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When Best of Beauty launched in 1996, skin care was something best kept hidden behind your medicine cabinet. Passed down from your mom or grandmother, it wasn’t something many discussed openly, and there was certainly no social media where you could share recommendations or research ingredients among fellow beauty lovers. Fast-forward to 2025, and we live in a world where
tweens
are familiar with
niacinamide
and LED masks are discussed at dinner parties. And while it’s great that we’re all a lot more open about what we put on our faces—and why we put it there—we also face a challenge: too much information and too many options can make finding a product that actually works
and
suits your skin type feel like a Herculean task.
Enter the
2025 Allure Best of Beauty Awards.
The
Skin
category winners are probably the most difficult to choose and definitely the most hotly debated, but after months of thorough testing (and retesting), in the end, our editors came to a consensus on which cleansers, creams, peels, and spot treatments offer the most impressive results. And whether your skin’s dry or
dehydrated
, your acne’s hormonal or bacterial, you’ve got dark spots or
dark circles
, this list has options for all, reflecting the diversity in age, skin tone, and skin type of our tester pool.
This year, you’ll discover exciting new launches among longtime favorites (looking at you, Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%). We’ve got masks developed by dermatologists, peels engineered by
aestheticians
, and buzzy K-beauty imports on the list. So scroll through and prepare to find some new additions to your routine that you’ll want to shout about from the rooftops—although your Instagram Stories will also suffice.
Shop All 2025 Best of Beauty Winners
Best of Beauty Awards 2025: Skin Care
Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best face creams, cleansers, and serums.
See our winners:
Best Face Cleansers
Best Face Mist
Best Face Scrubs
Best Essence
Best Exfoliating Toner
Best Face Serums
Best Acne Treatments
Best Eye Creams
Best Moisturizers
Best Face Oil
Best Face Masks
Best Face Sunscreens
Best Face Peel
Best Hair-Removal Products
Best Skin-Care Devices
Best Face Cleansers
Best Oil Cleanser:
Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
Best Oil Cleanser
Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
$23
$14
(39% off)
Amazon
Commerce writer Lily Wohlner applies the
Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil.
Lily Wohlner
Why It Won:
We see your hesitations about using a cleansing oil (greasy film, clogged pores), and raise you a bottle of
Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil.
This K-beauty favorite transforms from a silky oil into a luxurious milk that cleans out pores and removes every type of makeup imaginable, without replacing it with a greasy film. Among its 14 plant oils are argan kernel and rice bran, which regulate sebum production and loosen dead skin cells, respectively—and, together, leave your pores looking significantly smaller and your skin significantly smoother.
Tester feedback from commerce writer
Lily Wohlner
“By the time I’m ready to take off my makeup, I’ve usually had it on all day—so the moment I walk through the door, it needs to come off fast and easily. This cleansing oil melts off my makeup in just a few swipes without irritating my acne-prone skin, and although it’s fragrance-free, the natural scent from the oils gives off a subtle, spa-like vibe that makes for the perfect way to unwind after a long day out and about.”
—Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
Best Cleansing Balm:
Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Best Cleansing Balm
Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
$23
$21
(9% off)
Amazon
Associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen applies the
Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
.
Why It Won:
Much of the buzz around the
Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
began around the packaging—an innovative twist dispenser that works like a pencil sharpener (remember pencils?) to shave off as much balm as you need to get cleansing. But that’s not the reason this took home the top spot. That’s down to the formula’s impressive makeup-melting, skin-soothing abilities, courtesy of nourishing oils (camellia sinensis and grape seed) and calming plant extracts (three forms of cica: madecassoside, Centella asiatica extract, and asiaticoside).
Tester feedback from associate beauty director
Sarah Kinonen
“I don’t know what’s more fun: dispensing this cleanser with its twist top or watching it melt off all the makeup on my face in mere seconds."
—Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
Best Gel Cleanser:
Rose Ingleton MD SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser
Best Gel Cleanser
Rose Ingleton MD SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser
$38
Sephora
Why It Won:
The
Rose Ingleton MD SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser
is exactly what you want from your daily face wash: a thorough, deep clean with a delicate touch. In addition to gentle, plant-derived surfactants, the gel-to-foam formula combines exfoliating sugarcane extract with hydrating hyaluronic acid that, when

Book Your Appointment

Ready to transform your skin? Visit Candy Beauty Skin Care at 32 Pell St, Chinatown, NYC.

Call (646) 691-8273 or book online at candybeauty.store.

Our expert estheticians are ready to create your personalized treatment plan.

Source: https://www.allure.com/story/best-of-beauty-skin-care-product-winners-2025