I Always Get Compliments on My Skin Texture—12 Products I Swear By

I’ll be the first to admit that my skin is nowhere near perfect,
but recently I found myself looking at photos from a year ago and
was pretty shocked to find how much had changed since then. It’s
hardly a coincidence—in the last year, I’ve doubled down on my
skincare routine in order to target a few concerns like acne and
hyperpigmentation.
The photos don’t lie and neither do the slew of compliments I
receive from friends, family, and co-workers. Comments about my
skin texture and how smooth it looks (on a good day) have become
the norm. I wish I could say that I just woke up like this, but
truly, none of this would be a reality without a few transformative
products I’ve added to my arsenal. I’d like to thank my fans, my
family, and the following 12 creams, oils, and treatments. *steps
off podium*

I
initially set out to target my hyperpigmentation, and an improved
skin texture happened to be the amazing side effect I never saw
coming. It turns out that in order to lift stubborn dark spots, I
needed an arsenal of exfoliators (physical and chemical), a
cocktail of glycolic and lactic acids, and about as much vitamin C
as I could get—exfoliators to slough away dead skin, acids to
keep new blemishes from forming (and thus leading to even more
acne scars), and vitamin C to brighten my skin overall. Well, my
skin is still nowhere near perfect, but all of the above definitely
worked its magic. (I’ll spare you the before and after
photos, just trust me on this one.) My darkest spots are now far
lighter and since the below products did their job of removing dead
skin so well, my skin’s texture is also smoother than it’s ever
been. A win-win, if you ask me. Without further adieu, I’m sharing
the best products for skin texture, based on what has worked the
best for me and my skin. From cleansers and toners, serums and
face masks, and moisturizers and face oils, the below products have
worked their magic on my skin, so I can only hope they’d do the
same for yours.

I’ve
waxed poetic about Rodan + Fields before, but one more time
couldn’t hurt. Once I began using their 4-step Reverse regimen
(including this game-changing exfoliating cleanser), I started
seeing clearer skin, unclogged pores, and an overall smooth texture
just a few weeks later. I use it every other day as part of my
nighttime routine, following up with the toner (more on that soon)
and my skin has never looked healthier.

I
initially bought Glossier’s buzzy Solution when it first launched
with the hope of clearing my annoying breakouts. It did marginally
help keep them at bay, but I quickly realized that it was much
more effective at lifting my acne scars and improving my overall
skin texture thanks to the AHAs and BHAs which are, quite
literally, chemical exfoliators.

Like
I mentioned above, this toner has become an integral part of my
skincare routine because it’s just so damn good at lightening my
dark spots and hyperpigmentation. I use it nightly after cleansing
and have gotten into the habit of rotating between the above toner
every few weeks so my skin doesn’t get too used to one solution
over the other.

Do
you know how I knew that Versed’s brightening serum was legit? I
rolled out of bed one morning to find that my skin was dull and
dried out from drinking one too many glasses of wine the night
before and decided this was the moment I’d put the serum to the
test. It brought my skin back to life in a matter of moments (I’m
all for products that give me immediate results) and I even earned
a few compliments from co-workers on how my skin looked that day.
If that’s not a success story, I don’t know what is. Glowy and
plump are how I’d describe my skin after applying this bad
boy.

I
know, I know, it’s hard to compare a $150 serum with the $20 one I
just told you was super effective. But hear me out. I’d still
splurge on this beautiful bottle because unlike the other guy, this
using this serum daily contributed to brighter-looking skin for me
over time as well as immediately after applying it. So in that
sense, it’s more of a treatment and a serum rolled into one.

In
just 10 minutes, Caudalie’s glycolic peel works its magic and
transforms my skin texture into that of a baby’s bottom (I wish
that was an exaggeration). It’s a strong formula, so I use it just
once or twice a week.

This
is one of Versed’s most popular products and I can personally
attest that it lives up to the hype. Formulated with glycolic and
lactic acids, it’s one you can leave it on overnight and see how
it’s worked its magic the next morning—he magic being to reduce
redness and even out the tone and texture.

I
slather this one on at night when my skin is feeling a little
dehydrated and by the time I wake up the morning, it’s smooth and
silky as can be. Plus, it just smells really good.

Using
this daily has left my skin more firm, plump, and alive-looking
than any other moisturizer I’ve tried.

This
one’s on the thicker side, so I tend to use reserve it for the
evening. I love how it subtly works to exfoliate my skin and leave
it glowy and smooth. As if my other exfoliators weren’t
enough…

Confession:
I keep buying the $5 sample of this face oil because, well, the
tiny bottle actually lasts and is the perfect travel size (OK fine,
it’s because I’m cheap sometimes). That said, it’s chock full of
potent ingredients like squalene for hydration, vitamin C for
brightening, and rose oil for even texture, so a drop or two is all
you need.