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When fall comes around, it calls for certain things to change—like our wardrobes (hello again, sweaters), our plants (farewell to my homegrown tomatoes), and our skin-care routines. But, even though colder weather can mean thicker moisturizers and more hydrating beauty ingredients, there are some products that are good enough to keep our complexions glowing from summer through fall (and beyond). These are the best new skin-care products that our editors are slathering on for the long haul.
From a swoon-worthy highlighter-primer-serum hybrid to serums that deliver, scroll through our picks of the beauty product launches that are in current rotation—and will be for a while.
1. Mara Chlorella + Reishi Vitamin C Serum, $96
A vitamin C serum has been a staple in my beauty regimen for years since dermatologists praise its ability to even out and protect the skin. But I’ve never fallen so hard for a bottle of the antioxidant until I slathered on this just-launched formula from Mara. Besides vitamin C—which you get via a stable form called “tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate” and 14 vitamin C-rich fruit extracts—your skin gets the brand’s signature algae blend (to soothe and hydrate), plus the calming adaptogen reishi. The result? Your face completely drenched in radiant moisture.
Shop now: Mara Chlorella + Reishi Vitamin C Serum, $96
2. HoliFrog Sunapee Sacred-C Brightening Powder Wash, $44
Most people use an exfoliating cleanser a few times a week to slough off dead skin buildup, but this one is actually gentle enough to use every single day. The cleanser is a blend of L-ascorbic acid (the most potent form of vitamin C), fruit enzymes, and hyaluronic acid, all of which softly buff your skin. Since it’s in powder form, you can use as much or as little as you want mixed with water, or even add a pinch into another gentle cleanser as an exfoliating booster. I’ve been washing with it all summer, and my skin is grateful for it.
Shop now: HoliFrog Sunapee Sacred-C Brightening Powder Wash, $44
3. RoC Multi-Correction Revive + Glow Gel Cream, $30
Beauty and fitness editor Zoe Weiner loves this moisturizer so much, it’s become her die-hard favorite in the category. It’s filled with a potent blend of vitamin C, peptides, and other antioxidants, and the dreamy, light-as-air gel texture absorbs instantly into your skin to leave it luminous and hydrated all day long.
Shop now: RoC Multi-Correction Revive + Glow Gel Cream, $30
4. La Mer The Concentrate, $200
Though the famous La Mer The Concentrate serum has long been known as a splurge-worthy skin-care product, the brand recently reformulated it to be even better. Besides the signature algae-rich formula that quashes inflammation, protects your skin from pollution, and intensely moisturizes, The Concentrate now has an active mix of antioxidants that further keep your complexion strong and healthy.
Shop now: La Mer The Concentrate, $200
5. Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream, $82
For anyone whose skin is too dry or sensitive for a regular retinol routine, this stuff is as good as it gets. It’s made with three different types of retinol for a triple-threat of wrinkle reduction, plus niacinamide and picolinamide to nourish and fortify your skin barrier. As the air becomes drier as we head into fall, this moisturizer is a great way to keep skin hydrated, happy, and fine-line free.
Shop now: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream, $82
6. Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water, $28
If you’re a micellar water fanatic, you’ll love the Drunk Elephant take on the cult-fave product category. It’s a gentle, milky, no-rinse cleanser that does everything you’d expect from a micellar water and more. It removes makeup, pollution, and all other debris from the surface of your skin while also nourishing your skin with ceramides and fatty acid-rich wild melon seed oil, leaving your face soft and well-fed long after you wipe it off.
Shop now: Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water, $28
7. Mutha Face Oil, $110
This facial oil functions like a superfood smoothie for your skin. It contains 22 different complexion-boosting seed extracts—like tsubaki, borage, and kalahari—that swirl together to deliver antioxidants and omega fatty acids to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and keep your skin barrier healthy. Plus, it scented with a rich mix of fruits and florals (like jasmine extract), which means it doubles as a mood booster whenever you apply it.
Shop now: Mutha Face Oil, $110
8. Saie Glowy Super Gel, $25
I’ve had a longterm beauty crush on this line of instant glow-givers, and the recent introduction of Sunglow, a golden-bronze shade, has solidified it as a staple in my routine. It’s a true skin-care and makeup chameleon: One blob of the stuff functions as a serum, primer, and highlighter, since it contains vitamin C, papaya, and rosehip seed oil and leaves skin looking subtly sun-kissed. I love wearing it right underneath my foundation for a boost of luminescence to my finished look.
Shop now: Saie Glowy Super Gel, $25
9. Biossance Squalane Elderberry Jelly Cleanser, $28
Even though any facial cleanser will do the basic job of sudsing up your skin to remove dirt, Weiner has a newfound favorite: Biossance Squalane Elderberry Jelly Cleanser. The gentle face wash is three different types of cleansers in one, so it begins as a jelly, morphs into an oil, and finishes as a milk, all of which allow it to remove all traces of makeup while leaving your complexion completely moisturized.
Shop now: Biossance Squalane Elderberry Jelly Cleanser, $28
10. Sol de Janeiro My Sol Stick SPF 50, $26
I’ve been raving about this sunscreen stick all summer, and will definitely be applying (and reapplying) it just as regularly all year long. It’s easy to quickly swipe on for sun protection—at home or on the go. And, it goes on completely sheer, so you’ll never be left with white, goopy marks that mess with your makeup. In addition to SPF, your skin also gets cupuacu butter and acai oil through the stick for an added dose of antioxidants and hydration, too.
Shop now: Sol de Janeiro My Sol Stick SPF 50, $26
11. Josh Rosebrook Daily Acid Toner, $29
Acid toners are like the cool kids on the beauty shelf. The it-skin-care item is like your fast-forward button to a clear complexion, working to reveal brighter, more even skin with only a few swipes. The Josh Rosebrook Daily Acid Toner, which has quickly become my fave, is made with a potent mix of acids from fruit and flowers (including pyruvic, malic, citric, and glycolic) so you get a gentle exfoliation with the added perk of moisture from aloe vera, sea kelp, and panthenol.
Shop now: Josh Rosebrook Daily Acid Toner, $29
12. Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40, $36
There’s no way I’m rounding up the best new skin-care launches without mentioning the Glowscreen. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Well+Good team member or beauty aficionado that doesn’t love this sunscreen, which serves double-duty as a really good highlighter. When you apply it, your skin magically looks more even and radiant, and it’s fully protected against sun damage, making it a beauty cabinet MVP.
Shop now: Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40, $36
Curious about which skin-care items a dermatologist keeps in *her* cabinet? Check out the video below.
Want even more beauty intel from our editors? Join Well+Good’s Fine Print Facebook group (and follow us on Instagram) for must-know tips and tricks.
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