless.
The serum is lightweight, absorbs quickly, is less sticky than C-Firma and contains the right percentage of the main ingredient, combined with vitamin E and ferulic acid. Timeless's version boasts more than 6,000 exuberant five-star reviews on Amazon, all repeating something along the lines of this one: "OMG! Someone finally did vitamin C right, and they’re not charging 100s of $$ per ounce!"
- Affordable
- Well-reviewed
- Less sticky than our top pick
- Shelf life is shorter than more expensive brands
CosRx has helped popularize snail mucin as a coveted skin care ingredient, but its sleeper-hit Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cream is equally as good. A favorite among the K-beauty crowd, this face cream packs and seals moisture into dry, dehydrated skin without pilling or leaving behind the kind of tacky-stickiness I despise.
I love it for its texture (creamy, but lightweight), its fast-absorbing formula and, especially, its high-quality antioxidant ingredients. In addition to hyaluronic acid, the rich cream contains vitamin tree water (also known as sea buckthorn), which is filled with vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids that help strengthen the skin barrier and increase hydration even more. The midrange price is the cherry on top.
- Hydrates and plumps dry, dehydrated skin
- Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Dermatologist-tested
- Free of parabens
- Fast-absorbing
- Some users say it feels greasy
- Might not be best for breakout-prone skin
I've tried literally dozens of products to reduce the appearance of my enlarged pores and eradicate my copious nose blackheads, and this is by far the most effective. Just a few drops of the watery formula shrunk the dime-size pores on my upper cheeks within one week. It's easy to use and non-irritating and actually, unbelievably works to gently clear out skin grime.
More than 77,000 five-star Amazon reviewers agree and have made it a No. 1 bestseller.
- A No. 1 bestseller on Amazon with more than 77,000 5-star reviews
- Noticeably minimizes enlarged pores
- Good for rough skin texture, eradicating adult acne, especially blackheads
- Non-harsh formula works for most skin types
- Some complain about the sticky, runny texture
I've been re-testing eye creams to update our best eye creams list, and I have to say, I'm newly impressed with this version from Peter Thomas Roth. After three weeks of regular use, it minimized the fine lines under my eyes and had an immediate impact on my under-eye puffiness.
No skin-care product will ever perform miracles, of course, but this eye cream helps smooth surface texture (the dreaded crepiness!) on upper lids while improving the appearance of bags underneath. And at this moderate price (not a total bargain, but still not luxury), it's an all-around win.
- No. 1 best-selling eye cream on Amazon with more than 8,000 5-star reviews
- Gentle enough for most skin types
- Our reviewer saw immediate results
- Clinically proven to temporarily reduce puffiness and the appearance of fine lines
- Smooths skin
- Results are temporary
- Some reviewers complained about the thick texture and a white residue
It's hard to find a better quality eye serum than this vitamin C version from Paula's Choice (it's clinically formulated to brighten under-eye discoloration while smoothing and firming the delicate skin in this area). The texture is lightweight, supple and extra-emollient and, while it doesn't contain retinol, for the ideal mix of antioxidants and actives, this is a cream I'd use in tandem with one that does.
- Clinically proven to brighten and lighten dark circles
- Lightweight
- Moisturizing
- Highly concentrated ingredients
- Potent formula may not work for sensitive skin
- Without retinol, is not the best for building collagen and softening fine lines
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