35 of the best skincare products *ever* according to our beauty team

Somewhat rogue, but this isn't a favourite skincare product per se, but an entire brand subscription service. Klira, you have my <3.

Around a year ago, for a print piece on prescription skincare services, the Cosmo beauty team tried a different brand each. Mine? Klira, which is where the love affair started.

To start my journey, I filled out an online questionnaire that asked me everything from how much sun exposure I usually got to what my mum’s skin looked like. I then took pictures of my face from all angles to determine my skin type. (I have oily, acne-prone skin, FYI.)

Once that was done, the process was quick and I had my prescription within a day, and my treatment –an own-brand serum – was on its way not long after I ordered it. My prescription was based on tretinoin, a prescription-only acid medication used to treat mild, moderate, and severe acne.

Since that first week of use, my skin has never looked better. Sure, I still break out during hormonal periods – or even react to certain ingredients elsewhere – but for the most part, I have never been more confident in my skin.

A Klira Special subscription, which includes a dermatologist consultation and a monthly delivery of a bespoke prescription formula, costs £59 per month. This is a subscription service, and the payment is made on a monthly basis.

– Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer

Moisturising when you have super oily skin can somewhat feel counterintuitive – I getchu. But (!!) it is super important to keep hydrated (even those of us with oily skin); If not, your skin may produce even more sebum, and we don't want that.

So, with that in mind, fellow greasy gals may want to try out this moisturiser as it adds just enough hydration to the skin to keep it feeling youthful and bouncy, yet doesn't at all feel greasy or heavy.

Laneige, I am now on my third tub and scouting out which of your products I can fall in love with next! You really did your big one with this Water Bank Gel Moisturiser.

– Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer

I've lost count of how many dermatologists have recommended this balm to me. It's brilliant at soothing irritations and dryness, the smart formula works to repair the skin's barrier, creating the perfect environment for damaged skin to heal.

It can be used on the face and body, and is incredibly gentle on sensitive complexions. These days I'm never without a tube on hand for soothing any skin flare ups.

– Victoria Jowett, former Beauty Director

Ever since hitting my 20s, I've become lazier than ever. And removing my makeup at the end of a long day is one of my most hated chores. Don't get me wrong, I will, no doubt, do it every single time. But will I enjoy it? That's a different story.

That said, since discovering The Body Shop's Cleansing Butter, said chore has become a little less daunting. On a dry, full face of makeup, I massage in a coin-sized amount of the butter and rinse off with warm water and a hot flannel. I then do a second 'face wash' cleanse and follow it by applying the rest of my skincare serums and moisturiser.

I mean, ain't nobody got time to faff around with cotton wool pads. Do it all at the sink and be done with it! That's what I say, anyway... Oh, and for £13. Hell. Yes.

– Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer

It's very, very rare that I find a skincare product I instantly fall in love with, but Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment might just be my soul mate. Seriously, it is so good.

After a couple of days of use, it soothed my stubbornly red-tinged cheeks and after a few weeks, my skin is clearer and brighter. Plus, it's made a big difference to the texture issues (hi, pores and fine lines) I had been struggling with across my forehead.

With everything from Vitamin C to peptides, this moisturiser-meets-serum is perfect if you want glowier, healthier skin (fast).

– Victoria Jowett, former Beauty Director

I love this moisturiser so much I've written an entire dedicated feature on it.

I am religious about keeping my skin barrier protected and this is one of the few moisturisers I can always rely on. As soon as I apply it my face feels like it's having a duvet day and everything instantly feels better. Plus the thicker cream texture makes it the perfect hydrator for autumn/winter when you want some extra protection.

– Laura Capon, former Deputy Beauty Editor

Once upon a time, I got a bit overexcited with some exfoliating formulas and was left with very angry, irritated, red skin. Anything I put on my face stung – until I tried this.

It’s formulated with oat kernel oil and colloidal oatmeal, both of which hydrate skin but, most importantly, soothe and calm signs of irritation. As well as a cleanser, you can apply a layer on skin and leave for 10 minutes for a quick face mask moment – something that I think helped a lot.

– Hanna Ibraheem, former Deputy Beauty Editor

As someone who has incredibly oily skin, I have long been on the hunt for something that can reduce the slick. And seeing as this BHA Liquid Exfoliant has one of my favourite ingredients as its key component, aka salicylic acid, I’m not too surprised that I quickly fell in love!

I use it every day in my PM routine after cleansing and before serums and moisturiser.

– Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer

Before I tried this, I wasn’t on the vitamin C bandwagon. Loads of products I tried had the super-ingredient in it but I just didn’t see how it enhanced my skin.

But after using this gel cream for a few months I noticed how much my skin was glowing before I’d even put on makeup. It was the product that made me feel more confident to go out sans base product.

– Keeks Reid, Beauty Director

Member price: £30

Spots followed by post-inflammatory pigmentation is a skincare issue I face on a monthly basis. However, this niacinamide-rich serum from Beauty Pie was a game-changer for me and even cut my monthly breakouts by half – no small feat, trust me.

I adore this so much, I even wrote a lengthy love letter to it which you can read here.

– Charlotte Bitmead, former Senior Beauty Writer

I'm all about a sun-kissed glow, it's such a great way to even out the complexion and fake a fresh-face - even if you're surviving on little-to-no sleep (which, with a teething one-year-old, is something I truly understand).

Tan Luxe have concocted the perfect potion to give skin a subtle, natural-looking bronze. It's also packed with added hyaluronic acid for hydration, and as someone who is forever trying to simplify my life, I love a skincare multitasker.

– Victoria Jowett, former Beauty Director

I have used Garnier's micellar waters since they launched and I honestly don't think you can top them when it comes to price and affordability.

They remove your makeup far quicker than any wipe ever could, don't irritate my eyes and one bottle lasts me ages. I recently switched to this Hyaluronic Aloe version for a change as I'm a sucker for anything 'soothing'.

– Laura Capon, former Deputy Beauty Editor

In terms of texture, this is the nicest SPF I have ever applied and trust me when I say it will make you look forward to applying your suncream every morning.I discovered this after meeting Jin Kwon, the founder of Korean beauty retailer Tonic 15 and I have never looked back.

– Laura Capon, former Deputy Beauty Editor

Tatcha has long been on my 'must-buy' list, but for many years the elusive brand was only available in the US. Thankfully, Space NK have saved me (and my Avios points) by bringing the brand over here to the UK.

Of all their products, my favourite has to be The Dewy Skin Cream. As someone with permanently dry skin, this wonder moisturiser does just what it says on the tub, gives a dewy glow to even parched complexions.

– Victoria Jowett, former Beauty Director

If, like me, you have sensitive, blemish-prone skin, then look no further than this Cetaphil cleanser. It’s gentle enough not to irritate the face yet still firm enough to remove any dirt or excess oil from the skin.

So, do feel free to use it twice daily. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t cause those pesky under-the-skin bumps. Hallelujah!

– Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer

Ok, hear me out, I know that this is a LOT of money to spend on skincare, but this is one of the best serums I've ever used (and trust me, I don't say that lightly).

Why? Because every time my skin freaks out, this serum calms it down asap. From hormonal breakouts to redness, dry patches or texture issues, this soothing formula contains an active, plant-based complex that calms skin, taking down redness and reducing irritation.

– Victoria Jowett, former Beauty Director

With continued use, this genuinely makes your skin look like you’ve only drank water and eaten greens for a month.

The hyaluronic acid sits in two different molecular sizes; the bigger of the two plumps the surface and the smaller ones penetrate the skin barrier to work from within… it’s all very techy. I just love how dewy my skin looks tbh.

– Keeks Reid, Beauty Director

I use to steal this from my mum’s dresser when I lived at home (sorry, mum) and I still love it years later. It’s just the silkiest moisturiser that makes a fab base for makeup.

It’s especially great for dry skin– I hate when makeup clings to dry patches or doesn’t blend properly and this eliminates that.

– Keeks Reid, Beauty Director