Moms live beyond busy lives — especially in 2020, it appears. When we’re not working, helming virtual learning, feeding our families and generally trying to keep our shit together, we have been known to try and snatch back some of our youth (and fake some sleep) via the best skin care products out there. There’s been a surge in skin care’s cool factor of late — perhaps because self-care is so necessary right now. Or maybe it’s just nice to see a smooth, refreshed face looking back at us in the mirror instead of our standard up-all-night look.
But there are just so many products out there — how to begin? To help you navigate through the myriad anti-aging agents and refreshing items available, here is a list of tried-and-true favorites from moms who know what’s up. These are the very best, most sought-after items in skin care-savvy moms’ medicine cabinets. And there’s something for everyone — whether you can spring for the buzzed-about Vintner’s Daughter wonder serum or just want to add a $5 Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm to your Amazon cart, you’ll find something worthwhile here. So treat yourself; a little self-care can be a lifesaver.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
A version of this story was originally published March 26, 2018.
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A Mega Matte Moisturizer
“My skin is a combination of oily and dry patches,” explains SheKnows Editor-in-Chief (and mom to two-year-old Delfina) Eugenia Richman. “So I look for products that moisturize and offer SPF protection but don’t cause breakouts or leave my face shiny. An esthetician recommended this daily moisturizer for me a couple of years ago, and it’s been my go-to since! It offers the daily protection I need, but doesn’t leave a film or grease like others I’ve tried.”
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A Goodnight Glow
“It just takes a couple of dabs of this cream to make my skin feel super-nourished but not suffocated just before I go to bed,” says SheKnows parenting writer Sabrina Rojas Weiss. Instead of retinol, Ole Henrikson Transform Plus uses AHAs and bakuchiol to encourage cell turnover, which means skin has a more even tone and more of that youthful plumpness. “I love that I don’t have to fuss with an extra serum at night, because who has time for that?”
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An O.G. Spritz
“I’ll admit my skincare routine has gone downhill ever since I became a mom,” says SheKnows Director of Editorial Operations Cristina Velocci. “I’m lucky if I remember to wash my face before bed, I’m tired! But one thing I always have time for is this refreshing toner spray which hydrates my skin in seconds and smells amazing.”
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A Classic Protector
“I recently started using a retinol, and this ceramide-rich night moisturizer is gentle enough to soothe my newly-sensitive skin while restoring and repleneshing my skin’s all-important moisture barrier,” says SheKnows Director of Branded Content Ashleigh Morley. “It has over 1,500 five-star reviews on Amazon for a reason, people. Plus, dermatologists love it.”
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A Rejuvenating Cleansing Oil
Mom of one (and SheKnows Senior Parenting Editor) Amelia Edelman swears by oil cleansing in general, and the Olive + M facial cleansing oil in particular. “When you’re sleep-deprived or traveling, both of which I usually am, your face needs all the moisture it can get. I love oil cleansers because they’re perfect for removing makeup without a hint of dry-out. This one is (obviously) olive oil-based and feels amazing — plus it smells like a forest.”
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A Brightening Mask
“It doesn’t get simpler than this mask, which is made of 100 percent organic coffee fruit extract,” says mom (and farmer!) Lily Burns. “The smell is pretty powerful, but hang tight, because this mask packs a punch.”
As Malie explains, “Hawaiian coffee fruit extract has more antioxidant power than any other fruit source. It contains five exceptional phenolic antioxidant acids developed by nature to work together and produce immediate results.”
What results, you ask? Firmer and brighter skin, less cell damage and an antidote to UV and other environmental damage. Oh, and you leave it on for 5 minutes — a timeframe even the busiest moms might be able to squeeze in.
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An All-in-One Treatment
Cult brand Sunday Riley’s potent Good Genes lactic acid treatment exfoliates skin, but that’s not all. “It’s amazing. It makes my skin brighter and clearer and smoother and just generally fresher,” says mom/writer Gwen Singer. “My friend said it was the single product she’d take to a desert island, and I think she’s right.”
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Lips Deserve a Mask, Too
Leave this mask on your lips overnight for a supple, smooth pout. Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask has a berry scent and a balmlike texture. Vitamin C and antioxidants are responsible for the replenishing effect. “The Laneige lip mask is incredible,” says interior designer and mom Jennifer Cline. “I put it on at night and throughout the day, and my dry lips are smooth as can be.”
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A Stellar Serum
Editor and children’s accessory designer Annie Nilsson got the ultimate backhanded compliment from her 3-year-old daughter after using Vintner’s Daughter for just a few days: “I like your face more today, Mama. There’s not as many bumps and lines in it.” Out of the mouths of babes.
This botanical serum is far and away the it-product right now. “The response to Active Botanical Serum from new moms, especially, who are dealing with crazy hormonal skin has been overwhelming,” founder April Gargiulo tells us. “We receive testimonials daily about the transformations that have occurred.” A sample of this precious serum is also available to try before you commit to a pricey full bottle. But this stuff is worth it. “Moms are busy and need products that actually work and are worth her investment in money and time,” says Gargiulo.
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The Best Kind of Vitamins
This vitamin C BB cream makes it easy to wear your daily sunscreen — SPF 30 is included in the tinted formula. “I don’t wear makeup very often, so the Andalou BB cream is a nice compromise,” says mom musician Angie Correa. “It evens out my skin tone, moisturizes and provides SPF, and has a subtle dewy finish but feels light and almost as if I’m only wearing moisturizer.” Simple multiuse products like BB cream are an easy choice for busy parents.
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T.L.C. For Your Face
The T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial from Drunk Elephant is a cult hit, and it produces great results. “My face was so smooth afterwards, and I also noticed that it evened my skin tone,” says mom and TV producer Katy Kassler. Lord knows most parents could use some smoothing and evening. Babyfacial is formulated for any skin type and features a blend of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric and salicylic acids to exfoliate, plus antioxidants including matcha tea and milk thistle to soothe skin as well as other hydrating agents.
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Rose-Colored Balm
“I love how easy it is to apply this, and it doesn’t look clownish if I mess up,” remarks writer and mom Lisa Hirsch Lozano of the über-popular Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm. Six flower-inspired colors provide a natural hue to lips — from zinnia (peach) to rose (pinkish-red) to sweet violet (purple), all the Burt’s Bees shades are winners. Mom hack: Stash one in every diaper bag, purse and glove compartment, and you can always look put-together in a hurry. And of course, the natural shea butter balm keeps lips super-hydrated.
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For Fancy Feet
This product looks pretty gross, but it’s so popular, it definitely needed a spot on this list. Moms love to exfoliate with Baby Foot, the one-hour treatment featuring fruit acid. After the hour-long application is up, you can actually peel the layers of dead skin off your feet. See? Gross. But if you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll be delighted to end up with feet as smooth as your baby’s bottom. “It’s so good,” is all mom and talent agent Emily Lallouz has to say — enough said.
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Instant Glow
Natural vegan skin care line Tata Harper is pregnancy- and breastfeeding-friendly, which makes it ideal for moms. “The Resurfacing Mask is amazing,” says mom/writer Julia Lillis Cohen. “It gives you a nice glow the day after use.” Of course, all Tata Harper’s other products are beloved too, but the Resurfacing Mask seems to win the prize among moms. “I wish they made the Resurfacing Mask in jumbo size,” comments music publicist and mother Meghan Helsel. “I love it, and it’s so effective.”
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CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Drumroll, please, because this concentrated essence is 96 percent snail mucin (snail mucin is snail slime, FYI). Gross factor aside, this Korean import has a growing fan base. Says music publicist and mom Meghan Helsel, “I feel like it really sets all the products and gives me a glowy, dewy look. I don’t feel as though it’s responsible for improving my skin, but more for the luminous look it gives me and how makeup sets and wears over it.”
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Hanacure Facial Treatment Mask
Everyone is crazy for this facial treatment mask, and before and after shots can be found all over social media. Writer/producer Alexandra McNally used the mask one night and didn’t see a huge difference, but says, ”When I woke up I was like, ‘Holy shit! My skin looks really good! Like, eight hours of sleep good,’” she says. How much would you pay to look like you actually slept all night?
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Pixi Glow Tonic
This toner from Pixi exfoliates and brightens with a blend of ginseng, aloe vera and 5 percent glycolic acid. Writer Kate Spencer sums it up: “It’s affordable and effective!” Yep, Glow Tonic is beloved by moms for good reason.
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IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye
IT Cosmetics’ full-coverage antiaging waterproof concealer is now available in six shades. It’s a cult hit because this product seems to do it all. “I use the tiniest amount, and it goes really far,” says mom and comedy writer Amanda Sitko. Use Bye Bye Under Eye to hide tired under eyes or even blemishes. Go wild.
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May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon Beauty Balm
The Blue Cocoon is a beauty balm concentrate that provides a ton of soothing hydration in just a pea-size amount. It’s waterless and waxless and sort of melts onto your skin. “I just tried the May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon, and it’s really moisturizing,” says mom and real estate publicist Alexis Jarvis. Another reason moms love it: The Blue Cocoon is safe for kids, and it’s been known to soothe diaper rash, bites, scrapes and all manner of common skin issues. The Problem Solver, the natural luxury brand’s correcting mask featuring activated charcoal and cacao, is also a big hit with the moms.
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Petitfée Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patches
Korean company Petitfée makes these Hydrogel Eye Patches, a solid score for tired eyes. As the name implies, each of the included 60 eye patches features gold and snail-slime extract. Apply the patches for 20 to 30 minutes to de-puff and hydrate; refrigerate for an extra-refreshing at-home treatment. “I live for these things and they are $12,” says editor/writer and mom Claudia Maittlen-Harris. “I wear them on planes, in the morning while drinking my coffee — pretty much whenever.”
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