If you've ever gone down the Internet rabbit hole with a nagging question in mind, chances are you've stumbled upon Reddit. Reddit is one of the top-five most visited sites in the US—beating both YouTube and Facebook in terms of average time on site and average pages per session. The self-proclaimed "front page of the internet" is made up of discussion boards on every topic imaginable, from today's breaking political news to the most hilarious celebrity memes to viral videos of cats. And if you're into beauty, you'd be happy to know that it's also home to hundreds of thousands of skin care and beauty enthusiasts asking questions, offering beauty tips and product reviews, sharing their successes and struggles and building one big, happy community.
Recently, on behalf of Dermstore, I've immersed myself into this bustling community. I love reading personal stories and DIY tips, seeing healthy-skin transformations and ogling "shelfies" (pictures of skin care/beauty products on shelves or countertops). But if there's one thing I love most, it's knowing what skin care products other beauty enthusiasts like me swear by---and to my surprise, a great number of Redditors (Reddit users) hail many of the same products as their holy grail skin care. Here are 13 of those skin care products and why they've earned cult-favorite status.
1. Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer (1.6 oz.)
Formulated with 30 percent hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and ceramides, this lightweight moisturizer almost feels like laying your face on a cloud. Redditor u/beersforfears calls this one of her "FAVORITE moisturizers," which she uses along with the Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum. She says, "I think they [referring to both the cream and the serum] are majorly underrated. The cloud cream in particular has such a gorgeous texture and the serum never dries sticky which I really appreciate."
2. Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2 BHA Liquid Exfoliant (4 fl. oz.)
A leave-on chemical exfoliant, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2 Percent BHA Liquid Exfoliant is not just one of Reddit's favorite products, it's a bestseller at Dermstore as well. Nearly 100 five-star reviewers agree with Redditor u/BloodOnTheTeaLeaves, who raves that her skin "texture is the smoothest it has ever been."
She adds, "Despite having active spots, it has dramatically reduced them and likely prevented new ones from coming up! I still have scarring, but the quality of my skin is really blowing me away!"
4. Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Facial Oil (1.7 oz.)
A facial oil with results as beautiful as its packaging, the Lapis Facial Oil is crafted with a potent blend of 100% natural oils that moisturize without leaving an oily residue. Plus, you can feel good knowing all of Herbivore Botanicals' products are PETA and Leaping Bunny certified.
"It did seem to help control oil production when used in the AM, smells and feels wonderful going on, and I felt like it helped with redness a lot," says Redditor u/snapeyouinhalf.
Another user, u/nstone11, echoes these thoughts: "It sinks into my skin beautifully, makes me feel hydrated + plump + glowy. It helps control my oil production & it doesn't clog my pores."
5. GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment (1.7 oz.)
It seems to be a trend that Redditors' favorites are also loved by Dermstore employees. Marketing Coordinator Ashley swears by GlamGlow's clearing treatment—as a full-face mask and a spot treatment for acne.
Reddit user u/SianM10 feels the same way: "I use this treatment maybe 1 to 3 times a week depending on how bad my face is as it can be fairly drying if you use it too often. I also use it as a spot treatment which it does wonderfully."
"I've been using it over the past few months and it makes my pores visibly smaller right after use. It's satisfying to use as well. I mean EXTREMELY satisfying," SianM10 notes. "As the mud dries on your face, you start to see little spots forming. These spots are where the mud is sucking all the liquid out of your [pores]. After 10 to 20 minutes, if you're like me, your face is covered in little spots. Visible redness reduction from bigger spots happens as well."
6. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment 1.7oz
In nearly every "shelfie" stands a full-size, travel-size or sample-size of Sunday Riley's most popular product, Good Genes. People love this lactic acid serum. "I’ve used a lot of [different] acid products, high and low end, and I would pick GG over anything else," says Reddit user u/donoweave.
"It’s versatile (use as an intense weekly treatment mask, a daily or every other day serum, a spot treatment, or layer under a clay mask for a facial type experience), a little goes a longggg way, the formulation is perfection, and above all else it’s EFFECTIVE. There’s an immediate plump and flow factor and after continued use it refined my skin's texture, tone and clarity."
Want to know more? Here are 6 reasons why we love Good Genes.
7. EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 (1.7 fl. oz.)
We talk about this sunscreen a lot. And for good reason—it is our best-selling sunscreen after all. But—rest assured—we're not trying to sell you snake oil here. This lightweight, physical-and-chemical sunscreen has more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Dermstore and tons of shoutouts on Reddit.
"EltaMD is the only skin care product I consider perfect enough to call holy grail," says Redditor u/wacom89. "I'm fairly oily with some sensitivity to random ingredients. Elta just disappears into my skin; matte finish with light but adequate moisturizing, no sensitivity at all."
10. Avène Thermal Spring Water (10.1 oz.)
So much more than a refreshing mist, this thermal spring water is a staple for many a beauty junkie. "This spray is so incredibly handy in [a] skin care kit," says Reddit user u/Millietops. "You’ll find a lot of Avene products state to spray this lightly on the skin after using (i.e. the mask). This is how I use it."
But spraying directly on the skin isn't the only use for one of the French brand's most popular products. Millietops lists out the many ways she works it into her routine: "I spray this on my beauty blender lightly before tapping it on my skin to smooth out foundation. Spray my eyeshadow brushes lightly before swiping them across the eyeshadows to get a sheer, wet look on my eyes. Whenever I want to go foundation-free I tap on some powder, which usually starts to look a bit cake-y, and give a really light spray with this which [gives] a satin look to my skin. On hot days my kids love to get a fine mist spray of this on their necks, head, and face."
11. Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner 125ml
When narrowing down the natural skin care products talked about on Reddit, it was a toss-up between this toner and the Rosehip Cleanser. Ultimately, though, it was the hydrating and pH-balancing properties, along with its alcohol-free formula, that made this one stand out over the also-popular cleanser.
Reddit user u/MissElaineMarieBenes says, "Ohhh I love the CoQ-10 toner, it smells great and I find it's really hydrating but not too heavy." The great scent comes from a blend of aloe, chamomile and cucumber extracts—while the hydrating and nourishing properties can be attributed to hyaluronic acid and, of course, antioxidant CoQ-10.
13. The Organic Pharmacy Lip Eye Cream (10 ml.)
Moisturizing? Check. Plumping? Check. Hydrating? Check. Anti-aging? Check. Calming and soothing? Check. This dual-purpose product provides long-lasting nourishment to the delicate skin around your eyes and/or lips—and it's certified organic!
"I only use this as an eye cream and really like how it feels," says Redditor u/mary_boberry. "I have really dark under-eye circles (go college life!) and this helps with them."
